The orchard swallowed me whole.
One moment I was stepping through the gate of merged marks, Astro's body still cooling behind me. The next, I was drowning in red.
Petals everywhere. In the air. On the ground. Falling like drops of blood made solid.
I gasped, stumbling forward onto grass that felt too soft. Too alive. Like it was breathing beneath my feet.
The scent hit me next.
Copper and roses. Iron and honey. The sweet decay of love left to rot.
My stomach lurched, but I forced myself to stay upright. To keep moving. Astro had died to get me here. I wouldn't waste that by collapsing the moment I arrived.
The trees rose around me, massive and ancient. Their bark wasn't rough like normal trees. It was smooth. Polished. Almost like skin.
And it was the color of dried blood.
I reached out to touch the nearest trunk, then stopped. Something about it felt wrong. Predatory. Like the tree was waiting for contact. Hungry for it.
"Welcome, Moonchild."
