As the light of the horizon dimmed and the figure fell into sleep, the lush fauna slowly began to embrace the slumbering body.

The sweet whispers of the autumn wind promised deep peace as they gently rustled the blanketing leaves.

Bare skin painted silver by the light of the moon shone out from under the comforter of moss.

Skin pulled gaunt over weak bones peaking like mountains forming a fragile ribcage, barely stirring in the night.

Slowly the porcelain casing fell away from its frame and the great mournful breath was released from its prison.

The flesh fell away to the tender clumps of mushroom that broke through the stomach, and soft blossoms bloomed inside the faintly shuddering lungs.

Dandelion puffs lined the raw throat and floated gently through the nose and mouth.

Behind the red-rimmed eyes, the cool night dew collected and ran like tears down the worn paths upon two sunken cheeks.

The emptiness so long nestled in the heart was finally broken through by thick tendrils of oaken roots and released to a starry sky.

Heavy ghosts of white mist drifted over the corpse, carrying a shadow in their arms.

The shadow fell over the corpse in great sorrow and wept salty tears of a harvest storm.

Even the stars hid from such agony and instead, the heavens embraced the pair in a thick blanket.

When the pain had flooded the woods and the suffering had soaked the moss, the corpse was carefully lifted into gentle arms.

The earth releases the frail form from its swaddling grasp, into the care of the shadows love.

The shadow stood in the gathering light of dawn, the dew from the night evaporating to the sky.

Waking life stirred within the forest as the last of the dark hues retreated from the shining day, and the dandelion puffs lingered on tender-hooks.

The last of the night air blew through the old trees, and the creaking whispers of a new start welcomed the morning, and the shadow was swept away with the departing mist.