Before leaving the clearing, Lira took a slow, lingering walk around the stinking flower. The dark, bulbous petals swayed gently in the morning breeze, still emitting that sharp, pungent odor. Despite the stench, Lira felt a quiet admiration. The flower had been generous, revealing its secrets cautiously, rewarding patience and care, while its small guardians had observed them, teaching lessons without words.
Renkai, leaning against a tree nearby, chuckled softly. "I still can't believe you made friends with a stink flower and a bunch of tiny forest critters in one morning."
Lira shot him a playful look. "They're not just critters. They're guardians. And they were testing us. I think they respected our restraint." She knelt briefly to scatter some small seeds near the flower, leaving them for the grove. "Even if we took some, the rest should have a chance to grow."
