Flashback

Chapter 1: Bushroot

Four Years Ago

Gosalyn, age twelve.

Fire. An explosion. Someone's screaming... Her dad? Pain! Now she's screaming.

She can't quite remember what happened, when the blackness fades. Her head hurts, it's hard to think, and some of the snow around her is red. That's bad, right?

"Come on, kid." Someone pants, holding out a hand — a leaf? "We– we've gotta g-g-go."

Plants don't do well in cold. It's an inane thought, but it's the one she has as she's pulled along through the snow by her father's enemy. She doesn't notice when he picks her up, her head's too clouded, but she's grateful that he does.

The snow gets worse, she's pretty sure it could safely be called a blizzard at this point, and she's almost ready to pass out again. Bushroot doesn't look too good either, shivering as he struggles forward.

She feels the vines holding her tighten, and feels comfort rather than fear as the plant-duck half drags them to a manhole cover. Now they're falling.

They're going to crash...