Apple had never felt more at home. Castle Moondial was stiflingly comfortable, not at all suited to a monkey. More than anything else, Apple wanted to climb trees in a forest and be carefree, but she couldn't because in the center of Apple's forehead was a gem. It separated her from the wild, strange cave animals surrounding her. But in this underground forest, Apple was free to be an animal again.

  Sprigga, it turns out, was a playful tree spirit with boundless energy. When Rowan left to rescue Rafael and Morgan, Sprigga took to caring for Lyn immediately. They played games of tag, hide and seek, and throwing contests until Lyn was finally exhausted again. The young girl was presently sleeping on a mound of soft moss.

  Apple was still wide awake. She didn't need to sleep. Another consequence of the gem in her forehead; she never tired. She could sleep if she wanted, but for the first time in her existence, Apple was free and in a forest. She was too happy and excited to sleep. Instead, she chased the bizarre green cave animals, and climbed the tallest tree in the forest. Fully three times larger than any other tree in the forest, its branches were wide and soaked up nearly all the sunlight that broke through from a crack in the ceiling. Apple climbed as high as she dared and took in her surroundings.

  Sanctuary was massive, with rows of carved stone separating the forest into four equal parts. Each quadrant was distinct, with unique plants and animals. Two were blooming with gorgeous flowers, while another was dark and deadly with thorny vines and sinister-looking plants. The fourth district was mainly water, and plants that grew underwater. Colorful birds filled the air, and other animals and insects of all sorts lived and died in the cavern, having never seen the sky. Apple wondered which of them was more trapped.

  Suddenly Sprigga's face appeared in the bark of the branch that Apple was clinging.

  "You should be careful when exploring the forest. Some of the plants and animals are carnivorous," said Sprigga with a voice of a buzzing beehive.

  Apple immediately worried about Lyn's safety. "Would anything hurt Lyn? Should I stay with her?" she asked frantically.

  "No, don't worry. I can sense everything that happens in Sanctuary. I won't let any predators get near Lyn while she sleeps," Sprigga said calmly, and Apple relaxed.

  "Forgive me," Sprigga continued, "but I've never seen a creature like yourself before. I wonder, were you born with that stone in your head?"

  Apple touched her gem absent-mindedly. "No," she answered. "This was installed shortly after I was born. It gives me knowledge and energy."

  Sprigga's face rearranged itself into a look of surprise and awe. "That's powerful magic."

  Apple continued absent-mindedly, "I don't remember anything before the gem. It's as though I woke up for the first time to see His face."

  "Whose face?" Sprigga asked.

  "The Godfather's," Apple whispered as waves of reverence and dread washed over her. In the back of her mind, Apple knew something was about to happen. Every familiar on the island knew. But Apple couldn't think clearly about it, like a dream from long ago. All the details were missing. But she sensed it. The Godfather was making moves. Apple was so preoccupied in thought that she didn't notice Sprigga's reaction. The bark on Sprigga's face transformed into an expression of deep distrust, fear, and uncertainty. But when Apple looked back, Sprigga's usual mild demeanor had returned.

  "I've never seen a creature like you, either," she said. "If you don't mind my asking, what… are you? How do you know everything that happens in the forest, and how are you in a tree right now?"

  Sprigga chuckled, and it sounded like wood knocking together. "I am the tree. I'm its hands, eyes, and ears. The roots of this Great Oak touch the roots of every other tree. So I'm connected to every tree in Sanctuary. I hear their thoughts and feel what they feel. And in turn, they see through my eyes. They're even listening to our conversation."

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  That surprised Apple. It hadn't occurred to her that trees had thoughts or feelings, let alone that they could listen. It made her feel even smaller than usual.

  "What are the trees saying now?" Apple asked, not knowing why.

  Sprigga was silent for a moment. "They're divided. The vines and thorny bushes are frightened. But the flowering trees are grateful to have guests. It can be a bit boring after a few hundred years with no one to talk to but the birds. The fruit trees ask if you're hungry. They're very proud of their produce. We've been cultivating the sweetest, juiciest pomegranates for centuries."

  It had been hours since Apple last ate. Likewise, Lyn would soon wake up hungry.

  "Please give my thanks to the fruit trees. It would be good to collect some food for when Lyn wakes."

  "Wonderful idea," responded Sprigga. "I'll meet you at the base of the Oak, and we'll go gathering." Sprigga's face disappeared and the tree's usual bark pattern returned.

  Apple climbed down slowly, carefully, half distracted. Something was coming, but she could do nothing to stop it. She didn't even know what it was or when it would arrive.

  When Apple reached the forest floor, she saw that Lyn had already woken. She was hungry and also distressed at Rowan and Apple's absence. Apple comforted Lyn and tended to her worries; before long, she forgot about her own. Once Lyn was settled and ready, Sprigga guided them through the forest. They passed by one of the carved stone barriers, and Apple saw engravings with what might be names and dates. Then she realized the walls weren't walls at all, but burial chambers entombing countless bodies.

  The fruit grove was expertly managed, with orange, pomegranate, pear, cherry, and almond trees neatly arranged with just enough space for each tree to flourish. The fruits looked ripe and full. Somehow the entire grove not only grew but thrived in this underground cavern.

  "How is this possible?" Apple asked.

  As Sprigga answered, a nearby tree branch lowered a pomegranate into Sprigga's clawed hand, "I told you. My roots touch the roots of every tree in Sanctuary. I collect the sunlight and distribute it to every other growing being here. It's the same with the water. My roots go deep enough to touch the ocean, so I transfer water to everyone else here."

  Sprigga opened the pomegranate and gave one half to Apple and the other to Lyn, and the two ate merrily. They wandered the grove and sampled the fruits and nuts. Everything tasted delicious. They were contently fed and laughing when all of a sudden, Apple became paralyzed. She couldn't move or speak or even blink. It was as if someone had flipped a switch and shut her down.

  Apple heard a scream from behind her that sounded like the cry of a giant bird. In Apple's periphery, Sprigga narrowly dodged a flying, spinning saw. Lyn grabbed Apple, shook her, and tried to make her run, but not a muscle was moved. Finally, Lyn carried Apple away from the attacker. With her face now in Lyn's shoulder and her eyes drying and painful from her inability to blink, Apple could see nothing. But she wasn't entirely without options. Apple could still think and process what her senses detected, and she had an idea.

  The attacker must also have a familiar, Apple reasoned, because she sensed them earlier. She could transfer her perspective to the eyes of the attacker's familiar. Apple reached into the Aether and linked with the nearest familiar, a giant hawk.

  Apple shifted perspective.

  From the bird's eye, Apple could see the entire forested cavern. The hawk had entered the cave through the crack in the ceiling and circled above them. Secured by a harness to the hawk's belly rode a man with golden hair. The rider wielded four metallic disks, which spun in the air, occasionally shooting in Sprigga's direction and then returning like yo-yos. Sprigga was on the ground fighting valiantly, narrowly evading the rider's attacks. Vines shot out of the forest floor like spears at high velocity, but the rider deflected Sprigga's attacks and cut down the vines with his disks.

  Meanwhile, Lyn was carrying Apple's frozen body away from the battle, but neither the rider nor the hawk lost sight of them. The fight lasted mere seconds before one of the flying saws carved Sprigga in two. Sprigga's body fell to the ground and was swallowed immediately by vines and moss. The hawk stopped circling and instead dove toward Lyn and Apple, claws outstretched. It was about to swoop down and fly away with Lyn when out of nowhere, a ball of fire shot through the air and struck the hawk dead in one eye and out the other.

  Apple, watching from the hawk's perspective, felt it die. The force and trauma knocked her back into her own body with whiplash. She blacked out and collapsed in Lyn's terrified arms.