I stacked another bag of fresh soil mixed to produce perfect red strawberries and set it on the cart. The redhead sent here to get the new supply was sleeping under a tree with his shirt pulled up over his nose. He needed to spend less time smelling flowers and realize that everything wasn't so bright and cheer in the world. I glanced around the area. Perfect rose bushes, perfect trees, even the damn bushes were trimmed back to perfection. Groaning, I started back down into the pit. It was beginning to make sense why no one understood me. This place would be perfect without one giant eyesore called my home.

"Terrin!" A girl with white hair raced down the trail. "Terrin, come quickly!"

The redhead shot up and rubbed his eyes.

I climbed the ladder. "What's wrong?"

"The flowers," she breathed. "They have these yellow specks all over the petals. We've tried everything. We think it might be something in the soil, because it was one plant and now it's spread to five." She threw her hands in the air. "We don't know what to do. You need to come now!" She pulled on my hand.

"Hey," yelled the redhead. "I was here first."

"Last sack is sitting at the bottom of the ladder. Have at it."

I followed the girl down the path, the red-headed spewing curse words after us. The asshole had been too good to help me, so now he could get the last one himself, or sit there and wait until I came back.

The girl was practically running circles around me, going over and over what was happening. I already knew how to fix it. It wasn't nearly as serious as she thought. We arrived at the snowball bushes.

"See, look!" she exclaimed, holding up one of the bosoms. "They look horrible."

I stooped down and picked up a handful of dirt. "The soil's fine. You just have bugs."

She gasped along with the two girls behind her. "What do we do?"

"Talk to the goddess." I shrugged. "I'm not over bugs."

I walked past them and along the winding path for a ways. Arriving on top of the hill, I sat down on a rock and peered out over the garden. A tree shot into the sky and yelling soon followed. I smiled to myself. The main perk of being the only soil expert was not having to worry about anyone screwing up my dirt. My eyes traveled to the wall and the forest that laid on the other side. The hill wasn't high enough for me to see over the treetops. I still wondered what it was like, though. Some of the shifters had left the garden to go to some god festival once a year. Only the best went, and my talents didn't make for an entertaining event. Besides that, Herminia made sure none of us left the safety of the garden.

Having spent my entire life behind these walls, I found the outside world exciting but terrifying as well. The shifters that were allowed to leave would come back with stories about the mortals and other element shifters they met. The firebird scared me the most. They sounded like vicious women that would burn people alive for the slightest thing. I hugged my arms around me. The thought of fire made my skin crawl. I might not be good at growing plants but it always made my stomach turn to watch wood burn.

"You were so adamant on working the other day." The goddess rose up out of the ground. "Mind telling me why I've been receiving some complaints about you?"

Licking my lips, I wrung my hands together. "Like what?"

"Not helping at the pits, and bugs, to name a couple."

"I carried most of the sacks up while he just watched," I muttered.

"I'm not concerned about that." She sat down beside me. "The flower talents have always been on the lazy side. What I'm concerned about is you." She put her hand on my thigh. "You seem to be getting down on yourself more often lately."

Nodding, I shrugged. "I wish there were others like me. That's all."

She opened her hand which held a small seed. "You can make it grow just as easily as anyone else."

"Then why do I have to work the pits all alone? They know when something's wrong just as well as me."

"But they don't know how to fix it." She put the seed in my hand. "You like the pits, Terrin. I know you do. I wish there was someone else with your capabilities, but it just hasn't happened yet. One day, though." She kissed my cheek. "Just be patient." She disappeared into the wind as purple flower petals.

I wiped my cheek with my shoulder and examined the small seedling. Kneeling down, I made a small hole in the ground and dropped it in. I piled the soil around it and placed my hand over the top. The small leaves tickled my palm. I looked down to see the starts of a generic bush and carefully brushed my fingers across the stems.

Another tree shot straight into the sky, sticking out far above the other tree tops. More yelling and cursing rang through the forest. I sat back on my heels.

This was the difference between me and them.

***

I measured out a highly acidic soil and put it on one side of the scale. Scooping some dirt out of the basic container, I placed the equal amount on the other side. The two buckets waved back and forth. The acidic side was slightly too high. I sprinkled some on the other. It wasn't quite enough. I grabbed another pinch.

A knock sounded on the door. I jumped, hitting the bucket and nearly dumping all the soil. Taking a calming breath, I stood and went to the door. I yanked it open. "What?" I said dryly to the short girl who stood on the other side.

"The goddess is summoning everyone to the palace."

"For what?"

"There are some problems up north, and she wants to take some shifters with her."

I slammed the door. "I'm busy."

"Everyone is supposed to come."

"I don't have time to watch you all show off for her. She never chooses me, so it's a waste of time."

"She going to be cross with you."

"What the hell will she do?" I snapped. "Sentence me to a week in the pit? I live in the pit, so get out of here, before I throw you in it."

"Fine, waste of time," she muttered. "The stench here has rotted your brain."

I sat back down at the table and remeasured. Groaning, I rested my head on the table. She'd already lectured me so many times this week. I was tired of being asked why I hated my job so much. I didn't hate it. I hated the situation. I sunk down in my seat.

I hated my job a little bit, maybe.

With a sigh, I stood and left my house. I followed the path to the middle of the garden where the goddess's home rose up from the earth in a mixture of stone and vines. The entire outside was covered with an assortment of wildflowers. I preferred it over the roses. They had more variety to them.

I slipped inside with the few remaining stragglers. I walked around the outside of the great room and sat by one of the pillars. The goddess was sitting on her throne, while most of the shifters found a place along the small creek that ran through the palace, and the grass that grew in the center.

We sat there for awhile with a quiet chattered filtering through the group. I remained in the corner by myself. The assault of flowery scent from these people made me nauseous when combined all at once. The tree talents gathered in front of him. I took in a deep breath, enjoying the earthy smell coming off them. I wouldn't mind at all spending the day planting and growing trees with them.

The goddess stood. "It looks like everyone is here." Her eyes flicked over to me, and she smiled. "It seems there have been some fires up north, and some of our forests have been damaged.

The group in front of me grinned at each other. It looked as though they'd be the ones chosen to go with her.

"Those specialized in evergreens and elms will come with me."

Some sighed while two boys with deep green hair bumped fists.

"While I'm gone, I expect you all to do your part in keeping the garden healthy."

I should have stayed. This really was a pointless meeting for me to attend.

"Fern will be in charge."

The eldest shifter, with a braid reaching down nearly to her feet, stood.

"You understand your responsibility?"

She nodded. The goddess continued down the list. She assigned some of the other tree experts to look over the groves of evergreens and elms.

"And soil," she glanced at me. "Will be taken care of by Terrin."

"Who else would want to?" chuckled a boy.

"No one," replied another.

I scowled at the two. I wouldn't trust them to fertilize weeds.

The goddess cleared her throat. "I expect you all to get along. No fighting." She looked towards the rose and tiger lily group. "We already discussed who gets the flower patch by the fountain for this season," Herminia said firmly.

The people with striped hair sat up with smiles on their faces. This world was pathetic if our biggest fight was over who got to plant what where.

"I should be back within three weeks. I'll send word if that changes."

Everyone nodded or voiced their understanding. I was ready to leave. Testing dirt was more exciting than this.

"Watch over the little ones," she beamed at Coral, "and don't slack on their training. Everyone is to do their share of the work."

The little girl nodded.

"And, remember, I love you all, and even though I'm away, you'll be safe within the wall."

"Ye,s goddess," recited a few people together.

I kept my eyes down, so she wouldn't see how annoyed I was with the whole situation.

"Alright, you're all free to go. Elm and evergreen," she called, "we leave early tomorrow morning, so pack what you need."

The crowd started to disperse. The tree talents were bouncing around, excited about their trip. I would be too. I'd like to see the outside world, only once though. I didn't need any more excitement than that.

The goddess made her way over to me. "I was told you didn't want to come."

"I decided I'd better try." I shrugged a shoulder. "It's better than being miserable, right?"

She put an arm around me. "You're very important, Terrin. The garden needs you, and I know you're lonely at times, but I need a shifter with your talent. You're very special to me."

Nodding, I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'll make sure everyone has what they need while you're away."

"You always do." She squeezed me to her, before going to talk to the shifters that would be leaving with her.

Weaving through the remaining people, I went outside and started the walk home. I knew my place in the garden was important, especially since there was only one of me, but I just wish I could be more excited about it. Herminia was right. When I was younger, I loved my work. But now, day after day, it had become so mundane that I'd give just about anything to change it.

***

I was going to kill them. I marched down the path to the elm forest. Whoever was in charged of them was doing a terrible job. I spotted the assigned group and walked up their leader, tossing a handful of seeds in his face.

"They're everywhere! What do you think will happen if one roots in the pits?"

He brushed them off his shirt and peered down his nose at me. "A tree will grow. That's how it works."

The others laughed.

I stood up straight. He was only a little taller than me. I was built like a pole, while he looked similar to a hundred-year-old tree trunk. But, I wasn't going to back down.

"You're contaminating the pits."

"You're contaminating my nose." His eyes ran up and down me.

Stepping back, I rubbed some of the mud off my arm. I had been so set on collecting all the seeds that I had just dived right in. "The goddess will be very upset to hear you're doing your job so poorly."

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you threatening to tell on me?"

I nodded, keeping my ground. "If I find any more seeds I might. These trees shouldn't even be seeding out yet." I pointed my finger at him. "She'll be very cross to hear that as we-"

His fist connected with my face, and I toppled back. Hitting the ground, I peered up at him, shocked.

The man squatted down at my feet. "Look, you're a little too into dirt, but I'm working two groves. The air's polluted, and it's hard enough to make sure no diseases find their way into the trees. I don't have time to worry about something as stupid as a seed." He flicked one at my face. "So, go back to the pit and keep your mouth shut." He glanced around at the shifters behind him. "There's only one shit expert." He smiled at me. "You understand, right?"

I nodded. Quickly climbing to my feet, I walked off, trying to make it look like I wasn't running away. But, I wanted to. I clasped my cheek. It still hurt. Really badly, actually. I wiped my eyes with my shirt and took a deep breath. He didn't have to hit me.

Climbing up the main hill in the garden, I went to my rock and sat down. I plucked a couple flowers along the way and started pulling out the petals one by one. It wasn't the first time someone had pushed me around. I had even been hit a couple of times, but never that hard. I cleared my eyes again. It just hurt, my face and my chest. Another reminder I was alone while everyone else had a group of people to back them up.

If it had been the flower talents, I wouldn't have been that big of a deal. Then again, most of the earth shifters were gifted with flowers. A horde of them coming after me would be just as bad. I tossed the stems into the bushes.

The air did seem dirtier today. I pulled my knees to my chest and tucked my nose between them. The fires must be worse than we first thought. The goddess had been gone for awhile now. It would be two weeks in a couple days.

The ground rumbled. The rock I sat on shook so hard I fell off. I looked around to see if anyone else was nearly by. Yelling sounded in the distance, confirming it wasn't just me who had felt it. I stood and felt it start again. The pebbles bounced on the trail. I held out my arms to stay stable. What the hell was going on?

The ground shook violently. I fell to my knees and felt the ground. Trees started to break, shedding their branches across the path. Screams mixed into the roar that rose up from the earth.

Slowly, everything returned to normal. All was still. I cautiously climbed to my feet. Snapped branches and trees scattered area. I turned around and saw the wall.

It was broken.