Elara
The first planting request would have killed the roots it meant to protect.
Elara read it twice before pointing to the line.
"Those plants need deeper soil."
The receiving clerk looked at the tray of young growth on the table.
"They were offered for restoration."
"They can go somewhere else. Not over this bank."
The local grower beside her nodded.
"The cover is too shallow. We'd have to cut into living growth to make room."
The clerk crossed out the suggested location.
The donor would need a different answer.
Elara was glad the plants had arrived before the speech thanking someone for them.
The clerk left the crossed-out line visible.
"What do I tell the person who sent them?"
"That this bank cannot support them."
He glanced at her name on the request. "Would you write that?"
