Between The Crystals

Ch 6 Caught

I hefted the large shoulder-bag of fruit tree seedlings. "Wish me luck."

"Best of luck," Grant replied absently as he helped porters, gatherers, and hunters organize themselves into their assigned groups and collect whatever supplies or weapons they needed for their location today.

I touched the crystal and murmured, "Fern Hills."

Light shimmered through my veins, and my head was turning back and forth before my vision cleared. The playful breeze made the branches sway and rustled the leaves in fitful bursts. I gripped the strap on the shoulder-bag tightly as I stepped away from the crystal.

This forest wasn't as dense as some I had been in, but there were more shrubs around than I liked. The wind bothered me. I took a deep breath. The sooner I finished, the sooner I could leave.

I inched forward, skittering to the side whenever a large gust of wind made the trees creak and groan as they swayed. How could those huge trunks possibly bend that much without breaking? It seemed surreal and impossible.

My nerves were frayed before I found a larger gap between the trees and planted the first seedling. I dribbled some water from my waterskin on it as a farewell gift and slipped through the undergrowth in search of other clearings or larger gaps between the trees.

An apple seedling here, a pear by a fallen tree, a plum beside an ant hill; all types that should enjoy this climate. I didn't stray too far from the crystal—closer would be better for the gatherers in the future—but I had to spread them out. Out of the fifty-some seedlings, only a handful would survive the local wildlife and other challenges. Some trees, like apples, also needed to be grafted, which reduced the survival rate.

Deep rumbling shook the forest and made me freeze. Thunder. I hated thunderstorms. They were loud, and their unpredictable flashes of lightning created thundering booms that muffled one's hearing. And the rain. Cold drops that chilled to the core and could kill without a single wound if we didn't retreat to the desert heat to warm up.

I checked my shoulder-bag; five seedlings were left. I glanced nervously at the canopy and saw dark clouds towering in the distance. The big thunderstorm—thankfully not a mega storm— was approaching fast, but I had enough time to find a place for the remaining fruit trees.

My feet sped up, searching for any places without too many trees competing for the light. Five... Four... Three... Two... One! I was done! The deep groaning of dozens of trees made me pause and glance back uneasily.

Like an approaching wave, trees bent as they were hit with some unseen force. I dropped to my knees as a huge gust of wind tore through the forest, making the tree trunks groan and crackle. Leaves were ripped from their branches and tossed through the air. A tree snapped in half while I watched, and I felt the muffled thuds of several other forest giants hitting the ground.

It disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving unnerving silence and terrified bird calls in its wake. Then the wind returned, playfully rustling the leaves overhead as if nothing had happened. I'd heard of storm fronts before, but this was a bit much!

I leapt to my feet and ran, too unnerved by the thunderstorm's new trick to linger. One of the fallen trees blocked the trail. With the dense thorny shrubs on either side, it would be easier to climb over it.

The crystal glinted ahead, reflecting light onto the nearby greenery as if unperturbed by the approaching storm. I pushed my way through the dense tree branches and scrambled over the trunk with my eyes focused on the crystalline spires ahead.

Something snagged my ankle, making me trip and crash to the ground, knocking the wind out of me. My arms and face stung from numerous scrapes left by the branches. I lay there for a few moments as I tried to fill my lungs with air.