text: The coals smolder among the morning dew on the grass. John and Euchivik lay on pelts strewn across the cold ground while the birds begin their songs. John stokes the remaining embers before placing a pot of water to boil. He admires Euchvik as her chest rises and falls. As John adds herbs to the pot, Euchvik makes her way out of the tent over to John and smacks the back of his head. She takes the herbs out of the boiling water before adding just one back. John watches as she adds the other herbs back in one at a time until the steep is done. They sit in silence briefly while sipping on the tea as an albino deer croses their path grazing just a few feet from them. After their drinks are finished, Euchvik tells John to help her pack up quickly so they can follow the deer. After the equipment is packed, Euchvik tracks the deer into the woods. Both of them notice the light begin to fade with each step. The tree trucks become wider and closer together. Euchvik stops in her tracks suddenly while John awaits her instructions. Carefully, the two of them slow their pace while continuing forward. Euchvik switches from being hyper aware of her surroundings to suddenly awestruck. She takes a stick from the ground and strikes the nearest tree. The entire forest lights up a vibrant magenta exuding from the source of the strike. Euchvik continues forward stopping every step watching as her feet light up as she smiles with glee. John has to jog just to keep up with her, yet still on guard. As John catches up to her, he observes the look on her face. She seems to be listening intently, although he can sense no danger in the immediate surroundings. John follows Euchvik a few more paces before the come to a stream of flowing water inside what looks like an aqueduct untouched by nature. The water is clear from the top with the sides and bottom the same bright magenta as before. Both of them look up from the stream to find an enormous structure with water flowing from the top at all sides and even more aqueducts leading to the center. They step over the stream together taking in the surroundings for a moment before Euchvik sits near one of the corners of the aqueducts. John keeps moving toward the center touching the columns with his fingers. There are no bumps or imperfections. No signs of decay or other life are present at the moment. The only sound is the water rushing past slowly. John turns to the middle startled for a moment. A woman stands in the center observing him. Not only are her clothes translucent, the women herself is see through. She becons him closer as John feels himself fighting a trance. His feet begin moving as the woman's arms open up to embrace him. Euchvik grabs his collar pulling him past herself and onto the ground as he returns his mind back to reality. He first looks to Euchvik before his eyes drift past her to the sheer drop just behind her. She grabs a leaf from her pocket and drops it into the water and watches it cycle around, dropping into the void like space.