A girl stood in front of a crimson tree in the middle of the forest. She was wandering before this, scavenging for mushrooms that she could bring back for dinner. That was until she spotted this peculiar tree. It was flaunting its beauty, standing out in the midst of its leafless companions.

Curious, the girl took her basket of mushrooms, and walked toward the tree. The air was freezing while mist hung in the air. Grey colored the sky today but she paid no mind. Slowly she walked toward the tree that caught her curiosity.

'How intriguing,' the girl breathed. White smoke rose from her mouth. She touched the dark brown bark of the tree. As her hand traced the rough lines on the tree, the girl noticed swirling shapes carved on the trunk of the tree. They were golden, and Claudia thought that they added a unique personality to the tree.

Claudia traced the shapes. A sudden whirl of wind rushed over to her side.

Her eyes were wide as she saw a boy her age appear from a gust of leaves. The boy looked fragile. His hair was covered in dry maple leaves. The boy shook off the leaves of his shoulders and dusted his trousers. It took a few seconds before the boy noticed at the corner of his eye.

The boy looked up and down at Claudia. His face was expressionless. "You are?"

"Claudia, and you?"

The boy stood silent before answering. "Darren."

"I'll need to make this quick Claudia," Darren coughed. "Help me with this one deed, and we'll be spared."

The girl hesitated. "And why should I help you?"

"You have seen the condition of this forest, yes?" Darren gestured to the dull looking trees flanking the sides of the crimson tree. "The sunlight's gone, and the air is far too filthy for us to filter. Leading them to their demise."

Darren turned to Claudia, "You are the only human left in this area." He winced before speaking again, "Trees and humans rely on each other, believe it or not. It is because of humans. They have overused their privileges, and used our bodies, to make something that benefits THEM."

The boy looked at Claudia with a gaze filled with despise. Darren flinched, "Ah sorry."

Claudia forced a smile. "No offense taken."

He sighed. "The trees need your help and support, and I can only move under the shade of the Crimson."

"I only need a few seeds, 5 seeds of different trees. And some water of course. Is five days enough for you?" Darren gazed at the girl.

"Y-yes! I'll get the seeds!" Claudia yelped and scurried away.

Darren sighed and looked back at the Crimson. The tree shivered under the cold atmosphere, sending its leaves falling to the ground. The boy held his palm for a leaf to land. No normal human would notice that the leaves on the tree were a darker shade of red. Darren winced and touched the trunk of the tree.

Darren looked back at the road leading back to wherever Claudia came from. 

I only hope that this time... Humans can convince us that they can change for the better...

Again, he allowed the winds to whisk him away.