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| part10 Kai had to carry Clover the last few miles, her strangth having run out. They had to be 15 miles from town by now. The sun had set, the wind blew cool across the forest. Kai stopped in a small clearing and sat Clover agenst a tree. "Wha...why are...we stopping." Clover stutered. She was to tired to even lift her head. Kai knelt beside her. "You need to rest, we will stay here for the night." Kai stated. "NO...no... we ...have to ..keep going." Clover tryed to sit up but fell back agenst the tree, already her vines were withering, turning black. "YOU must rest." Kai said in a tone that demanded compliance. Clover, exausted, gave in and was soon asleep. Kai stood watch over Clover through out the night. ********* The sounds of dogs in the distance woke Clover the next day. "Riders." gasped Clover, snaping out of her dreamless sleep. "Yes." said Kai. "You..you have to send them away...Kai...the...the Blight." muthered Clover, still laying agenst the tree. "I will." said Kai, he looked back at her," I will be back." With that he disapeared into the forest. Clover looked down at herself, the white spots had spread. Now they ran down her legs, along both arms and she knew they were probably on her face too. The spots were everywhere.....almost. The small vine curled at her side, away from the others, her ovule, remained a solid, healthy green. Clover knew the consintrated antibodies and other viral traps in it's small length would protect it for only so long. Clover mowned, not in pain but in sorrow. She mustered all of her strength, and slowly started to crawl towards the center of the clearing. Kai stood on a small rise as the riders, four of them came into view. ********* "STOP, come no closer." he shouted. The riders rained in their dogs, four masive Grayhounds. One rider moved forward. Kai had meet this one in town briefly. She was Clover's sister, Grove of Apple Blossoms. "We have found the bodies of Poison Oak and Marygold." She shouted." Where is Clover? What has happened?" "Clover has been infected with the Blight." Kai said. The riders gasped collectively and began muttering among themselves. Apple Blossom reganed their attention and turned to Kai. "How is she?" her voice fearful. "The disease moves quikly. I will acompany Clover away from here. For your own saftey you best leave." said Kai. "Yes." said Apple Blossoms, reluctently, "We have to warn the town." With that the riders turned their mounts around and speed away. ********* Kai returned to the clearing to find Clover not under the tree, but curled on her side in the sunny center of the clearing. She was panting, gasping for air, as tears mixed with the oily discgarge from her eyes. Kai lifted her upright. "What has happened?" asked Kai, looking at Clover's small vine. It had split open, oozing sap. "That." Clover gasped as she pointed to a small green lump on the ground a few feet away. Kai studyed it a moment. "A seed?" "My child." gasped Clover, as tears poured from her eyes. As they watched, a tiny root immerged from the seed's end and pushed it's way into the warm earth. It righted it's self and several tiny leaves unferled making a blanket in which the pod it's self sat. "It's...too soon." gasped Clover. " Far too ...soon but..I ..I couldn't let it be infected." Clover looked up at Kai. "Please...take me away from....here." "But what about your child?" asked Kai as he lifted her helpless form. "It will...be ok... for..now but...after..I." Clover hesitated." someone will have...to take care of...it." "I will." said Kai. Clover looked up at him. "Kai...you..you don't have to...do that." gasped Clover. "I know, but for you....I will." said Kai. Clover layed back in Kai's arms. "Thank you, Kai." she whipered. Kai carryed Clover away from the clearing where the tiny seed turned it's leaves towards the sun, drinking in the early morning warmth. part11 The sun was high, all traces of the cool night were gone. And Clover was getting worse. The Blight was moveing quikly through her system. All ready several vines had fallen off, others were ready to drop anytime. The leaves that ran down her arms had turned black and dropped one by one. Kai continued to carry Clover farther away from the town and her premature seed. They stopped by a small pond. "Why has the Blight not drive you mad, like the others?" asked Kai. Clover blinked away some of the discharge. "The maddness....sets in...three...days from...infection." Clover rasped out," This strain....is moveing...to...fast it...will..kill me before it....can drive me... mad." |
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