I am finalizing the details with D-I Jack. He is working on coming up with an opening paragraph for TRR's side of this event. I have suggested a basic set up to him (Forest's main character ends up walking in the woods in the wake of a tragedy caused by the TRR character who flees into the woods from the act that s/he committs). He should be finishing his opener this weekend. In the meantime here is my opener:
"Mielikki woke up in a cold sweat after having a dream that her favorite maple tree had been destroyed by a rogue lumberjack. She saw a flickering orange glow outside her window and inspection of this revealed that her prized maple was ablaze. This realization made her feel like she had been punched in the stomach. She had planted the maple as a small child and grown up with it. She had her first kiss under its ruddy canopy. She cannot remember who she kissed there many decades ago but had become to consider this tree to be her best friend. She grabbed her cane and rushed outside to futilely attempt to douse the flames with her garden hose. Despite failing to stop the blaze, she noticed a gas can, a lighter, and footprints leading away from the tree toward the woods in the fire’s light. A sense of resolve grew in her. When the day breaks, she is going to find the arsonist bastard who had committed this violent assault on her best friend and get payback!"
Note that Mielikki shares a name with a Finnish forest goddess and she is probably too aged and frail to get "payback." Any feedback would be appreciated!
Second draft: "Mielikki woke up in a cold sweat after having a dream that her favorite maple tree had been destroyed by a rogue lumberjack. She saw a flickering orange glow lighting her room and was able to easily find and put on her glasses before looking out the window to see that her prized maple was ablaze. This realization made her feel like her stomach was being eaten by snakes. She had planted the maple as a small child and grown up with it. She had her first kiss under its ruddy canopy. She cannot remember who she kissed there many decades ago but had become to consider this tree to be her best friend. She had watched her son play under it before the incident. She grabbed her cane and rushed outside to futilely attempt to douse the flames with her garden hose. Despite failing to stop the blaze its light revealed a gas can, a lighter, and footprints leading away from the tree toward the woods. A sense of resolve grew in her. She went back inside and asked her wise old spider plant if she should follow the footprints and get revenge on the arsonist after sunrise. The spider plant whispered, 'Do it if your arthritis won’t stop you! You should go for a walk in the woods in any case because it will calm you.'"
I tried to highlight her old age and frailness without having to explain it outside of the prose.
