The Dead

Vanessa ran, drinking an ether to refuel all the magic she spent healing herself. It was right there. The last giant tree. Its roots alone reached higher than houses. She was practically invisible to the wildlife which didn't really matter since she was leaving the giant forest now.

The next forest ahead was definitely different. The trees were thin and practically dying. Not burnt nor anything like that. Just dead and falling over. Grass kicked up behind her feet as she galloped across the land.

Something about the grass flying in the air caught her attention. She glanced back, realizing how the grass was dead. But why? how could there still be grass here if it's dead? A further moment of patience allowed her to feel how hollow the ground underneath her was.

"What is this?" she wondered, slowing down.