Across the deep waters that rise and fall across the shores of Elysium, there is a sandy stretch of islands that quickly turn into swampy marshlands and deep, tangled forest.
On most days, that forest is steeped in life, from the flitting of small birds, the chittering of mammals that make their home in the dense undergrowth, to even the gentle, ever-present song of brightly colored insects.
Today, however, it is silent.
Even the ever-so-slow growth of the trees, minuscule and completely imperceptible to the eyes, has paused.
The woods is holding its breath, tense with each moment of terrifying potential, because its Guardian has gone into slumber, and there is nothing left to protect it until they wake.
Nothing dares to move for a very long time.
