Remember the dark forest? The one burning blackness for sky and lightness for leaves. The one that turns to stone in autumn.
The green leaves fade and ossify. Calcification in a collagen matrix. The whole woodland appears as stone. Still and abiding. Until, the breeze blows. Rocks break from limbs and strike the earth. Tiny plunks collectively accumulate into seismic activity.
It awakens her. The red woman. She sleeps happily until this time. She walks unaware daily. When the rocks fall, however, her scarlet nature awakens and she changes.
A fox stirs, popping up and trotting along. Investigating. Sniffing. Curious.
The red woman looks at it and the fox begins screaming laughter. The red woman joins in howling with the vixen kit.
When the shrill cries cease, they look at each other once more. Both turn away, and go about their business. The fox following newly awakened needs. The red woman follows the scent of that which must be handled.
WrittenCasey 