Corymbia's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Corymbia pressed her wooden palms against the damp earth of the Swamp of Secrets. Her red flowers trembled in the breeze. She needed to build a sanctuary grove here, a safe place where young Deku spirits could grow without fear. The swamp held dangers, but it also held promise. She stood and surveyed the murky water around her. First, she needed to mark the borders of her sanctuary. Corymbia walked in a wide circle, calling to the thorns and brush beneath the surface. They answered her touch, rising and twisting together. The thick tangle of swamp thorns climbed higher, weaving into an impenetrable barrier. No predator could cross this thicket. The young spirits would be safe inside. At the center of her marked territory, Corymbia found what she had been searching for. An ancient tree rose from the water, its trunk wider than ten Deku spirits standing side by side. Its branches stretched toward the gray sky like welcoming arms. She placed her hand on the rough bark and felt the tree's old spirit stir. This giant would shelter the young ones as they grew. Its hollow spaces would become their home. Corymbia shaped a clay pot from the riverbank mud, her wooden fingers smoothing the curves until it felt right. She set it at the base of the great tree and filled it with fresh swamp water. The young spirits would need to drink and grow strong here. She stepped back and looked at her work. The sanctuary grove was ready. Now she just needed to find the young Deku spirits who needed shelter.