"Berries? How hard could those be to get?" Splash asked curiously, his tail flicking as he tilted his head at Boti.

Boti's head feathers flattened down. "Have you ever seen a Basaraytz?"

"...no?"

Bloodstone winced. "It's a giant carnivorous plant."

"...oh."

Boti snorted and fluffed out her head feathers again. "You see? I would go myself but," they gestured at the people bustling around them. "So much to do, so much to do!"

Bloodstone nodded understandingly, though Nova just looked nervous. Seafoam was jotting down notes about what Boti had told them of the strange plant, and how their tribe had marked out the safest route through the folds. Ambergris was reading over their shoulder, the young colonist looking nervous at the prospect of what they were about to do.

"You don't have to climb if you don't have to," Bloodstone told ae.

"I may take you up on that," ae muttered ruefully, ears further flattening as Boti continued describing the dangers.

"Why are they so useful for medicine?" Splash asked curiously. "Can't we isolate the chemicals that cause the healing effects?"

Boti nodded. "That's what we're trying to do - but while you're up there, might as well grab extras while we work on that."

Splash thought for a moment, then nodded agreeably, and Seafoam turned off their tablet with some finality.

"Ready?"

Nova nodded, though he looked slightly queasy, and Bloodstone nudged him comfortingly with her shoulder. Boti seemed relieved that they'd agreed to it, and began to show them the route on the map, for about the fifth time. Seafoam and Splash nodded along good-naturedly, while Ambergris stared out the route like it would evaporate if ae looked away for a second.

Boti saw them off to the edge of their tribe's ravine, then waved as they headed off into the bright sunshine that doused the land before them. The Basaraytz was in a nearby seasonal oasis, and was blooming due to the recent winter rains. To get there, they would have to traverse some open desert before dipping down into the sheltered oasis, and so they had plenty of sun protection.

Seafoam and Splash, being aquatics, were wearing special moisture suits to keep their skin from drying out, along with keeping them cool so they didn't overheat in the brilliant sunlight and unyielding sands. Nova and Bloodstone had opted for some sun protection and hats that would cover their ears, while Ambergris had all that and was wearing a sun-reflective cape.

"Just in case," Ae said a little defensively as Splash looking at it, and the group set off.

The trek across the open sands was short, and soon they were descending into the sheltered oasis. The Basaraytz had been visible from far away, tip poking up out of the sheltered sinkhole, the deep greens of its folds a stark contrast against the rich yellow and orange of Issiq's sands.

"I'm not climbing that," Ambergris decided, sounding final, and sat down.

Bloodstone nodded. "If you're sure."

"I am! Look at that thing! I have better things to do than get eaten by a giant plant!"

Seafoam made an amused noise, but didn't tease him. "You can watch our things, then. We want to be light as possible while climbing."

Nova joined in Seafoam and Bloodstone in giving Ambergris their things, while Splash looked up at the towering green monstrosity and shuddered.

"I think I'm going to stay down here," he muttered, voice thin.

And so, it was only the three that stood at the base, looking up.

"We should stagger our climbing," Bloodstone suggested, and Seafoam nodded in agreement.

"That way we don't put too much weight on one specific area. Remember: There are no prizes for speed! Double and triple check your footing before moving on."

Nova nodded nervously, and Bloodstone turned to the towering thing. She flicked her claws out, and began to climb slowly. It was almost painfully slowly, doing her best to move with the folds without having to stretch over the liquid-filled gaps between them, but as she glanced down… well, better safe than dead.

Seafoam nudged Nova to go next, and he nervously followed, then Seafoam behind him, taking up the rear. Bloodstone was in the spot of most pressure, the path-seeker, but it was an occasion she rose to with determination and caution. The Issiq heat didn't help, making her sweat profusely, but at least with her claws it didn't make it impossible to hold on.

Down below, Splash and Ambergris were looking increasingly small, heads craned up. Their expressions weren't visible from this distance, but Bloodstone was sure that they were worried.

Eventually… the top was within reach, and it took all of Bloodstone's self-control not to rush.

"Remember!" Seafoam called from the back, "This is the most dangerous part. Don't slip while picking the berries, or you'll fall into the mouth!"

"Why does it have a mouth…" Nova complained, but gritted his teeth and carried on.

All three made it to the top, and the berry-picking began. Very slow, very cautious berry picking. But, given a choice between picking berries slowly and falling into a plant's maw…

They left some for the plant to use as bait so it wouldn't die, and then began the climb back down. Somehow, despite not having to climb upwards, it was equally as hard. But, at last, they all made it to the bottom in one piece.

"Never doing that again," Nova groaned, laying on the ground.