May 19th, 2008, Noon, In the Greenhouse of Tarkham Trust

With the hand of a master, Naydene pinched off several offending sucker growths from one of the tomato plants that were to be a gift to Raymond's mother. The plant now had perfect form, thanks to the assistance of the spirit within. She'd spent several weeks awakening the various seeds and plants for Elaina's garden. Coming to Tarkham was the best thing she ever could have done--a gift from Luc-rhya that she could never repay. The sound of the green house door opening, summoned her from her thoughts.

It was Carole, one of the kinfolk office staffers, with a small stack of envelopes. The young woman walked up with a smile and admired the plant with some small hint of awe "Beautiful, Naydene." She then shook herself from her thoughts and presented the envelope "Personal mail. I didn't see the point in sending it up the hill, since you were in today."

Putting the plant aside, Naydene sifted the stack with dirt covered fingers, tossing aside the first three thing. She spied the 4th and opened it immediately, looking up at Carole with a smile "Thank you, Carole." It paid to be polite to the kinfolk, especially since they are the ones who kept Tarkham running. The young woman smiled and waved as she left the greenhouse. Naydene opened the letter.

Naydene,

It appears we have Wyrm activity. I need to talk to you. I'm still awaiting a few test results and I can give you exact details as to what happened. I can say, though, it's not pretty.

Thunder's Touch

/Pyotr, this is the freaking city....there's Wyrm spoor everywhere./ was the first thought out of her brain and she folded the note up and put it in her pocket. She trundled off to the lab, grabbing up a very content gardenia and whispering to the awakened little thing, nodding and smiling as the spirit of the plant agreed. With a small smile, she penned a note and punched up the pager of one of the boys out back.

P,

Enjoy the plant...and do talk to it. You know how plants love the attention.

GW

Len left for the hospital with the plant, the note, and a 20 dollar bill, so he could snag some lunch. Naydene watched him go and then went back to work, thinking about not only what Pyotr had to say, but also the curious visitation from Paul and the message from Uktena himself.