She didnt ask me much after that. Id imagine she must have had a mountain on her chest, but she didnt seem like the type to unload like that after just one conversation. If that could even be called a conversation...

She left me sitting on a small rock she had found somewhere and went into the tent to get something. Whilst she was keeping herself busy, i took the chance to look around for a bit.

I was sitting in a small, white earthenware pot. I couldnt see any hole at the botton, nor could i feel one, so i made the assumption that it was a repourposed bowl or cooking pot. It had a sort of home-made feel and was a bit rought around the edges, so i presumed her to have made it, or at least someone she was familiar with.

We were located on the edge of a large forest, most likely the one wherein i had been located within earlier, right beside a large plain.

The plain was an endless expanse of green and hints of yellow, splattered with the occasional bush and randomly placed trees.

The tent was not a fancy one, and the closer i looked, the more i realized just how shabby it was.

It must have been made of some sort of leathery hide, stretched out on sticks. I didnt imagine they made much of a defense against wild animals, nor could i imagine it being that great of a rain or wind deterrant, so i imagine it was mostly used as camoflage or in fear of being exposed to whatever may be out there.

Who knows? If there can exist such a thing as an armoured bear, then a winged lizard isnt out of the question, right? Right.

I couldnt see into the tent, but i believe i could, had i only tried.

After a minute or so, Hans emerged, carrying a pot and a few potatoes, as well as pitcher full of water.

She gave me a shy smile before setting herself down beside i pile of previously unnoticed sticks and stones. The sticks were orginized into a circle around the pile of sticks, which hinted at its purpose as being a fireplace.

She casually grabbed a thin stick from the pile and sat it down in the middle. She started rolling it quickly between her nimble hands.

A trail of smoke lifted from the pile, and soon a small fire was in order.

She puffed out her chest proudly and beamed at me, as if to say ”look, look! i did it!”.

She reminded me of a puppy.

I quickly shook my head to get rid of that impression and she flinched a bit. I let my roots wave a bit in the air as a ”no worries, no worries” kind of gesture.

She sighed at this and looked back at her fire.

The sun was setting, so it must have been evening. As it was evening, she must have been hungry. But...

Is potatoes all she has?...

I pitied her for a moment before looking at my own situation. i was dangerously low on energy, and i no longer had any sort of skill recovering it. I still had a 0.1 recovery rate, but it was far too pitiful to even count.

Perheaps... Ill have to eat?...

The thought shook me, but it was perfectly reasonable. A plant cant recieve all the nutrients it need from only the ground.

Well, not plants such as i. Hey, Vo-, ehem, Pluto?

= ...Oh, um, talking to me? =

Yes

= Ah, erm, whatcha want? =

Am i still a carnivorus plant?

= Huh? Yeah, of course you are! =

But i lost my maws in exchange for a flower!

= You think thats a flower? Try opening it and closing it. =

I did as he dictated and found the flower to not obey my commands. I tried opening it as one does with a hand, but... it was stuck.

Wait. Is the flower... my mouth?

= Ding ding ding! =

Dude, you could have just told me.

= But thats niether fun nor allowed~ =

Uhuh. Well, nice to know i still have a mouth. Lets just try it...

With a simple thought, the flower opened and closed on command. From a flower to a pod like bud. From a bud to a flower. Wow.

Amazing.

Hans stared at me in visable confusion.