Return-path: Envelope-to: lojban@lojban.org Delivery-date: Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:50:28 -0700 Received: from mail.daybreak61.shop ([193.124.7.48]:59457) by 40c903596c50 with esmtp (Exim 4.94.2) (envelope-from ) id 1mYaKw-0006ep-LY for lojban@lojban.org; Thu, 07 Oct 2021 13:50:27 -0700 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha1; c=relaxed/relaxed; s=dkim; d=daybreak61.shop; h=Date:From:To:Subject:MIME-Version:Content-Type:List-Unsubscribe:Message-ID; i=lillie.fisher@daybreak61.shop; bh=Sy/7d0r7g6mL4erfm+2q9fMK+tU=; b=EwiM3x3rx9Vy4yW4gAOqVLT50Uyg1Z8iZcrYitqOP8HwqRVaKvC+dkV3IS9KI+7jkAYSoifXKf8K BsF+7mn/2NLvm+A8/U9WuZEAaj7Wge0P8qtVi5WjAptG3w5ReJGmXcq/Q3aVeAhcvhf2AqdLlw6C cJfUNII78IRnwzfUfQc= DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; q=dns; s=dkim; d=daybreak61.shop; b=YWo5gLcPn8UJIi1lGkcsVv+RA7/E9B+e4Xgh8HsmOxccWfE04/xPKwPN4olp2M3LT3NiDXxI1aSK 5UN96jShE1FKuCSaCogsf/jT+VdgAgil8mxRQhhBbboZScFxLZILSwPjcwVK2E8GnUm1GIzSnNKP paw6467R4hSgIreJMeU=; Received: by mail.daybreak61.shop id hbtf6c0001gj for ; Thu, 7 Oct 2021 16:48:09 -0400 (envelope-from ) Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2021 16:48:09 -0400 From: "Lillie Fisher" To: Subject: CDC Says KN95 Masks Are Helping Curve The COVID-19 Delta Variant MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_Part_406_1618116341.1633639064521" List-Unsubscribe: Message-ID: <0.0.0.43.1D7BBBCA317B804.602560@mail.daybreak61.shop> X-Spam-Score: 2.5 (++) X-Spam_score: 2.5 X-Spam_score_int: 25 X-Spam_bar: ++ X-Spam-Report: Spam detection software, running on the system "43876b25e8e2", has NOT identified this incoming email as spam. The original message has been attached to this so you can view it or label similar future email. If you have any questions, see @@CONTACT_ADDRESS@@ for details. Content preview: ** OFFICIAL KN95 Filtering Mask ** The CDC has provided guidance and available evidence when it comes to the use of respiratory masks like KN95 as a protective measure against COVID-19. So far, what they know is that these masks should [...] Content analysis details: (2.5 points, 5.0 required) pts rule name description ---- ---------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 0.0 URIBL_BLOCKED ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE: The query to URIBL was blocked. See http://wiki.apache.org/spamassassin/DnsBlocklists#dnsbl-block for more information. [URIs: daybreak61.shop] 1.9 URIBL_ABUSE_SURBL Contains an URL listed in the ABUSE SURBL blocklist [URIs: daybreak61.shop] 0.0 RCVD_IN_DNSWL_BLOCKED RBL: ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE: The query to DNSWL was blocked. See http://wiki.apache.org/spamassassin/DnsBlocklists#dnsbl-block for more information. [193.124.7.48 listed in list.dnswl.org] -0.0 SPF_PASS SPF: sender matches SPF record 0.0 SPF_HELO_NONE SPF: HELO does not publish an SPF Record 0.7 MPART_ALT_DIFF BODY: HTML and text parts are different 0.0 HTML_MESSAGE BODY: HTML included in message 0.0 HTML_FONT_LOW_CONTRAST BODY: HTML font color similar or identical to background 0.0 MIME_QP_LONG_LINE RAW: Quoted-printable line longer than 76 chars -0.1 DKIM_VALID Message has at least one valid DKIM or DK signature -0.1 DKIM_VALID_AU Message has a valid DKIM or DK signature from author's domain -0.1 DKIM_VALID_EF Message has a valid DKIM or DK signature from envelope-from domain 0.1 DKIM_SIGNED Message has a DKIM or DK signature, not necessarily valid 0.0 T_REMOTE_IMAGE Message contains an external image ------=_Part_406_1618116341.1633639064521 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ** OFFICIAL KN95 Filtering Mask ** The CDC has provided guidance and available evidence when it comes to the use of respiratory masks like KN95 as a protective measure against COVID-19. So far, what they know is that these masks should be effective against virus transmission and for protection against infection. These masks are being used by health care providers and because it is believed that they protect from at least 95% of all particles, bacteria, and viruses, their use will be continued. How To Spot A Counterfeit KN95 Mask! Not all KN95 masks and brands available on the market are authentic, and due to the shortage of the masks, there are many counterfeit KN95 mask brands. Some of the signs that a respiratory mask is counterfeit are the following. . . Get Your Mask 50% Off Here --> http://www.daybreak61.shop/urchin-fitfully/7ce4z2395rZ8q611g5c4dQy9feS18dhscFDrfhscFDrEsvZ7UQroQSd7o1DhxT05NksPv 9th Street Digital Automated Publishers | 1025 Fairview Dr, Marion, IA, 52303-4610 Click here http://www.daybreak61.shop/bills-instruments/44a4W2395X86yr12d5cx4k3M9feO18ohscFDrfhscFDrEsvZ7kQroQSd7Xo1P0LM5DOsvj to end communication. ------=_Part_406_1618116341.1633639064521 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable =20 =20 =20 =20 = =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
=20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
= 3D"mask"

KN95 Mask, COVID-19 Protection!

=
= =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
KN95Mask Offering The Best Protection To The Publ= ic!
KN95 stands for = the regulatory standard for filtering facepiece respirators that are certif= ied in China. The regulatory standard refers to a design that ensures filtr= ation efficiency, tight seal with the face as well as minimum leakage.The c= ertification is applied in terms of use against non-oily particulates, as w= ell as the current use against the COVID-19.
=20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
=20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
It is impo= rtant to mention that the requirements for a KN95 certification are almost = the same as the requirements fo the US N95 filtering facepiece respirators.=

Buy Your KN95 Mask Here 50% Off!
&= nbsp;
= =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20 =20
Cranston Illuminated Publishing
4375 I= reland Street, Denver, CO 80249(6913)
Select this link to get removed.
=20

 

=20

 

=20

 

=20

 

=20

 

=20

So, it was a nice morning, granny was = reading magazines sitting comfortably on her armchair and I was in the back= yard, just playing alone with my toys.

=20

Meanwhile, I shivered as she shouted i= n her high pitch voice saying, "You brat!" I just stood up and dr= op that flower on the bundle and she ran off to me.

=20

"What are you doing, Roseline?&qu= ot; She asked.

=20

"Nothing much, granny, just pluck= ing the flowers," I replied in a sweet voice.

=20

"Ohh, so my girl is just plucking= the flower," she said making me feeling more uncomfortable.=20

"Yes!" I replied.

= =20

"Why are you doing so?" She = asked.

=20

"Because I love these flowers.&qu= ot; I answered.

=20

"No just like them, if you love t= hem you'll not pluck them." She said. "Ok, leave it and tell me w= hat about those aloe and evergreen plants?"

=20

"Aloe plants are covering a lot o= f space and I don't like these evergreen plants, so that is why I am plucki= ng them." I said hesitantly.

=20

"You know you're not only pluckin= g plants from root but also plucking yourself from Earth," she replied=

=20

"I didn't get it," I answere= d.

=20

"No worries," she replied. &= quot;Come inside I want you to hear a story from me."

=20

"Story, yeah!" I said. "= ;Thanks Miss Granny."

=20

 

=20

We both headed inside and sat down on = a mat with some cookies and my favourite mango drink.

=20

 

=20

Granny started,

=20

Long ago, there lived a girl called So= fia. Sofia was cute, charming and attractive with curly red brown hairs, ye= llow green eyes and redy lips. She was same as your age Roseline and that i= s eight years old. But she had a bad habit as same as you, that was of pluc= king flowers - plants without any reason. It was worse than you my dear gir= l.

=20

Her parents, grandparents, teachers and other taught her a lot a= bout plants that she should not pluck them by telling the importance of it.= That how it provides us with oxygen, fruits, vegetables, wood for furnitur= e, cotton and jute, etc. There was no affect of it on Sofia. She was insist= on plucking them without any reason. This made her elders worry about it. = Her friends were also copying her and other children were coping her friend= s in plucking.

=20

 

=20

One day it happened so, on a rainy day with a rainbow colour umb= rella Sophia wandered to park all alone with no body around her. She sat on= a desk for a while. Than her eye targeted at a adorable kitten with green = eyes and it was white in colour with a pinkish glow, so beautiful. Sophia f= ollowed the cat. The cat reached to an grotto and so Sophia reached and the= n the cat went inside it but Sophia didn't she just sat down there and star= t thinking what it is like to have a pet like her.

=20

 

=20

Meanwhile she found herself in that grotto with that cat. At fir= st the grotto was all black and dark but as she stepped inside a beam came = out from inside it and lead them both to the place where the grotto ended. = When Sophia was having a look there that how that place wasn't any less tha= n a dreamland a sweet voice came, Hi Sophia! Nice to meet you.=20

What! It was from that similar cat which has now been turned int= o a fairy, an ugly fairy as she turned into an disgusting fairy the same pl= ace started to turn into a unpleasant place with all dark and grey sky with= black and dirty clouds and half cut trees, that was very scary.=

=20

This made little , immature Sophia all shocked.

= =20

Disgusting fairy put her hand on her shoulder with affection whi= ch scared her even more.

=20

"No need to worry, my dear," said the fairy to the lit= tle girl.

=20

"What's this all?" Sophia asked in crickled voice.=

=20

"No need to fear," fairy said. "You wanna know wh= at's this all happening, right?"

=20

"Right." Sophia answered.

=20

"It all started when I's 15 years old fairy in fairy land, = I used to had a bad habit of plucking innocent plants and then it happened = so that that one day queen fairy saw it all, and then she said me not to do= so in future. But I didn't gave it a sight. On another day she again saw m= e again doing so, I's plucking plants from park because I was enjoying it. = Queen fairy gave me a curse of 2 years exile. In this 2 years of exile I ha= fta stay on Earth in this grotto in morning I'll be a pleasant cat and in n= ight I'll be an unpleasant fairy."

=20

"Isn't this too cruel of her," said Sophia.=

=20

"No, it's not." Fairy or that cat replied. " At f= irst I also used to think this but later on I get what queen fairy mean. Sh= e cursed me that when I will become a cat the environment around me will li= ke a dreamland, so pleasing but when I'll become a fairy the environment ar= ound me will become disgusting, scary. The only difference between both is = one had plenty of trees and other not but it has just one aloe on which I'm= surviving on as it's a very powerful plant providing me with oxygen. This = step of queen fairy taught me a lesson that how important these trees are f= or us. And this is what now I want you to understand dear Sophia. I hope yo= u are getting me."

=20

 

=20

"Yes dear fairy I'm getting you. I swear not to pluck anymo= re from now onwards," said Sophia to the fairy.

=20

 

=20

Meanwhile this, "Sophia, Sophia.... " Such voice came = and Sophia started rubbing her eyes and got it that it was a dream. Her mot= her was calling her to go for home.

=20

From this day Sophia got changed and o= n the very next day she planted 6 plants in garden. Looking at her, her fri= ends also did this, and looking at her friends other children also did it.<= /span>

=20

 

=20

"I got you granny," said Ros= eline. "I promise you too that I'll not pluck anymore from now. And I = also got what you mean by plucking plants from root is equal to plucking yo= urself from Earth. As if we will pluck the plants there will no one of them= will left and obviously without them how can we survive."

= =20

"That's my girl," granny pra= ised Roseline.

=20

 

=20

Lauren looked down, horrified, at the = blood pouring from Joshua's stomach. She couldn't look at his mouth, but th= e distorted mumbling of her name told her all she needed to know. Whoever t= hat stranger had been, they'd punctured her brother's lung.

=20

 

=20

?Lauren,? Joshua garbled. Lauren raise= d a hand to cover his stomach, staring as his blood continued to spill. ?Lo= ?

=20

 

=20

?Shh,? she said at last, unsure what e= lse to do. ?It's going to be okay, Josh. I promise. I'll call an ambulance.= Yeah, everything's okay.?

=20

 

=20

She winced at her words, knowing there was no use in being calm.= Joshua was losing too much blood. Her many years of watching medical drama= s warned her nothing could save her brother now.

=20

 

=20

If anything, she should tell Joshua how proud she was of him, ho= w much she loved her big brother, but she couldn't. All Lauren could focus = on was the gruesome scene before her. Her brother was going to be toast soo= n. All because of a stupid stranger, a throwaway taunt, and a stupid sharp = knife.

=20

 

=20

?Lo,? Joshua's voice sounded even worse for wear, and Lauren cou= ldn't look at him any longer. She held her head straight, refusing to look = at the bloody scene before her, instead focusing on the crowd. For a Friday= night, there were surprisingly few people in the nightclub. Lauren cursed = her and Joshua's poor decision making. The siblings had just wanted an enjo= yable night out. Well, Lauren had.

=20

 

=20

Joshua had divorced his wife two months ago and had been acting = recklessly ever since. Lauren should have known that going out would have l= ed to trouble for them both. Her brother couldn't keep his mouth shut at th= e best of times, and he was hurting. She scolded herself for that thought, = realising nothing could have prepared her for this. How was she supposed to= know that her brother's mean words could end with him dying from a well-pl= aced stab wound? That wasn't supposed to happen to anyone in her immediate = family. They were the Wilson's. They were all supposed to be fine.

=20

 

=20

Another bloody cough.

=20

 

=20

Joshua was definitely not fine.

=20

 

=20

Frowning, Lauren glanced at her phone, which was slack in her gr= ip. A slight splash of red covered the screen. Lauren winced. It was paint = from when they were decorating the guest bedroom for her brother, she told = herself, knowing all the while her brother's room was duck egg blue. She tr= ied to unlock her phone, but her password escaped her as she glanced down a= nd saw Joshua trembling.

=20

 

=20

There was nothing she could do. For whatever reason, fate had de= cided it was Joshua's turn to die today. Fate had also decided Lauren had t= o be there to see it, even though she would much prefer being anywhere else=  Screw the universe, she thought, and closed her eyes. She g= rabbed her brother's hand before sitting down beside him, on a floor that f= elt too warm. Warm from Joshua's blood. She tried not to throw up.

=20

 

=20

?Joshua Wilson,? a calm voice said, and Lauren couldn't even fin= d it within herself to open her eyes. Her brother was dying. So what if now= even she was hearing Death? The creature had probably come to greet them b= oth, knowing Lauren wasn't ready to face a world without her older brother = there to guide her. ?We need to get you to Coeden y Bywyd. Co= me.?

=20

 

=20

Lauren raised an eyebrow. She'd heard = of Coeden y Bywyd. Everyone in her town had. It was said to b= e a massive tree. Leaves made of molten gold. Branches made of the finest s= ilver. Rings made of the purest bronze. The tree stood on the very edge of = their town, hidden in a forest composed of wisps of black smoke that made e= very human that passed it cough uncontrollably.

=20

 

=20

Lauren had never seen the tree herself= , but she'd heard the rumours of the creatures that passed there. Monsters = she'd never thought real; monsters from fairy tale myths and horror legends= The tree was said to draw creatures from all over the world; werewolves, = mermaids, vampires, zombies, dragons. All creatures that Lauren knew for a = fact didn't exist.

=20

 

=20

?Let him die in peace,? she told the v= oice, eyes still closed. She didn't see the point in opening them. Not when= Joshua was bleeding out next to her. She owed her brother company while he= died on the tiled floor. It was the least she could do, after being so una= ble to help him.

=20

 

=20

?Come,? the voice repeated, and Lauren= noticed her brother's weak grasp had left her hand. She opened her eyes an= d grimaced.

=20

 

=20

The floor was still red, and Lauren wa= nted to be sick, but she held it in, instead glaring at the man before her.= He was pale, too pale, with straggly black hair that went all the way down= his back. His nails were yellow and long, and his eyes a dark brown. But i= t was his teeth that made Lauren pause. They were so white they seemed to r= eflect off every surface, and as pointy as the knife that injured her broth= er.

=20

 

=20

The man had Joshua cradled against his= chest, looking so small Lauren couldn't bear it. She'd never seen her big = brother look so frail before, but there was no other word to describe him. = Joshua's skin was almost as pale as the man that held him, and his eyelashe= s were fluttering. His mouth hung open, a combination of drool and blood ru= nning down his chin. Worst, his entire body seemed lifeless, hardly even mo= ving in the man's arms. Lauren clenched her teeth, wishing she'd kept her e= yes shut. It would beat having her last memory of her beloved brother being= this.

=20

 

=20

?Follow,? the man said to her. Lauren = glanced down at her hands, unsure. ?Come with us. We'll take him to Coeden y Bywyd.?

=20

 

=20

?Coeden y Bywyd is a myt= h!? Lauren shouted, annoyed. Her brother was dying and all this man could f= ocus on was a stupid legend. ?Let Joshua go. He'd want to die peacefully.?<= /span>

=20

 

=20

?He's not dying peacefully,? the man told her bluntly. She watch= ed as the man walked away from her, Joshua still curled up in his arms. ?He= 's in a tremendous amount of pain.?

=20

 

=20

?Oh, thanks!? Lauren said, waving her hands. ?That makes everyth= ing much better!?

=20

 

=20

?We can save him,? the man said, walking out of the club that ha= d led to the Joshua's horrific state. ?Trust us. We can do it. We've saved = others like us before.?

=20

 

=20

?Us?? Lauren asked, confused. This day had already been a nightm= are, and this man was confusing her even more.

=20

 

=20

?No time. We need to go. Come.?=

=20

 

=20

Unable to do anything else, Lauren fol= lowed. The man was fast and seemed to float over the paths. Lauren, because= she was Lauren and ungraceful was her middle name, stum= bled over every branch that got in her way. She blamed it on the fact her b= rother was dying. It was a traumatic experience. How could she not=  trip over stuff? The man snorted, and for a second, Lauren was w= orried he'd read her mind. But that would be ridiculous. Wouldn't it?

=20

 

=20

?Very ridiculous,? the man chuckled, still speed-running across = the paths. Lauren tried not to freeze. She definitely had said nothing out = loud. Lauren knew that. She would have felt her vocal chords moving, if so.= ?Calm down. We'll explain everything when we reach Coeden y Bywyd= .?

=20

 

=20

?If we ever reach it,? Lauren muttered. She was glad the man jus= t chuckled. Her parents had often told her off for her insolence, but this = man didn't seem to care. Thank goodness, she thought. It woul= d be her luck to be murdered by a stranger on the same day that her brother= met a grisly end. At least they could go to Heaven together. Or Hell. Hell= seemed more likely.

=20

 

=20

The man came to a sudden stop and Lauren fell right into his bac= k. She rubbed her forehead, concerned at how hard the man's body seemed to = be. It felt like she'd just walked into a wall made of solid diamond. Laure= n wasn't an expert, but in her experience men weren't usually built like br= ick houses. Not ones who looked gaunt, anyway.

=20

 

=20

?Here,? he said, and Lauren looked aro= und. The air was full of black smoke, which tickled her nose. She wanted to= sneeze and cough at the same time. Lauren could hardly see apart from the = weird light that the man emitted. His skin was so pale it almost stuck out = in the absolute darkness of the night.

=20

 

=20

Okay, Lauren finally thought = to herself. Maybe he isn't human.

=20

 

=20

?You're getting it now,? the man said,= still holding Joshua. Lauren couldn't see her brother anymore, but she als= o couldn't hear him. She tried not to think about what that might mean. The= weird man had said her brother would be fine, and she felt like she owed h= im enough to believe him. ?We're almost there.?

=20

 

=20

They walked a little further into the = forest, and Lauren felt a cough escape her throat. She felt like she'd smok= ed a thousand cigarettes, = but she'd never smoked a day in her life. With a stifled cough, she realise= d they must have reached their location.

=20

 

=20

Wiping tears from her eyes, Lauren glanced up and frowned as she= came face to face with the biggest tree she'd ever seen. The leaves were a= s golden as Californian poppies, out of place in the dark forest. Its branc= hes were as silver as the finest dinnerware, and Lauren wanted to make a br= acelet out of them. The rings surrounding the tree were as bronze as the we= dding ring her mother still wore, though Lauren's father had passed many ye= ars ago. Those rings called to her, drawing her closer. It was almost like = they were breathing life.

=20

 

=20

Wait.

=20

 

=20

She'd heard the rumours about the tree= , the way Coeden y Bywyd seemed to draw creatures from a= ll over. She'd never considered why it summoned them, of course, but she'd = known. Everyone in her town had. The tree was famous for sustaining life. C= reatures were all drawn to Coeden y Bywyd because it cou= ld grant them the one thing nothing else could - life.

=20

 

=20

The man hadn't been lying. The tree co= uld help her brother. And to think Lauren had thought it a fairy tale all t= his time.

=20

 

=20

?Lay him down,? she said. She wasn't s= ure why, but it felt right.

=20

The man smiled at her and lay Joshua d= own until he was parallel to the tree itself. Joshua's body looked awful, p= ale, and thin and unmoving. There was a tinge of red covering his whole bod= y, but Lauren ignored it. If this didn't work, she wanted to remember Joshu= a as she'd known him. Happy and vibrant and alive. She could = ignore a little blood out of sheer force of will.

=20

 

=20

The man beckoned her forward, and Laur= en followed, seeing no reason to disagree. He'd led her and Joshua here. No= reason to doubt him now, she figured. If he wanted to kill her, then he would have done it when they= first entered the forest.

=20

 

=20

The man took her hand in his grasp, and Lauren winced at the sud= den tightness. The man was strong, too strong, but she held still, content = to let him do whatever if it would help her brother. He seemed to know what= he was doing, and he was her only chance at saving Joshua, so how could sh= e refuse him? The answer was simple. She couldn't.

=20

 

=20

?This is going to hurt,? the man said. Lauren let her hand slack= a little in his grip, but the man shined his pearly white teeth at her and= bit down on a vein in her arm. Lauren tried not to wince, but the sharp pa= in of a bite hurt, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She hated any= kind of pain.

=20

 

=20

Still, it was nothing compared to what= Joshua was going through.

=20

The man let go of her arm, his mouth f= ull of her blood. Lauren frowned as the man leaned forward and spat some of= her blood onto Joshua's numb body. He paused and then spat some more onto = one of the silver branches that had crept forward from the tree. Lauren wat= ched as her blood travelled from the branch to Joshua. The tree glistened a= sunburnt orange that made her want to cover her eyes, but she couldn't loo= k away.

=20

 

=20

The man smiled at her and walked away,= watching as Joshua's body lifted itself into the air. The orange glow surr= ounded him. Lauren was pleased to note her brother no longer looked on the = cusp of death. His veins glistened a vibrant blue, and the red that once ov= erpowered his body faded until nothing was left but pale skin. Lauren watch= ed as his teeth lengthened, his nails grew, and his eyes opened.

= =20

 

=20

Joshua was alive.

=20

 

=20

Relieved, Lauren threw herself into the man's arms and sobbed. T= he man offered an awkward pat to her back. Lauren accepted the shoddy comfo= rt for what it was and then turned to face her brother. He was glancing dow= n at his body in awe and slight confusion. He held a hand to his chest and = frowned.

=20

 

=20

?That's right,? the man said, pulling away from Lauren. ?You don= 't have a heartbeat.?

=20

 

=20

?But-? Joshua said. Lauren had never been happier to hear her br= other's low-pitched voice.

=20

 

=20

?You're like me,? the man said, offering a smile. ?Us. You know = what that tree does, I assume??

=20

 

=20

?I heard the rumours,? Joshua replied, ?but I never believed.?

=20

 

=20

?Neither did your sister,? the man said, pointing a thumb at Lau= ren. Lauren thought that was rather rude of him. She'd helped her brother s= urvive too, after all. ?But she does now.?

=20

 

=20

?I can speak for myself,? Lauren said, brushing her knees and gl= ancing towards her brother. ?Josh, I thought you were a goner. There was so= much blood and I didn't know what to do.?

=20

 

=20

?It's okay,? Joshua said, smiling. ?You helped me. I knew you wo= uld. Thank you.?

=20

 

=20

Lauren nodded. She glanced at the man, who was watching the inte= raction with a smile on his face.

=20

 

=20

?This tree,? he said, after he noticed Lauren and Joshua's atten= tion was back on him, ?this tree sustains life. But that's not all it does.= I don't know if you noticed, but Joshua was dead. Coeden y Bywyd,=  it saved him, as it saved me. As it's saved many of my kind befo= re.?

=20

 

=20

?What are you?? Lauren asked, but she already knew. She'd had a = suspicion ever since she saw the man's sharp teeth.

=20

 

=20

?Vampire,? Joshua said, using a finger to prod at his newly leng= thened teeth. ?You're a vampire.?

=20

 

=20

?Yes,? the man agreed, ?and we owe our lives to this tree.?<= /span>

=20

 

=20

Lauren glanced at the tree. Now Joshua was no longer under the p= eril of immediate death, it didn't look special at all. In fact, it looked = like a normal tree.

=20

 

=20

?This tree was the creation of our kind,? the man said, patting = the tree as if he was greeting an old friend. ?The first vampire stumbled h= ere by mistake when she was dying. Drunk and stabbed, just like your brothe= r. She bled onto the branches. The branches grew and gave that vampire eter= nal life, just as the name promised.?

=20

 

=20

?Coeden y Bywyd,? Joshua breathed. ?The tree of life.?<= /a>

=20

 

=20

?Exactly,? the man said, smiling with his sharp teeth at Lauren.= ?Your brother's a smart one.?

=20

 

=20

?And he's a vampire now?? she asked, feeling her arms slump. ?Wh= at does that mean for us? What do I tell people??

=20

 

=20

?We'll take your brother under our wing,? the man said. ?Teach h= im our ways. Tell your family he's gone on an adventure to find himself. Th= at's what humans like you do, isn't it??

=20

 

=20

Lauren tried not to take offense. She'd taken a gap year after h= igh school, and the man's words felt like a slight dig.

=20

 

=20

?I'll be okay,? Joshua said, smiling at Lauren. ?You saved me, L= o. Thank you.?

=20

 

=20

?It was him,? Lauren said, pointing over to the man who was stil= l watching the interaction.

=20

 

=20

?My name is Gruffud,? the man said, and Lauren frowned as she re= alised she'd never thought to ask. The man had never asked for her name eit= her. They sort of had a bigger problem, what with Joshua dying and all.=

=20

 

=20

?Lauren,? she said. ?And my brother, Joshua.?

=20

 

=20

?The Joshua tree,? Gruffud said, stroking his chin. ?I see. You = were destined for this, Joshua.?

=20

 

=20

?Destined to be stabbed?? Joshua asked= , raising his eyebrow. Lauren felt proud of how similar she and her brother= were. Their parents had raised them right. ?I doubt that.?

=20

 

=20

?Destined to be one of us,? Gruffud continued. ?Now, it's time = for you to learn how to adapt.?

=20

 

=20

Joshua looked down, frowning, but nodded and started following.= Lauren looked at them both.

=20

 

=20

?Wait,? she said. ?You can't go. I don't know if I'll ever see = you again.?

=20

 

=20

?You will,? Joshua promised. ?I'm not letting anything stop me.= ?

=20

 

=20

?Come meet us in two months,? Gruffud said. ?Right here. At thi= s exact spot. The tree will breathe some new life into you.?

= =20

 

=20

?Okay,? Lauren said, glancing up at the tree. It had been an ex= hausting day. ?Okay.?

=20 3D""/ ------=_Part_406_1618116341.1633639064521--