Hollow Fruit

In the Hollow Land stretched a mighty forest so thick it was mostly void of life. Giant trees blotted out the sun leaving very little to eat on the ground. Many tribes made their homes on the forest edge. But deep inside there grew a tree that was different. This tree was the Dreaming Tree.

The Dreaming Tree would often spend it's day creating stories and building worlds. But those worlds only existed inside the tree. It knew there was a world outside it's trunk but it couldn't break through. But this was the way of trees. So it was not sad.

One night a blinding light filled the sky. The Dreaming Tree could not see the light. But it could feel it with its petals. The Great Tree stretched its branches as best it could. The light felt so amazing, almost like rain. It pulled all the light in it could. Then, it began to dream again.

In this dream the tree was a butterfly sleeping in a great cocoon. It stretched out its arms and could see to branches covered in bark. Slowly the bark began to fall away reveling human flesh on frail arms. Looking down as its body floated inside the cocoon roots gave way to legs and toes. The tree ran it's hand up to where it could see. It could feel flesh, a nose, a mouth; then pain, and an eye.

There was light outside the cocoon. everything was illuminated. The was tree moved toward the edge of the cocoon and pressed it's slender fingers into the wall. It was hard and solid, but it gave way eventually breaking free. The outside was blinding bright. Then the Dreaming Tree woke up.

It found itself laying on the ground looking into the sky. Waves of color and light were fading across the night.The tree sat up. But it was no longer a tree. The new man looked toward the place where it had stood since the dawn of time. A mighty husk of a tree stood in its place, inside completely hollowed out. The man pulled himself to his feet and promptly fell back to the ground. This was a strange night indeed.

After much effort and practice the man had managed to make his way in the hollow tree. This was an exciting time, but also very scary. The tears came at first of joy, then of fear. How could he survive a place where nothing but trees can live. His new stomach began to rumble. He knew his life wouldn't be long if he couldn't find food. Then he heard something high above his head, in the darkness of the hollowed tree. An apple fell to the ground at his side. Without hesitation he devoured it.

The tree provided for him as it always had. He wasn't a tree who was dreaming anymore, but a man that grew like the fruit of a tree. When he was thirsty the tree would rain water on him. The mud and leaves covered his naked form.

The man constructed a throne out of branches and mud. A ring of bark became his crown. And here he sat in the The Great Tree, the Hollow King  of the Hollow Forest.