Three of them, circling her, golden eyes watching everything.
"You're going to help me tomorrow," she told them."We're going to get blue bulbs.And there will be monsters."
The largest one—she was already thinking of it as the leader—made that sound again.The other two echoed it.They understood.
"Stay outside," she said."Guard the property.And tomorrow...Tomorrow we hunt."
They spread out immediately, taking positions around her grove.Sentries.Protectors.
She watched them for a long moment, these impossible creatures made of plant stem and dandelion fluff, and marveled.
She kept herself busy all day.First she had Walter describe what her territory looked like from the top of the tree.As she’d suspected, there wasn’t much of interest on her land, but he could see houses and farms on the other side of the shield wall.
She tried to stay busy for the rest of the day, but her mind kept drifting to tomorrow.To the grass and the monsters and the glowing bulbs she desperately needed.
Finally, the sun started to sink, so she went inside for good.The light was fading, the evening coming early with the clouds and fog.
She replaced the sunflower in the oven.Made herself tea.Tried to eat but couldn't manage much.
Through the window, she could see the dandelions prowling the perimeter.Golden eyes glowing faintly in the dusk.
The shield wall pulsed weakly where the cracks were worst.
Tomorrow.Eleven to two.Three hours to gather enough bulbs to survive.
She wrapped herself in blankets and sat in the rocking chair, watching the fog, watching the dandelions, watching the damaged shield.
Walter had gone up to his nest.The treehouse was quiet except for the rain and the creak of wood.
She should sleep.She needed to sleep.But every time she closed her eyes, she saw those milky white monster eyes.Felt the claws that had caught her calf.Smelled the rot on their breath.
Tomorrow she was walking out there on purpose.
She made herself go to bed, but she just lay there in the dark, wrapped in blankets, knowing sleep wasn't coming.Her mind kept running through scenarios.Three hours.Would it be enough time?What if the fog didn't clear?What if—
Stop.
She got out of bed.If she couldn't sleep, she could at least prepare better.
Rain.She'd be out in the rain tomorrow, trying to gather bulbs with wet hands and poor visibility.
An umbrella.She needed an umbrella.
Back to the purse.Her fingers found the seed almost immediately.
Umbrella plant.
Of course.Of course there would be one.
She planted it inside—no point going out in the rain now—and watched it grow.The stem rose up, then unfurled at the top like an actual umbrella opening.The canopy was made of broad, overlapping leaves that formed a perfect waterproof dome.A curved handle grew at the base.
She plucked it free, tested it.Lightweight, sturdy, exactly what she needed.
For a moment she felt better.Prepared.Ready.Then she imagined herself out there.Holding the umbrella in one hand.The spearmint spear in the other.Trying to pick up blue bulbs and put them in her purse while—
Oh.
She'd need both hands.To fight, to grab bulbs, to run if she had to.The umbrella was useless if she couldn't use it.She set it down carefully against the wall, feeling foolish.One more thing that wouldn't help.
