THE SIXTH REALM: INDIGO — A tree of mist

She thought of Ernesto. She would have liked to lean against his trunk, eat one of his mangoes, and not have to understand anything for a good long while.

She approached a shadow broader than the rest. It had the height and shape of a tree. She greeted it and asked permission to spend the night inside. There was no reply.

She tried again, more gently this time. Perhaps the tree was asleep. Perhaps it was wary of her. The more she wondered what was happening, the harder it was to make out the tree. At last she tried to hug its trunk to introduce herself properly, but her forepaws met in empty air.

The supposed tree had disappeared.

“Good grief! Isn’t there a single tree in this realm?”

Something took hold of one of her forepaws.

Skyblue felt a tug, lost her footing, and was dragged into the mist. Afraid of crashing into something, she tried to spread her wings, but whatever had hold of her was carrying her along a clear passage. Shadows slipped past on both sides without touching her.

“Who are you? Where are you taking me?”

The image of a tree appeared in her mind. The presence seemed to be leading her to shelter. Soon it set her on the ground and vanished. Skyblue waited, unable to see where she was.