The Book of Told

PROLOGUE – Ainch Ent history
I AM Leonard Told – your author.
Luman is a wanna-be writer and is jealous of my skill at making words come to life, especially since reading the opening to my latest novel.
Luman convinces some other writers that my talent is due to my harboring and use of illicit drugs and tries to stop this story ever being published.
Of course being aware of this plan, the following is how you would have heard the conversation if you had been the ladybug on the leaf as my best friend Habit Racter (a habitual character) and I discussed a hybrid in my garden and its drug inducing properties...

“Why don't you dig it out, Leo?” Habit questioned. He stepped forward and the grass squished low under his feet, as he raised a plucked leaf to his mouth.
Leonard calmly answered, “It's highly addictive - even the tiniest bit on your teeth if you nibble it. It's enough to permanently alter your mind. You can’t get it in your system or you will die from it eventually - as I've told you before, my friend of poor memory,” he emphasized with a smile.
“Exactly,” said Habit, dropping his hand, “so why not rip it out? It's not aesthetically pleasing.”
Leonard sighed. “It reminds me that everyone has free will. And the place is nicely walled in, so it is only of danger to those with the ability to make their own decisions.”
Habit frowned with pause, then... “Ah, of course, part of your latest story line. You realize I want to be the first to read your draft?” he said, flicking off a ladybug from a leaf. Turning to another bush, he breaks off a whole stem of orangey-green foliage and eats them.
Leonard chuckles and following a quick “Yes, yes”, he takes a handful for himself. “I'm dedicating this one to you, after all,” he said with his mouth full of the safe vegetation.
Habit glanced at Leonard quickly with an incredulous look. “I'm honored! Are you serious? Thank you. That is really good of you, Leo.”
Smiling at each other Leonard finishes by saying “The dedication will read: ‘To my dearest friend Habit – that you may upon reading this book, more fully appreciate the power of a word.’”
He then leaves him to get them a drink, while Habit peers again at the leaves of the topical tree, in deep thought.

“Hello, young Habit!”
“Lumen Pravis. It’s good to see you here. How's your story going?” The startled Habit found himself addressing Leonard’s colleague who had come circling the bushes from the opposite direction.
“Well! Yes, very well,” he answered. “I'm about to try adding a twist into my latest novel that will be an absolute ride for the reader.” Lumen looked excited, and it added to his pleasant mannered appeal.
“Really? You are onto something good! Oh, for that feeling,” Habit's tone dropped despondently with his last words. “How do you manage to pull yourself away from writing when you look like you are just dying to get it on paper?” He was happy for him, but unfilled desire tangled in his words. “You just missed Leonard by the way.”
Lumen glanced around to where Leonard had entered his house. “Ah,” he shrugged, “plenty of time to catch him later - with so many work meetings lately. Definitely not enough time for writing, I do agree.”
Turning to the tree he continued, “I see you have met Leonard’s great secret. Unreal, isn't it? Who would have thought leaves could enhance the mind so you can have such streaks of genius writing. I've tried it you know, but what I have in mind for this next book is purely my own conception.” He glanced at Habit to be sure he believed him. “Leonard’s a little shy of handing it out to everyone or he would lose his advantage, and fair enough I guess. I've still never seen another quite like it,” he ended wistfully.
As Luman talked, Habit was quietly stilled. “You mean this tree?” casually lifting his finger to it.
“Yes...” Lumen replied thoughtfully. “His favorite and most cared for species, his own hybrid,” on he talked. “He keeps telling everyone of its incredible flavor but I don't think it's that grand. What did you think, Habit?”
Fidgeting, Habit struggled quickly for something to say, and, a grip on his thoughts. “Well...” he paused, “we were talking about it but I haven't tried it yet. I thought its after-effects were meant to be rather undesirable?”
“Hardly! Give it a go. Leonard is probably waiting to see your first book before he allows you to increase your talent. He may be your best friend but you haven't known him long, he's kind but not stupid.”
Lumen so casually snapped off a leaf and placed it in his mouth that it stunned Habit into disillusionment. His hand rising even before he could logically consider his actions he followed suit.
It tasted sweet, and kind of like bread dipped in honeyed milk. He was not sure what to expect, but his lack of abnormal feelings surprised him.
Hmm, hang on. Maybe a small desire for a little more and a smudge of guilt for doing this behind Leonard's back.
Habit smiled.
This gently increasing want for more, filled him. It was so subtle Habit felt completely in control of himself, so took another leaf and quickly ate it. Next, he grabbed a bunch, stuffed it in his mouth, and filled his pockets too. He reasoned to himself that if he started writing now and the leaves ran out, the story would be a failure. Therefore, with a little less than frantic desire, Habit reached again for the tree. His thoughts increasingly went inwards and in ease, he became absorbed with his ability to write his own story - and to get some credit finally.
The clarity, which made Habit feel he could write endless best-sellers was amazing, and he turned to hasten home with the leaves when he tripped and fell on the grass.
“What?” he wondered dully. He had stumbled on a stone but had not seen or felt it. In fact, he could not feel the grass in his hands now. Or the pain he should have felt in his knees. Numbness seemed to be covering him inside and out. Moreover, his eyesight seemed to be growing dim.
In a panic, he recalled Luman should be nearby. He cried to him for help, but scanning everywhere, he could not see a trace of his retreat. Craving became the strongest feeling he had, even stronger than his desperate racing thoughts.
Rising to his knees, he started to breathe too fast and too deep. “Where are you?” sobbed Habit into his foreign feeling hands. “Help!” Panic rose in him as he hyperventilated through his growing predicament.