We humans exchanged a glance. Neither of us knew what that meant, but it clearly held weight for Zat’tor. I didn’t fully get it, but I figured it had something to do with the Maeleons’ relationship with plants. Soilwaspretty important, after all.
Before we could ask any more questions, the healer waddled back towards us. His hands were cupped together. When he got closer, I noticed he cradled a small, delicate flower on its side. It was naked, with no soil to ground its roots, and its dull gray petals were closed. The poor thing looked dead.
As soon as he saw the flower, Zat’tor sat upright, on full alert. The air around him crackled, charged and eager.
“Levi,” the healer said. “Please, open your hands.”
I didn’t want to stop touching Zat’tor in order to take this wilting flower, but I couldn’t be rude by refusing. Reluctantly letting go of him, I held out my palms. The healer placed the gray flower in my hands and stepped back. Both Maeleons watched with great interest. Jaeyoung, influenced by their curiosity, did the same.
I sighed, back to feeling like a zoo animal. “What’s the big—”
Out of nowhere, the flower’s roots reached down like tiny fingers and touched my skin.
I froze.
“Uh,” I said.
Time stopped. As the flower’s roots spread along the surface of my palms, it struck me like lightning that I was on an alien planet. Anything was possible here.
My jaw fell open as the flower continued to move. Its brittle stem stiffened as it rose, standing upright. The drooping leaves happily lifted. And finally, the dull gray petals came to life. They unfurled in a burst of color. The gray drained away in an instant, replaced by bright, healthy pink. The whole withered plant came alive in my hands.
Speechless, I stared at the tiny flower. The den was silent.
“Did... did anyone else see that?” I asked sheepishly.
Jaeyoung leaned in, blinking hard. “How did you do that?”
“I didn’t do anything!”
Meanwhile, the two Maeleons grew excited. Zat’tor’s feelers danced in the air as a huge grin split his mouth. The healer looked pleased, too.
“That proves it,” he said, nodding.
“Proves what?” I asked.
The healer smiled at Zat’tor, who took over. His tentacle curled eagerly around my wrist, like he couldn’t resist touching me.
“Levi,” he said, voice airy with joy. “You’re pregnant.”
I almost laughed, but he sounded so damn happy that I stifled it. I didn’t want him to think I was making fun of him.
“Um, okay,” I said. “I mean, that can’t happen, but if you want to roleplay, I’m okay with that.”
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jaeyoung frowning in thought as he examined the flower in my palms. He wasn’t as quick to object to Zat’tor’s claim this time.
“Levi, can you give me that flower for a second?” he asked.
I handed it over. I still didn’t know why it had bloomed in my hands, but if anyone could figure it out, it was Jaeyoung.
He cupped the healthy pink flower in his hands. The change was immediate. The color fizzled out, leaving only gray behind as the petals drooped sadly. The stem crumpled and fell. The flower looked dead again.
“Fascinating,” Jaeyoung murmured. “My hypothesis was that the flower was simply cold, and the warmth of your skin rejuvenated it. But we have the same body temperature, and yet the flower wilted in my hands.”
To further test his theory, he asked Zat’tor and the healer to hold the flower, too. It didn’t react. Only when the flower returned to my hands did it bloom, healthy and alive. The Maeleons weren’t surprised. They acted like this was the most normal thing ever.
Zat’tor inched closer to me. Pure joy radiated from him, making it impossible not to smile.
“What’re you so happy for?” I asked with a chuckle.
