Plant Slice

The plant made a last ditch effort to escape. The vines at the base slunk back into the earth where it came from as the stalk and bulb began to descend. The fire wasn’t burning it fast enough, it was going to get away.

“No,” said Sheik as she got to her feet. Almost in response to Robin’s thoughts. In a flash, she drew her dagger. “Fall to my blade, creature of night.”

She ran forward, faster than any of them could, straight for the fire. Robin wanted to call out, to stop her, but there was nothing he could do in time. Sheik leaped across the bonfire, the plant juices still covering her giving her perhaps precious seconds of protection.

But those few seconds were all she needed, as she landed safely on the other side and sheathed her blade.

For a moment, Robin couldn’t tell what had happened. The plant had sunk too far, and the fire grown too tall, he couldn’t see what it was doing or what had happened to it. Until, a few seconds later, the plant’s bulb, blackened, limp, and shriveled, rolled out from the flames cut off from the stem.

Robin took a step back, but after a moment of stillness, it was very clear the creature was dead.

Bowser grabbed the head by what little stalk remained on it and lifted it off the ground.

- Chapter 18