Avery walked through the forest alone in search for good plants from the local population to add to their reforestation attempts. They had split up in order to get a more diverse range of species.
Avery headed deep into the untamed reaches forest where the toughest vegetation thrived.
She sang a tune as she walked.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen
The people dead and the buildings crumbled
Their legacy buried deep with the dirt
Gardens unkempt and homes abandoned
Oh how the mighty have fallen "
She began to whistle the rest of the song as she navigated the rough terrain. The light being snubbed out by the wooden roof overhead until she was completely enshrouded in darkness.
Avery walked unbothered sometimes stopping to inspect something but then moving on.
Finally she came upon a plant that was not quite a tree and not quite a bush. It's branches and leaves were spread out in all directions.
It let out a sweet smell that made which either served as a warning or a trap depending on the creature . The leaves left a burning sensation and the fruit was poisonous to most species. Vines hung from its branches, some low enough to touch the ground.
Avery kept whistling the tune as she moved closer to the plant at a steady pace, navigating the terrain with practiced ease.
The sweet smell became more and more concentrated and the vines began to move.
Avery paid it no mind as she side stepped a vine aimed right at her face. She moved closer as the assault became more and more freverant.
Finally she reached the base of the thick plant.
She reached her hand out and gently caressed the leaves slowly moving them aside to reveal a plethora of flora thriving.
It was literally a haven for delicate plants amidst the harsh forest.
She located the seeds of the sheltering plant, hidden in the core instead of the fruits, and held them in her hands slowly rolling them to remove them from the plant.
She also collected the seeds of many of the sheltered plants.
She then continued forward searching for more plants.
She managed to collect the seeds of two more plants before she decided to head back.
" We are going to have to do this many more times if we continue at this pace" said Irisa, surveying the fruits of their labour.
They both agreed but were too exhausted to think about a solution.
They agreed to meet up again and went to their respective homes.