Dylan touching trees was SO DISTRACTING. It had been at least four times now that Alice had stopped her own work to peek over at him rubbing the bark of the Yew he had chosen, and talking to it.. I chose you?

Obviously not giggling over here. Really. She wasn't.

But, getting back to her own project, it was time to take the wood from the Alder. That was what came after the offering and the chanting, wasn't it? "I'll try not to hurt you, okay Mr. Alder?" Alice began looking for a cracking or loose branch to use, one that was already ruined, so she wouldn't do anymore damage. It took her a while to spot one, but the fifth year finally noticed a reasonably disfigured branch near the middle of the tree.

Isa went with Alder trees, right?

"Isa Isa Isa.. i i i i i i i i i... i i i i i i s s s s s s... Diffindo!.. s s s s s s i i i i i i.. i i i i i i i i i.." The branch landed in her outstretched hands as it fell, and she bowed her head in appreciation to the Alder before continuing on with her project and painting the severed area over with a bit of bituminous paint. Jelly slugs were so worth losing a limb for, though, she'd given nature a really good deal.