Episode Eight: “Up Into the Clouds”

The group arrives at the great tōtara. The tree offers Scarlett climbing holds — Root working through the wood, responding to her Verdant Speech. She climbs, is carried by a cloud-bird to retrieve the Wind Crystal from the crown nest, and for the first time sees the whole garden laid out below her. The cloud-bird asks: *"Are you afraid?"* Scarlett says yes honestly. The bird says: *"That is exactly the right answer."* From the canopy, Scarlett sees the Smudge moving toward the Big Red — not to destroy, but pressed against it, desperate, trying to push something through. The whole group races back. They arrive to find the Smudge has left a grey crystal at the base of the roots — a piece of himself, a message-fragment he has been trying to push through to Luminos to reach Dion. Nibbler identifies it: *"He's been trying to send a message. To Dion."* Scarlett makes a decision: *"You're coming with us. We're not leaving you out here."* The Smudge joins the group.