“I can’t let you do that, Hawthorne,” Castor said, shaking his head. “If you get hurt, NovaFlora will be in big trouble.”
Of course, that’s what it was. Nothing to do with her, but NovaFlora’s reputation.
“I’mgoing, and you will not stop me,” Gemini said again, her waterproof pack already filled with the supplies she’d need to collect the spores.
She unzipped the tent, though turned to see Castor when she felt a hesitant touch at her arm.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t care!” Gemini growled, a newfound boldness searing through her veins. Halley andCassio exchanged a look before she calmed herself and continued. “I’ll personally accept any repercussions from NovaFlora, you won’t have to worry about a stain on your immaculate record.”
Castor winced, but didn’t deny the fact that he cared more about impressing the company than about her.
Fuck this crew, and fuck NovaFlora. She wasn’t doing it for them, but for all the people who could benefit from a potentially side effect-free hormonal stabilizer.
Gemini entered the gale, the wind already whipping the tent fabric as she zipped it shut behind her. Dark clouds blotted out the sky as she entered the coordinates into her comm, then started following the path to the vitellus grove she had made the final preparations on yesterday.
The noise was deafening, big booms of thunder vibrating the forest floor after flashes of lightning arced across the sky where the canopy was spread thin enough, revealing the branching webs of turquoise electricity. The mossy carpet seemed to swell and ripple as if absorbing the rain, the sight both terrifying and breathtaking.
She wasn’t sure if she’d even be able to collect the spores in these conditions, but she had to try.
Each clap of thunder made her jump, but she continued her trek, every inch of her already soaked to the bone. Her boots were a muddy mess, but herankle was holding up fine, the healing accelerated by Apodis’ tender care.
Oh, Apodis. His cabin would be so cozy at a time like this. She could imagine curling up on the couch with him in front of the fireplace, Zenith purring on her lap. Though it had only been a couple of days since she last saw Apodis, she missed his smile, the warmth of his touch, the thoughtfulness of his care.
The tears she’d been containing at camp spilled down her face, mixing with the droplets of rain that made it difficult to see. But her comm guided her, buzzing if she got off track and making sure she was going in the right direction.
Gemini swallowed hard as familiar trees came into view, a little grove similar to the one where the Bloomveil was held. But instead of a writhing mass of reveling bodies, there would be a patch of verdant orb glows getting ready to release their spores. She checked her comm, hoping she wasn’t too late, but no. According to the Oslieths, the orb glows were very precise, and she just hoped the storm wouldn’t change that.
There was a bright flash and a sharp peal, the light and sound instantaneous and making her ears ring. A strange crackling noise like fireworks penetrated the relentless rain and wind, and it took her a moment too long to realize that a tree had been hit, the fibers of its trunk stretching, bending, andbreaking.
She had no time to react, just gaped at the massive tree as it split and tipped her way. Then, there was a firm grasp on her arm, a powerful force dragging her out of the dangerous path and sending her tumbling to the forest floor.
The tree landed a second later, close enough that the loud crash deafened her, making everything sound fuzzy as her heart thumped hard in her chest.
Warmth surrounded her as she tried to understand what had happened, and as she looked to her savior, she already knew who it was.
“What are you doing here?” she shouted over the storm.
Apodis had softened the fall with his own body, his eyes wide as he appraised her as if searching for injuries.
“When I saw the tempest roll through, I knew you’d come, even though it’s dangerous. I wasn’t going to let you and your crew work out here by yourselves.”
Gemini choked out a laugh as Apodis helped her to her feet, her ears still ringing in the aftermath of the crashing tree and the continued claps of thunder.
“My crew isn’t here. They fucking bailed. But I’m not giving up,” she said, and he smiled, that radiant look that melted her into a puddle.
Fuck. Now was not the time. She had a job to do.
“Well, let’s collect the spores, then. We don’t want to miss it.”
Apodis took her hand, and she felt secure, like nothing bad would happen now that they were together. He had saved her, and though adrenaline still pumped through her veins, she was softened by his touch, his proximity, the fact that he’d come all the way out to the grove because he knew she’d be here no matter what.
They entered the clearing to see the orb glows jostled by the wind, though still holding strong. The mature plants had long sage green, almost gray, stalks with silver dollar shaped leaves. The small pods had a soft violet glow as Gemini hurriedly rifled through her pack to find the spore containers, tiny metal canisters which would protect the delicate samples as they made their way back to Earth.
With a strange synchronicity, the pods opened as one, releasing the spores, even with the torrent of rain. Gemini connected canister after canister to the pods until she’d filled them all, then stood with Apodis as she enjoyed the ethereal show.
The rain had slowed enough that the violet spores drifted like glowing pollen, a sight she would never forget. It was magical, like this was a place separate from time and space, a place only for her and Apodis to inhabit while the rest of the world faded away. A fresh, almost minty, scent filled the air, a delicious aroma she hoped she would remember forever.
