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"Those -wretched- trees!?" she scoffed, "Can you believe those townies?" She slammed her fist onto their table which caused his drink to nearly spill.Gripping his cup more tightly than ever, the Monk simply drank his tea and gave his wife an encouraging smile. "Now, now love" he said, "no need for that kind of language.You can make them understand that they must be careful when chopping down trees in the wilderness" This seemed to reassure her for she smiled back. The man sighed and busied himself with his drink. His wife could easily be mistaken for a Barbarian; but it was only the temper she possessed,something she'd gained from her father. Her love of nature and the wilderness was something she'd learned from him as well.As a Geomancer she was more in tune with the balance of the Wilderness than most. He peered carefully over his teacup, watching her. She appeared lost in thought; no doubt thinking of ways to stop the woodcutters from chopping down more trees than necessary. His eyes roamed around the tavern,taking in the fellow occupants until they came to rest on the fountain near the bar. Something that Yunsil had no doubt added; a clever way to add money to her bank by convincing her customers to make a wish and drop some coins into the fountain waters. The Monk chuckled at the thought but his amusement was short lived when the tavern doors opened. A large group of lumberjacks bustled in. They took a table and hollered orders in Yunsil's direction. The Monk dared to look at his wife. She too had noticed the newcomers and seemed barely able to conceal her disgust. His mind raced; he thought it'd be best to avoid confrontation and to just head home. " I'll go pay the bill and we can head out, alright? " he whispered hurriedly. " Oh no, " she said, her voice trembling with anger " You finish your tea and I'll pay." She rummaged through her bag and nearly jumped from her chair; clenching her fists so tightly as if fighting the urge to pummel someone. She quickly made her way to the lumberjacks table.The Monk watched on; curious about what his wife might be up to. She whispered something to the men. Boisterous laughter erupted from the table. Whatever his wife had said was clearly amusing to the lumberjacks. She turned from the table and stormed to the bar.Clearly more angry than ever. She slammed a few coins onto the counter and began to march away when Yunsil shouted:"Oi, how about tossing some coins into that there fountain! Maybe wish for more help to save the trees!", she laughed. His wife's eyes flashed in anger.She walked to the fountain and smiled sweetily at Yunsil and the lumerjacks, though her eyes were filled with angry tears. "You can mock me, you are all too ignorant to know how awful it is to cut down a whole forest of trees!" she said, while tossing coins into the fountain. "-I- only wish you all knew what it must be like to be just one of those trees!" Someone dropped a cup nearby. It shattered as it hit the ground. <b>A deafening silence followed. Something was off. The Monk spared a glance at his wife. She stood near the fountain;her hand still poised as if dropping coins into the water. Her mouth hung slightly ajar as if she were about to speak; but all was silent. There she stood; not moving an inch, like an image frozen in time. The Monks legs began to stiffen. --- As the sun began to rise the following day,a Rogue made his way towards the Yunsil tavern for an early drink.What he would find would leave him and others baffled for hyuls to come. A group of Ginko trees had suddenly sprouted in the tavern overnight; their roots fixed firmly into the tavern floor. Drinks sat untouched, unfinished meals lay forgotten on the tables. Bottles of rice wine lay scattered on the floor; others were lodged firmly in the branches of some trees. As if the trees themselves were holding onto the bottles for dear life; as if they were trying, and failing, to pass off as regular customers. Kaili | |