Lichen Hollow — Sable Forest Mushroom Guides

The story of Lichen Hollow

A fictional story inspired by the artwork.

The guides of Lichen Hollow learn a trail by walking it when the sun is going down. Bright landmarks disappear first. Soon the only familiar things are the shape of a stump, the pale underside of a log, and a shelf of mushrooms that catches light from a lantern. These details become the directions the guides use with visitors.

Each guide prepares for a different kind of outing. Some bring baskets for observations to carry back to the village. Others keep their hands free to move branches out of a walker's way. A group can stop by the same tree several times in a season and see how the fungi spread from the ground to the decaying wood.

Russet and sage trail layers stand out against dark chocolate fur and a subdued forest. The long tails and rounded ears distinguish the mustelid designs at a glance. Baskets, lamps, and standing and seated poses show who is looking closely at the ground and who is keeping watch over the next stretch of trail.

One route has a marker shaped like a pair of shelves halfway up a fallen trunk. When a storm turns the trunk over, the guides expect to replace the marker. Instead, the exposed wood reveals faint cuts that form a trail map. Someone had followed the same path long before the village started keeping records.

Explore the artwork on DeviantArt

Discover more character artwork in Creationfan’s store. Check the individual listings for current prices, availability, file contents, and usage rights.