Submission (#6506) Approved

[650 words]
Birling had heard the news - odd growths all over, ever since a satellite crash. It was just too much to be a coincidence. He had to investigate what was going on - even if this wasn't his area of expertise. Waiting for the news to come from actual scientists could take days, maybe even weeks, and he didn't want to just wait idly by!

Soon enough, he'd packed his backpack full of equipment for a good few days of adventuring, going to visit the spot he'd heard the growths were at. He had a camera, provisions for himself, even including medical equipment (just in case), plus other basics like a flashlight for the dark. Now was the task of getting to the destination, which was unfortunately far off from his home. Luckily, the journey there was rather uneventful. All the time really did was waste his supplies slowly but surely.

After a while, he could tell he was getting close just by the presence of others getting more and more frequent. Press, investigators, normal folks and curious folks like himself all swarmed around the area. If he got a good glimpse he could see some of the oddly-shaped growths sprouting above the standard treeline. Chatter rose from everywhere, and there were even some opportunistic merchants trying to capitalise off of the mystery.

He managed to push his way past some people, apologising in his most polite manner as he went. It was clear he was on a mission. Soon enough he got past the worst of the crowds, and into the woods where the odd growths themselves begun. Although they did in fact resemble plants, when he had decided to experimentally snap off a "leaf" of one of these, it was clearly not normal. Hell, he even snapped off a leaf from a standard tree just for a true comparison. In case he was being paranoid or something. Yet sure enough, these weren't normal. They didn't even resemble any ancient plant specimens he would've known from his own studies - as if they'd ever randomly decide to spring up again anyway! It was some completely new species - he knew that someone passionate in this field would be thrilled about this discovery, knowing much more about the implications than he would. He took some pictures, including the comparison, for later.

As he explored more, he realised that the plants were becoming more prevalent near to the crash - it seemed that satellite really was the epicentre of it all! He was very slow at exploring, however. It was why he had to overprepare. He just hoped that the investigators were also slow, as he doubted they had too much experience having to slash their way through the wilderness. Or at least would be as slowed down as he was. Considering that even he could determine that the satellite was the cause of this all, it was obvious that an actual professional in this field would have seen it too, so it'd not like he could act like they would have been slowed by unawareness.

However, it seemed he unfortunately was not fast enough. Damn it! He saw some professionals surrounding the thing, which itself was covered in the plants it had presumably caused to sprout up. It seemed that his own personal theory was true. He backed off before he was reported for interfering. When he was walking off, however, something caught his eye. Some odd sparkling debris on the ground. He decided to pick that up and keep it for himself. Surely it wouldn't go amiss in the investigation? After all, they had a whole ass satellite to look at! It would probably have more of the stuff, and so he didn't feel too guilty as he stalked back to make his way home with his intrigue sated just enough. Plus, he'd gotten a cool souvenir. Win win.