Page 87 of May: Bloom & Bane

“Obviously,” I say into the moss. “Just give me about seven minutes.”

I peel myself off the mat, and Sage unfolds himself to his full height, which is a lot of height from down here.

“Your turn,” I hum.

He retracts his claws.

“Hey, that’s new! You can retract your claws now?”

“I learned how while I was arranging your fruit.”

“That will definitely come in handy.” My face flushes all at once.

“Okay, back to the game, Saevúra. I put my hands and feet on the flowers?”

“Yes.”

“At the same time?”

“Yes.”

“And I can’t fall?”

“Correct.”

He considers this for a minute. “Why?”

“Because it’s the game, Sage.”

Droot spins the wheel with great authority.

“Right foot, buttercup,” Sage reads. He places one enormous foot on a buttercup, and the flower completely disappears under his heel. “Left hand, red rose.” He arches gracefully, like his body was made exactly for this.

“Right hand, forget-me-not.”

“Like this?”

He’s in a perfect position, completely stable, not straining a single muscle.

I side-eye him. “You’re not even trying.”

“I’m trying very hard,” he says, clearly not trying at all.

Droot spins again, glowing brighter.

“Left foot, hydrangea.”

He moves his foot unhurriedly. “This isn’t difficult,” he observes.

“ThIs isN’t DifFiCUlt,” I mimic under my breath. “Left hand, buttercup.”

Sage perfectly shifts, placing his hand right over the flowers. I sit down on the edge of the mat, arms crossed.

“You’re obviously cheating.”

“I don’t know how to cheat at Twister.”

“You’re made of vines. This is cheating. By existing.”