“It’s time for you to go now,” the tree said. The Leaves had lost whatever individuality they had at this point; their faces simply existed to sing the same song.

“Fuck you!” Cornflower spat again. It dug its claws into the dirt. “I don’t want to be a part of – whatever the fuck this is!”

“Oh, but you are a part of it. Your next task is to spread.”

The pressure in Acorn’s head felt like it was going to boil over. He wasn’t sure if he could survive it. Cornflower continued to talk over the pain. “I don’t want to!”

“You will, whether you want to or not. One day, you’ll make someone just like me. From the looks of it, that day is going to be soon.”

“FUCK YOU!”

He couldn’t hold himself together anymore. Searing pain shot through his skull.