Page 11 of Mistletoe Wishes and Dragon Kisses

“Indeed.”

3

"Your whole crop?" Trying with all her might to pull back the words that had just jumped out of her mouth before her brain had engaged, or rather tamp down the shock with which she delivered that statement, Glo got as far as "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean…" before the person on the other end of the call interrupted.

“Yes, ma’am. The whole crop is gone,” Greta Greenthumb sadly confirmed, the sound of the Scottish Highlands thick in her voice. “And I understand. I did a lot more than gasp when it happened. You have nothing to apologize for.”

It broke Glo’s heart to see the pain in the eyes of the Queen of the Hill Giants of Camas Darach. She looked so incredibly sad, so dejected, so… lost. The usually electric Emerald of her eyes was dull and rimmed in red, and the cute, ruddy pink that always dotted her cheeks and perfectly contrasted with the brilliant green of her skin had been replaced by the sullen sallowness of sorrow.

Before Glo could ask her next question, the Giantess Queen, a very tall, very imposing, but also very loving and caring Gurgess who resembled Fiona from one of the Brown Witch'sfavorite movies, started to sob, "The whole damn thing…" Stopping to inhale, she sniffled and wiped her eyes. "…E–Every leaf, b–bloom, berry, and vine. One minute, I-I was going from tree to tree with my special fertilizer and plant food, and the next–the next, they-they were all just gone." Hiccupping her inhale, tears the color of light, unroasted pistachios rolling down her cheeks, Greta exhaled a wail filled with so much anguish that it shook the walls of the Witch's home. "Gone! Gone! Goooonnnnneeeee! Dead! Dead, I tell you! My babies are deeeeeaaaaaddddd!”

When Greta stopped to take a breath, and her shriek was only an echo, Glo knew what she had to do. It was time to turn the sinking ship of her life's work around before it was joined by Greta's Mistletoe crop and was Gone! Gone! Gooonnneee!

“Don’t you worry even one of the cute, cascading chartreuse curls on your head, my friend. Give me thirty seconds. I’ve got an idea.”

“Are you seriously thinking what I think you’re thinking?” Hill scoffed from her place on Nostradamus’s shoulder.

“You know I am,” Glo scowled. “Now, hush.”

“Nope, not gonna do it,” Hillary sassed before picking up right where she’d left off. “Because if you are thinking what Iknowyou’re thinking, then I need to warn you that….”

Ignoring her feisty Familiar, Glo tapped Em on the shoulder even as the telepathic phone in her head continued to ring, bing, and ding–a–ling–a–ling as if it knew there could be no tomorrow. Waiting until the Fey Dragon politely told the person she was talking to that they would be back in touch as quickly as Magically possible and looked her way, Glo proudly announced, “I’m gonna send out an All–Call.”

“You really need to…”

“No, Hillary,” Glo snapped. “Youreally need to hush it up.”

Not willing to waste another second on the negativity her Familiar was tossing around like Mardi Gras beads, she returned her sassy Brown Witch gaze to the Fey Dragon and smiled as if the last ten seconds hadn't happened. Picking up right where she'd left off, she enthusiastically explained, "I truly believe if we all get on a single wavelength and focus all our Magic, Mysticism, Enchantment, and great, gorgeously green thumbs, we can turn this all around."

“You mean….”

“Damn straight, Sista Friend. I’m gonna talk to all my people at the same time. It’s the only way. They need to hear the plan directly from the horse’s mouth.”

“Well, you’re more like a horse’s ass, but I…”

“I’m only gonna tell you one more time, Hillary” Glo seethed. Eyes sliding to the right, she speared the Pink Pygmy Hippo with a look she hopped stuck fear in her Familiar’s heart. Then with a single, sharp point of her finger, she growled through gritted teeth, “If you don’t…”

"I think Hill and I need to make some hot cocoa," Noss politely interjected. Getting to his feet, the Gargoyle smiled politely while holding onto the Hippo's feet, which hung off his shoulder. "Sounds like everybody needs something sweet and yummy to keep this machine rollin’ at optimum efficiency.”

"Thank you, Sweetie," Em cooed to her Mate's back as he made a beeline toward the kitchen. Then, to Glo, the Fey Dragon added with a giggled whisper, "Isn't he the best?"

“He really is,” Glo agreed.

Inhaling, she held her breath for the count of three while shaking her hands, then exhaled quickly before continuing, "I have to do this All-Call. I need to let all my people be part of the solution. They also need to see the amazing tracking system you and Noss set up. They need to know that we weren't just sittinghere twiddlin’ our thumbs and waitin' for them to figure it out on their own. Ya know what I mean?”

"I do, Honey. I do," Em beamed. She really was the best cheerleader Glo could have ever hoped for and one damn fine friend.

“You really are the best.”

"I don't know about all that," the Fey Dragon snickered, wrinkling her nose. "Now, give me your hand, and I'll help boost your signal." Then, with a wink, she added, "Not that you need any help at all. I just…"

“You just wanna help.”

“You know it.”

“And for that, I love you all the more.”

Holding out her hand, Glo waited until her bestie’s fingers were wrapped tight within her own, then opened her mind to every Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Giant, and all the Others in her vast Magical Mistletoe Network–as it was known to everyone far and wide. Shoving all the Enchantment she, Em, Nostradamus, and a less–than–thrilled Hillary K. Hippo could muster, the Brown Witch of Peace, Protection, and Eternal Love smiled so brightly that she knew the ones she considered her Gang of Supernatural Growers would feel how very much she adored and appreciated each and every one of them as she conjured a metaphysically Magical screen of her own and beamed,“Hello, my beautiful people! Glo here. I know today has already been a real… Well, let’s just call it what it is–a real kick in the ass, and the sun just came up over here, but that doesn’t matter. First of all, I gotta tell you how proud I am of your quick response and incredible attentiveness. Oh, and let us not forget your amazing patience with me. If you don’t know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout, then just get in touch with Gustav after this is all over. Give him a hug, a pat on the back, and a big, old Atta-Boy for not reaching throughthe Magical airwaves and bopping me right up the side of the head when he called, and I was a big, grouchy Grinch."

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