Letter 12

Poppy,

I spent all night thinking about Nella's words and this morning I decided to go and help. I thought of the Poppy I knew, and how you couldn't stand to see any plant suffering, and how you always took the time to heal plants when you could. I remembered that time in the Ullune Forest. We were almost trapped by a herd of venomous spiders because you needed to stop to heal the toadstools. I couldn't stop smiling thinking back at it, and I knew I had to act.

I know it won't take back everything that happened, but maybe it will be a start.

I had to wait until after lunch to head out to the gardens, after my morning shift had finished. Nella was so pleased to see me when I got out there. She rushed me right over to the sapling. It was in a worse state than yesterday and I was so eager to help.

But then I couldn't do anything.

I thought accessing my earth and water powers would be easy. I've never struggled before. But it just felt blocked.

Nella left me and Magnar alone for a while, after reassuring me that it was natural after everything that took place. That's when the strangest thing happened.

Magnar hopped off my shoulder and onto the sapling, which bowed a little under his weight. He sat at my eye level and closed his eyes. I was so confused but I watched as he breathed in, and then I remembered. I remembered the old lessons, from when we were children in the Academy.

I managed to slow my breathing, which helped to calm my racing mind. And I thought of our first Greenhouse, when it was me and you. Those few weeks of thriving plants and peace. When I opened my eyes and placed my hands in the soil, it worked.

I channeled the strength of the earth, my power growing warm, energised, and slowly but surely, the earth itself responded to me.

It felt like coming home.

I worked on the sapling, boosting the nutrition of the soil while I sought out the source of the problem.

When Nella returned I was able to tell her where to prune. She was thrilled with how much healthier the sapling already looked, and she gave me another young plant and told me to practise.

I think I will.

Your friend

Willow