First published 2021
A young forager discovers a cache of mysterious mushrooms hidden in the remote Himalayan mountains. He carries them back to his isolated village, unaware of their potent properties. The fungi trigger intense hallucinogenic experiences throughout the entire community. Every villager falls under their psychedelic spell, experiencing vivid visions that make them question what separates dreams from reality. The mushrooms catalyze sweeping transformations across the settlement. Generations of customs start falling apart. Traditional beliefs crumble as villagers encounter new ways of seeing existence. The forager observes his people wrestling with consciousness-altering experiences that fundamentally change how they understand their world. The community faces a crucial choice between accepting this dramatic transformation or fighting to restore their ancestral traditions. This tale explores a people suspended between familiar certainties and unknown possibilities.
Genres: fiction, adventure, fantasy, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Himalaya, Himalayan
Content warnings: drug-use