Story: Plea

[nsfwords]

This was inspired by and fills the "Budding" square of my January Fresh Starts Bingo card. At 242 words it takes place immediately following the original Sylvans story snippet. 

 

Plea

 

“Thomas, did you need something?” I asked him, voice hushed and a bit choked.
 

“No Doctor. I am well enough. My Grove mate is in need however.” He bent his towering head to meet my eyes where I stood less than half as tall as his 13’ height.
 

“Yes, but we can’t pin down any reasons that explain her decline. The tests we’ve run show that her rooting chamber is supplying all known nutrient requirements, but…I just…Thomas I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to hang on.” My voice trembled and I struggled to retain my composure.
 

“She has not obtained speech. She is trapped within the wood without the means to vocalize her requirements. On Sylvan a Draoi would be requested to come and commune with her Spirit to feel her desires directly.” Thomas looked anxiously towards the furthest rooting chamber, where the greenhouses third & final member was sleeping, her branches covered in thousands of tiny pearlescent pink buds. “Melisandre will blossom soon so I must remain near to quicken those that may become Child Gifts. I cannot leave her now to go on Pilgrimage. We could perhaps survive without your caretaking long enough for you to Pilgrimage if the Draoi of your world are not more than a fruiting cycle’s distance.”
 

I stared at Thomas in confusion. “A what, I’m sorry? I don’t know if we have dray - dree? here on Earth. Were they Sylvans too?”