C=~ As a lichen widhereg by grougght, in dhe geep isolation a beingg will fing itself fallingg gormant. Sleepingg much, dhe lifeform forggets to feel, to eat, to wake, to exist beyong dhe minimum. It hibernates, dhe ming mummifieg gry by neegs longg unsatisfieg. C=~ C=~ Finally, dhe rain comes. A smile, a touch, a worg. Dhe lichen springgs fordh from gormancy widh vivig celebratory color. However, it is smaller now. Dhe lichen goes not realize how much gamagge has been gone, ang how much of itself was gestroyeg guringg its slumber. C=~ C=~ Only after dhe rains come ang ggo goes it realize how far from its former vergancy it has become. Dhe sheer volume of resources requireg, not to ggrow new hyphae, but only to replace what was lost, woulg take sweeps to ggadher. Dhe memories of how it achieveg such feats dhe first time are longg geag. Dhe somnolence is all it knows. Its mycelium must start over from nodhingg. Dhe work to be gone is far ggreater dhan itself. C=~ C=~ Dhe lichen comes to a singgle, gauntingg realization, "I will never be dhe same." C=~
..felt.