Amber

When the first Landari scouts dared to enter the densest part of the Blue Forest, they discovered a few large trees filled with what appeared to be glowing amber. In one of them, an insectoid woman was trapped, like the forgotten queen in that old tale... It was odd, but that part of the forest was much more welcoming than the darkness that prevailed anywhere else. A village was built in the branches of the amber trees, where the refugees would  heal their wounds. Oh, they didn't have much time; the war would reach the Forest soon. And they would run away, like they had for the past three years...

The Hok'ten warriors sent scouts to search for them; the scouts returned empty-handed. Their paths, they said, curved inexplicably and led them back to the Forest's edge. It had to be magic, a magic as ancient and dreadful as the Blue Forest itself.

Through the leaves' murmur and the rain's soft melody, the guardian spoke to the Landari. She offered them a a safe place where they could stay as long as they desired. A new home.

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I really wanted to paint something similar to those amazing book covers I have seen on DeviantArt, and even though I'm not a book illustrator myself, I though it wouldn't hurt to give it a try And I'm rather happy with the result: when the picture is cut along a median vertical axis, the compositions of the two halves look quite nice. But I'm entirely open to critique and suggestions!