#Chapter 224: Wishy-Washy

Ava The days that followed were an endless whirlwind of activity. Chris and I worked tirelessly, burning the candle at both ends as we tried to tackle the mounting challenges that were facing Moonstone more and more by the day. The blight. Olivia. Winston. The mole. And now, Leonard’s illness. Every morning, we would wake up early to draft emails and letters to human doctors and scientists. We carefully crafted our words, trying to strike a balance between urgency and discretion. We couldn’t reveal too much about our problems, but we needed to convey the importance of the research we were proposing. “How does this sound?” I asked Chris one morning, clearing my throat as I read a draft from my laptop screen. “‘Due to an unprecedented fungal outbreak, we are reaching out regarding a unique research opportunity in Moonstone…’” Chris nodded and listened as I read the email to him, sipping his coffee. “Good, but maybe emphasize the potential for groundbreaking