Chapter 32

As Haledon walked, he stared at the small spud hanging from his chest and admired Gazeas' handiwork. He allowed his mind to wander back to the first time Spark had shared one with him and how long ago that seemed. With each pulse of the nodule's pale red glow against his chest, he felt the energy rushing through his veins, filling him with adrenaline.

"So, first contact today," Witch-Hazel broke Haledon's concentration as the group deftly cut through the crowded corridors. "How do you think you did?"

"Well…I froze," Haledon said with a sigh, thinking back to the black armour and claws as they ripped into his chest. He observed his body vibrating in response to the memory, and the feeling chilled him. "I would be dead if it hadn't been for Lavendar."

"Most Druids freeze the first time." Witch-Hazel laughed as they reached over and slapped at Haledon's arm. "What matters is that you didn't die."

"Yes, and that's impressive, in and of itself," Spark remarked. "Astra Druids are such soft, gentle lambs. I'm surprised you weren't everywhere by the time we arrived."

"You know, back on Earth, there's a celebration for those who survive their first encounter."

Haledon smirked as he looked at Witch-Hazel. "I assume it involves drinking."

"No, actually," Witch-Hazel snapped before continuing their reply with a contemplative tone. "The eldest Primeval who would have fought alongside you guides you on a migration. You would travel across the ocean and land until you reached the base of the Earth's tallest mountain. There you would trek to the topmost point where the Carnyx Horn is affixed and be led through a ceremony, transcribing your legend on the winds of Earth."

"Are you—" Haledon paused and looked to Spark. "Are they being serious?"

"It's a real thing," She replied and nodded to Witch-Hazel. "You are leaving something out, though."

"What?" Haledon asked and looked back to Witch-Hazel, eager for more.

"After the ceremony, you drink excessively." They said with a smirk. "So, obviously, I would be accompanying you."

"But Lavendar saved me." Haledon pointed out, leaning back with slight disappointment. "I guess I'd be making the trip with them."

"Well, I'm older than Lavendar and decide that I overgrow them, so I'm your drinking buddy."

"Wait," Haledon spoke up. "You're older than Lavendar? You're a Primeval?"

"Uh, yeah, of course?" Witch-Hazel replied. "What, you just thought I could handle a Dragonfly because I'm a gift from Nature?"

Passing through the threshold between the Astralaceaes and the Megacolides, Haledon felt the thick air of the hallway stick to his body once more.

"Sorry, I guess I never knew. I just assumed you were a Pioneer or maybe a Seral."

Spark laughed, looking over to Witch-Hazel and then Haledon.

"Witch-Hazel is as old as Sparrow. They just like to pretend they're a sapling."

"Hey!" Witch-Hazel snapped.

"What? Sorry, I assumed he knew already since you and Sparrow were always around him."

"You don't like people to know how old you are?" Haledon asked. "Why?"

"It's—complicated." Witch-Hazel groaned in reply, their eyes narrowing on Spark.

"Maybe once this is over, we can enjoy some sap, and you can tell me about it," Haledon continued enthusiastically, trying to ease the tension.

"Better drink up now," Spark said with a smirk. "After the Mecharrion show up—"

"The Mecharrion showed up." Witch-Hazel interrupted sharply before continuing more quietly. "And are apparently pretending to be organic."

Haledon coughed to quiet the conversation as a patrol of Sequoia Squad marched alongside.

"Let's not let that seed grow here." Haledon interrupted, looking between the two. "Once we have Sparrow, she will better understand how to handle the Mecharrion. Spark...thank you for getting us into the C.N.S."

"It was the least I could do—"

"Pft," Witch-Hazel released with a huff. "Yeah, after flushing him into space, I'd say so."

"What?" Haledon asked.

"Wow, you're just an avalanche of words today." Spark scoffed at Witch-Hazel.

"Sorry," They replied sarcastically with their hands up. "I thought since you and Mek-Tek were talking about it, he already knew."

"Whispering about it—whispering."

"Can someone fill me in? I'm confused," Haledon asked.

"Yeah, Spark, why don't you fill the youngster in..." Witch-Hazel said with a smirk.

After a long glare at Witch-Hazel, Spark directed her attention to Haledon. The muscles in her face softened as she looked towards the Druid with a sorrowful expression.

"I—Haledon," She stammered as she stopped in the corridor and eyed him through the dim red light. "I needed to reveal the location of Sparrow's lab for Mesa. I hoped he would trust me enough to divulge his plan once I had given him that information. We knew the lab was on the Megacolides, but the archway you stepped through earlier was merely a mirage that only worked for Sparrow and her closest seeds. When you walked with us, it allowed me time to place a special trace accumulator on you."

Spark pulled out the silver root Birchbark had plucked from Haledon's SOIL. The same silver root that he had placed in the alcove of the Hypogeal Nexus.

"If I had put it on anyone else, Mesa would have gotten suspicious. The trace allowed us to find the lab and, well, you. But you weren't supposed to get hurt. That was an accident. I was merely trying to create a reason for Mesa to enter Sparrow's lab, so I switched around Mek-Tek's notes—it was supposed to be a less harmful result. The fact that it linked to the Broadhead weapons...that was unexpected."

"You were the reason I got pulled out into space?"

"Yes." She said solemnly. "And I am sorry for putting you at risk."

"Okay. I understand."

Spark gave Haledon a double-take before looking to Witch-Hazel and back to him again.

"I'm sorry, what?" She asked.

"I understand. You were just doing what Sparrow told you to do. I'm not seriously hurt, so it's okay."

"Okay..." Spark smacked her lips. "So, after we deal with this whole Mecharrion thing, I think you and I need to talk about the value of the self."

"What do you mean?" He replied.

"I mean, I nearly killed you, and you immediately forgave me. You shouldn't be so quick to trust people who put you unnecessarily at risk."

"So, I shouldn't trust you?" Haledon followed up, feeling himself become confused.

"No, definitely trust me. But the next person who tries to kill you, maybe trust them less."

"Okay, I'm confused..."

"Yeah, me too." Witch-Hazel cut in, their face twisted in unexpected disillusionment.

"Astra Druids will do anything for another Druid, even before their own wants and needs," Spark explained. "That's unhealthy. Even Nature has boundaries, and it's in those boundaries that we can produce abundant internal and external growth."

"Okay, I think I understand." Haledon nodded slowly. "I don't have to forgive you for reprogramming the Broadhead to shoot me out into space."

"Well...not technically what I did—but yes, you're heading in the right direction—"

"—But I choose to forgive you because you are a good friend and wouldn't intentionally have harmed me." He continued.

"Aww," Spark's demeanour changed drastically as she jumped closer to Haledon and hugged him. "That's sweet. I will do my best not to do something reckless like that again—not without first discussing it with the group. Now, come on, we're almost there."

Spark bounced and began to walk away with a skip in her step that he hadn't seen before.

"I'm still so confused—" Haledon mumbled to himself.

"Yeah..." Witch-Hazel said softly and patted their hand on Haledon's shoulder. "Yeah..."

Haledon remained stationary, watching as Witch-Hazel continued their walk down the hall. Taking a minute, he inhaled deeply and thought about what Spark had said. His mind wandered back to how odd she had been acting that morning, a memory that lingered so far away.

With a shake of his head, he continued down the hall and quickly caught up with his companions. He saw them whispering at the edge of an archway as he approached. Though he couldn't see what they were saying, he could peek through the threshold to see a ramp that spiralled out of sight beyond.

"We follow the helix up to the top," Spark announced to the two as Haledon approached. "It'll open up to the C.N.S., and we can get the information we need there."

"How are we supposed to get into Mesa's node?" Witch-Hazel asked.

Reaching behind her back, Spark withdrew a small flower that had been plucked from Mesa's armour. Showing it off, she smiled and gave a slight bow.

"Oh, clever girl." Witch-Hazel followed up with a smirk.

"Can someone fill me in again?" Haledon asked.

"The flower has Mesa's genetics in it. We just have to graft it to one of us, and we should be able to at least access his node."

"Okay," Haledon said and extended his hand to Spark. She stared at him with a concerned look.

"I am doing this because I know my value and can do it." He replied to her stare.

"Still not—anyways, sure," Spark approached and placed the flower in Haledon's hand. "Hold still. This might sting."

"Zeediel ceeyus'ecky elaye." Spark chanted as she placed her hand over the flower in his.

The palm of Haledon's hand quickly began to itch and burn. He flinched against the pain that felt as though a thousand thorns had started poking and prodding his flesh.

After a few moments, the feeling faded, leaving a numbness in its wake. Spark pulled her hand away and looked over her work.

"How is it?" She asked

"My hand is numb," Haledon said, pulling it up to inspect.

"The whole thing?" Spark followed up with the sound of concern lacing her words.

"Just the palm—"

"Oh, that's fine. It's a byproduct of on-the-go genetic splicing. Should fade in, oh, time...everyone's different. Now, make sure to use that hand when making the connection."

"Connection? What am I connecting to?" He asked as he examined the hand closely, seeing the blossoming flower that had become attached to the palm of his SOIL.

"Mesa's node is towards the front of the room. They'll be the two waist-height stumps with wrinkly, purple mushrooms on top that look like brains. Wait until he isn't looking."

"Of course," Haledon replied and put his hand down.

"Of course? Oh, right, I forgot you have done this a thousand times." Witch-Hazel said sarcastically as they directed their attention to Spark. "I remember when I made things up as I went."

"You mean just this morning?" Spark shot back, following it up with a chuckle that Witch-Hazel joined. After a few moments of laughs and a calming breath, she continued. "Alright, let's get our nightshade on."

Haledon followed Spark and Witch-Hazel as they forged up the spiralling helix. Climbing the path, they passed the occasional Earth Druid making their descent. Haledon watched from the corner of his vision as the Druids slowed and cautiously watched the Guild marching past. Some would stop, eagerly inspecting the group until they rounded the bend out of sight.

"Why is everyone—"

"This is a closed ecosystem," Spark replied to Haledon. "And you're an invasive species that grows from under the canopy of Sparrow."

"What about Witch-Hazel?" Haledon asked, turning to his companion. "You're also bound to Sparrow."

"Witchy-poo is special." Spark shot back.

"But probably just as unwelcome," Witch-Hazel interrupted, looking at Haledon with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We’ll be fine."

Nearing the end of the path, Spark stopped just out of sight of the entrance. She touched Haledon's shoulder, bringing him to a halt.

"One second," She said with a wave of her hand and a mumbling of Druidic. "The spud makes you look weakened."

"I...kind of am—?" Haledon replied, looking down at the red nodule as the roots unravelled and integrated with his SOIL.

"Yeah, well, every ecosystem has secrets beneath its soil." Tapping his chest, Spark smiled and turned to walk away. "Follow my lead."

Haledon looked to Witch-Hazel, who gave him a shrug and followed after. With a deep breath, he walked around the bend and caught up with his friends.