"How could this happen!? My plants are in a safe environment away from bugs, insects, and bacteria! Yours are out in the open of course yours would be ruined. They were basically screaming Take Me!! Now my repuation is ruined and it's all your fault!"
Who was that screaming? Why did he have to be so loud? They were just plants no matter how much Briar and Rosethorn thought they were. Couldn't they just let her sleep? Zak had just commented on the amount of weight she'd lost, told Sandry to go and flirt with a rock, and was about to propose! She rolled back over in her sleep.
"Ouff," she grimaced as she rolled off the pillows onto the floor. "Graceful." Sitting up she looked around at where she was. Why was she in the living room? She remembered arms encircling her and what should have caused her giddiness made her stomach roll even more. He'd probably felt the bulge in her stomach and with her being curled in his arms it would have been more prominent. Why didn't he just let her walk?
Because he's a gentleman, an annoying voice told her.
"Well he better be because if word gets out..."she was interrupted by more screaming.
"Of course I'm going to blame you! Who else's fault could it be!? Your plants got infected first and then you go prancing through my greenhouse-"
"Crane I do not prance! And besides you make us go through those hour long decontamination baths. How could I bring these so called toxins into your precious greenhouse," she heard Rosethorn shout back.
"They are not an hour long and they're for the protection of the plants but since that failed maybe I should make them an hour long."
"You even think of it..."
"And what? You'll refuse to come into my greenhouse? No argument there because then your contaminated plants wouldn't infect mine!"
"What is all the shouting about?" Tris heard Lark's calm voice say. "Don't you know Tris is sleeping in the living room?"
At this Tris got up and walked over to the doorway that looked into the hall where Rosethorn and Crane were arguing. "Not any more."
Lark stood in the doorway holding a bag in her hands with Sandry who was holding a basket. The smells wafting from it made Tris involuntarily clutch her stomach.
Crane and Rosethorn were nearly face to face with their hands clenched. Crane's face was red and Rosethorn's would have been if it wasn't already dark. Looking closely at Crane, Tris thought she saw a few gray more gray hairs, but it could have just been the angle seeing as how Crane was so tall. He could give Niko a run for his money.
Sandry ran from her place next to Lark to engulf Tris in a hug the basket in her hand hitting her in the back. "Oh thank goodness you're okay. I was so worried when Zak brought you in. You were almost limp in his arms. We brought some broth for you to make you feel better. Let's go to your room upstairs so you can sleep."
Look at her playing the ever-caring friend. I'm shocked she looked at me rather than at Zak.
"No, I think I'm okay standing here, but thank you for the offer," she replied.
Sandry stepped aside and went to the kitchen to put the broth up. Lark stayed.
"Again I ask you," Lark said calmly "what is the matter here?"
"Crane believes I contaminated his plants because they are sick now, too. But we all know that is preposterous because of the excessive precautions he takes towards his precious plants," Rosethorn informed her.
"Well these excessive precautions at least made it so my plants withstood the toxins longer than yours. Maybe you should take a page from my book," Crane sneered.
"What and have lifeless plants? How can you stand to work in that dead place?"
Lark intervened, "Crane your measures of safety for your plants would never let anything that could harm them in. I have been in the bath and I can attest that I felt the very skin off my body felt like it was rubbed away. There must be some reason they got in other than Rosie and you should be ashamed for even suggesting it."
Crane now looked slightly abashed, "You're right Lark but look at it from my point of view. My plants are dying and Rosethorn's plants are going through the same thing. No one knows what is going on. I think we must quarantine all the plants before this becomes an epidemic."
"Perhaps you are right, but first we should hold a meeting with Moonstream and the other Dedicates to determine measures that should be taken," Lark suggested.
"I'll go talk to Moonstream now," Crane hurried off.
"You're not forgiven," Rosethorn shouted as he hurried off. "Honestly, not even an apology. How dare he accuse me. Besides his plants are deteriorating faster than mine."
"Rosie.."
"Sorry Lark, I'll get back to work. The boy is probably listening at the door instead of weeding."
Lark and Tris watched her go.
"Tris are you feeling okay? Your stomach hurt last night and when we stopped by the library Zak said you had told him you had been having stomach pains off and on for awhile. Should I call a doctor to check on you?" Lark asked.
"No,no Lark. Thanks for caring but I think it was just the heat today. With these skirts it feels about ten degrees more," she lied.
"That is true. You can always borrow one of Daja's breeches."
Just the thought of wearing breeches shocked Tris. They were mens wear not to mention they would show her enormous thighs. "It's okay Lark, I'll just try and drink more water. Maybe I can find some new linen dresses."
"That's a good idea. Why don't we go look for some tomorrow?"
"Okay. Sure," she agreed.
"I'll go check on Sandry. She's been in the kitchen for awhile."
Probably flirting with Briar through the window while my broth gets cold.
That night at dinner, Tris couldn't eat anything. After she'd eaten the broth, she'd thrown it up. For the next hour she leaned over a bush but since the broth was the only thing she'd eaten that day the rest had been dry heaves.
For dinner that night they still had meat. Tonight was chicken pot pie and bacon with broccoli. The broccoli was rather ragged and thin since it was the only plant that hadn't been as affected by the epidemic.
That's what people were calling it now-an epidemic. An epidemic for the plants. Who would have thought? Everyone was afraid it might be susceptible to humans. If it should shrivel up plants what could it do to humans?
With this in everyone's mind an emergency meeting of the Dedicates had been called at Moonstream's office that night at 8.
Nothing much was said but everyone knew what was on their minds.
"Look I can't take this anymore," Daja yelled. "One more day of meat and I will be certifiable!"
"Daja, it's only the second day," Briar said.
"I know but come on you know this isn't going to be the last day. Who knows how long this is going to last?! It could be months and a person can only have pork so many times. I know I know we having had pork yet but it will happen."
"I think you're already certifiable."
"Briar, she's just expressing her thoughts. I must agree with her though. I don't know if I myself can have meat all the time," Lark said.
"We could always have cheese," Tris suggested much to her stomachs dismay at the word cheese.
"But then we'll get sick of cheese, and then we'll get sick of whatever food we use to replace cheese," Rosethorn said grimly.
"Why can't we go to the meeting?" Sandry asked.
Lark looked at her with an exasperated smile. They had already had this conversation many times during dinner. "Because you're not Dedicates, Sandry. I know you have done many things to protect Winding Circle and do deserve to know what is going on and I promise you you will know when we get back."
"We'll give you a blow by blow if you just quit hounding us," Rosethorn whined with a hand to her head. "I'm going to get some willowbark for my headache."
"Well it looks like we're all done so maybe we should all go. Tris..Briar it's your turn to clean up."Lark said getting up.
Tris looked around at all the plates...with all the grease all over them. This epidemic needed to be resolved soon if not only for their stomachs but for the cleaning process.
"I'll wash," she volunteered knowing Briar hated the task.
His smile was her reward. "Good because you shouldn't be walking around picking up dishes and throwing out the leftovers with our sensitive stomach."
"Your caring is making my heart brim," she said.
Slowly they got to their tasks. Tris filled the sink with water from the well. Luckily it had rained the week before and the well was full of water so she didn't have to crank the bucket up and down too far. By the time she got back Briar had the plates lined up next to the sink and was looking for the dish towel. He found it by the cupboard(where it always was).
"So what's up with you and Zak?" Briar asked after a minute or so of silence.
That was a weird question. Tris looked at him. He seemed genuinely sincere. "Nothing. We're just friends. He helps me find my books at the library."
"Well rumor around the guys in the dorms is he talks about you a lot. He seems to like a smart girl. Obviously he hasn't actually had a conversation with you or else he would know about your sarcastic quick attitude."
"I'm glad to know what you really think of me."
"Oh Coppecurls I'm just joking. Besides Zak.. well he seems to be kind of a player."
"Just because girls are always fawning over him doesn't mean he's a player. He doesn't flirt back much to Sandry's chagrin," she retorted.
Uhoh. She hadn't thought about what she had said and it had hurt Briar. She never thought he cared so much for Sandry.
"So, she likes this Zak?" he asked trying to sound like he didn't care but his downcast eyes gave him away.
Damage Control. "Well I don't know if she likes him, she's just flirting and she does that a lot."
Uh Oh.
"Not that she flirts a lot. Just with you."
"And Zak," he mumbled.
"Briar, I'm sorry. She would be a fool to pick Zak over you. Don't worry." Trying to console people just doesn't work she decided.
"Thanks Tris for trying to help. I really do hope she likes me because well I really like her. And I'm glad you're okay with this in case I do ever get the nerve to pursue her."
"Oh it's no problem. Don't worry," she turned and smiled at him.
"Look at this. We're done. I'm going to go and read the new book I found at the library. You wanna come?"
"Um..no thanks. My stomach's starting to fight with me again. I'm going to go lay down."
"Okay Coppercurls. I hope you feel better."
Tris watched him leave. Was she okay with him and Sandry being together? All she knew was if Sandry hurt Briar there would be ramifications.
Wow c this is wut happens when u go away from a fic for awhile. And never ever include guyz u like in real life in ur fics cuz then when u go away u read it and just grimace. O well I hope u like it. Pleez r/r
Who was that screaming? Why did he have to be so loud? They were just plants no matter how much Briar and Rosethorn thought they were. Couldn't they just let her sleep? Zak had just commented on the amount of weight she'd lost, told Sandry to go and flirt with a rock, and was about to propose! She rolled back over in her sleep.
"Ouff," she grimaced as she rolled off the pillows onto the floor. "Graceful." Sitting up she looked around at where she was. Why was she in the living room? She remembered arms encircling her and what should have caused her giddiness made her stomach roll even more. He'd probably felt the bulge in her stomach and with her being curled in his arms it would have been more prominent. Why didn't he just let her walk?
Because he's a gentleman, an annoying voice told her.
"Well he better be because if word gets out..."she was interrupted by more screaming.
"Of course I'm going to blame you! Who else's fault could it be!? Your plants got infected first and then you go prancing through my greenhouse-"
"Crane I do not prance! And besides you make us go through those hour long decontamination baths. How could I bring these so called toxins into your precious greenhouse," she heard Rosethorn shout back.
"They are not an hour long and they're for the protection of the plants but since that failed maybe I should make them an hour long."
"You even think of it..."
"And what? You'll refuse to come into my greenhouse? No argument there because then your contaminated plants wouldn't infect mine!"
"What is all the shouting about?" Tris heard Lark's calm voice say. "Don't you know Tris is sleeping in the living room?"
At this Tris got up and walked over to the doorway that looked into the hall where Rosethorn and Crane were arguing. "Not any more."
Lark stood in the doorway holding a bag in her hands with Sandry who was holding a basket. The smells wafting from it made Tris involuntarily clutch her stomach.
Crane and Rosethorn were nearly face to face with their hands clenched. Crane's face was red and Rosethorn's would have been if it wasn't already dark. Looking closely at Crane, Tris thought she saw a few gray more gray hairs, but it could have just been the angle seeing as how Crane was so tall. He could give Niko a run for his money.
Sandry ran from her place next to Lark to engulf Tris in a hug the basket in her hand hitting her in the back. "Oh thank goodness you're okay. I was so worried when Zak brought you in. You were almost limp in his arms. We brought some broth for you to make you feel better. Let's go to your room upstairs so you can sleep."
Look at her playing the ever-caring friend. I'm shocked she looked at me rather than at Zak.
"No, I think I'm okay standing here, but thank you for the offer," she replied.
Sandry stepped aside and went to the kitchen to put the broth up. Lark stayed.
"Again I ask you," Lark said calmly "what is the matter here?"
"Crane believes I contaminated his plants because they are sick now, too. But we all know that is preposterous because of the excessive precautions he takes towards his precious plants," Rosethorn informed her.
"Well these excessive precautions at least made it so my plants withstood the toxins longer than yours. Maybe you should take a page from my book," Crane sneered.
"What and have lifeless plants? How can you stand to work in that dead place?"
Lark intervened, "Crane your measures of safety for your plants would never let anything that could harm them in. I have been in the bath and I can attest that I felt the very skin off my body felt like it was rubbed away. There must be some reason they got in other than Rosie and you should be ashamed for even suggesting it."
Crane now looked slightly abashed, "You're right Lark but look at it from my point of view. My plants are dying and Rosethorn's plants are going through the same thing. No one knows what is going on. I think we must quarantine all the plants before this becomes an epidemic."
"Perhaps you are right, but first we should hold a meeting with Moonstream and the other Dedicates to determine measures that should be taken," Lark suggested.
"I'll go talk to Moonstream now," Crane hurried off.
"You're not forgiven," Rosethorn shouted as he hurried off. "Honestly, not even an apology. How dare he accuse me. Besides his plants are deteriorating faster than mine."
"Rosie.."
"Sorry Lark, I'll get back to work. The boy is probably listening at the door instead of weeding."
Lark and Tris watched her go.
"Tris are you feeling okay? Your stomach hurt last night and when we stopped by the library Zak said you had told him you had been having stomach pains off and on for awhile. Should I call a doctor to check on you?" Lark asked.
"No,no Lark. Thanks for caring but I think it was just the heat today. With these skirts it feels about ten degrees more," she lied.
"That is true. You can always borrow one of Daja's breeches."
Just the thought of wearing breeches shocked Tris. They were mens wear not to mention they would show her enormous thighs. "It's okay Lark, I'll just try and drink more water. Maybe I can find some new linen dresses."
"That's a good idea. Why don't we go look for some tomorrow?"
"Okay. Sure," she agreed.
"I'll go check on Sandry. She's been in the kitchen for awhile."
Probably flirting with Briar through the window while my broth gets cold.
That night at dinner, Tris couldn't eat anything. After she'd eaten the broth, she'd thrown it up. For the next hour she leaned over a bush but since the broth was the only thing she'd eaten that day the rest had been dry heaves.
For dinner that night they still had meat. Tonight was chicken pot pie and bacon with broccoli. The broccoli was rather ragged and thin since it was the only plant that hadn't been as affected by the epidemic.
That's what people were calling it now-an epidemic. An epidemic for the plants. Who would have thought? Everyone was afraid it might be susceptible to humans. If it should shrivel up plants what could it do to humans?
With this in everyone's mind an emergency meeting of the Dedicates had been called at Moonstream's office that night at 8.
Nothing much was said but everyone knew what was on their minds.
"Look I can't take this anymore," Daja yelled. "One more day of meat and I will be certifiable!"
"Daja, it's only the second day," Briar said.
"I know but come on you know this isn't going to be the last day. Who knows how long this is going to last?! It could be months and a person can only have pork so many times. I know I know we having had pork yet but it will happen."
"I think you're already certifiable."
"Briar, she's just expressing her thoughts. I must agree with her though. I don't know if I myself can have meat all the time," Lark said.
"We could always have cheese," Tris suggested much to her stomachs dismay at the word cheese.
"But then we'll get sick of cheese, and then we'll get sick of whatever food we use to replace cheese," Rosethorn said grimly.
"Why can't we go to the meeting?" Sandry asked.
Lark looked at her with an exasperated smile. They had already had this conversation many times during dinner. "Because you're not Dedicates, Sandry. I know you have done many things to protect Winding Circle and do deserve to know what is going on and I promise you you will know when we get back."
"We'll give you a blow by blow if you just quit hounding us," Rosethorn whined with a hand to her head. "I'm going to get some willowbark for my headache."
"Well it looks like we're all done so maybe we should all go. Tris..Briar it's your turn to clean up."Lark said getting up.
Tris looked around at all the plates...with all the grease all over them. This epidemic needed to be resolved soon if not only for their stomachs but for the cleaning process.
"I'll wash," she volunteered knowing Briar hated the task.
His smile was her reward. "Good because you shouldn't be walking around picking up dishes and throwing out the leftovers with our sensitive stomach."
"Your caring is making my heart brim," she said.
Slowly they got to their tasks. Tris filled the sink with water from the well. Luckily it had rained the week before and the well was full of water so she didn't have to crank the bucket up and down too far. By the time she got back Briar had the plates lined up next to the sink and was looking for the dish towel. He found it by the cupboard(where it always was).
"So what's up with you and Zak?" Briar asked after a minute or so of silence.
That was a weird question. Tris looked at him. He seemed genuinely sincere. "Nothing. We're just friends. He helps me find my books at the library."
"Well rumor around the guys in the dorms is he talks about you a lot. He seems to like a smart girl. Obviously he hasn't actually had a conversation with you or else he would know about your sarcastic quick attitude."
"I'm glad to know what you really think of me."
"Oh Coppecurls I'm just joking. Besides Zak.. well he seems to be kind of a player."
"Just because girls are always fawning over him doesn't mean he's a player. He doesn't flirt back much to Sandry's chagrin," she retorted.
Uhoh. She hadn't thought about what she had said and it had hurt Briar. She never thought he cared so much for Sandry.
"So, she likes this Zak?" he asked trying to sound like he didn't care but his downcast eyes gave him away.
Damage Control. "Well I don't know if she likes him, she's just flirting and she does that a lot."
Uh Oh.
"Not that she flirts a lot. Just with you."
"And Zak," he mumbled.
"Briar, I'm sorry. She would be a fool to pick Zak over you. Don't worry." Trying to console people just doesn't work she decided.
"Thanks Tris for trying to help. I really do hope she likes me because well I really like her. And I'm glad you're okay with this in case I do ever get the nerve to pursue her."
"Oh it's no problem. Don't worry," she turned and smiled at him.
"Look at this. We're done. I'm going to go and read the new book I found at the library. You wanna come?"
"Um..no thanks. My stomach's starting to fight with me again. I'm going to go lay down."
"Okay Coppercurls. I hope you feel better."
Tris watched him leave. Was she okay with him and Sandry being together? All she knew was if Sandry hurt Briar there would be ramifications.
Wow c this is wut happens when u go away from a fic for awhile. And never ever include guyz u like in real life in ur fics cuz then when u go away u read it and just grimace. O well I hope u like it. Pleez r/r