The trees came through with the intel, and soon, I had a mental map of where each rose was stashed. For the most part, the roses were scattered all over campus, and it was fairly clear which affinity group each belonged to based on location. Like me, it seemed the other affinity groups had gone to areas where they thought they would have an advantage.
I hoped that didn’t mean Perilous Grove would be an obvious target. Most students would think I would have no access to my powers, and they might assume my rose would be an easy take. Well, I just had to count on my lack of presence in the grove and the help of my defender plants to hold them off for a while.
Next, I had to decide whereIwanted to start. I had Rootand Vine Society friends in each affinity group. They might catch on to what I was doing and help me somehow. Based on who I’d seen holding roses when we spread out, the only members of the Root and Vine Society selected as team captains were, predictably, Callan, Hollis, and Meadow, the three founders’ descendants. The other selected students I didn’t know as well, which meant I didn’t know if they would fight against me in the game. I had to assume they would. The Dandelion of Desire—and bragging rights—was no small prize.
I decided to start where I felt I had the best chance of success then proceed from there. Hollis was team captain for the ferns, and Yasmin, Coral, and Aurielle were all with him. They were the smallest affinity group besides mine. Numbers wise, my odds were best with that group.
I used my tree GPS sense to head for a heavily fern-laden area in one of the thickest parts of the forest. Debating between sneaking in or approaching with my hands up, I yelped when ferns snaked around my ankles. Then I heard laughter coming from the surrounding grove. The ferns relaxed, and my friends emerged from their hiding spots.
Hollis balanced the encapsulated rose casually in one palm. “We thought you might head here first,” he said, a lazy smile on his lips.
“Oh, don’t tease her, Hollis,” Coral snapped. She marched over to him and took the rose from his hands. Her face twisted into a smile I knew well. “Besides, it’s her against all of us. She doesn’t stand a chance.”
Then she said more quietly, “Use your wind power to take it from me, in case anyone is watching.”
I raised an eyebrow but quickly caught on to the ruse. If ourinstructors were watching, the ferns couldn’t roll over without a fight, even if it was a fake one. I called on my wind powers and sent it toward Coral. She stumbled backward, and the rose slid out of her hand. My wind was there to scoop it up, drawing it toward me. I was so busy concentrating I almost missed Hollis putting out an arm to steady Coral.
Ferns were tickling my ankles again—Yasmin, Aurielle, and the others were putting up a half-hearted fight—but I used my own fern powers to get free. I sent a blast of air toward Hollis for good measure, because I knew his ego wouldn’t let him be seen holding back. Once he was out of the way, I said, “Petale expandere.” The rose grew until it popped its bubble, and the flower was officially claimed.
One down.
The ferns came in close in a huddle.
“Where to next?” Yasmin whispered.
“I was thinking I’d try for the mosses. Their rose is on the north side of the forest.”
Hollis nodded. “Good. Meadow should be able to help.”
“Should we come with you?” Yasmin asked.
I shook my head. “No. That would be too suspicious.”
Hollis spoke up again. “We’ll get one rose to help your odds. Only one. Tell Meadow to do the same.”
I nodded, catching his logic. “Okay. Who do you want to go after?”
“Cassia, the team captain of the herbs, has been deliberately hiding the best pastries from me at dessert lately. Must be jealous of all my charm.” Hollis smiled casually. “I think I’d like to get a little payback.”
“Have fun, then. And good luck.”
“You, too, B,” Yasmin said.
With that farewell, my friends were running off behind Hollis with the other fern students.
As I made my way north, treewalking to speed things up, I passed over the harvesters below. It appeared they were being attacked by the aquatics. The river that helped water the agricultural fields was sloshing violently, muddying the ground nearby.
I didn’t have time to watch what happened. The mosses were my next target, and I had to hope Meadow wasn’t camouflaged as an earthen goddess like she had been during Orchard Lantern Tag the previous fall.
As I reached the northern part of the campus, the trees thickened again, sunlight barely slashing through them. The north side of each tree was covered in moss, and I knew I was getting close. I used my moss affinity to carefully remove the substance from the tree I was standing in then covered my arms and hair with it. If it had worked for Meadow, maybe it could work for me.
The moss began to stretch out, creating a cool, slightly damp sensation as it crept across my bare skin. I pulled it back as it neared my face. I wasn’tthatcommitted to my camouflage.
The tree network told me the rose was close. I looked down and scanned the forest floor but didn’t see anything. If moss affinity botanists were there, they were hiding well. Or maybe they had taken the tactic I had—hidden their rose then gone on the offensive against other groups.
I began to treewalk again, stepping so lightly that the branches barely moved. The forest was thick enough that theydidn’t need to. “Where are you?” I whispered, straining for any sign of the rose.
After a few minutes of delicate stepping and searching in the nearly silent forest, I spotted a patch of glowing moss on the ground.
