Her stomach tightened.
"The trees grow very quickly here," Walter continued, oblivious to her sudden tension."Quite useful for construction, but it does hide a great many monsters and dangerous animals.It's very important to stick to the road when you venture out, madam.Unless, of course, you're searching for power herbs."
He glanced at the shield wall, and his cheerful expression faltered slightly."Speaking of which...your shield is showing some concerning weakness," Walter said, his small face grave."You see that red line there?That crack isn't fading like the others.That's...not ideal."
Wren's stomach dropped.She'd noticed it earlier but had been too busy surviving to think about it properly."What does that mean?"
"It means you'll need blue bulbs soon.Probably within the next day or two, I'd estimate."Walter tilted his head, examining the damage."Blue bulbs are the power source for the shield, you see.You simply place them into the pillars at the gate—" He gestured with one paw toward the gate she'd run through last night."—and it powers the shield back up."
"Where do I get blue bulbs?"
"Outside the gate, of course.In the grassy plains."Walter said it as though it were obvious."They grow quite commonly out there.The difficulty, you understand, is in the harvesting."
"The monsters."
"Precisely."Walter's tail flicked nervously."They're drawn to movement in the grass.Most people buy their bulbs from professional harvesters—safer that way.But they'reveryexpensive.The danger, you see.No one wants to be eaten."
"And if the shield goes down?"
Walter met her eyes."You'll almost certainly be eaten, madam.I'm sorry to be blunt, but there it is."
Wren looked out at the grass beyond the gate.It looked peaceful enough in the morning light.Tall, swaying gently.But she remembered the monster from last night.The way it had slammed against the barrier.The look in its milky eyes.
"How long do I have?"
"Before it becomes critical?Two days, perhaps three.It will give you time to settle in, at least."Walter's voice was kind, but firm."The good news is that monsters are almost always asleep between eleven o'clock and two o'clock in the afternoon.It's reasonably safe during that window.Notperfectlysafe, mind you, but...reasonably so."
Reasonably safe.She'd have to risk her life for glowing bulbs in a field full of monsters, during a three-hour window, or pay a fortune she didn't have.
"Right," she said faintly."That's just...great."
She looked down at Walter."I don't suppose you'd—"
"Miss, I'm a squirrel."His tone was apologetic but unapologetic."I'm a coward by nature and not ashamed to admit it.I will happily crack your nuts, organize your pantry, and provide excellent conversation.But venturing into monster-infested grasslands?"He shook his head firmly."That is well beyond my duties."
Despite everything, she almost smiled.At least he was honest."Right," Wren said."Worth asking."
She reached for her purse, sorting through the seeds with that now—familiar touch.Maybe, just maybe—
Bluebell.Bluebonnet.Morning glory.Forget-me-not.
No blue bulb.Nothing that felt like a power source or shield magic.
She sighed.Of course not.That would be too easy.
"No luck?"Walter asked, watching her.
"No blue bulb seeds."She closed the purse."Guess I'll be going out there tomorrow."
The thought sat heavy in her stomach.But worrying about it now wouldn't help.She had today.She'd use it.
"Well then," Walter said briskly, clearly trying to lighten the mood."What else can I help with?Those pecans won't crack themselves, you know.And you have quite a lovely collection of unusual plants.I'd be happy to help organize your stores."
Wren looked around at her small grove of pun trees.At her treehouse and the soapberries and sponge flowers she was still holding.She stashed them in her bottomless purse for later.
She had work to do.A bath to take.More planning, more growing, more figuring out how to survive in this impossible place.
The shield problem loomed, but it wasn't immediate.Not yet.
