Elara
The roots on the left were broken.
Elara knew before she touched the soil.
The stems above them had been tied into place for the display, but two leaves hung at an angle she had not seen during the earlier inspection. A narrow track crossed the bed beneath them.
Someone had moved a loaded wheel over the edge.
She crouched.
Kira came close enough to sniff the disturbed soil.
"Stay back."
The fox sat beside the path, offended for only a moment.
A field keeper joined Elara with the preparation list.
"Something wrong?"
She loosened the soil carefully around the nearest stem.
The break showed pale beneath the damp earth.
"This section won't carry the growth I planned."
The keeper crouched beside her.
He looked at the wheel track, then toward the equipment being moved beyond the field.
"I'll have the condition recorded."
"Is there another established bed available?"
"Not ready for this slot. We have replacement plants, but they won't have the same footing today."
