34 Stay Away (1/2)

Annoyance lingers as my dream quickly fades from memory. I pointlessly try grasping at the remnants in an attempt to recall more, but it slides into obscurity. I sigh, as the reason for my annoyance alludes me. I still remember the sound of a woman's lyrical voice but what she told me remains unknown, my annoyance shifts to reluctant resignation.

I sigh once more. I wake Daric and notice Andri is on guard. Everyone else is still asleep. The sun climbs over the horizon. Shinning its first few rays of the day. When the sunlight reaches the ground around us, I stare in confusion. Scattered are tiny bones of various creatures. Thinking of the night before I cringe. Those weren't twigs we were stepping on. My face screws up.

I look around, /Where did so many bones come from?/

My blood drains when I figure out the tree we're sitting under. An ootress tree, commonly known as the ghost willow; It's a species of carnivorous plants. Light brown trunk with a broad base tapered to a point. At first glance, the multiple branches stretching out appear to lack leaves. However, the bright morning sun hits them at an angle that makes them visible. Thousands of thin translucent leaves each hang a few feet long. As I stare a small bird flew into the leaves. They stick to the bird and coil up like springs causing the poor creature to be further entangled. It fought to break free, but the leaves oozed blue liquid. As a drop falls next to my foot, I scoot closer to the trunk as the liquid sizzles, smokes, and eats through the ground. Daric notices and also snatches his feet back closer to his body in an attempt to avoid the tree acid.

/Aw, come on! Does everything contain some form of acid liquid?/

The tiny bird cries out as it dies slow. Thankfully, this tree is young. The leaves of an adult are thicker reaching to the ground. Making it possible to catch larger prey...like people.

I drag Daric from under the acid dripping leaves. So focused on moving, I didn't see Lark until I trip over him. We go down in a tangle of limbs. Lark's flailing from being woken up unexpectedly doesn't help matters. Somehow, I end up under both of them face to the ground slowly suffocating. I thrash, trying to tell them to get off me. They take the hint, and their weight leaves my back.

”Sorry about that Emma,” Lark pulls me off the ground standing me up.

”Sorry,” Daric fails to try to withhold a smile.

Spitting dirt from my mouth, I balefully glare at them, causing them to laugh.

Irvin woke during the commotion. His face setting to its new default, disapproving. ”Lark, you and me are going to check the perimeter.”

”Yes, Commander,” Lark snaps up.

”You two crazy kids have fun now, you hear?” I tease.

Lark rolls his eyes but otherwise says nothing as he follows Irvin.

____________________

Irvin and Lark walk a distance before Irvin spins on his heel and watches Lark. Wary, Lark silently stares at Irvin in return.

”Are you aware of the danger you put yourself in by getting close to the Princess?” Irvin demands.

”Yes.”

His eyebrow jumps, ”That's it?”

”Yes.”