Dandelions
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SHE COULDN'T PUT IToff any longer.If she was going out there tomorrow—into the grass, into the danger—she needed help.She went outside and looked around for inspiration.
The first thing that came to mind was weapons.She rummaged around in her bag until she felt something pointy.This should be interesting.
“Grow.”
Green leaves formed, and then a single red and white stalk.It grew straight and tall, ending in a sharp point, bracketed by decorative scroll work.It also smelled pleasantly minty.
She frowned at it, plucking the spearmint from the ground.As a weapon, it left a lot to be desired, but all it needed was a bell and sprig of holly to make a charming holiday ornament.
She sighed.The spearmint was a joke.She knew it.One look at those monsters and she knew a sharpened stick wouldn't do anything except maybe make them angry...although the mint would help with the monster breath...after they ate her.
She wasn’t a warrior, anyway.Even if she could learn to defend herself, it wouldn’t happen in a day.She needed something that could fightforher...
She reached into her purse, sorting through seeds with purpose now.
Dandelion.
The warmth that came with it felt...fierce.Protective.Not at all like the cheerful yellow flowers she remembered from lawns and wishes.
She took the seed outside.The rain had lightened to a drizzle, the fog still thick.She planted it well away from the treehouse, near the edge of her property where she could see the shield wall.
"Grow."
The plant shot up fast and strong.The stem was thick, muscular almost.And as it grew, she saw what was forming.
Not a flower.A creature.
It had the basic shape of a lion—four legs, a tail, a maned head.But its body was hollow, like a dandelion stem.Translucent green, with visible space inside for carrying things.And its mane was an explosion of dandelion fluff—white and impossibly soft—looking, surrounding its face like a cloud.
The eyes opened.Golden.Intelligent.It looked at her and made a sound—the kind of sound a flower would make if only it could speak.
"Hello," she said carefully.
It walked toward her, movements fluid and strange.When it reached her it butted its head against her hand, and she felt the fluff of its mane—impossibly soft, like touching clouds.
Another stem was growing.A second dandelion formed, slightly smaller.Then a third.
