Forest Thoughts...

I, Isla, am recording my notes both on my own thoughts of this forest, and on this forest's thoughts. This is because it does seem to have thoughts. My investigations conclude that, each tree has its own manner of thinking or being, a sort of sentience even if it does not experience sentience in the exact same manner as I had expected. Further complications prove that every leaf on a tree, though contributing to the sentience of the tree as a collective, does have its own conscience and perspective, seemingly independent of the tree from which it grows. For every leaf fallen in the season of drying, the tree experiences mourning as if it has lost a dear friend. During the time when multiple leaves are falling at once, the tree experiences a depth of sorrow inaudible to ears but apparent upon further investigation.

Everything in this forest makes up a collective presence, "The Sweetleaf Forest." The Sweetleaf Forest somehow has its own mind made up of a collective of other minds, each 'type' of plant with its own predispositions and so its independence would seem to be something of an illusion, as it's 'type' only serves to contribute to the life cycle of the forest and the fauna it sustains.

This is not the forest I had wanted to research, but they share a certain...for lack of a better term, I'll call it an 'aura.' I shall note here that this is something I must investigate further.

Are all plants sentient? Are all forests 'beings'? Is it significant that the individual plant pieces in a forest system, feel their independence and yet are still very much confined to the system of the Sweetleaf Forest as a whole? Maybe I'm onto something...

Though I didn't intend to be directed to the Sweetleaf Forest, with any luck I can still use it to save the Auric Forest, on the brink of destruction from too much modern development too fast. The Sweetleaf Forest is a relatively healthy forest, seemingly independent of modern forces, although it does not lie near any valuable resources and so has not been plumbed.

The resources of this forest, invaluable? This place seems to be very valuable to those who take the time to come out here and look below surface appearances. But that's yet to be determined.

The Sweetleaf Forest, for some reason, has never produced fairies, although it shares a similar auric energies to forests that are famous for having produced fairies, such as the Auric forests.

I shall research this further after a brief rest in the Magical Girl World. Only hoping the Sanctum approves my research and does not direct me elsewhere.

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Isla's private thoughts, not added to the official recording: even if permission is not granted, I will still find a way to get there and continue my research as side work without the Sanctum's knowledge. I have learned a great deal about concealment magic on this particular journey, and will learn how to put it into practice. I've already begun forging a concealment charm to wear, though I don't have the energy to enchant it right now. This forest could be key to my goal, and I will not abandon it because its resources are deemed unimportant.

Unimportant. I have high disdain for humans' dismissal of every unfamiliar type of being as 'unimportant'. This is why humans understand so little. Resources notwithstanding, the Sweetleaf Forest self-sustains as a sanctuary of great peace, which is more than most of the world can seem to do, and it deserves respect.

End