When fate plays its hand

It was a vast expanse of Canavalia vines!

“Come over here! There’s an entire stretch of wild Canavalia vines!” Miranda turned back excitedly, and Madison and Sebastian rushed over as soon as they heard the news.

These Canavalia vines were highly prized vines. They originated in the mountain valleys of northern regions and were later introduced inland, where they became known as “Snake’s Path“. They typically grew along mountain ravines or on mixed–wooded slopes, clinging to large trees.

Sebastian looked up at the sprawling Canavalia vine grove, observing how its thick, twisting branches wound through the trees. The roots extended up to 150 feet to reach distant water sources, stretching through the forest like a massive creature. This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

He first looked on in awe, then in delight. “The seed pods of wild Canavalia can grow up to three feet. long. They’re valued in both medicine and collections, and their price on the market is no small sum. This definitely counts as a rare find.”

Miranda nodded. “But with such a large Canavalia grove, finding the seed pods might not be easy. sun’s starting to set, so let’s split up and meet back here at 6:00 pm, alright?”

The

Madison and Sebastian agreed. Concerned about the thick forest and potential for getting lost, Miranda suggested marking an “X” to track each other’s paths. The three then set off in different directions along branching trails to find the pods.

The pods were flat, with round, dark brown seeds inside, making them easy to recognize. Miranda first headed west from the water source. As the forest grew darker until all light vanished, she finally spotted a seed pod.

However, while the pod was complete and visually impressive, it was nearly three feet long and impossible to carry back.

On the market, intact pods fetched a much higher price than seeds and were far

With darkness settling in, Miranda began following the markings back, initially making good progress. But after passing through two adjoining dense areas, she realized the markings had vanished! She reluctantly accepted the reality that she was lost.

Her first instinct was to take out her phone to call for help, only to find she had no signal. To make things

worse, dark clouds gathered, threatening r

Although anxiety crept in, Miranda pushed it aside and retraced her steps, searching for her “X” markings. But in the maze–like forest, a single wrong turn led to countless more.

She remembered having cell service where the group had split up, but now it was pitch black. Her only light was her phone’s dimming screen, and her battery was nearly dead.

Searching for more markings was unwise, yet standing idle wasn’t an option. Miranda used other clues to navigate, like leaf direction and the stars.

Under the faint glow of her phone, she carefully avoided exposed roots and sharp branches, making painfully slow progress.

The rustling leaves, stirred by the wind, seemed to carry an eerie presence, as though a hidden creature was watching her and ready to strike. Her phone’s battery flashed another warning–20% remaining.

She took a steadying breath, knowing that waiting until her phone died would only make things worse. Feeling determined, Miranda quickened her pace.

After about half an hour, she passed through another grove. That was when she felt something overhead, She then looked up to see banana leaves, tall as a person, hanging just above her.

Frowning, she recalled not seeing banana trees when she’d entered the forest. Sweeping her flashlight around, she found no landmarks and felt a cold dread settle over her. She had wandered off course–for half an hour.

Without further delay, Miranda turned back the way she came. Nevertheless, thunder rumbled at that moment, and a heavy rain began to pour.