Thick branches coiled around the waistlines of every thug who fled. Those who got a knife from their back pockets and stabbed the branch had another branch slap the blade away before their arms were restrained as well. Yellow flowers grew and exuded foul smells at their faces, making them curse and choke.

“You know,” Toby - all smiles for the first time in human territory - pulled Sush’s attention away when he spoke to the queen. “Call me crazy, but I kinda miss the forest.”

Sush was so enthralled by the autonomy of something that was known to stay rooted that she didn’t see Millicent, Kenji and Patterson coming...