After what seemed like hours we came to a sudden change in biomes and
surprisingly, what seemed like a change in seasons as well. From middle of
summer to the beginning of winter. The air was cold and I noticed clouds of steam
rising with Kala’s every breath as he looked up at me, brow wrinkled in confusion,
still panting from the heat of a moment ago.
The great evergreen forest gave way to a space of deciduous trees, mostly various
types of maple, with no real transition between. Brown, broken maple leaves lay
scattered over moss and fallen branches.
The sudden lack of pine scent from needles crushed underfoot was shocking only
in that I hadn’t noticed it until it’s absence; now it smelled as if snow would begin
falling at any moment.
Looking up, the complex canopy of bare branches stood out against the sky, gray
and white with mottled clouds. Close and quiet.