It was a good thing that the branch had only tossed the hint of what it was hiding in its branches. It stood straight up, proud and tall for a few minutes, giving the boy a false sense of security.

The calm before the storm...

The willow wasn’t backing down from the threat of a trespasser so near. Every branch creaked, shuttered or flailed around as it did when it sensed a presence. The willow began to feel a weight lift as one by one the vials were summoned by the boy.

Daisy roots, shrivelfig, caterpillar, rat spleen, leech juice? What potion could this Pukwudgie be brewing? Here’s hoping that something so small could find the way to the passage. The willow flicked its branches at the boy, taunting him. Daring him to make a move toward him.