Wormwood III When we activated the time turner, there was a piercing silence as the portal appeared. We stepped through the gate and all senses were immediately dulled to mute. The air vanished from my lungs. All was stark white. There was no sense of travel or movement. I was left with only my own awareness, like imagining non-existence. Colors slowly appeared. Trees took form around me. A water color painted across my field of vision. Two dark figures materialized in front of me and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing my comrades had arrived safely beside me. We stood in silence as the world solidified around us. What had been a lush green meadow in our time, was now a decaying mass that crunched beneath our feet as we took our first steps. Living, breathing trees had become dried up husks like used kindling. Enormous buildings loomed in every direction dissolving into the abysmal, eternal vault of the textureless sky. The divide between central park and the city proper was harsh, and sudden. The elders had warned us of cars, but they failed to mention their abundance or sheer volume. The noise was thunderous, inescapable. Brightly lit billboards advertised various medicines and fast food chains, as if they were one and the same. All-American propaganda design to control and manipulate. One could not look in any direction with out meeting the horrible mouth of an oddly tanned politician screaming obscenities. We wandered up to a store that sold televisions. The devices were hanging on a wall in a massive array. Each blaring an invasive barrage of information. One screen depicted pointed objects flying across a city ravaged by many years of war. Another showed a person blissfully enjoying a crystal clear glass of water. Up until this point, I hadn’t even realized how parched I was. We walked for miles through market after market in search of water. This was not as easy as locating a spring or river, or collecting the rain water as we were used to. While we aimless wandered the city, a bright blue building demanded our attention. The face of this building was covered in screens displaying an endless loop of a young woman drinking a bottle of water. Between sips she smiled as she said, “Aqueous, Life: ONE DROP AT A TIME.” Quinn Grabbed the attention of a man walking by. “Excuse me sir, do you know where we can find water?” He paused for a moment before he replied…“What do you mean find water? No one just finds water!? The Aqueous corporation owns and protects all the drinkable water on the planet. Collecting water is illegal, SO WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?!” He spit as he pushed past us. We knew if we were to participate in this society, we would be trapped within poverty, malnutrition, and systemic oppression. We would perpetually struggle just to survive. At that moment, a stranger approached us. “You must come with me, people are beginning to notice you. Especially that fellow you spoke to about water. I am from a place you may seek refuge among like minded radicals. I know who you are and WHEN you’re from. Quinn’s eyes widened! “Why Should we trust you?!” The stranger snapped back, “Relax, everything will be explained. There is a village established by the rebels who refuse to give in to the inequitable food and water laws.” We saw a set of police officers down an alleyway. We embarked immediately to avoid any unwanted attention. The stranger led us to railroad tracks where we boarded a slow moving freight train. The wheels clattered a monotonous rhythm through the night as we climbed through the mountains. Glancing out from the train I could see vast fires burning in the distance. I could see animals migrating to escape the forest in flames. Dead fish floating in lakes. Rivers the color of amber and dark brown. I felt grateful to be born after the defilement before my eyes. This was not a time of peace, though rhythm of the wheels sung me into hypnotic serenity. We arrived at Silva Sanctuary and were greeting with warm embraces from weary eyes, skeptical but trusting. A wise well spoken women welcomed us. “My name is Redwing. It is my pleasure to meet you all. The three of you will find comfort here. She motioned for us to follow her. As we walked along the paths, we were met with smiles and nods. Expressions of friendship and kinsship. The shelters in this settlement were much different than our own back home. Made of a hardened mixture of clay and straw, these structures made for a temperate domicile. Each roof had a system of water collection drains that fed into a cistern. Each home had a chimney with a gentle smoke pillar rising from within. The villagers used timber for cooking, heating, and to purify the collected water. All of their water was sourced from a hidden spring. They grew the foods they preferred. Foraged plants and mushrooms and hunted for various animals. They never went hungry. The Earth provided for them in the forest. At the end of a long path we came to a large dwelling that was much different than the rest. A domed structure built of timber that appeared as though it could hold the entire population of the village. Redwing guided us to the entrance. “This is the home of the Elders. You must speak with them and explain your purpose here. You can not stay if the elders deem you unfit to remain in our community.” As we entered, a shadowed figure with tremendous antlers in the center of the room crooned… “Come in Peace and you shall be received. I am Enoch, I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now.”

Wormwood III When we activated the time turner, there was a piercing silence as the portal appeared. We stepped through the gate and all senses were immediately dulled to mute. The air vanished from my lungs. All was stark white. There was no sense of travel or movement. I was left with only my own awareness, like imagining non-existence. Colors slowly appeared. Trees took form around me. A water color painted across my field of vision. Two dark figures materialized in front of me and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing my comrades had arrived safely beside me. We stood in silence as the world solidified around us. What had been a lush green meadow in our time, was now a decaying mass that crunched beneath our feet as we took our first steps. Living, breathing trees had become dried up husks like used kindling. Enormous buildings loomed in every direction dissolving into the abysmal, eternal vault of the textureless sky. The divide between central park and the city proper was harsh, and sudden. The elders had warned us of cars, but they failed to mention their abundance or sheer volume. The noise was thunderous, inescapable. Brightly lit billboards advertised various medicines and fast food chains, as if they were one and the same. All-American propaganda design to control and manipulate. One could not look in any direction with out meeting the horrible mouth of an oddly tanned politician screaming obscenities. We wandered up to a store that sold televisions. The devices were hanging on a wall in a massive array. Each blaring an invasive barrage of information. One screen depicted pointed objects flying across a city ravaged by many years of war. Another showed a person blissfully enjoying a crystal clear glass of water. Up until this point, I hadn’t even realized how parched I was. We walked for miles through market after market in search of water. This was not as easy as locating a spring or river, or collecting the rain water as we were used to. While we aimless wandered the city, a bright blue building demanded our attention. The face of this building was covered in screens displaying an endless loop of a young woman drinking a bottle of water. Between sips she smiled as she said, “Aqueous, Life: ONE DROP AT A TIME.” Quinn Grabbed the attention of a man walking by. “Excuse me sir, do you know where we can find water?” He paused for a moment before he replied…“What do you mean find water? No one just finds water!? The Aqueous corporation owns and protects all the drinkable water on the planet. Collecting water is illegal, SO WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?!” He spit as he pushed past us. We knew if we were to participate in this society, we would be trapped within poverty, malnutrition, and systemic oppression. We would perpetually struggle just to survive. At that moment, a stranger approached us. “You must come with me, people are beginning to notice you. Especially that fellow you spoke to about water. I am from a place you may seek refuge among like minded radicals. I know who you are and WHEN you’re from. Quinn’s eyes widened! “Why Should we trust you?!” The stranger snapped back, “Relax, everything will be explained. There is a village established by the rebels who refuse to give in to the inequitable food and water laws.” We saw a set of police officers down an alleyway. We embarked immediately to avoid any unwanted attention. The stranger led us to railroad tracks where we boarded a slow moving freight train. The wheels clattered a monotonous rhythm through the night as we climbed through the mountains. Glancing out from the train I could see vast fires burning in the distance. I could see animals migrating to escape the forest in flames. Dead fish floating in lakes. Rivers the color of amber and dark brown. I felt grateful to be born after the defilement before my eyes. This was not a time of peace, though rhythm of the wheels sung me into hypnotic serenity. We arrived at Silva Sanctuary and were greeting with warm embraces from weary eyes, skeptical but trusting. A wise well spoken women welcomed us. “My name is Redwing. It is my pleasure to meet you all. The three of you will find comfort here. She motioned for us to follow her. As we walked along the paths, we were met with smiles and nods. Expressions of friendship and kinsship. The shelters in this settlement were much different than our own back home. Made of a hardened mixture of clay and straw, these structures made for a temperate domicile. Each roof had a system of water collection drains that fed into a cistern. Each home had a chimney with a gentle smoke pillar rising from within. The villagers used timber for cooking, heating, and to purify the collected water. All of their water was sourced from a hidden spring. They grew the foods they preferred. Foraged plants and mushrooms and hunted for various animals. They never went hungry. The Earth provided for them in the forest. At the end of a long path we came to a large dwelling that was much different than the rest. A domed structure built of timber that appeared as though it could hold the entire population of the village. Redwing guided us to the entrance. “This is the home of the Elders. You must speak with them and explain your purpose here. You can not stay if the elders deem you unfit to remain in our community.” As we entered, a shadowed figure with tremendous antlers in the center of the room crooned… “Come in Peace and you shall be received. I am Enoch, I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now.”

Wormwood III When we activated the time turner, there was a piercing silence as the portal appeared. We stepped through the gate and all senses were immediately dulled to mute. The air vanished from my lungs. All was stark white. There was no sense of travel or movement. I was left with only my own awareness, like imagining non-existence. Colors slowly appeared. Trees took form around me. A water color painted across my field of vision. Two dark figures materialized in front of me and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing my comrades had arrived safely beside me. We stood in silence as the world solidified around us. What had been a lush green meadow in our time, was now a decaying mass that crunched beneath our feet as we took our first steps. Living, breathing trees had become dried up husks like used kindling. Enormous buildings loomed in every direction dissolving into the abysmal, eternal vault of the textureless sky. The divide between central park and the city proper was harsh, and sudden. The elders had warned us of cars, but they failed to mention their abundance or sheer volume. The noise was thunderous, inescapable. Brightly lit billboards advertised various medicines and fast food chains, as if they were one and the same. All-American propaganda design to control and manipulate. One could not look in any direction with out meeting the horrible mouth of an oddly tanned politician screaming obscenities. We wandered up to a store that sold televisions. The devices were hanging on a wall in a massive array. Each blaring an invasive barrage of information. One screen depicted pointed objects flying across a city ravaged by many years of war. Another showed a person blissfully enjoying a crystal clear glass of water. Up until this point, I hadn’t even realized how parched I was. We walked for miles through market after market in search of water. This was not as easy as locating a spring or river, or collecting the rain water as we were used to. While we aimless wandered the city, a bright blue building demanded our attention. The face of this building was covered in screens displaying an endless loop of a young woman drinking a bottle of water. Between sips she smiled as she said, “Aqueous, Life: ONE DROP AT A TIME.” Quinn Grabbed the attention of a man walking by. “Excuse me sir, do you know where we can find water?” He paused for a moment before he replied…“What do you mean find water? No one just finds water!? The Aqueous corporation owns and protects all the drinkable water on the planet. Collecting water is illegal, SO WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?!” He spit as he pushed past us. We knew if we were to participate in this society, we would be trapped within poverty, malnutrition, and systemic oppression. We would perpetually struggle just to survive. At that moment, a stranger approached us. “You must come with me, people are beginning to notice you. Especially that fellow you spoke to about water. I am from a place you may seek refuge among like minded radicals. I know who you are and WHEN you’re from. Quinn’s eyes widened! “Why Should we trust you?!” The stranger snapped back, “Relax, everything will be explained. There is a village established by the rebels who refuse to give in to the inequitable food and water laws.” We saw a set of police officers down an alleyway. We embarked immediately to avoid any unwanted attention. The stranger led us to railroad tracks where we boarded a slow moving freight train. The wheels clattered a monotonous rhythm through the night as we climbed through the mountains. Glancing out from the train I could see vast fires burning in the distance. I could see animals migrating to escape the forest in flames. Dead fish floating in lakes. Rivers the color of amber and dark brown. I felt grateful to be born after the defilement before my eyes. This was not a time of peace, though rhythm of the wheels sung me into hypnotic serenity. We arrived at Silva Sanctuary and were greeting with warm embraces from weary eyes, skeptical but trusting. A wise well spoken women welcomed us. “My name is Redwing. It is my pleasure to meet you all. The three of you will find comfort here. She motioned for us to follow her. As we walked along the paths, we were met with smiles and nods. Expressions of friendship and kinsship. The shelters in this settlement were much different than our own back home. Made of a hardened mixture of clay and straw, these structures made for a temperate domicile. Each roof had a system of water collection drains that fed into a cistern. Each home had a chimney with a gentle smoke pillar rising from within. The villagers used timber for cooking, heating, and to purify the collected water. All of their water was sourced from a hidden spring. They grew the foods they preferred. Foraged plants and mushrooms and hunted for various animals. They never went hungry. The Earth provided for them in the forest. At the end of a long path we came to a large dwelling that was much different than the rest. A domed structure built of timber that appeared as though it could hold the entire population of the village. Redwing guided us to the entrance. “This is the home of the Elders. You must speak with them and explain your purpose here. You can not stay if the elders deem you unfit to remain in our community.” As we entered, a shadowed figure with tremendous antlers in the center of the room crooned… “Come in Peace and you shall be received. I am Enoch, I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now.”

Wormwood III When we activated the time turner, there was a piercing silence as the portal appeared. We stepped through the gate and all senses were immediately dulled to mute. The air vanished from my lungs. All was stark white. There was no sense of travel or movement. I was left with only my own awareness, like imagining non-existence. Colors slowly appeared. Trees took form around me. A water color painted across my field of vision. Two dark figures materialized in front of me and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing my comrades had arrived safely beside me. We stood in silence as the world solidified around us. What had been a lush green meadow in our time, was now a decaying mass that crunched beneath our feet as we took our first steps. Living, breathing trees had become dried up husks like used kindling. Enormous buildings loomed in every direction dissolving into the abysmal, eternal vault of the textureless sky. The divide between central park and the city proper was harsh, and sudden. The elders had warned us of cars, but they failed to mention their abundance or sheer volume. The noise was thunderous, inescapable. Brightly lit billboards advertised various medicines and fast food chains, as if they were one and the same. All-American propaganda design to control and manipulate. One could not look in any direction with out meeting the horrible mouth of an oddly tanned politician screaming obscenities. We wandered up to a store that sold televisions. The devices were hanging on a wall in a massive array. Each blaring an invasive barrage of information. One screen depicted pointed objects flying across a city ravaged by many years of war. Another showed a person blissfully enjoying a crystal clear glass of water. Up until this point, I hadn’t even realized how parched I was. We walked for miles through market after market in search of water. This was not as easy as locating a spring or river, or collecting the rain water as we were used to. While we aimless wandered the city, a bright blue building demanded our attention. The face of this building was covered in screens displaying an endless loop of a young woman drinking a bottle of water. Between sips she smiled as she said, “Aqueous, Life: ONE DROP AT A TIME.” Quinn Grabbed the attention of a man walking by. “Excuse me sir, do you know where we can find water?” He paused for a moment before he replied…“What do you mean find water? No one just finds water!? The Aqueous corporation owns and protects all the drinkable water on the planet. Collecting water is illegal, SO WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?!” He spit as he pushed past us. We knew if we were to participate in this society, we would be trapped within poverty, malnutrition, and systemic oppression. We would perpetually struggle just to survive. At that moment, a stranger approached us. “You must come with me, people are beginning to notice you. Especially that fellow you spoke to about water. I am from a place you may seek refuge among like minded radicals. I know who you are and WHEN you’re from. Quinn’s eyes widened! “Why Should we trust you?!” The stranger snapped back, “Relax, everything will be explained. There is a village established by the rebels who refuse to give in to the inequitable food and water laws.” We saw a set of police officers down an alleyway. We embarked immediately to avoid any unwanted attention. The stranger led us to railroad tracks where we boarded a slow moving freight train. The wheels clattered a monotonous rhythm through the night as we climbed through the mountains. Glancing out from the train I could see vast fires burning in the distance. I could see animals migrating to escape the forest in flames. Dead fish floating in lakes. Rivers the color of amber and dark brown. I felt grateful to be born after the defilement before my eyes. This was not a time of peace, though rhythm of the wheels sung me into hypnotic serenity. We arrived at Silva Sanctuary and were greeting with warm embraces from weary eyes, skeptical but trusting. A wise well spoken women welcomed us. “My name is Redwing. It is my pleasure to meet you all. The three of you will find comfort here. She motioned for us to follow her. As we walked along the paths, we were met with smiles and nods. Expressions of friendship and kinsship. The shelters in this settlement were much different than our own back home. Made of a hardened mixture of clay and straw, these structures made for a temperate domicile. Each roof had a system of water collection drains that fed into a cistern. Each home had a chimney with a gentle smoke pillar rising from within. The villagers used timber for cooking, heating, and to purify the collected water. All of their water was sourced from a hidden spring. They grew the foods they preferred. Foraged plants and mushrooms and hunted for various animals. They never went hungry. The Earth provided for them in the forest. At the end of a long path we came to a large dwelling that was much different than the rest. A domed structure built of timber that appeared as though it could hold the entire population of the village. Redwing guided us to the entrance. “This is the home of the Elders. You must speak with them and explain your purpose here. You can not stay if the elders deem you unfit to remain in our community.” As we entered, a shadowed figure with tremendous antlers in the center of the room crooned… “Come in Peace and you shall be received. I am Enoch, I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now.”

Wormwood III When we activated the time turner, there was a piercing silence as the portal appeared. We stepped through the gate and all senses were immediately dulled to mute. The air vanished from my lungs. All was stark white. There was no sense of travel or movement. I was left with only my own awareness, like imagining non-existence. Colors slowly appeared. Trees took form around me. A water color painted across my field of vision. Two dark figures materialized in front of me and I felt an overwhelming sense of relief knowing my comrades had arrived safely beside me. We stood in silence as the world solidified around us. What had been a lush green meadow in our time, was now a decaying mass that crunched beneath our feet as we took our first steps. Living, breathing trees had become dried up husks like used kindling. Enormous buildings loomed in every direction dissolving into the abysmal, eternal vault of the textureless sky. The divide between central park and the city proper was harsh, and sudden. The elders had warned us of cars, but they failed to mention their abundance or sheer volume. The noise was thunderous, inescapable. Brightly lit billboards advertised various medicines and fast food chains, as if they were one and the same. All-American propaganda design to control and manipulate. One could not look in any direction with out meeting the horrible mouth of an oddly tanned politician screaming obscenities. We wandered up to a store that sold televisions. The devices were hanging on a wall in a massive array. Each blaring an invasive barrage of information. One screen depicted pointed objects flying across a city ravaged by many years of war. Another showed a person blissfully enjoying a crystal clear glass of water. Up until this point, I hadn’t even realized how parched I was. We walked for miles through market after market in search of water. This was not as easy as locating a spring or river, or collecting the rain water as we were used to. While we aimless wandered the city, a bright blue building demanded our attention. The face of this building was covered in screens displaying an endless loop of a young woman drinking a bottle of water. Between sips she smiled as she said, “Aqueous, Life: ONE DROP AT A TIME.” Quinn Grabbed the attention of a man walking by. “Excuse me sir, do you know where we can find water?” He paused for a moment before he replied…“What do you mean find water? No one just finds water!? The Aqueous corporation owns and protects all the drinkable water on the planet. Collecting water is illegal, SO WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT?!” He spit as he pushed past us. We knew if we were to participate in this society, we would be trapped within poverty, malnutrition, and systemic oppression. We would perpetually struggle just to survive. At that moment, a stranger approached us. “You must come with me, people are beginning to notice you. Especially that fellow you spoke to about water. I am from a place you may seek refuge among like minded radicals. I know who you are and WHEN you’re from. Quinn’s eyes widened! “Why Should we trust you?!” The stranger snapped back, “Relax, everything will be explained. There is a village established by the rebels who refuse to give in to the inequitable food and water laws.” We saw a set of police officers down an alleyway. We embarked immediately to avoid any unwanted attention. The stranger led us to railroad tracks where we boarded a slow moving freight train. The wheels clattered a monotonous rhythm through the night as we climbed through the mountains. Glancing out from the train I could see vast fires burning in the distance. I could see animals migrating to escape the forest in flames. Dead fish floating in lakes. Rivers the color of amber and dark brown. I felt grateful to be born after the defilement before my eyes. This was not a time of peace, though rhythm of the wheels sung me into hypnotic serenity. We arrived at Silva Sanctuary and were greeting with warm embraces from weary eyes, skeptical but trusting. A wise well spoken women welcomed us. “My name is Redwing. It is my pleasure to meet you all. The three of you will find comfort here. She motioned for us to follow her. As we walked along the paths, we were met with smiles and nods. Expressions of friendship and kinsship. The shelters in this settlement were much different than our own back home. Made of a hardened mixture of clay and straw, these structures made for a temperate domicile. Each roof had a system of water collection drains that fed into a cistern. Each home had a chimney with a gentle smoke pillar rising from within. The villagers used timber for cooking, heating, and to purify the collected water. All of their water was sourced from a hidden spring. They grew the foods they preferred. Foraged plants and mushrooms and hunted for various animals. They never went hungry. The Earth provided for them in the forest. At the end of a long path we came to a large dwelling that was much different than the rest. A domed structure built of timber that appeared as though it could hold the entire population of the village. Redwing guided us to the entrance. “This is the home of the Elders. You must speak with them and explain your purpose here. You can not stay if the elders deem you unfit to remain in our community.” As we entered, a shadowed figure with tremendous antlers in the center of the room crooned… “Come in Peace and you shall be received. I am Enoch, I have been awaiting your arrival for some time now.”