Follow the pipes

After enough pacing to make Bowen dizzy, Aster came to the conclusion that they needed more information before looking for help. After all, the sprites would have been high on her list of possible allies before today. Bowen was obviously fine, so the Treemen were potential allies but they wouldn't leave the trees without a very good reason. The other Fairies might help but the tainted water was affecting them as well. It was hard enough getting them to work together normally, who knew how useful they would be now. Beyond those... Aster supposed she could try and contact the Sylphs but they wouldn't be much use in a fight even if they responded. The Gnomes maybe? Her lip curled at the thought. They'd be a great help on the ground, in a fight or with machinery, but... Ew...

Snatching up an unwilling Bowen, she flew low to the ground, circling the corrupted pond till she came across the overturned earth that hid the pipes filled with corruption. She followed the brown path into the woods, paralleling the stream in the distance, till she had to set Bowen down in exhaustion.

"I love you ground." Aster rolled her eyes as Bowen actually kissed the ground, "Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad." He narrows his eyes at her but doesn't respond, digging his hands into the dirt like he's afraid she'll try and fly him off again. Shaking her head, Aster turns to their objective. Without Bowen weighing her down she could probably get to the source and scout it out in no time at all. However, after watching a Sprite turn into a Siren, she'd be lying if the idea of exploring alone didn't frighten her. This wasn't supposed to happen, dammit! This was her home! It was supposed to be safe!

Feeling confused and downtrodden, she slumped next to Bowen, sitting against a lily. They sat in silence for a moment in the afternoon sun, "So what's the plan?" Aster sighs, "I don't know. I'm not really up for carrying you the rest of the way and I really don't want to go alone... I guess we'll just rest for a bit." Bowen nodded understandingly but soon started to fidget, twitching nervously at every rustle of grass. "Ever been out of the tree before?" He blushed dark green, scratching his head sheepishly, "Most of us haven't. The world's a big place when you can't fly." She supposed that made sense. Taking pity on the nervous Treeman she hauled herself to her feet, "C'mon, we can rest somewhere more secluded." She flitted up to the sturdiest lily, settling in its flower and beckoning the perplexed boy. Climbing up, his weight made the flower sway slightly but it calmed when he settled down next to Aster. It took a minute but he was obviously more at ease off the ground, sliding back into the flower till he'd be completely hidden from outside.

"I see what you Fairies like about these. Very private." Aster rolled her eyes, "That's not why we live in them, it's more complicated than that." Bowen shifted and the resultant sway of the flower unbalanced her, sending her toppling down on top of Bowen. Embarrassed, she moved to correct herself but Bowen wrapped his arms around her, "Please stay. It's nice with you here." A deep blush spread over her and she almost shot him down... but it did feel awfully nice to lie there, wrapped in his muscular arms. Maybe she'd let him hold her, just for a bit. In the sheltered cocoon of the flower, looking out at the little circle of blue sky, Aster soon fell asleep in Bowen's embrace.