PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

25. Lips

In the middle of the main road, an enormous tree blocks the path and has sufficiently stopped the group's progress for the day.

"Could just go around," Robb suggests.

"There's no way we're getting the wagon through those trees," Vetsalla answers. "Carry it over."

"Carry it?" Alinrou raises an eyebrow. "I really don't think it's worth the effort to try to lift the cart over that huge ass tree."

Jitho clambers onto the trunk and stands on top, tail swaying side to side as she finds her balance. "This is a big tree. Didn't realize how big these trees are."

"Don't fall off there," Tremas warns, but he doesn't look particularly concerned.

"I have excellent balance," Jitho sniffs.

L'gaoia rubs her forehead. "I suppose I can chop us a path."

"Honestly, it would probably take the same amount of time to do that as it would to just lift the damn cart over the tree," Eggel says.

"I could try to move it. Maybe grow some roots and shove it aside or something," Tuluvey offers.

"I could cast a few spells to aid you," Flix says. "I think that would work."

"Or," Xaniphe cuts in. "I could just burn it."

"That would take too long," Tremas answers. "Unless we want to be here for hours."

"I think we're already going to be here for longer than we'd like," L'gaoia points out. "Want to vote?"

Sabina wanders over to the base of the tree. The trunk is bigger than her whole body and she thinks that if it were hollow, she'd be able to climb inside. She looks at the stump and the cross section, frowning.

That's an even break, she notes. Looks like somebody cut this down.

She peers at the wood and finds slices in the bark. Axe marks. This wasn't a natural occurrence. She stands up and looks around, listening for anything peculiar. She figures that if anything were off, Robb would say something since he has the best hearing and smell out of all of them, but she also doesn't think he's paying that much attention to their surroundings right now.

The tree is one of the largest on the side of the road. Most of the trees this close to it are thin compared to the ones deeper in the woods, yet this one was the one chosen. It's fallen into a cluster of trees and the branches near the top have splintered and broken.

Someone wanted to make an obstacle. Surely if one wanted to cut a tree for wood it would be much easier to pick a smaller tree. Sabina glances back to the stump, groaning inwardly.

"Um," Sabina pipes up. "I think it might be better to just, uh, go back and find another road."

Instantly all eyes are on her and she cringes.

"What's wrong?" L'gaoia questions, immediately concerned as she comes over by her.

"It's a trap," Sabina says bluntly. "Not a very good one."

She points to the stump and everyone gathers around.

"What are we looking at?" Robb asks.

"Someone cut this down." Tremas nods grimly. "I agree with Sabina. Let's just avoid this."

"Yeah," Alinrou seconds. "Let's haul ass. I'm not in the fighting mood. Whoever set this up wouldn't even be worth fighting anyway. Probably don't have any good loot."