Waking the Forest

The old forests have their secrets.  Secrets known only to a few.  The shepherds of the groves - the keepers of the trees.  They know how to brew the waters of life. They know how to mix the elixirs of thought.  They know how to wake the trees and call them to their aid.  They move among the forests with the animals.  Some believe they are the spirits of ancient beasts.  Others believe they are merely men in beasts clothing.  The real nature of the keepers of the forests is unknown.  Some nights, the fairie fires of their rituals can be seen deep in the heart of the oldest growth - on dark nights when strange shapes move amongst the trees.  On such nights the trees themselves almost seem to whisper and call to each other in voices all their own.  It is best not to wander in the forests on such nights, on those nights it is easy to get lost - almost as if the trees themselves are moving when your back is turned, disorienting you and drawing you deeper into the grove.