Submission (#6445) Approved

“Why are we here again?” 

Nico looked around as Mary voiced his frustration and laughed. They were both standing knee-deep in swampy water in Enmir and tried to find a path through all the dense foliage, while Nicos ember glow mixed with the fireflies around them.

“Because we need this plant for the client, dove.”

“Right… right… remind me to never accept work again that involves wading through swamps and getting eaten alive by bugs.” Mary hissed softly. Everything was green and brown and he had no idea how they were supposed to find the plant in this chaos. He chirped softly and his Pomu, who was sitting on his back, perked up. “Hand me the papers again, please~”, Mary asked quietly and walked to a more shallow place to look over the description of said plant. His Pomu grabbed the letters and a small book and handed it to his big fluffy friend.
“Thanks.” 

Mary jumped back onto solid ground, and put the papers out in front of him, while Nico kept looking around, his glowing tail providing much needed light in these dark areas of Enmir. He was better at identifying plants anyway, so he didn’t mind. 
 The older elnin started to read, scanning for any information that would help them finding and identify this pesky plant in this jungle.

“The Venomous Serpentvine is a menacing water plant that thrives in the eerie ambiance of swamp areas characterized by twisted trees, mossy landscapes, and the magical glow of fireflies. This meat-eating plant has a special and lethal way of catching its prey. It uses its long, snake-like tendrils that have sticky poison sap at the tips. The plant has lengthy, twisting tendrils that come out from a hidden central hub under the water. These tendrils have small, scale-like bumps, giving them a texture like a snakes skin. At the ends of the tendrils, there are special glands that release a strong poison, making them sticky and lethal. 

The vines display a rich, shiny green color that effortlessly merges with the nearby plants. Yet, upon closer inspection, subtle hints of iridescent purples and blues emerge, which add a captivating yet dangerous charm to the plant. The plant not only has snake-like vines, but it also creates fake flowers that look harmless. These fake blossoms have bright colors, tricking innocent creatures even more.
During the night, the Venomous Serpentvine showcases its magical bioluminescence. Delicate and enchanting light radiates from the detailed markings on its vines, resembling the designs seen on poisonous snakes. This glowing serves a dual purpose - it lures unsuspecting prey and cautions any potential predators.

Thriving in the swamps' nutrient-rich and waterlogged environment, the Serpentvine relies on the acidic content of the water to nourish its roots. The plant cleverly grows near places where insects are abundant, using the glow of fireflies to lure its prey.

While the Venomous Serpentvine may pose a threat to insects, it can be strategically placed by communities to act as a natural pest control mechanism. Locals often encourage the growth of these plants in areas where excessive insect activity becomes problematic.  Harvesting the plant requires careful consideration due to its dangerous nature. Skilled harvesters use specialized tools to carefully sever the tendrils above the poison glands, minimizing any contact with the lethal sap.” 

Mary looked up. This area was brimming with fireflies, which were attracted to Nicos’ luminous fur and the emberglow.
“Technically, I think we’re in the right area?”, he wondered to himself, and they brought the right tools as well, Nico made sure of that.
“Maybe we should wait a little”, Mary said louder this time and nodded towards Nico. “During the night, that thing apparently mimics-”

“FOUND IT!”

“... well then...”