A talking tree that tells stories of the past

Hollowbrook's great oak is so old that nobody remembers a time before it, and when nine-year-old Wren asks aloud about the village's past, it answers.

Elder Oak and the Story Rings

At the edge of a quiet village called Hollowbrook stood an enormous oak tree, so old that nobody could remember a time before it. Its trunk was wide enough for six children to circle with outstretched arms, and its branches spread like a great green umbrella over the village green.

Most people hurried past it without a glance. They were busy with market days and chores, and a tree, after all, was only a tree.

But a nine-year-old girl named Wren was different. She loved to sit beneath the oak with her back against the bark, drawing in her sketchbook. One late autumn afternoon, as golden leaves drifted down around her, she sighed.

"I wish I knew what this village was like long ago," she said to no one in particular. "Everything feels so ordinary now."

Creeeak.

Wren looked up. The branches rustled, though there was no wind. Then a deep, slow voice, like wood groaning in a gentle breeze, rolled down from above.

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Quick answers about A talking tree that tells stories of the past

What is A talking tree that tells stories of the past about?

Hollowbrook's great oak is so old that nobody remembers a time before it, and when nine-year-old Wren asks aloud about the village's past, it answers.

Is A talking tree that tells stories of the past free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.