A golden leaf spiraled down from the autumn trees. It landed right on Rose's nose.
Rose sneezed, and the leaf zipped away, pointing straight toward the glowing tree.
The tree's bark shimmered with warm golden light. Rose pressed her palm against it, and the surface rippled like water.
A memory floated up — her great-grandmother, young and laughing, dancing among the autumn trees.
The tree flashed again, showing Rose's mother as a small girl clutching a red ribbon.
Rose gasped. She still had that exact same ribbon in her toy box.
The tree pulsed brightly, and Rose spun around, her breath catching in excitement.
It flickered once more, showing Rose's father as a boy. Then the light dimmed.
Rose frantically scanned the swirling memories — great-grandmother, mother, father — but never herself.
"I can't find me!" she whispered, gripping Mia's paw tightly.
Mia nudged Rose's hand with her wet nose. Rose looked down and saw the roots glowing gold beneath their feet.
A final memory bloomed there — Rose herself, planting an acorn beside her great-grandmother. "I can feel all of you," she whispered.