Seraphina, a Guardian with wings of living oak and willow. Her vintage white dress and pearl crown couldn't hide the sorrow in her eyes. A single red rose, a village's gift, felt heavy in her hand. The forest, her home, was dying.
Elder Oak's voice boomed, "Grief nourishes roots for new life."
Seraphina squared her shoulders. The rose, a symbol of hope, wouldn't wither. With newfound resolve, she faced the storm cloud. It might rain, but she would weather it. The rose, and the forest, would bloom again. Soaring on her wings, she left a trail of pearls - promises whispered on the wind.