Abramo was speaking animatedly about the properties of the pollen and how the pharmaceutical companies of Elysia would be especially interested in it as well as the rest of the flower that Kasper had made the mistake of coming into contact with. In trying to move the plant out of his way, it had discharged a cloud of pollen that was quickly causing a reaction from the human. Kasper was disoriented, having trouble standing, and his mental state was clearly being altered as he began to laugh uncontrollably. 

While Abramo took a closer look at the plant and attempted to collect samples without being contaminated, Sanford tried to shake Kasper back to reality. He splashed water in his face, not willing to risk worsening the condition by applying any other substances to his system. Kasper only threw his head back and let out joyous laughter. 

“Would you please hurry up and figure out what this is so we can treat him?” Sanford told Abramo, holding onto Kasper as he tried to fling himself to the ground. 

“I’m trying.” The botanist was exasperated with having his discovery rushed. In his opinion it didn’t seem to be harming Kasper, but rather causing elation like a recreational drug. 

While they waited, Kasper grabbed Sanford and began speaking nonsense rapidly as if he was possessed. Sanford held him tightly by the shoulders as he tried to understand what Meliae was and why Kasper was enraptured by this figure and what she was going to do to his soul. He caught parts of the rambling: the trees, ritual rites, the benevolence of Meliae. The words kept coming faster and faster and Sanford was having difficulty understanding any of it when all of a sudden Kasper stopped, looked him dead in the eye and calmly stated, “The trees want to eat us.” 

Startled, Sanford let go of him as his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he dropped limply to the ground. Beside him, he heard Abramo hiss out a string of expletives as he hurried to check on Kasper’s condition. He wasn’t dead judging by the sigh of relief that was let out, but Sanford no longer felt safe being away from camp. 

“Help me get him up,” Sanford directed. “We need to get Kasper back to camp.” 

“His breathing has evened out, I really think it was just a high, like a drug trip. Can’t I just gather a few more samples first?” 

“No!” 

Abramo shrugged and packed up his equipment and helped lift Kasper who was groggily coming to. They were roughly halfway back when Kasper’s head snapped up alertly. He pointed at the base of one of the trees and whispered, “There.” 

Sanford and Abramo looked and after a moment discerned what Kasper was pointing out to them. From underneath the roots of the trees they could make out the mangled legs of one of the megafauna they had encountered. It was as if the creature had been swallowed up by the base of the tree.