Keith rested against his woven bed, his chest softly rising then collapsing in a steady pattern. He was in a dreamlike state though still awake and for once his thoughts were slow. Though his body ached against the cool evening air, his arms were somewhat blistered from Henrietta's gravity bolts and his stomach was badly bruised from that heavy rock she used against him. Not to mention the thorns embedded in his skin would sharply sting once in awhile. Suddenly a voice rumbled as the leaves of the trees rocked back and forth.
"You are injured, my friend," the tree he rested upon said.
Keith lightly chuckled, "So you are awake, Yggdrasil?"
There was no answer for a long moment, only silence. Keith had felt slightly surprised that his old friend had not spoken all this time. He supposed he would visit Louie some time soon, though wished to be alone when he did so. There were important matters he wished to discuss with Louie that no one else could be around to hear. He had growing concerns for himself and Carter, though he would not admit such a thing to Carter. If anything, he dreaded their next encounter. It would most likely be very stiff. Though at the moment his mind felt a lot more clear than it had before. Clear yet exhausted from his internal struggle.
"There is a shift in your energy, friend," Yggdrasil mentioned. Keith felt the tree's life force ripple beneath his palm up and down the roots.
"Yes, I am well aware," Keith sighed. "Do not trouble yourself with such apprehension. It will be resolved in due time."
"The forest worries for you. I speak on their behalf," Yggdrasil humbly admitted. At this, Keith did not respond. Instead, he felt a gloom hang over him. He hoped he had not neglected his duties to the forest. All the while, Keith did not even notice the way the fireflies busily gathered. They flickered their tails, illuminating the darkness around them. He found himself watching them absentmindedly not even realizing how these wondrous creatures only gathered like this under one circumstance. It could only mean Ace was approaching. Suddenly, they seemed to trickle into a path, more and more of them gathering. It then hit Keith like a brick and he felt his heart skip in a mixture of excitement and fear. Was it really that wise of her to come? He wondered how she even knew he would come here. Though fear tugged at his mind as he thought of the fog that occasionally intoxicated him. If he ever hurt Ace like he did Henrietta, he would never, ever, forgive himself.