It seemed easy enough - get the cactus and get out. But, when Phoebe explained that Noah's job was to keep her safe, and detailed what might happen, he felt a tightness in the base of his neck. He remembered how Delphine could be when she was hallucinating from the different drugs and flora she took to rid herself of her guilt and shame from what she had done to her children. Perhaps the poison within the cactus had been extracted to make the woman's drugs before. He wouldn't be surprised. Noah waited with baited breath as the demigoddess worked on repotting the cactus, and finally when he let his breath go, the relief was short lived.
“Damnit, Phoebe. Are you okay?” He asked, gently cupping her elbow in his large, rough hands. What was this going to do to her? They were miles from civilization and his magic wasn’t strong enough to transport both of them. He didn’t even consider having her ride on his back in polar bear form, because that could kill them both in this heat. Above them the buzzards were already willing to scrap over their bodies, ominously circling over the pair.
Noah
hope is a fire to keep us warm
