Beneath the Canopy of Eternity

The jade forest stretched its lush arms beneath a sky dotted with light clouds. The bird moved slowly, its clumsy feet treading on a thick, soft carpet of moss. Its wings, still too weak to carry it, dragged slightly behind, but it didn't lose heart. Every step was an adventure, every glance a discovery.

The mana particles danced around it, like bluish fireflies, and the bird felt increasingly in harmony with this mysterious world. It pecked at seeds here and there, stopped to observe an insect or to listen to the rustling of the leaves. The forest was alive, and now it was part of it.

That's when it heard a strange sound. A loud *croak*, followed by a muffled little laugh.

"Hey, you! Weird bird!"

The bird turned its head and saw a frog sitting on a mossy rock. It was a vibrant green, with round, mischievous eyes that seemed to sparkle with intelligence.

"You can talk?" thought the bird, surprised.

"Of course I can talk!" replied the frog, as if it had heard its thoughts. "And you can talk too, apparently. Well, in your head. It's handy, saves you from shouting."

The bird blinked, perplexed. "How do you do that?"

The frog shrugged—or what passed for a shrug. "Dunno. It's a forest thing. Here, everyone can communicate if they want to. Well, almost everyone. The trees, they're a bit stuck-up."

The bird moved closer, intrigued. "Do you have a name?"

"Bunta. Bunta the frog, extraordinary adventurer and treasure hunter. And you?"

The bird thought for a moment. "I… I don't know. I don't have a name."

"No name?" Bunta seemed scandalized. "Well, we'll have to find you one. But first, you're coming with me. I need a partner for my quest."

"A quest?"

"Yes, a quest!" Bunta jumped off the rock and landed gracefully on the ground. "I'm looking for a black stone. Not just any stone, mind you. A magical one. They say it glows in the dark and can grant a wish. So, you in?"

The bird hesitated. "I can't fly yet. I'm slow."

"Don't worry, I don't fly either. And look at these legs!" Bunta did a little hop to prove her point. "We'll make a killer team. You look up, I look down. We'll find that stone in no time."

The bird couldn't help but feel a growing excitement. "Alright. I'll come with you."

"Great! Come on, nameless little one. Let's make this quest legendary."

Bunta led the way, hopping from rock to rock with astonishing agility. The bird followed as best it could, making its way through low branches and giant ferns.

"So, tell me, Bunta, why is this stone so important?" asked the bird, while avoiding a treacherous root.

"Because it's not just a stone, duh!" replied Bunta, scanning the ground. "They say it was created by the ancient spirits of the forest. Whoever finds it gets a wish. And I've got a wish in mind."

"What kind of wish?"

Bunta stopped and turned around, a mischievous smile on her lips. "I want to become the greatest adventurer of all time. Imagine: Bunta the Frog, heroine of the forests, discoverer of treasures, friend of weird birds… Sounds cool, right?"

The bird laughed—or made a sound that resembled a laugh. "Yeah, it sounds cool. And me, do you think I could get a wish too?"

"Of course! We'll share the stone. You'll get to fly, and I'll get famous. Everyone's happy."

They continued on their way, chatting and laughing. Bunta told wild stories about her past adventures—how she'd almost been swallowed by a giant fish in a pond, or how she'd tried to tame a beetle to use as a steed.

At one point, the bird tripped over a rock and rolled onto its side. Bunta burst out laughing. "Careful, clumsy! You're gonna turn into a featherball."

The bird got up, a little embarrassed. "I'm still learning, that's all."

"Don't worry, we're all a bit clumsy at first. The first time I tried to jump, I landed in a patch of nettles. You don't wanna know what I looked like after."

They laughed together, and the bird felt lighter. For the first time, it didn't feel alone anymore.

After several hours of walking, they stopped by a crystal-clear stream. The water sang softly as it cascaded over the rocks, and the mana particles danced on the surface, creating bluish reflections.

"Let's take a break here," declared Bunta, settling comfortably on a flat rock. "Nothing like a little rest before heading back into adventure."

The bird sat beside her, watching the water. "It's beautiful here."

"Yeah, the jade forest has that magical touch. Always something to discover."

They stayed silent for a moment, enjoying the tranquility. Then Bunta pulled out a small folded leaf from her bag—a bag she'd made from a giant leaf and a vine.

"Here, try this. It's jade flower honey. A real treat."

The bird pecked at the honey and was amazed by the sweet, floral taste. "It's incredible!"

"Told you. Alright, let's get moving soon. The black stone is waiting, and I feel like we're on the right track."

The bird nodded, full of enthusiasm. "Alright. Let's go."

As they set off again, the bird felt different. It wasn't alone anymore. It had a friend, a quest, and a whole forest to explore.

And somewhere deep inside, it knew this adventure was just the beginning.