And the river said to the tree, "What keeps you here? The mountain of silver and darkness will soon be suffocating your leaves from all light, and your roots will be starved of all that gives life." The tree replied, "The weeds and insects keep me here. The birds and animals that crawl through my arms and hair keep me here. Without them I am nothing, without me they are nothing. We must hold out just as long as we can." The river sighed, "True. This is why I remain. Your roots need soaking and the creatures need my quenching stream. Without me you are nothing, without you I am but a meaningless flow."
