The First Tree: The Bridge of Life and the Stars

The First Tree is not like any other tree in the forest. Ancient beyond memory, it is said to have been the first living thing to rise from the earth, born in a time when the world was new and untamed. Its roots stretch deeper than any wolf has ever ventured, touching the core of the earth where the heartbeat of life itself pulses. Its branches, wide and strong, reach high into the sky, brushing against the fabric of the night, where the stars hang like distant lanterns.

The wolves believe that the First Tree is the source of all life in the forest. It feeds the land, the rivers, the animals, and the pack itself. Its roots weave a delicate web beneath the ground, connecting every living thing—every blade of grass, every tree, every creature—to the heartbeat of the earth. In this way, the forest is not a collection of separate lives, but one great, breathing organism, bound together by the life force of the First Tree.

But the power of the First Tree does not stop there.

The First Tree also connects the forest to the heavens. As its roots bind the earth, its branches link the world to the stars. The wolves speak of a harmony that exists between the earth and the sky, a balance that can only be understood by those who listen deeply. At night, when the stars are bright and the moon is full, the First Tree’s leaves shimmer with a faint glow, reflecting the light of the stars above. In those moments, the boundary between the earth and the sky thins, and the wolves say they can feel the energy of the stars flowing down into the land, filling the forest with the wisdom of the cosmos.

This connection between the First Tree and the stars is what allows the wolves to read the night sky. It is said that the First Tree teaches them to follow the patterns of the stars, to understand their movements, and to feel the rhythm of the universe. When the wolves howl at the moon, they are not just calling to the sky—they are singing in harmony with the stars, their voices guided by the First Tree’s wisdom. They believe that the stars, like the roots of the tree, are part of the same web of life, and that by understanding this connection, they can better navigate the world below.

There is a sacred ceremony that the wolves hold once a year, known as the Night of the Starweave. On this night, the pack gathers beneath the First Tree, their eyes lifted to the sky. The stars seem to pulse in time with the sway of the tree’s branches, and the wolves howl together, weaving their voices into the fabric of the night. In those moments, they feel the connection between the earth, the forest, and the stars, and they know they are part of something vast and eternal.

It is said that the First Tree was planted by the moon itself, as a gift to the earth, to create a bridge between the realms of the sky and the world below. Its roots give life to the forest, its branches bring wisdom from the stars, and its presence ensures that the wolves, the land, and the heavens are forever connected in harmony.

So long as the First Tree stands, the balance will be maintained. The forest will thrive, the wolves will sing, and the stars will continue to guide their way through the night.