[Alorah, on the other hand, was thoroughly convinced that it would be a wonderful and exciting thing to watch. She certainly wasn't going to try and argue, though, especially not once they were among the trees.

That was the time for listening -- this time of year, the thrum of life was already ebbing down to a muffled, deeply-buried pulse. If this flower they wanted was still anywhere to be found, it probably wouldn't be very loud. Everything was either dead, dying, or winding down for the season-long sleep.]

Hm... a white flower with yellow tips, right?