Thalia found her daily gathering wander had taken her further afield than usual today. It was as if an indescribable force was pulling her to the swamps she usually steered clear of. No matter the time of day, the area was permanently cast in shadow. This was mostly thanks to the overhanging weeping willow trees whose branches stretched far and low, creating a curtain of dangling limbs in which to trap unknowing young drifters. The usually weary girl was drawn in by the alluring sight of plump and promising mushrooms. Thalia brushed a leaf-weighted branch to the side and pushed through into a clearing.
Immediately, the young human girl was enamoured by the sight before her. In the clearing, more light pierced through the trees, creating glistening spotlights. Thriving in the sunlight was a bountiful mushroom patch. Thalia didn’t hesitate to hitch her skirts and begin gathering. She didn’t stop to think how bizarre it was that such a variety of edible fungi was so conveniently gathered in one easy-to-traverse, visible opening. An oddity she would’ve been more cautious of had it not been for the hypnotising spores that had been affecting her since the moment she stepped foot into the swamp.