[h2][center][color=00a651]Conference Building[/color][/center][/h2]
[h2][center][color=00a651]10:30 AM[/color][/center][/h2]

NatJack perked up a bit at Alonzo’s suggestion.

“…Huh. Ah’ll think on it.”

The redhead closed her eyes in thought for several seconds.

“Ah wish ah could remembah it bettah. Ah just remembah it bein real wahld. It was lahk ah was walkin’ in a forest, but not lahk a real forest, lahk the trees were all… bendy, ya know? An’ they smelled lahk… well, ah don’ rahghtly know how ta describe it. Kinda lahk…”

“Alright,” Dr. Nichols’ microphoned voice cut in, “it looks like we’re all getting off to a good start. We’re running right on time, so we’ll skip the whole group introductions for now, but feel free to continue meeting your fellow conference-goers on your own. We have a fifteen minute break until the next activity. If you take a look at your schedule, you’ll see a choice of two events. If you’re going to…”

There was a brief pause as the researcher realized it might be a good idea to fish his own program out of his back pocket.

“…'The Big Why: Philosophical Explorations on the Origin and Meaning of Essences,' meet right here at 10:45. If you’re going to 'Hiking and Zip Line Excursion,' meet me at the cabins’ central pavilion. And don’t forget! If you show proof of your plant essence to one of the volunteers with the blue nametags, you’ll earn a $100 refund.”

As soon as it was clear Dr. Nichols’ speech was over, people began chattering and milling around. A number of the volunteers strode out of the room quickly, some to reach the pavilion before the conference-goers, some to stand ready to evaluate plant essences.

“Well,” Dolly addressed her cabin, “it looks like I’m already in the right place. Plenty of time to chat, stretch my legs, grow flowers on heads, the usual.”

She let out a light wispy laugh at her own joke.