Word: Ramiform

 

ramiform

[ ram-uh-fawrm ]

adjective

1. having the form of a branch; branchlike.
2. branched.

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               The campground was filled with children. A handful of adults struggled to keep them from going off into the woods. It was not a particularly dangerous place, being a well used campground, but it would be very easy for the kids of get lost and wander too far away.

               The kids went in all different directions. Some wanted to go exploring. Others wanted to find the nearest place to swim. Others wanted to start a campfire to toast marshmallows, despite it being the middle of the day.

               There was so much going on that nobody noticed the old man wander in until he was already in the middle of the large clearing. He was dressed in robes that looked to be made of bark and vines. His boots were thick and worn. And he had twigs and leaves in his hair in a wild mess that did not seem so chaotic when looked at close enough. In his hand he held a large staff. It was completely straight, save for the top. It seemed like a miniature tree, with a myriad of small, bare branches growing out of the knob at the top.

               The man raised the staff a small amount and brought it down. A silent pulse of something radiated out. Nobody could tell what had happened, but they all knew something had. Even the youngest and most energetic child stopped and turned to the old man. The camp councilors went to approach the stranger, aiming to find out what he wanted. The man spoke before anyone else.

               “The forest has felt a presence. A new keeper has been chosen. One of you gathered here, in this false wilderness. I shall bring this one to the true wilds, where they shall be taught the old ways. The true ways. For the rest of you, you can carry on as you always have. Now, who here can see the true form of my staff?”

               The old man held the staff in front of him and waited. Nobody said anything. His worn brow wrinkled even more than it already was.

               “Ah. I see. None of you know what this staff is. To most, it will appear as a normal thing. Little more than a walking stick with an unusual head. But to one chosen by the forest, it will appear as much more. To one such as that, it will be a thing alive. Now, which among you sees it as such?”

               This time one of the smallest children took a few small, hesitant steps forward. The adults tried to stop the child, but the old man waved them away.

               “What do you see boy?”

               “I see it has a bunch of weird leaves and things like little light bugs on it. And there’s a few little berries and stuff.” The boy said quietly.

               The old man nodded. “Very good. Very good indeed. Hm, but you are quite small. How old are you?”

               “I’m six.”

               “Ah, I see. Too young still. You still need your parents to tend to you. Hm. Very well. As it is too soon yet, I shall leave without you. But we shall meet again. On your 13^th birthday, I shall appear again. We shall being your training then, although you will still remain in the care of your parents. On your 16^th birthday, we shall leave the comforts of your home to journey into the true wilderness, where your training shall truly begin. Now, hold out your right hand. I shall give you a mark so that I may find you when the time is right.”

               The boy, not sure what else to do, and not know his right from his left yet, held out both his hands. The old man raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. He held the head of the staff over the boy’s right hand. The branches seemed to glow slightly and a light appeared over the boy’s hand. It was small and soon formed the shape of a tree with a large canopy. It started dark, but rapidly faded until it could barely be seen when looking closely.

               “I have found what I was looking for.” The old man said. “I shall depart and leave you all to enjoy your time here.”

               And with that, he left. The kids all gathered around the boy, trying to see the mark on his hand. The adults spoke quietly to each other, wondering what had just happened and what they should do. No answers were to be found, leaving only more and more questions as the day wore on.

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I am oddly disappointed that this word has nothing to do with rams. I mean, it seems like it should considering the first three letters, but it doesn't. Ah well, such is life.