Botanica ( A true quest )

Chapter 29: Parting of their ways

Chapter 29

Still high from their-victory the conquerors celebrated with a fly past Salix whooping his appreciation from the ground,

" What about that then Salix, it's usually you that does the butt kickin', not today though "

" Right on mate, right on "

For all the bravado Caropegia was sensing the abundance of uncertainty and hurt within Hedera. She tried to reassure him,

" It's all part of the grand design, it was a pre destined end that they would go at this point in their lives, it was quick and clean, them or us. You need to go on, you need to achieve your goal, you need to succeed to benefit hundreds of thousands of others, Botanica is relying on you Hedera "

Hedera saw the logic but was still not convinced, he would have preferred that the patrol were just rounded up and held prisoner, but the past is the past no matter how recent, you cannot change iit once it is done.

Caropegia gently circled coming softly to a halt in front of Salix allowing him to embark. Soon they were high above the plains again, the vista laid out below.

For all the landscape didn't offer much in the way of stimulation it was sort of fun trying to

Salix was more interested in the rock formations , there was nothing substantial, just small

" I'm fed up with Wort spotting where are we going "

" I'm not quite sure mate , Ceropegia knows where she's going , where are we heading girl? "

" Look straight ahead "

Hedera strained but couldn't see anything remarkable just the same old stuff in all directions.

Ceropegia sensed his failing " Use the sight "

Hedera concentrated, everything sharpened and the horizon rushed toward him, there it was,

" What is it " he asked

" That's your final destination, that's the Sargasser Mines "

Hedera's stomach knotted, he felt a tingling rush throughout his body, a cold perspiration

under his fur, the urge to be sick, his breathing increased. Reality kicked in, there for

the first time was the destiny of their Quest. What he had always casually put to the back of

his mind as an obstacle to overcome when he got there, was there staring him in the face. He

Rapidly focussed out, the mountain disappeared into the distance once more,

" You can't be like that Hedera , you've got to face it now, it's there and approaching fast "

Salix noticed the change in Hedera " You alright mate, you look as if you've messed yourself "

" In a way I have "

" Ugh you messy begger "

" No , not that way, I've just seen the mines "

" The mines? "

" Ye' the Sargasser mines, they're just over the horizon "

" I can't see them "

" I know, they're an hour or so away yet, I used the vision and I've seen them. "

" Riiiight , right, I see your problem now , it's reality at last isn't it "

" Yep sure is "

They sat in silence watching as the distant horizon rolled ever closer. At first it looked as if