"Sienna! SIENNA!" The pain is too great to maintain formalities.
I must figure out what's causing this
"Yes, Harlan? What troubles you, Dear?" Her voice beckons from somewhere near, but I can't quite figure out from where.
Far too calm of a tone for her to be experiencing this, too. I frown.
"Sienna, the trees! They're dying, don't you feel it? I-" Gasping, I latch onto the dining table—its handcrafted wooden surface creaking under my weight.
The look on Sienna's face when she finally comes to me is all but reassuring.
"The trees? Harlan, you should not be able to feel such things. Don't be foolish. Now, what is troubling you?"
Clutching the worn cotton of my shirt, I struggle to get the words out.
"Please, please, Sienna! You know me, I would not lie. I don't-" Gulping another lungful of air, "I don't understand, what's happening? They're rotting from the inside out!"
Finally, a different expression passes through Miss Sienna's eyes, one of uncertainty. She looks me in the face, her brown eyes searching mine for a lie.
"Oh my. How is this possible? I must—you must go. Immediately, Harlan! There's no time to explain everything, but go to the Queen." Sienna's words are rushed, trying to keep up with her as she begins throwing things together in a messenger bag, "Take Sapling with you, he shall provide you some guidance in ways I simply cannot."
"Sapling? But, Miss, his mother passed away when he was young. He hasn't had a chance to learn her ways. Are you sure?" I gasp again, trying to stand upright to show Miss Sienna my doubt.
"Dear, Sapling is special, apparently like you. I can feel it, you two are meant to stick together. No time to explain, but think of him as a familiar." I struggle to catch everything in her hurry, but the word "familiar" sticks with me, making me wonder if she may be right.
It's very rare that she's wrong.
"Now, take this. Quickly. It'll help numb the pain for now. You must go. Sapling knows the way, do not separate from him. You must promise me."
I gulp down the hot tea she gave me—a mixture of lavender, rosemary, turmeric, and peppermint, their abilities strengthened through magic.
Instantly, the pain subsides. My head grows clear, and now I realize I'm not just feeling the pain of the trees, I'm hearing their screams, too.
"lan—Harlan!" Snapping my attention back to Miss Sienna, my vision grows cloudy and I feel myself start to fall—right into Sienna's grasp.
"Oh dear, it's worse than I thought. Push through, Harlan. You have to go, there is no time to waste. Go, find Sapling, he shouldn't be far." Her tone has taken on one of fear, and she lightly pushes me out the door.
"I don't know what to do, Sienna! Why can't you come with me?" My breath leaves and I have to hyperventilate in order to catch it.
Beads of sweat form on my face, and drip down my jawline. I've never felt this before.
"I cannot. Harlan, please. Everything will reveal itself in due time."
Catching a glimpse of the golden hair stuck to her face with sweat, and her brown eyes gone almost black with worry, I know I must accept what she is telling me.
It was always meant to come to this, but I never thought the case would be this severe. It never is for a first outing, and by this reaction alone, I not only believe this isn't supposed to be happening, but that it's too soon.
"I. . .okay. I'll go, I'll go!"
"Stick with Sapling, do not leave each other. Now go!" She pushes the bag into my arms and then the door is slammed shut.
Before I know it, my feet are moving beneath me, set in a direction my mind hasn't figured out what.
"Woah, Harlan! What's going on?" Sapling.
"We have to go! Now! No time to explain!" I say the same things Sienna told me, bend down and gather Sapling up in my arms.
"Oh Heavens, okay. Why must I be dragged along, then?" He huffs, his fluffy ears laying flat to the back of his head.
"I was hoping you would be able to tell me."
"Me? What would I know? I'm practically useless!" Oh bother-
"Okay, um. . ." I come to a halt and look down at the bundle of fluff in my arms.
"Do you at least know how to get to the queen?" My pulse is jumping all over the place, speeding like an elk being chased by its main predator. If he doesn't know, then I believe that means we're fucked.
We definitely can't go back to Sienna, there's no time.
"Oh, you should have started with that. Of course I know where she is, follow me." He jumps down and darts to the left, his tail blowing in the wind.
Before I lose sight of him, I take off, tearing through the trees and following until I'm not able to any longer.
I can't explain what's happening, but I know it's bad. This nagging feeling sitting in the pit of my stomach, and the screams of the trees ringing in my ears.
Something is very wrong.
It feels like we've been running for hours in silence before we both finally wear down.
I know we're not where we're meant to be when I slump against the nearest tree. Alive.
I look around and none of the trees in this area seem to be struggling, except for the few trees dealing with a pest here or there.
The grass is alive beneath my feet, and Sapling lays down on it, taking deep, rapid breaths.
"How much longer? We're running out of time."
"Time for what, Harlan? You have yet to explain yourself." He's mad, I can tell.
"I don't know, okay?!" My tone rises in volume. I did not mean to snap at the little fox, but the urgency is building the longer we're away. "I'm not sure, all I know is that we have to get to the queen. Maybe we can stop this, or figure out what's causing it. We need to speak with her." Panic washes over me, and Sapling seems to finally look at me for the first time since starting this hectic journey.
"Harlan, breathe. We'll figure this out, together. Okay?" He folds himself against my side, and if anyone happened to be out here with us, they would not be able to see him. His brown fur blends in perfectly with the bark of the trees.
"You're not alone, Harlan."
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