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FROM THE JOURNAL OF Dale Enderling
Explorer
I discovered The Woods (I have no other name to call them. I am all out of names at this point, and these woods do not particularly distinguish themselves from all the others as I walk through them) on my way south through Fairendale. I must reach warmer lands. The cold is not good for my old bones.
I have seen many unknown creatures, but they do not disturb my wanderings. In fact, I have not had a good look at any of them, for they are quick to hide themselves as I venture through. I am glad for this, for I have seen many creatures in my other wanderings, and they have been quite frightening. Is it better to see the dangers or for those dangers to remain hidden?
This remains to be seen, I suppose. I hurry on.
But I must stop and admire the trees in these woods. They are quite extraordinary, and here are my observations, along with names for the three types of trees I have found to reside here in The Woods.
Dwarfed Giant Sequecas: These trees are magnificent. There are not many here, and they are not so tall as they were in the land of Rosehaven, but they are the same kind of tree. I know them for their very large trunks, though these in The Woods would only require one or two people to wrap their arms around them, where those in the land of Rosehaven require thirty or more.
The trunks themselves are rough and brown, a golden sort of brown. The leaves are like fronds of a plant, slightly spiky. They are bright green. Some of them have brown cones, and I suspect there are creatures living in them, but I did not disturb any.
At their tops, these trees form a sort of cove, presiding over the other trees, which I shall detail below.
This particular tree is not abundant in The Woods, but merely scattered throughout.
Aslin tree: Deeper in The Woods are the trees I have named Aslin. They have smooth, white bark and small black notches on them that look as though they have sustained a bit of dragon fire in their day. I suspect there are dragons living very near here. I only hope I do not have to meet them.
The leaves of the Aslin tree scale a variety of shades, from pale yellow-green to a darker green. They are shaped like tear drops and are veined in remarkable ways, as though an artist painted a jagged masterpiece on a leaf.
These trees grow very closely together, which thickens the woods and blots out the sun.
Caphonwood tree: This tree variety is, by far, the most populous in The Wood. The branches and trunks are thick brown and gnarled. Some of them twist up to the sky or out at the sides. Some of them even weave majestically toward the ground. The tops of these trees leave little room for light, their leaves and branches are so abundant.
Upon careful examination, one could imagine, in the roughened and notched bark of this tree’s trunk, a face. Perhaps I have found some dryads. Or perhaps I am only an old man who grows tired and so finds himself given to fancies, rather than rationality. This is more likely the case.
As I said, I have seen no animals on my travels, but I can always feel them watching me. I hope they continue watching and do not find me a tasty treat.
I must sign off. It is time for sleep.
An addition from author L.R. Patton
Dale Enderling named these woods “The Woods,” but after the Great Battle, in which King Sebastien stole the throne of Fairendale from the Good King Brendon, these woods became known as the Weeping Woods. This is mostly due to the trees. The trees that Enderling called Caphonwood trees became hereafter weepingwood trees. Their branches still twisted and turned in every which direction, but it is their leaves that have undergone the most significant transformation. They droop toward the ground, like the waters of a fountain.
It is said that the creatures of the Weeping Woods became much darker and more dangerous after the quest of King Sebastien, though that has not yet been proven as fact. It is also rumored that those who were killed in the Weeping Woods during the Great Battle still haunt it, in one way or another. This, too, has not yet been proven as fact.
At any rate, it might still be wise to avoid the Weeping Woods, as every child in Fairendale is warned at some point or another.