This is an entry for the Word Story Prompt Challenge coordinated and managed under @jayna's skillful hands.

In this round, our prompt is "Forest."

I think I'm getting into the habit of wanting to add some backstory to some of my little 50 word stories. I don't know if it's cheating to use this technique to bypass the limited words of a 50 word story and add extra color and meaning in the guise of a preface, but I'm doing it anyway. It's the blockchain. You can't stop me (you can only flag me, and then I shall rise more powerful than ever before! Or something.)

Anyway, I was born and raised in Wisconsin, and in the far northern regions of the state they still have massive white pine forests, original growth of some 200 to 500 years old. Logging in Wisconsin really took off after the state forced the local indian tribes to give their land to the US, thus opening the lands to logging activity. Most of the forests were logged off during the construction boom of the great cities of Chicago and Milwaukee, using the Wisconsin River as the conduit to transport their timber. Still, the north still contains some remnants of these stately forests.

...For the Trees

A forest of white pine, eternal and untouched. Thick roots grasping deep into the soil, seeking out strength and stability. Beneath the canopy, deer leap and raccoons scamper. Even the birds that flutter from branch to branch are complacent in their safety.

In the distance, a chainsaw roars to life.

Title photo assembed by @negativer using Canva from image provided by Pexels.

Old pine tree harvesting historical photo from Free-Images.com

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