Orchard

A neglected apple orchard stretches across the area, its rows of gnarled, overgrown apple trees swaying in the wind. Rotten, worm-eaten apples litter the ground, and occasional fallen fruit lies crushed in the damp soil. Near the southern edge of the orchard, the earth is heavily trampled, with deep footprints and patches of exposed mud. A wooden barrel lies overturned and broken nearby, spilling bruised apples across the ground and releasing a cloyingly sweet, fermented smell. Deep within the orchard stands a single large, ancient apple tree, noticeably bigger than the surrounding trees. Several empty apple cider barrels are scattered around its thick, twisted trunk. Beside the tree, a crude makeshift table has been assembled from rough wooden planks and salvaged timber. Nearby, a small fire pit made of stones contains a bed of cold ashes and charred wood, suggesting that someone recently used this secluded spot as a camp.