She shook his hand, feeling the weight of the agreement settle.This felt right, professional.Built on mutual respect and clear terms.Not manipulation or charm or hidden agendas, just good business.
"Thank you," she said sincerely."I'm grateful for this."
"I'm grateful you came to me directly instead of accepting Viktor's offer."Zhao Wei smiled."I have a feeling this will be a very profitable arrangement for both of us."
As Wren left the office, she felt lighter.One good decision in a sea of complications.
Now she just had to survive the migration.
Evacuation
––––––––
WREN STOOD IN THE MIDDLEof her treehouse, looking at everything she'd built over the past month, and tried not to cry."It's just a week," she told herself firmly."One week, and then you come home."
But the warnings had been dire.Multiple people had told her stories about properties destroyed, shields failing, people who'd stayed and died.The autumn migration was the worst one, the largest herds, the most dangerous monsters.
She had to leave.
Walter scurried around, helping pack."Practical items first, madam.Clothes, tools, your journal."
Everything went into her magic purse—the leather bag that could hold impossibly much.Her cotton work dresses, the beautiful green velvet gown, her new boots.The journal documenting all her plant experiments, her writing materials.The property guide Viktor had given her (useful, even if she didn't trust him).The wash drum could stay, because it was too large, too replaceable...but she did drag it inside for extra protection.
Seeds.She needed seeds from every plant.
She went outside and methodically harvested from each tree and plant.Breadfruit seeds.Silk tree seeds.Milkweed.Eggplant.Soapberry.Tea tree.Every single variety, carefully labeled and stored.If the worst happened, if everything was destroyed, she could start over.She'd done it once already.
The dandelions watched her work, golden eyes solemn.They understood something was happening."You're coming with me," she told them."All of you."
The horse chestnut stood near the gate, patient as always.She'd grown attached to it—him?—over the past weeks.The loyal wooden horse who never complained, never tired.
Horses appeared at her gate.Jin and Kenji, doing their rounds.
"Ready?"Jin called.
"Almost."
