The Last Tree

Chapter one

A lonely squid floats in the sea. Unaware of the things happening on the surface when the first blast hits. Water vanishes and the giant tree that was once in the middle of the ocean is in peaces. Wood scattered everywhere and fire burning an inferno into the very ground that once held water. Sea life struggled to breath in that which is now gone. And the squid was no different. Dragging itself towards the last bit of water still left. Steam rises with every second and the inferno scorches his skin. His tentacle touches something cool in the otherwise hot atmosphere. The heat dampens as the cool surface takes over his body. Knowledge sprouts in his brain. Intellect sharpens his mind. And a sharp pain radiates from his forehead until everything comes into focus. He knows what he must do. So he glides to all the sea creatures he could find and gathers them. Surrounding them in what little salt water was left and lifting it in the air with his mind. He must take what is left and bring it to a sister tree. For protection, the stone has contacted it's eldest sister. She will protect what's left of this wild life. And he will protect her. He has the memories from the tree. All the flourishing wildlife she has nurtured was almost all but wiped out. If not for the stones interference it would have been captured by that evil man.

Years later he hears the haunting waves of an ocean that no longer exists. It echoes in his mind, he misses it as he soaks in the salt water lake. It's surrounded by forest and animals. All of this he protects with the sister tree. She made this lake for the sea life that was left and he must soak in it regularly to prevent drying out. He feels the other stones calling out for their sister tree. She is the biggest after all. The stone fragment in her is ten times the size of his. The squid feels the cries cut off one after another. The wild life increases with each tree that is attacked. The trees have sent them to her. Wanting her protection. He will do the same, but his main priority is her. She rooted herself into the crater that the meteor landed in. Making her seem the same height of other trees if someone flies above. If she were on level ground as the trees around her, she would tower over all of them. But because she does not, she has out lived her sisters. The despicable man can not find her. For that he is grateful, but he knows time is running out. How long will this last. This sanctuary from that horrendous man, the squid will keep it away from him at all cost.

'My last sister left is in trouble. Will you go my brother? To save her, or at least bring the stone back to me?' He glides over to the tree, touching it with a tentacle.

'I cannot go far, my skin will dry out if I'm away from salt water too long.' He hears the sad cry from the tree's sister.

'Take some with you, my sister, she's all I have left. If you cannot save her, bring her stone to me. I'll figure it out so that man cannot get it.' He nods gliding back over to the water and putting some into a flower. This makeshift pouch won't last long, he must hurry. He speeds up his flight, seeking the sister tree that is crying out. It's not far from here. It was the closest compared to any other. It morns for the people fighting to save it. Many have lost their lives.

'Please brother squid, please hurry. My humans are fighting for me but I fear I do not have much longer.' She pleads as He pick up speed. When he gets there the squid was not ready for the sight. The city was in ruins. Animals, trees, humans, all of them were scattered on the ground. Blood and splinters were on the forest floor. Breaking into the very ground that the sister tree lay her roots in. She stood tall on the covered dirt. 'Brother squid,' her tree sap dripping down in sadness. 'Please take the stone, and protect my last child. He is the only one that is left. Give my sister tree the stone.' She weeps as the bomb exploded with rubble sent flying and her cries die out. The stone is flung towards him along with a child. Still holding a peace of the once beautiful tree. It cries it's salty tears clinging onto what is left. He catches it with his telekinesis and floats back into the trees. Away from the eyes of the search party trying to find the stone. The sister tree's stone weighs heavy on his mind.

'Soon little one, we will be back to elder sister tree. She will know what to do.' The squid pats the child's head. They head back after a quick stop to hydrate his skin. The child fell asleep crying and he constantly calls out to his dad. He is a victim looking for sanctuary like the few wild animals that have been limping behind them. Following them to sister tree. Feeling the pull of the stone to safety. It doesn't take long to reach sister tree. She waits patiently in her crater. 'He will attack us soon sister tree.'

'I know, did you get the stone, brother squid?' He nods as he shows the stone to her. It's bigger than his, more closer to the crash site. 'Good, bring it here.' He floats it towards her, stopping it right in front of sister tree. A wilted tree sprout appears before her. She guides the stone towards it and plants it in the crater beside her. 'When he comes, we will plant dying tree sprouts here so together we might regrow the world.'

'Elder sister,' a faint voice calls, not as strong as the once magnificent tree. But it has time to grow into its stone.

'Now her child, let me see him.' He lay where the squid sat him down while he was talking to sister tree. Still clinging to the piece of wood with the salty tear tracks drying on his face. 'He must barely be ten, and yet he has seen such tragedy. I will take this child under my wing brother squid, until our sister is big enough to help. Her powers are weak, she lost a part of her stone trying to keep this little one safe.'

'What should we do now sister tree?' The squid looked down at the boy. Reaching out and moving the hair out of his face. 'Humans don't know where you are, and I'd like to keep it that way, this little one is not like anything we've dealt with before.'

'Do not worry brother squid, just let him rest. He’s had a hard day. We will watch over him.'