Chapter 5: The Singing Trees

Kena followed Hope, her boots tapping on the smooth, gray stones beneath her feet.

The sound echoed a little, bouncing off the rocks as they moved forward.

Soon, the little town they had left behind grew smaller and smaller until it was gone from sight.

The houses, the streets, the people—all of it faded away. Now, they stepped into a forest, a place that felt alive in a way Kena hadn't expected.

The trees here were not like the ones she knew from home. These were taller, much taller, stretching up high into the sky.

Their leaves caught the sunlight and shimmered, flashing green and gold as the wind moved through them.

It was like the forest was glowing, alive with color. The air smelled sweet, too, like sugar or honey, filling her nose with every breath she took.

It was strange, but it made her feel calm for a moment.

"It's pretty," Kena said, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

She blinked, surprised at herself. She wasn't the type to notice things like that—trees, colors, smells.

Back home, she'd always been too busy, too focused on other things. But here, it was hard to ignore.

Hope glanced over at her, his eyes sharp and careful.

"Don't trust it," he said, his voice low and serious. "This place hides tricks."

Kena frowned, her eyebrows pulling together. "What kind of tricks?" she asked.

She didn't like the sound of that. Tricks meant danger, and she'd had enough of that already.

Before Hope could answer, a sound started up around them.

It was quiet at first, so soft she almost didn't notice it—like a whisper carried on the wind.

But then it grew, getting louder and clearer with every second. The trees were singing.

Their branches moved gently, swaying back and forth, and the leaves rustled together to make a melody.

It was high and slow, soft and sweet, like a lullaby her mother might have sung when she was little.

Kena stopped walking without meaning to, her head tilting to one side as she listened.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Hope nodded, his face tight. "Keep moving," he said. "Don't listen too long."

But Kena couldn't help it. The song was too beautiful, too perfect. It wrapped around her like a warm blanket, soft and gentle, pulling her in.

Her eyes started to feel heavy, like she could close them and drift away right there. Her feet slowed down, dragging a little on the ground.

"It's nice," she said, her voice sounding far away, dreamy and light.

She took a step toward one of the trees, her hand reaching out to touch its golden leaves. They looked so soft, so inviting.

"Kena, no!" Hope's voice cut through the haze.

He grabbed her arm hard and yanked her back. She stumbled, blinking fast as the warm feeling snapped away.

The song changed in an instant—it turned sharp and loud, like a scream that hurt her ears.

The tree's branches moved fast, snapping toward her hand like angry fingers.

She pulled her arm back just in time, the leaves brushing her skin but not catching her.

"What was that?" she yelled, her heart pounding in her chest.

She could feel it thumping, fast and hard, like it wanted to jump out.

Hope let go of her arm and stepped back.

"The trees sing to trap you," he said, his voice steady but grim. "They make you sleep, then they take you."

Kena's eyes went wide. "Take me where?" she asked, moving closer to him without thinking.

She didn't like how close those branches had come to her.

"Under the ground," Hope said, pointing down at the dirt. "To their roots. You don't come back."

Kena shivered, a cold feeling running down her back.

"That's messed up," she said, glaring at the trees.

Their song still echoed in her ears, but now it sounded wrong—creepy and mean. She shook her head, trying to push it away.

"Let's get out of here," Kena said.

They started walking again, faster this time. Their boots crunched on the ground, kicking up little bits of dirt and leaves.

But the singing didn't stop. It followed them, growing louder again, tugging at Kena's mind like fingers pulling on a string.

She clenched her fists tight, her nails digging into her palms.

"How do we stop it?" she asked, her voice sharp with frustration.

Hope stopped walking and turned to face her. "I can try something," he said.

He took a deep breath, his chest rising, and then he started to hum. It was a low sound, simple and plain, nothing fancy like the trees' song.

But it was strong. The air around them seemed to shift, like a breeze pushing back against the forest.

The trees' melody faded away, growing quieter and quieter until it was gone, like it had been scared off by Hope's tune.

Kena stared at him, her mouth open a little. "How'd you do that?" she asked.

She couldn't believe it—such a small thing had chased away something so big.

"It's just a trick," Hope said, shrugging his shoulders. "Something I learned."

She wanted to ask more—where he'd learned it, how it worked—but he turned and started walking again before she could.

She hurried to catch up, her boots thudding on the ground. Her mind was spinning now, full of questions.

Who was this guy, really? He knew too much about Velmoria, this strange place they were in.

Too much for just some random helper who'd tagged along. She didn't trust it, not completely.

But she didn't say anything. Not yet. She'd wait, watch, figure him out later.

The forest went on and on, stretching out around them. The singing trees stayed quiet now, their branches still, their leaves glinting in the light.

Kena's legs started to ache, the muscles in her calves burning a little with every step. She wasn't used to walking this much, not like this.

But she kept going, pushing through the tiredness. The ground began to slope upward, slow at first, then steeper.

Her boots slipped a little on the loose dirt, but she steadied herself and climbed. Soon, they reached the top of a hill, and Hope stopped.

"Look," he said, pointing ahead.

Kena stepped up beside him and looked down. Below them was a valley, wide and open, covered in green grass that swayed in the wind.

It stretched out far, farther than she could see clearly. But in the distance, something caught her eye—something bright and shining.

Tall towers rose up, their tops sharp against the sky, and golden walls glowed like they were made of sunlight.

"Is that it?" she asked, her voice quiet with wonder. "The Golden City?"

"Yes," Hope said, nodding once. "That's where he is."

Kena reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo she'd been carrying. It was crumpled now, the edges worn from being handled so much.

She stared at the man's face in the picture—his dark eyes, his small smile. Her stomach flipped, a mix of nerves and hope twisting inside her.

She was closer to him now, closer than she'd been in a long time. But it still felt so far away, like the city was teasing her with its glow.

"How long to get there?" she asked, folding the photo and tucking it back into her pocket.

"A few days," Hope said. "If we don't stop."

Kena groaned, letting her head tip back. "Great. More walking."

Her legs already hurt, and the thought of days more made her want to sit down right there.

But deep inside, she felt something else—a tiny spark, warm and alive. Maybe it was excitement, bubbling up at the idea of finally reaching the city.

Maybe it was fear, creeping in because she didn't know what she'd find there. She couldn't tell.

All she knew was that she had to keep going, no matter how tired she got.

They started down the hill, moving carefully so they wouldn't slip.

The golden city shimmered ahead, its towers and walls looking like a promise—or maybe a warning. Kena wasn't sure which.

The trees behind them stayed silent, their creepy song gone for now. But she didn't let her guard down.

Velmoria was full of surprises, strange and dangerous ones, and she wasn't about to fall for another trick. Not if she could help it.

As they walked, the valley opened up around them. The grass brushed against her legs, soft and cool, and the wind carried that sweet smell again.

Kena kept her eyes on the city, letting it pull her forward. Her boots hit the ground over and over, a steady rhythm that matched her heartbeat.

Hope walked beside her, quiet but sure, like he knew exactly where they were going. She glanced at him sometimes, trying to read his face, but he gave nothing away.

The sun moved across the sky, slow and steady, painting the valley in shades of gold and orange.

Kena's shadow stretched out long in front of her, growing thinner as the light changed.

She didn't know what was waiting in that city, or what she'd do when she got there.

But for now, she just kept walking, one step at a time, toward the glow that promised answers.