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trashpandaorigins · 6 years

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Flight of the Wood God Ch 14

Scientists across the galaxy know very little about Wood Gods. Despite their power and prestige known nearly every quadrant before their fall, there has been little notes taken on their physiology, biology and reproduction. Scientists can prescribe the same categories to them as they do with other species in the kingdom Plantae such as labeling a Groot with berries female and one with spores’ male, but even that does not fit. Groots themselves do not really know where they come from or how they came to be. They knew what the arbor masters told them, but even the arbor masters are not certain themselves. The first memory this Groot had was of opening its eyes to the glimmering sun from where they had sprouted upward through the earth. Their tiny roots connected to all the others. Flora colossus life and ways remain a mystery, a mystery that the scientists on Halfworld tried to uncover for exploitation and they came as close as anyone to doing it, though Groot would never know. It was thinking about this very fact, the unknowability of their own being that Groot contemplated as they sat in the sand and found themselves drying out. Alone again in the windy desert. As usual it was thirst that drew Groot to go towards the odd structures on the horizon. After much anxiety about whether or not leave the ship, they finally decided that this planet was empty enough so there was little chance someone would take it. Have faith in the goodness that it will stay put, that no one will take it. They tried to cling to that faith, though it had been ripped from them on Halfworld, then restored in Wakanda, and taken again when Rocket threatened to shoot him. But they were trying to cultivate it back again.

Groot lumbered through the town, scents of spice and alcohol and roasting meats wafted through the air, though of course they didn’t know what any of these smells were. They drifted from market stall to market stall, peering at the strange variety of foods and trinkets, then they stopped, water. Their roots could sense it, tingling. The flora colossus stumbled through, ignoring the shouts and protests of the different alien peoples as they scrambled to get out of their way. Water, so thirsty. So thirsty. There!

“Twenty units please!” They watched the merchant hold a small glass ball in their large tentacle hand, filled with clean pristine water. Heat swam through Groot’s soft tissue, shriveling up their bark and leaves. They let out a whimper as three leaves crumbled brown and fell to the sand.

“Here you go,” a tall woman answered, handing over what looked like coins. The merchant handed it over to her, which she drank plentifully before Groot’s jealous eyes. Must get water. But…don’t have units…but Groot could not ignore their needs any longer. They knew what they felt like, knew all too well. With that thought Groot approached the stand, licking their wooden lips at the thought of the liquid water.

“May I help you? It’s twenty units for a small bottle, forty for a large.”

“I am Groot,” Groot explained, taking a large bottle in their hands and pouring out on to their bark, they relished in the smooth relaxation of the water.

“Hey!” The merchant snapped, “you need to pay for that!” Pay? You can’t own water, everyone needs it. It’s not right to charge anyone.If you charge, then those who don’t have units can’t have water and all living things need water. No money…but…something else. Groot grew a flower from their hand, offering it to the merchant and frowned, hurt as the shop keep snatched it away, crushing the white petals in its tentacles. “Forty units! Now!” Groot winced as the shop keep pulled a gun on them, “or else!” Run! Groot ran for it, through the market, though with little notice to the other stalls. They came crashing down before them. They tossed away a tent that fell down on them and frantically tripped over a family that dodged for covers past the clashing of bullets.

“I am Groot!” They tried to explain as they ran, bark fragmented as the bullets hit. Hurt, Halfworld. They grew vines out behind them, lashing out at the merchant alien who chased them down. Groot spun, ran for an alleyway between two clay buildings, wracking their long fingers into the fragmented clay. “I am Groot!” They cried, shocked screams echoing as they braced themselves for crashing into the back of a shop.

“It’s a monster!” A man yelled, shielding his child as Groot’s vines grew thorns and swung for the police that now pursued them, clad in robes of beige blankets. They brandished their staffs which shot out bullets, Halfworld, pain, run….just wanted water. Don’t want to hurt! Please! Please! How to make them understand?!

“It’s hideous!” Groot turned, facing the officers, red pain lacerating their bark. Their vines whirled, artfully smacking one of the officers off their feet and running through another. Screaming, blue sap. Defend yourself, protect!

“WAAAHHH!” The high pitched shriek of a child caused Groot to turn around, starring in horror. Seperated from it’s mother who was stuck between the frantic crowds trying to get out of the line of fire, a small child wailed, looking around but frozen stiff. Fear, panic, confusion. Lost! Groot looked up, the soldiers with their barbs and the merchant with his gun ran unprecedented, one of the soldiers harshly shoving a large orloni aside, into the fearful crowd.

“Get back here freak!” The ruined flower, didn’t mean to take…. just couldn’t pay. Not in units. The child cried out and Groot swallowed, feeling the knots in their vines. Shield, protect, the World Pod inside of them urged. With that Groot dove forward, towards their attackers, groaning at the bullets which hit them now head on. They lifted their arms to shield themselves and let out four long vines ahead of them, each reaching forward past the child and taking out a solider. Groot crouched, enveloping the small child in their arms and hoisted them up, looking around for it’s mother.

“My baby!” Came the answer, Groot turned to see the woman, clawing at the clothes and appendages of the others who pressed her tightly between them. They ran for her, still shielding the small crying child from the firing rounds and finally reached over the shoulders of the crowed, thrusting the kid into her arms.

“I am Groot!” They said, the woman looked up, all four of her eyes blinking back tears. But she smiled at them,

“Th…thank you…” warmth. Warmth from her eyes, reaching inside, spreading, yes, this is good. Not a monster. NOT a monster. Lightening jabs of burning pain made Groot cower as a rod was pierced into their side.

“Hold it right there!” Groot looked up, into the masked face of the policeman. “You are under arrest for stealing. Instigating violence, grievous bodily harm and public endangerment.” Stealing? No! Just wanted water, please! Why are some creatures so ready to see goodness and others only assume bad? Groot threw one large arm upward, socking the officer in the chin and bolted, fast as they could. Charging through the shops, crashing into at least three ships. Groots are not fast creatures, they are meant to move slow, like moss growing on a rock but this Groot had learned that sometimes fast was better and with new energy in their roots from the water, they charged, running past the homes of the people in makeshift tents, until they could no longer feel the pursuit of the officers. Groot finally collapsed in the sand, crawling to the shade of a large metal create that had been discarded. They sat, heaving though they did not breathe air through lungs and felt the quake of their bark.

Just wanted water…didn’t mean to steal or do harm but had to drink. Halfworld had taught Groot many things, including the hard fact that sometimes one could not always bee all benevolent and good. Sometimes you had to fight for what you needed when outside forces prevented you from getting it.

“I am Groot,” they thought miserably, shaking their head. Suddenly something sounded, sslllssshh, sllooosh. Water! The wood good stood shakily, looking up over the metal container, a large eeret drank water from a large trough, sloshing it everywhere. “I am Groot!” They took their chance and ran to the water, climbing into the tub and standing tall, letting their roots grow under the water and climb up over the edges. The eeret snorted, filling itself and waddling off but Groot hardly noticed as they turned their face to the sun and let the water fill them. Peace can be found even in chaotic places. Groot did not know what they would do tomorrow, or the next day but they let themselves feel at ease if only for a few moments.

#flight of the wood god #groot #gotg #Guardians of the Galaxy #my writing

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