Ida's Third Dream

Before you stands a dense landscape of trees, stretching to the horizon in all directions. You are aware of a large presence beside you, but for some reason you do not feel the need to glance at it. In fact, you don't seem to have eyes at all. Or ears, or a mouth. How is it then that you are able to perceive the forest?

You stretch your leaves towards the sun in unison with your brethren. Miles away, a squirrel leaps from its perch and glides gently onto a neighboring branch. You feel it as clearly as if it had landed on you. The large presence places a hand of short, thick fingers on your trunk, and suddenly you can feel each individual root sprawling through these woods. Miles and miles of nerves connecting each and every one of your siblings, providing a constant stream of information.

Now you are small, alone and scared. You look down and see that your hands are those of a child and your parents are nowhere to be seen. You remember being distracted by a gnarled old birch tree and felt the urge to touch it. When you turned around, they were gone. Tears well up in your eyes and a whimper escapes your lips. A familiar hand lands on your back and you look up to see an adult gnome wearing a wooden mask. It seems the presence never left your side. They use two fingers to close your eyes and once again you can see the network of roots stretching from your feet, connecting to every living creature in your vicinity. You call out to your parents without opening your mouth and from very, very far away, they hear you.

You wake up.