I chose to tell this story out of my fascination with nature and Shintoism. The idea that gods inhabit different natural habitats and forces is very interesting to me. The concept of kami, spirits that exist alongside humans rather than above them inspired my interpretation of the Forest Spirit and its relationship with C. Rather than portraying the spirit as godlike, I wanted to explore an equal friendship between a human and a mythical being. When C encounters the larger Spirit of Nature, she learns that harmony requires connection and a surrender to earth.