Sunlight sparkled through the foliage of the Twelveswood, illuminating a cloud of fungal spores. The woman who had disturbed the spores sat back on her heels with an explosive sneeze. The light dappled her exposed skin, revealing angry red blotches. Hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, neck, face: she looked horrendous, and coupled with her grim expression she could be said to be a comical sight. The blotches were swollen. Her eyes were watering.
The job posting had seemed too good to be true. Collect some fungus for a pretty decent amount of money. No one had picked it up, for all the listing was posted in the Botanist's Guild.Â
Now Hal knew why.
She wiped her runny nose with the back of her wrist, moaning in misery. No wonder one of the other members had casually suggested she, as a new member, might benefit from picking up what seemed to be a pretty simple task. It had to be some sort of hazing ritual for gullible new botanists like herself.
One of her eyes was swelling shut.
She carefully plucked the fungus, stuffing it into the bag she'd brought for the purpose. If only she'd been smart enough to wear gloves and other protective gear. If only she'd not played right into their hands...
Another spray of spores bloomed into the light, and Hal hastily backpedaled, heels digging in as she scooted backwards on her rear end.
She couldn't help but laugh at herself, snot and tears smeared over her face, puffed up like a frog.
Oh, she was going to get the bastards back tenfold.
The job posting had seemed too good to be true. Collect some fungus for a pretty decent amount of money. No one had picked it up, for all the listing was posted in the Botanist's Guild.Â
Now Hal knew why.
She wiped her runny nose with the back of her wrist, moaning in misery. No wonder one of the other members had casually suggested she, as a new member, might benefit from picking up what seemed to be a pretty simple task. It had to be some sort of hazing ritual for gullible new botanists like herself.
One of her eyes was swelling shut.
She carefully plucked the fungus, stuffing it into the bag she'd brought for the purpose. If only she'd been smart enough to wear gloves and other protective gear. If only she'd not played right into their hands...
Another spray of spores bloomed into the light, and Hal hastily backpedaled, heels digging in as she scooted backwards on her rear end.
She couldn't help but laugh at herself, snot and tears smeared over her face, puffed up like a frog.
Oh, she was going to get the bastards back tenfold.
