Blood Queen Reborn

Peter, Micheal and Cia traveled near the river downstream. They had planned on going in opposite directions, following the stream, as to not get lost. The idea was that they were only going to be split up for 30 minutes, then come back. As extra measure, one of Sarah’s bees was following their group.

They didn’t want to stick too close to the river, as the sounds of crashing waves made it harder to talk to each other, so they kept a reasonable distance of about 20 feet.

As they traveled, Peter couldn’t help but think about the words Garret had said.

’Was he really telling the truth? Did she genuinely say that about me?’

While Peter was deep in thought, Cia scanned the foliage, finding all kinds of flowers and greenery. There was one that was octopus shaped, and maroon in color, but when scanning it, the scanner’s screen had unfortunately shown an X, indicating it had already been scanned.

Then she scanned another flower that was tall and light blue in color with white stripes.

It beeped, and text appeared on the screen. This was a new discovery!

[Soapflower]

[When applied to the skin, exudes a mild cleaning agent and a pleasant fragrance]

Micheal sniffed it, "Smells like coconuts! But more fruity."

He plucked it and rubbed his hands on the petals like one would with soap, releasing the smell of fruity coconuts.

"I feel tempted to pocket some of these flowers myself," Cia said, sniffing the air.

Sarah’s bee buzzed around a cluster of long hanging fruits that were half blue, and half green where their stems were, indicating for Cia to scan it.

[Tealfruit]

[When squeezed, the fruit will squirt out a light blue ointment that when applied to small cuts and wounds, heals them after a few minutes]

"Lucky us! These blue ones can fix some cuts!" Cia said.

The boys headed underneath the tree with the tealfruits, and took turns attempting to remove the fruit from it. The trees on the planet grew to be very tall, and while this specific fruit was on one of its low hanging branches, that didn’t mean it wasn’t out of reach for the three of them.

"Curse us shorties!" Micheal shouted, "But I’m sure with the power of friendship, we can combine all of our efforts to reach that fruit!"

"Yeah, and how exactly is the power of friendship meant to make us taller?" Cia commented.

"Come on, don’t be like that," Micheal nudged, "I carry Peter here, and he carries you!"

Peter gulped, a bit of blush appearing on his cheeks. If he did that, he would be so very close to Cia.

Before he could think about protesting, Micheal lifted him by the legs, and had him sit on his shoulders.

"A—aright, Cia," He strained, struggling to keep Peter up, "Just climb on and—"

Cia started climbing Micheal, digging her boots into his shoulders, then onto Peter, and sat around his neck, making the black haired boy gulp nervously. Cia was RIGHT there, her legs next to his face.

Struggling to keep the two upwards, Micheal was constantly wobbling, struggling to hold his footing.

"Stop moving so much!" Cia shouted, just barely within reach of the tealfruit.

She managed to grab one group just in time as the trio toppled over, the foliage helping break their fall.

Holding the fruit cluster up as high as she could, Cia shouted ,"Got it!"

A few of the tealfruits had unfortunately helped cushion Cia’s drop, crushing in the process. It released a fresh scent in the air, like the smell of clean laundry, and they took it in.

"I wonder how it tastes like," Micheal said as he plucked one, and placed it in his mouth, "Minty? But also sweet, and very gooey."

"Is it a good idea to eat every alien fruit we come across?" Peter muttered.

"Just let him be," Cia said, "If he eats something and dies, then that’s on him."

Since it seemed like a useful plant, they each pocketed some just in case.

Nearby, there was a short flower the size of a table with only one wide petal to it. It was mostly white, but the tips of the petal were a reddish pink. Growing out of the stamen was a right red looking fruit with black stems that when Micheal plucked, fit neatly in his hand.

"I bet all of these flowers smell and taste amazing!" Micheal exclaimed, and squeezed the fruit, only for some of the juices to land in his eyes.

"Ack! It burns!" Micheal yelled, dropping the fruit.

"Micheal, are you dumb!?" Cia scolded, then scanned the fruit, "This better not be acid, or you can kiss your eyes goodbye."

[Rare Crimson Veritas]

[When ingested, it makes its consumer compelled to tell the truth. Can cause dizzying side effects]

Peter ran over to help his teammate, who was finding himself struggling to stand normally. While they weren’t looking, Cia dropped one of the fruits inside of her boot.

"I can’t lose my eyesight, if I do, I won’t be able to look at any hot girls!" Micheal blurted out.

Peter blinked, "Huh!?"

"Wait, you weren’t supposed to hear that," Micheal quickly said, face turning a deep red, "Just like I’m not supposed to hear my roommates make lo—"

Slamming his hands over his mouth, Micheal looked to Cia, wondering what was happening to him.

"I think the fruit made you dizzy, can you stand upright?" Cia said.

Micheal nodded a no, and she sighed, "I think we need to wash that juice out of your eyes. Obviously ditsy here can’t walk straight, so he’s gotta stay here. Me and Peter will get water."

Micheal nodded a yes this time, and sat down, not wanting to topple over. The bee decided to stick with him, most likely to keep him company.

’What did that fruit do to me?’ He thought to himself, ’It’s like my lips went loose.’

The river wasn’t very far off, so they were quickly able to reach it, losing vision of Micheal. Normally, this would be a bad plan to get separated, but with it only being herself and Peter, it was perfect. The sounds of the rushing river would drown out any cries for help.

While Peter made a crude stoney bucket, and crouched down to collect the water, his back turned to Cia.

’If I use the spirit spears, I should be able to overpower him, and feed him this fruit,’ she thought

Holding an open palm behind her back, she prepared to create a spirit spear, but stopped.

’Why am I hesitating?’ She thought.

Instead, Cia pushed the fruit deeper in her boot. A better time will present itself eventually, or so she told herself.

"There we go, hopefully we can wash his eyes off with this," Peter said.

Suddenly, one of Sarah’s bees bumped into her face, and she turned around to swat it, only to find another one of those yellow speckled flower beasts right behind them. This time bigger, with a darker stem, and wider flower head.

Quickly taking out her scanner, Cia shouted, "BEAST!"

[Yellowsplatter Flos]

[Intermediate tier]

Peter twisted his body, and shifted the bucket into a club. Not wanting Cia to get hurt, he charged at the beast.

She wanted to shout that it was intermediate tier, and that there was no way a level 2 like him could do something, but it was too late for that.

Instead, Cia threw one of her spirit spears at it at the same time Peter clubbed its side. Once she was about to throw the spear, one of its vines swept her off her feet.

"Cia!" Peter shouted.

He was about to run to her, when the beast smacked another vine into his back, and dropped his weapon.

’Why didn’t the bee tell us that this beast was here?!’ Cia yelled in her mind, ’Did it not think the flower beast was a threat?’

She scrambled up to her feet, and grabbed the club in one hand, and a spirit spear in the other. Throwing the spear, it landed, but the beast flung a vine overhead, wrapping around her arm.

Thankfully it was weakened enough to not be able to lift her, but the effect wouldn’t last for long.

Peter lifted up to his knees, and shot his hands out, creating a spiked piece of earth, jutting into the plant monster’s side.

It punctured, but it also angered it. It flailed its vines even more wildly, and the debuff effect wore off. The beast lifted Cia into the air and flung her into the river.

"CIA!" Peter cried.

Not a second later, the beast smacked Peter, and he too fell into the rushing waters.

His body battered against the intense waves, tossing around, and unable to control what direction he went. All he knew was that he was going downstream, further and further away from any hope of being found.

Peter did his best to swim back up, he really did, but his body couldn’t keep up anymore. His leg smashed into a sharp rock, and his head toppled deep into the water. Unable to bring himself up to air, his mind couldn’t take it anymore.

Everything fell to black.