❝ I can't save us ❞
in which the Foxling and the Codfather exchange
trades, looks, and blue orchids in a world of war,
death, and political alliances.
❝ my Atlantis ❞
( male!oc x solidarity )
( empires smp...
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FORGOTTEN ORCHIDS | CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ATTICUS AND THE CODFATHER AGREED to meet in Vulpesterra for lunch the week before. It pained Atticus to send him a letter in the morning that told the Codfather he'd have to cancel due to an incident with the spreading corruption; he'd much rather be sitting in the bakery with the Codfather than standing near the red vines that had spread another mile into the kingdom, destroying more crops and displacing more farmers.
Atticus took great caution before meeting with the Council at the sight of the corruption; he made sure his skin was covered as much as it could be, everything save for his face, and he was the first to arrive at the scene. He had Thomas stay with the horses half a mile away and made the rest of the walk himself, not wanting to risk the older man or the animals getting hurt.
The Council arrived soon after he did, only a few members managing to make it; he'd only sent for Lady Anne, Lady Angelica, and Lord Arthur, who had backgrounds in dealing with plants and were the longest-sitting members of the Council. That, and he knew they were the only ones awake at six in the morning to receive his summons.
"I brought gloves," he announced, handing them each a pair. "I don't expect any of you to touch it, but better to be safe than sorry." He stepped back, looking at the corruption for a moment before turning to them again. "It's been dormant for a few months now, but overnight it moved about a mile closer to the kingdom. We've lost more crops, but I've requested a meeting with Farmer Pearl to ask about supplementing the loss," he explained.
"I'll organize the affected farmers to move closer inland," Anne offered. "Once they're settled, we can find land for them to continue farming. But we should focus on making sure they have somewhere to live first."
Atticus nodded. "Thank you."
"We have to assume more farmers will be affected in the future until this problem is solved," Arthur pointed out. "We should start setting up for them as well. Just in case."
"You're right," Atticus agreed, looking at Anne; she nodded.
Angelica's eyes widened, and suddenly she was pulling Atticus closer to her; Atticus grunted in surprise and turned to look over his shoulder, seeing the corruption moving forward. A tendril attempted to wrap around his leg but fell back to the ground and retreated back into the mass it had come from once Atticus was out of reach.
"Are you alright?" Angelica asked, letting him go.
Atticus nodded. "Yes, thank you," he said, glaring at the offending vines. "Give it some space. We know what happens when it touches bare skin, but I don't want to know what it would do if it got a grip on you."
The group shuffled a few feet away, facing the corruption still. Arthur frantically scribbled notes before turning to Atticus. "Perhaps we should get a sample for Lady Katherine. It seems to behave like a plant, and I would consider her the master of plants," he mused.
