The jungle trees parted way to the spectacular blue color of the vast, almost perfectly spherical lake in the center of the jungle. The only interruption to the lake's circumference being the many mountain streams leading to, and streams draining from. This lake really was HUGE, even while squinting my eagle eyes, the opposite side of the lake was impossible to discern, not that I care about the other side. What I came here for is that big ol, towering, white-leaved, tree of blue-y goodness, and boy has it delivered!

I could hardly breathe while observing this awesome aspect of nature's glory, I was to busy etching it into my memories! The sight from my birth cave made it hard to fully appreciate how massive the tree was, seeing it up close is totally surreal! A tree this big shouldn't even be possible! The girth alone! Like 20 trees wrapped together, stretched out, and painted with a fresh coat of light blue! And now that I can see it closer, there's nice little shades of green mixed in the bark too. So pretty!

Let's not ignore those leaves tho!

Pure, alabaster, leaves of shimmering ivory, like tiny radiant stars. I can see thousands of them slowing cascading and raining down the length of the blue tree's figure, like a magical snow contained to the tree's domain. Ironic considering it's smack dab in the middle of a sultry jungle!

I knew this tree was special! I must touch it! Dive into a pile of those leaves! Nestle somewhere high in that aqua canopy! Only the best tree is worthy of my presence! Oh, ignore the tree I just slept in, that one doesn't count.

The only issue is getting across the giant lake.

Unlike the stream I followed here, this lake is deep, and while the surface is clear, the bottom is shrouded by an impenetrable darkness. There could be any amount of scary and slimy things swimming around there, happy to feast on my beautiful booty! Even if it is completely safe, I can't swim, not that I've tried, but something in my bird blood is telling me to avoid submerging myself. I must fly over!

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Just to be completely sure, I walk to the lake's shore and dip a talon into the water, allowing the waves to wash up to my knee. Ewwww, why does it feel so yucky? I can't even describe how unnatural it feels! I promptly hop back away from the waves and shake the disturbing water off my leg. I knew it, I should have listened to my instincts, if I could go back in time and not do that, I would. Definitely not swimming over.

Can't swim, can't fly, yet, but I know what must be done!

A boat. A nice, spacious, dark brown and most importantly, water tight boat will solve this issue! The reason this solution comes to mind is because, about 2 kilometers away next to a tiny wooden pier, is a nice, spacious, dark brown and hopefully, water tight boat idling in the water.

There's no one in the boat or on the pier, I can only assume someone has tied it off before leaving! A perfect chance!

I waddle furiously down the shoreline, careful to avoid and large waves or spray as I commit to the long trek. The unobstructed sun combined with the fresh air enhanced by the pristine lake, feels amazing. I'm fully energized by the environment and the promise of finally reaching that majestic blue tree dominating the jungle is great motivation to kick start my tail feathers into 6th gear.

If only birds were designed for running, this trip would be a sinch, well, to be fair, some birds are designed for running, but not me. These little legs are designed for tearing into blankets and squeezing branches, not movement. These wings are designed for soaring over the skies and shooting fireballs, not flapping awkwardly to maintain my balance as my tiny legs stumble over the sandy terrain.

Like I said earlier! Its all to toughen me up! To make me into a bad-ass bird of prey!

With my 'future dividend' mindset adopted, I run without further complaint for the better part of an hour, making it about 3/4ths of the distance in record time.

+ 1 Endurance

Progress has only slowed down because I'm facing a rather inhospitible hill of jagged stone. Stones and boulders five times the size of me are piled up obnoxiously to form a wall of stone, blocking my advance to the boat. Of course there's a wall, if its not one thing, its another. Because of the wall's structure it's impossible to gain any sort of purchase and climb over, I can't apply the same 'flap while walking vertically' method due to the stone's impenetrable properties.

I have no choice but to follow along the wall into the jungle and walk around, or alternatively, swim around the wall and be on the other side within the next few minutes.

Yep.

I say or think nothing more on the matter and begin walking into the jungle, yet again.