The Five Fold Symbol

Chapter 6: The Meeting

    “I’m here, Little Bird!” Wade sighed, walking into Shay’s tent and looking at Renny impatiently.

    Renny looked at him, slightly bewildered, “Yes, you are here... why?”

    Shay looked at Wade irritably before turning back to the herbs and spices spread out along her table. A Bunsen burner was lit and a small glass vial was held above it by a clamp, a silvery, steamy liquid in it. She snapped a pair of goggles into place and pulled on her gloves, ignoring the pair of them.

    “You sent me a text yesterday about needing help or something,” Wade said.

    “Did I?” Renny asked, holding out her hand and waving it insistently at him, “Let me see it...”

    Wade huffed impatiently and took his phone out of his pocket and tossed it to her. “It says you needed my help. Do you or do you not still require my glorious assistance?” He leaned up against one of the tent poles and folded his arms, looking at her expectantly.

    Renny scrolled quickly through his contacts and found their messages.

        Renegade. help.

        received 2:32 pm

    She closed out of the messages and tossed it back at him. 
    “I remember now,” she said. “I was wondering if you could go and find some nightshade for Shay here. I was supposed to, but I have to go into town to ward of suspicions. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone and she’s nearly out of it, what with all her experimenting.”

    The seemed believable enough. Wade looked at Shay who was (thankfully) completely absorbed by her work. Wade sighed and looked back at Renny tiredly. He said, “If anyone gets sick or dies next time I cook because I have poison hands, I’m blaming you, Little Bird.”

    Renny snickered. “Wear the gloves, use the poison basket, wash your hands. It isn’t that hard to do, Wade,” she said, grinning at him.

    “Well, whatever. Hurry up and scram soon. Kenneth might think you really are leading the fuzz right to us if you stick around so much...” he said, turning and grabbing a small basket from beside the entryway before exiting.

    Once the flap closed behind him, Renny jumped up, hurrying to the corner of Shay’s tent where she typically kept the more fragrant herbs. “Shay!” she said, tossing a light medicine ball at her, trying to snap her out of her concentration.

“Shay, I need you!”

    Shay turned and looked at Renny distractedly, “Why? I thought you needed Wade’s help.”

    “I just made that up,” Renny said. “Remember, I told my friend to text his phone when he wanted to see me? The other day, I mean. And he texted Wade yesterday, which means I have to go today, because Wade didn’t tell me yesterday about it. He could be waiting for me right now and thinking I’m not coming! I need your help, Shay!”

    “With what though?” Shay asked. “I don’t know him! I don’t know what he likes! What are you even doing? That’s moly! And that’s thyme! Goodness, just...Stop! What the heck are you trying to do here, Renny?”

    “I don’t want to smell gross!” Renny said, looking at her incredulously. “They smelled nice!”

    “Ugh, you are helpless,” Shay said, rolling her eyes and looking exasperated. “Let me...” She took the small jars from Renny and placed them back in their spots, pulling a few other jars and sniffing them. Occasionally she would look at Renny thoughtfully before putting one away.