The air crackles with anticipation as you stand at the edge of the village.
The towering shadows of moonlit mountain looming over you.
The villager spoke of a magical flower said to bloom only under the full moon's silvery glow,
Its petals unfurling like a heart.
You,
A lover of all things wild and wondrous,
Were captivated.
Tonight,
Under the full moon,
You will seek this mythical bloom.
The air is cool with a slight breeze,
But not chilly.
Your cloak keeps you warm.
You begin the journey through the small village and cobblestone streets.
You pass the shops you frequent during the day,
But at night are empty,
Dark chambers.
As you pass the last glowing lantern on the street,
The surrounding forest calls to you.
You follow a path you've taken a hundred times before during the day,
But at night,
Under the light of the full moon,
Makes it seem like an entirely different place.
A dampness clings to your skin as you venture deeper into the forest.
The trail,
Barely a path,
Is illuminated by a constellation of fireflies,
Their tiny lights blinking like a celestial map guiding you upwards.
The moon,
A silver orb in the velvety sky,
Turning familiar trees into gnarled ancient sentinels guarding secrets hidden within the mountains landscape.
As you ascend,
The air grows thinner.
You heard the soft rush of water,
A hidden waterfall cascading down moss-covered rocks,
The sound echoing through the stillness of the night.
The fireflies,
As if sensing your all,
Dance around you,
Their luminescence painting the scene in a whimsical light.
A rustle in the undergrowth draws your attention.
You turn to see a gentle deer,
Its eyes soft and curious.
It stands for a moment,
Its elegant form silhouetted against the moonlight before disappearing into the distance.
You have the feeling it's asking you to follow.
You journey into the direction of the deer.
You can hear its faint hooves trailing in front of you.
As you carefully listen while moving forward,
You begin to see a break in the trees,
Possibly a clearing ahead.
Step after step brings you closer to a small brook.
The sounds of the gentle water relax your spirit.
Your eyes follow the brook upward,
Trying to find its origin.
There,
You see the deer taking a sip between several large ferns.
You slowly approach the deer.
It sees you,
But doesn't scurry.
Instead,
It lies down,
Taking it out of sight.
You continue quietly until you are standing across the brook from the lying deer.
You notice a faint glow on the ground,
And then you see it.
A single flower nestled amidst a bed of ferns,
Its petals unfurling like a heart,
Radiating a soft magical glow.
The flower is unlike anything you've ever seen before.
Its petals,
A luminous white,
Are delicately veined with silver,
Each one a miniature masterpiece of nature's artistry.
A soft humming sound emanates from it,
A whisper of wonder that resonates within your very soul.
You step across the stones in the brook and kneel before the bloom,
Its beauty breathtaking in the moonlit stillness.
It's as if the mountain itself has revealed its heart to you.
The soft humming of the flowers,
The sound of the water down the brook,
And the gentle wind amongst the trees makes you feel at peace.
You spread your cloak amongst the ferns,
The soft leaves providing a comforting cushion.
As the moon bathes you in its light,
You close your eyes.
The heart-shaped flowers ethereal glow imprinted on your mind.
Your breathing slows,
You're completely relaxed,
And you gently drift off to sleep.
