1 salt✅

The Bigger Picture

Days passed without much of anything happening. However, I couldn't help but notice more and more of the tendrils had started appearing as small sprouts, some bigger than others. No matter where we searched, not even the tiniest clue on fixing things presented itself to us. At this point I was ready to give up. And judging morale and communication wise, the others seemed to be thinking the same thing. I wandered around and couldn't help but remember how happy and carefree Carla was until the incident. Carla strangely resembled us in a way.

We traveled to different places in Seoul and ended up making the last stop Insadong before we moved on. Though it was obvious the others were considering going back home, wherever that was. I stopped in front of a sprout then squatted. I gave it a piece of food then looked on in surprise as it wiggled then turned grayish-brown. What did that mean? I poked inside the hole it was in and watched as it shot out.

I moved back, anticipating an attack then blinked as it picked me up instead. The air became slightly thinner, but the aerial view was amazing. I couldn't see the others, but they could probably see me. Strangely, I didn't feel as if my life was in danger. I was soon traveling back down towards the ground and being safely placed back on my feet. Both the tendril and hole had completely disappeared. Was the Earth hungry? If that was the case, why did it go through such lengths to swallow humans? Was it going to eat them? A gruesome image filled my mind as I continued to think about it.

"Seoho! Are you okay!?" I heard someone shout.

I turned around and saw Dongju running towards me at top speed. He leaped towards me and out of reflex I sidestepped. He hit the ground and I profusely apologized for letting him fall. Usually someone would avoid something that's flying towards them.

"I'm fine, but you clearly aren't..." I said as I helped him up.

"You were up in the air being held by a root. Are you sure you're okay?" he asked as he checked his face.

"It's fun actually." I said with a smile.

He looked at me like a deer in headlights.

"Fun? How could you say that after how it hurt both you and Carla?" asked Dongju seriously.

"Come. Stand right there." I said as I directed him to a sprout before discreetly giving it food.

Soon Dongju was being lifted into the air. He flailed around then eventually stopped and looked around. I patiently waited as his sounds of terror had long since become sounds of excitement. The tendril started to come down with Dongju. He gently landed on his feet then shook me by the shoulders.

"What the actual god damn fuck?" he said, emphasizing the word fuck.

"I don't know, I just learned of it too." I replied as I felt the spot where the hole used to be. "Maybe the Earth needs food is what I'm guessing."

"Food? What kind of food?" Dongju pressed as he looked on with me.

"Not sure, but it seems to like this." I said as I held up the snack. "But even then, is it only human food... if so that's going to be problematic."

"Let's go tell the others." said Dongju.

"Go ahead. I'll stay and study them a bit more." I said as I looked for another sprout.

"Then I'll stick with you." he replied then patted my back.

I poured a bit of juice on the sprout, but nothing happened. I tried water and watched as it turned grayish-brown. Then it clicked.

"Nourishment is what it needs." I said the same way someone would say eureka.

"Really..." said Dongju as he poked another sprout. "Will there be enough water and food though?"