Skin, Wings, Fangs, Scales

Chapter IX: When Flowers Bloom

“Hyejin?”

Moon Byul's voice drowned in utter melancholy. It was something Hyejin had noticed during their recent calls, and it was happening again. She threw her girlfriend a compelling glance as she replied, “Yes, Byul?”

Wheein came closer, supporting her strained back with both hands.

Hyejin put the phone on loudspeaker while Wheein sat down beside her on the couch.

“I don't know what to do.”

For the first time in a while, the gumiho caught Hyejin and Wheein by surprise.

Pure silence blossomed and an unspoken dread ripened in the air. The quiet was a tale of empathy, but also of the fact that Moon Byul was soaked in a bathtub.

“I haven't talked to Yong since the incident at the church. Somehow, I keep remembering the past.”
She leaned back, allowing the water to reach her neck. Her clothes were drenched, her voice tangled with a slight quiver.

“The two of you need to talk, Byul. The sooner, the better,” Hyejin stated with absolute authority.

Moon Byul groaned at the possibilities that flickered before her. “What if she doesn't listen? I can't tell her about the bullets yet.”

“Well, why not? You have every right and reason to.”

Moon Byul's response made Hyejin's brows knitted. Wheein stayed silent, listening to the two.

“She is stubborn. If it has anything to do with humans disrupting her peace, she won't hesitate to go after them. That's what scares me the most.”

Recalling what the ghosts told her was enough to make a chill run down her spine.

“There has been an emergence of extinct species of plants in the recent years. Aspen trees have grown in number. What do you think is causing this drastic increase?”

Kyung-soo stretched out the mist surrounding the ghosts. In doing so, he gave Moon Byul a glimpse of an extensive plot of land filled with the trees.  The view, like a mirage, dissipated after a minute, but Moon Byul's expression had turned grim.

“What is it, Yul?” Irene queried. She caught something in the corner of her eye, raising her suspicion. Confirmation was what she wanted, and as soon as Moon Byul answered, she realized. The fox was in big trouble.

“Monkshood,” Moon Byul uttered in disdain. “I made the humans swear to cultivate it only in conservation. Why is it there now?”

“You did say something earlier about a monkshood bullet,” Jong-dae replied. “You think it's the same individual behind this and the aspen?”

“That's impossible,” both Irene and Jun-myeon responded in complete certainty.

“Why?” Sehun, Jong-in and Min-seok asked altogether.

“Planting all of those on your own would take years, if not decades.” Irene threw Moon Byul a quick, knowing glance. “Besides, it would mean that someone stole a piece of monkshood to bring it there. Where was that place, Kyung-soo?”

“Germany.”

Upon the revelation, Irene gave Moon Byul a stark glare.

“Monkshood is not endemic to Germany.” Moon Byul could almost growl with the fact. For the longest time, she had wondered where on earth that shooter acquired that flower. It turns out there's always something lurking beneath a shallow question.

“Are you alright, Baek? You haven't spoken a word since we arrived,” Chan-yeol whispered to Baek-hyun.

Baek-hyun nodded, his eyes stuck on Moon Byul.