A story of a tree and his quest to save his family.

(This is what a walking tree actually looks like):

There was once a walking palm tree named Arlo. Arlo was special because he was the only walking palm amongst his family of ordinary palm trees. Being the walking palm that he was, Arlo loved to wander but never strayed too far from home. That is, until all of the palm trees started to get sick...

Introduced In His Ordinary World:

Called To Action:

One day, Arlo was wandering past the river that flowed through the heart of the palm tree forest when he overheard some of the community elders talking in a hushed voice. This, of course, piqued his interest so Arlo made his way closer to eavesdrop. 

I heard that the other family of walking palms have the cure.

I guess Arlo is going to meet his family after all.

The Hero Is Reluctant:

After hearing this, Arlo revealed himself. "What do you mean," he exclaimed. "You guys are my family!"

The eldest palm, Reed, sighed. "We are your adoptive family little Arlo. When you were younger you liked to wander so much that you made your way from the Desert of the Walking Trees all the way to the Land of the Palms. Plus, you are the only one who is sick and can go.

"But I can't leave now! What will happen when I'm gone?"

Arlo answered, talking about the sickness that seemed to grip almost every palm tree in the land.

The Hero Is Encouraged By The Wise Old Man:

Reed swayed in the warm air for a moment before answering again. "You are the only one who has the ability to make the trek and has a connection with the walking trees. You will be doing more harm than good staying here for we grow weaker and weaker by the day. Soon we all will be affected. You're our only hope, Arlo."

First Threshold:

This struck a chord with Arlo. He didn't want the palms to die.

"Okay, I'll go. For you all," he resigned.

And so Reed told Arlo where the Desert of the Walking Trees was and sent the young tree on his way.

Tests And Helpers:

Arlo set off first down to the boundary of the Land of the Palms. This was the furthest he had ever wandered before because the land was surrounded by a thick twisting of thorns and wooden branches. "What to do, what to do..." the walking tree mused. He looked to the sky searching for inspiration when he noticed a large and looming venus fly trap.

Knowing that the venus fly trap could use his giant petals to take a bite out of the snarl, he looked around to find an offering to give to the plant. "Aha!" Arlo spotted a fly buzzing around a lilac. He quickly snatched him up and gave the fly to the fly trap.

"Thank you for that delicious meal. What can I do for you?" The fly trap asked as Arlo quickled pointed to the wall of thorns

Tests and Helpers:

"Thank you," Arlo yelled up to the large plant as he made his way out of the Land of the Palms through the bite in the thorn wall. He then walked for two days and nights before he came before another pothole in the road: an enormous lake. "This will take months the get around," Arlo said to himself.

"Psst." Arlo whipped down to the ground to face the source of the noise. It was the coming from the floor of moss beneath him.

"We can help you get across," whispered the moss. "But first, you need to tell us where you're going and we will judge if it is a worth our efforts."

Arlo was conflicted. He didn't know the moss's intentions but when he looked back at the expanse of water he conceded. "My family is sick so I am making my way to the Desert of the Walking Trees to find the cure."

The moss hummed to itself momentarily, pondering the extent of his plight before starting to stretch itself over the water making a bridge for Arlo.