The car’s quiet purr matched the slower rhythm of this place between city and wilderness. Juniper felt the shift in her bones as urban cadence gave way to nature’s tempo. Each passing acre whispered stories of resilience that echoed her own journey, the transformed landscape swelling her heart with renewed purpose. This was what they were fighting for – not just their case, but the very spirit of renewal these helix fields embodied.

Beside her, Daniel remained lost in thought, his suit a quiet contrast to the wild abundance beyond the window. His hands rested precisely in his lap, betraying years of careful discipline, while his shoulders carried burdens she had yet to understand.

As they flew down the highway, Daniel noticed her gaze drifting to the fern trees lining the road. “Yeah, these are the best farms out here,” he remarked spontaneously. “I’m glad I found them when I moved here.”

Juniper’s smile remained static, a mask concealing her true thoughts. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, nothing. Just that I try to get a real tree every year, even though it’s a fire hazard. Even my mother started telling me not to, but I’m not gonna listen to her.” His grin turned playful, bordering on mischievous.

She let the comment pass without response, even as curiosity tugged at her mind.