Am I the only one hung up on the image of Fauna breastfeeding one of these saplings?
Just picture Fauna finding a lost sapling out in the woods at night, tired, scared, and hungry. She lets it bounce up into her loving arms and embraces the poor, shivering, scared little sapling with all the warmth she can muster. It whimpers softly. It's losing color in its leaves. It's starving.
That's when Fauna smiles and whispers to the sapling that everything will be alright. She pulls down her dress and draws the sapling closer. Her motherly affection resonates, and childlike instinct compels the quivering sapling's lips to furtively latch onto her breast. The sapling is so cold, but mommy's skin is so warm. Its leaves wiggle with delight. The sapling teases her nipple with its tongue. Fauna giggles at the sensation, gently rubbing its head to encourage it. The sweet taste of milk, however, is enough to incite the sapling to begin suckling more and more, before slowing into long, smooth gulps. The fearful tears at the edges of its eyes have dried, and are replaced by a serene, almost blissful expression as warm milk fills its belly and mommy's hand caresses its head.
Fauna whispers that everything will be alright now. Everything will be okay. The color returns to the sapling's cheeks as mommy's sweet, creamy milk nurses it back to life. Its suckling slows. Its lips unlatch. It looks up at Fauna, and a small burp rises from its throat. Fauna giggles. The sapling smiles. Fixing her dress, Fauna brings the sapling back into a cradle, turning back towards her cottage and into the peaceful night.
