The floral creature tilted its head, trying to figure out where the faint sound came from. South... Southeast maybe? It thought. It hopped down from the branch it perched on, following the sound. As it walked through the forest it realized thi sound it heard was soft crying. Unfortunately, it recognized what the crying voice was... a child. A girl by the sound of it.
Minutes ticked by, the soft sobs getting louder as it came closer. Now, it heard the river and it began to worry. It picked up something else, a metallic sent it was all to familiar with. No. No! NO! Please, not another one! It franticly thought. But as it came to the treeline, its suspicions were confirmed. On the shore of the river was a little girl, clad in oversized t-shirt and lacy shorts, balling her eyes out. It sighed, stepping out into the moonlight and calmly walking to the child.
It approached carefully and slowly. When it was a few meters away she spun around, teary eyes widening in fear. She started to back away, whimpering.
"Shh. Shh. Its okay little one. I won't hurt you." It gently spoke, slowly crouching down to her level. "What's your name?"
"Adeline *sob*" She wiped her eyes. "What's yours, mis?"
"Baccara." The floral creature gave a small, comforting smile. "How old are you? Where are your parents?"
"Seven and a half. Mama and papa are at the camp. I don't know where I am now." The child sniffed, rubbing away tears and yawning.
"Adeline?" She asked, glancing up at the moon. "You must be so tired. It's well past your bed time. I believe it's past midnight already."
The little girl nodded, her fear having mostly melted away. She was calmer now, looking drowsy enough to fall on her face. Yet, she never took her big brown eyes off what she thought was a too nice monster.
Baccara looked past her, seeing the small vessel still half in the river. She sighed, slowly standing and walking around her to it. She crouched again, examining it and glancing back at the kid. She noticed the bruise on her temple, the red in her short black hair and frowned. She let out a long sigh as she dragged a frustrated hand through her petals and rubbed her neck. She stood, scooping up the little vessel and cradling it in one arm. She took several strides past the child up river then turned too her. Adeline tried to meet her haze, but quickly looked away.
"Around a 10 minute walk from here is my flower garden. You can rest there." She said with melancholy on her tongue. "It'll be much safer there, wild animals are too scared of getting pricked and tangled in the black rose bushes to go near it."
The kid hesitated, but didn't wanna be left behind in the forest. Alone, in the middle of the night. And she was curious. Her mother had a flower garden with a few types of black roses too. She really wanted to see if there were any Ebb Tide, Black Magic or any other types her mom didn't have. She also wanted to see what other flower there were.
Adeline took a deep breath, stood up with a slight stumble and trotted after the walking flower. She walked beside it, silently for a short while.
"How did you end up out here alone?" The creature asked. "You're soaked to the bone from falling in the river. Are you cold?"
"No, the breeze is pleasantly warm." She tried to joke. "As for your first question? I came out her with my family on a camping trip for the weekend. I was woken up with the... urge to go. I planed to run behind a small cluster of trees a little away from camp then run back. But after I did and started back I heard a growl infront of me."
She paused, tears returning to her eyes. Her gaze drifting to the right into the trees. She could hardly see the river now. Her eyes darted to the flower beside her, starting at her burgundy tipped white petals. Maybe I'm lucky and she won't, she thought. Her eyes darted back to the dirt trail as Baccara glanced at her. She gulped, fiddling with her shirt.
"Anyway..." The child continued. "I stopped walking for a moment, but a big coyote charged at me. So, I ran in the opposite direction until we got to a river. I was tired and dizzy so... I slipped on a mossy rock by the edge and fell in. I... I think i hit my head. Everything got dim and fuzzy, my chest hurt. Then everything went black. Eventually, I woke up on the shore with... That."
She pointed to the small vessel in the creature's arm. She nodded, now knowing what happened and understanding the gravity of it. If I ever see that coyote it will be my breakfast! She thought bitterly. But soon, a tender smile came to Baccara's lips.
"We're here!" She hummed. "Welcome to my garden. Stay as long as you'd like!"
Adeline looked up, gawking. Infront of her was the most mesmerizing flora she'd ever seen. Flowers, and vibrant bushes were scattered around small stones in the ground. Red and violet tinted black rose bushes padded the treeline. Some even climbing up a the trees. On the opposite side of the clearing, overlooking a star-filled lake, sat a single maple with an old swing. Small, dim wisps danced through the air around them. They drifted around the child, as if greeting a new friend.
The flower walked over to the tree, the little girl immediately hopping on the old swing. The girl looked so happy now, the bruise and red in her hair having almost fully vanished. Likely forgotten. Distracted from that memory even, the flower thought. But she knew what she had to ask next.
"Where?" She sighed, shifting the small vessel in her arms.
Something clicked. All those... Surrounded by... She whispered under her breath.
"Can I ask something first?" She gulped, eyeing the nodding flower. "I know what you really are so... Are you gonna eat me here?"
The creature looked at her with shock, "No. Not at all!"
The flower relaxed, sighing. She hadn't expected that, but who knows the kind of stories parents tell their children to deter them from misbehaving at this point.
"I'm guessing you heard that from a bedtime story? I assure you, that's not what we're really like." She said, kneeling down. "You truly can trust me."
She hesitated, but nodded. Relaxing once again she replied, "Here. Under this tree looking over the lake."
"Okay then." She replied, shifting to the side. She placed the vessel a little ways away.
She backed up, suddenly sinking her claw-like thorns into the ground and peeling up a sheet of grass. She continued to dig 'til the hole was a bit bigger then needed. She stood and walked off, frozen dirt falling from her hands. A few minutes later, she returns with her first armful of flowers. Most were black roses. Once there were enough flowers, she lined the hole with them. She gently placed the vessel on the bed of flowers before covering it with more flowers. When that was done, she refilled the hole with dirt and placed the blanket of grass back in its place. Finally, she placed a carved stone at the head of the hole against the tree and surrounded it with spare flora.
"Thank you, Ms. Baccara." The girl sadly smiled. "Will my family ever find me?"
"Honestly, it's unlikely. The nearest campsites are miles away." She replied. "The river carried you far."
"Oh..." Adeline sighed, kicking her legs.
"You are indeed a lost spirit, my little ghost." A cold hand gently cupped the girl's cheek. "BUT! There are others just like you. You're not alone here."
"Again, thank you!" The child chirped with a yawn. "Though, I'm really tired now."
She hoped off the swing, plopping down beside the floral creature and leaning against her side. In moments, she was asleep. She faded until only a wisp remained, gently resting among the flower's leaves.
"Rest well little spirit." She hummed.
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