Page 17 of Sprite Wedding
A rustling in the bushes led us both to turn that way.
“Did you hear that?” Nova asked.
“Yes.” We had plenty of visitors in the garden. “Probably a rabbit or squirrel.”
A low sound followed, like muffled voices. I tipped my head. “Listen.”
She did for several seconds but then asked, “To what?”
She didn’t seem to hear it. As a shifter, I had an acute sense of hearing. I raised my finger to my lips to motion for her to be quiet.
I listened. Nothing. “Never mind.” It must have been neighbors talking nearby, but they’d stopped.
After Nova went for her walk, I continued with the garden cleanup. As soon as I was done in one section, I thought I’d do a little more in the next. The little more turned into a lot more, and my back was feeling it.
Leaves rustled. I turned to where the sound was coming from. It was in the section I’d been working on with dwarf Japanese maple trees, plenty of ferns, and mosses. Were rabbits feasting? I didn’t mind them spending some time nibbling. It was when they treated my garden like an all-you-can-eat buffet on a cruise ship that I had to shoo them away and put up barriers. They had other places to dine. That garden was off limits.
So were my herbs and vegetables. And flowers. These all had a purpose. I brought them into the Network, much to the witches’ enjoyment. They dubbed me an honorary green witch. I laughed at that one. I might be the first dragon witch.
I pushed my way through a patch of tall hosta and day lilies. They were getting too dense, and I’d have to separate them soon. If the rabbits wanted to help me out with those, I wouldn’t complain. They’d be doing me a favor. Those babies multiplied like cats in heat.
I’d dig some up, put them in a pot with some good soil, and give them to neighbors. Being on good terms with them was key.
After walking to my gardening shed, I pulled out a shovel. With how packed these plants were, I might need tools. I returned to the tangled roots. Once I pulled one out, I walked back to the patch and examined the layout for a good plan of action. Digging too much in an area would leave the garden looking sparse.
Once I decided on an optimal area to start, I walked through the greenery and trailed the shovel in a line to dig.
“Oof.”
I glanced around. Where did that come from? I searched around the garden. Nobody was here. Maybe it was a neighbor on the other side of the fence.
I prepared to dig. Once I plunged the shovel into the soil, dirt sprayed my face. Some got into my eye.
“Suffering snapdragons!” That sucked. How did that even happen? It shouldn’t have hit me like that. I was six feet above the damn earth.
I blinked in rapid succession, my eyes watering, and tried to see through the dark haze.
Something coated my tongue. What the hell was it—dirt? I coughed on it. No, it didn’t taste like soil. It was more pungent, slightly bitter.
“Blech. Get out of my mouth!” I cried. I wiped my tongue on the back of my hand. It didn’t help.
These particles tasted awful. The more I coughed, the more they seemed to invade my mouth. I still couldn’t see clearly with my blurred vision. What a strange twist in garden adventures. Although I’d had run-ins in the past, from pests to irritations from invasive plants, I’d never had a reaction quite like this.
I tried to spit the horrid texture out, but it clung to my tongue. Gross! I needed to head inside for a glass of water.
But how? I couldn’t even see straight. I stumbled my way toward the house, arms outstretched to keep me from walking into anything. After a few steps, I tripped and fell.
Great.
I curled into the fetal position as I choked on this disgusting taste. After half a minute, it finally ceased.
Ah, this was much nicer. I rolled onto my back and blinked through my hazy vision. Something flew overhead, like a shadow.
When my vision cleared, I stared above me. Just clouds in the otherwise blue sky.
I breathed in. The fragrant scent of flowers and soil surrounded me. I could stay out here all day. And I was tired. So tired. Maybe if I closed my eyes for a minute…
When I opened my eyes,I stared at my surroundings. I was outside in the garden, and the sun was low in the sky. Huh.
