The transition from starving desperation to sudden abundance was almost as jarring as the arrival of the black fog itself. As John led his weary companions back along the thin, flickering path he had carved, the anticipation in the air was thick. When the massive silhouette of the ancient tree finally materialised at the end of their path, the group's discipline shattered.
"I can't believe how tasty they are!!" Elena exclaimed, her face stained with the dark blue juice of the fruit.
The moment they reached the trunk, the four of them practically turned into monkeys. They scrambled up the gnarled bark with a frantic energy that defied their supposed exhaustion. John watched them from a lower branch; he had already sated the worst of his hunger, so he focused on plucking the fruit and storing it.
