Elara
The vine climbed the wrong support.
Elara watched it reach the fork, hesitate against the tied cord, and turn toward the light instead of the marker she had placed.
Kira seemed pleased.
The fox sat beneath the table with a leaf caught on one ear, looking up as though the plant had done exactly what she wanted.
"You aren't helping," Elara told her.
Kira yawned.
The keeper came along the path carrying the empty watering cans.
"Again?"
"Not yet."
Elara loosened the guiding flow and let the vine settle. The tip remained against the wrong support. Pulling harder would bring it across the space, but the stem would twist where she had already asked too much of it.
She moved the marker.
The keeper set the cans down.
"Is the marker wrong?"
"For this light, yes."
"Then write that."
Elara reached for the notebook instead of repeating the attempt.
