Your woodlice are mostly preserved, the mashed variety only a small portion, and ground nicely into the shirt.

The bowtruckles are, again, extremely agitated as you return, scrambling to and fro in the branches of the tree that holds your wand.

As you approach, the frenzy in the tree escalates, the bowtruckles alerted to your presence first by your light and then by your flailing.

Reaching out to them in their agitation was a mistake. One bowtruckle leaps toward your outstretched hand but instead of taking the gillyweed, it rakes its sharp fingers over the back of your hand.

The way you came is much the same to double back by. The lilypads you sunk have returned to the surface.

But you might want to hurry. The tree guardians are approaching.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

As you approach, the frenzy in the tree escalates, the bowtruckles alerted to your presence first by your light and then by your flailing.

Reaching out to them in their agitation was a mistake. One bowtruckle leaps toward your outstretched hand but instead of taking the gillyweed, it rakes its sharp fingers over the back of your hand.

The way you came is much the same to double back by. The lilypads you sunk have returned to the surface.

But you might want to hurry. The tree guardians are approaching.

"ARRRRGH!!!!!!!!!!"

Damn tree guardians! THEY ARE NOT FRIENDLY FOLK. Not at all like.... like tree guardians should be, like they're depicted by Muggles, like like like like wood nymphs or Ents or something. Glaring at the dumb bowtruckles who made him drop his gillyweed into the water, and feeling very tempted to try to light their tree on fire with his branch, Fletcher turned his back hastily and started leaping from tree to tree.

Yeah he got the message all right. Back to the shore. Grrr. Stupid bowtruckles. He would poison whatever he found to tempt them with, yes he would. And then he would sniffle over his poor injured hand AND heal it with his wand.

Miles walked up along and sees the shore. Why the hell was there a lake underground? Looking around he realized he couldn't just walk around thanks to gigantic rock faces that he couldn't even climb. Holding up the light he looked around yet couldn't see the other side. He did see the giant lilypads and floating trees so it seemed he had three choices. By air, by land or by sea...well so to speak. If he swam he'd lose his light, no doubt about it, not counting whatever was beneath the surface. So that left the lily pads and the trees. Alright then. Reaching up he jumped and grabbed a root on the floating tree above. Now how exactly was he supposed to do this?

Using his strength he climbed up and looked around there was another one not far away but he couldn't see after that. His eyes found the tree next to his and he sighed. Now for the true definition of Monkey Miles as Fia liked to call him. Smirking he held onto that image and jumped for the next tree.

The young man's eyes automatically settled on his wand, to make sure it was still intact, and he once more resisted the urge to reach for it and snatch it. He'd spent far too long with an empty holster pressing against his wrist. He needed that damn wand back. Now.

Reaching above his head, he jammed the fireseed branch into the crook of one of the tree's branches, so he could still have light and not drop it. He'd need both his hands for this, he was sure. Carefully, he removed the bundled teeshirt from the sweatshirt pocket, shuddering at the squirming he could feel through the cloth.

Gross. Gross, gross, disgusting, gross.

Untying the string and taking pains to make sure to not drop it, Raiden spread the tee-shirt out a bit and held it out at arm's length, his back now against the trunk of the tree he was standing on in an effort to maintain his balance. The wood lice, the large amount that had survived, wriggled and squirmed over each other.

Plenty for everyone, should they decide to take it?

"Pleaaaaaaase let me have my wand back," he whispered, more to himself than as a plead to the creatures. "Just take them and let me have it back."

They could even take the teeshirt if they really wanted it. REALLY. TAKE IT. IT'S YOURS.

The bowtruckles pursued only a few trees before turning back to guard your wand once more.

The way back was much like the way there. Difficult, strenuous, a little wet, and really, really dirty.

But back to the shore you are.

The leap was unfortunately timed, as the target tree was beginning to float away. Not terribly secure in your pocket, your woodlice are beginning to escape on their own, crawling over your clothes. Some trail behind you, blown off by the breeze you created when you jumped.

As for your leap, well, it'll end just a bit short as the tree continues to move away, dropping you into nearly chest-high water unless you manage to belly flop onto the roots.

The bowtruckle approach, at first, in reaction to your arrival, but upon seeing the offering of woodlice, they descend in droves to partake in the squirmy appetizer.

Your wand is left unguarded, though, you are holding the serving platter for the bowtruckle feast.

This was what he was afraid of. Now that they were distracted by the lice... his wand was unguarded, but he was also stuck holding the distraction.

The only thing he could think to do was slowly, eeeeeever so slowly, lower the teeshirt. He lowered it at a snail's pace, hopefully too slowly for them to notice it was moving, eyes on the bowtruckles to make sure they would follow it down. If he could set it on the roots... stretch it between two, and let them nom on bugs... then he could snatch his wand and get the hell out of dodge.

As long as they didn't notice him slowly lowering his arms, and bending his knees so he could reach the roots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

The bowtruckles pursued only a few trees before turning back to guard your wand once more.

The way back was much like the way there. Difficult, strenuous, a little wet, and really, really dirty.

But back to the shore you are.

Huh. Moving quickly had its advantages sometimes, didn't it? Before he even knew it, Monkey!Fletcher was back safely on the shore and rubbing his hands together gleefully.

What to pick first.... hmm.... He was very familiar with the fact that bowtruckles looooooooved wood lice. Like duh, cuz they lived in wood trees. But he also had the feeling they liked fairy eggs too... right? And those were fairy eggs on the wall of the cavern....... right?!

Fletcher wasn't so sure about that, nor about the little mushrooms growing here and there. Just to be sure, he tossed the rock from earlier out of his left pocket and then loaded it down with fairy eggs. A TON of fairy eggs. Into his right pocket with the gillyweed went a few mushrooms (who knew if they were poisonous or not, though Fletcher hoped they were) just in case the bowtruckles wanted something else too.

Feeling ready to tackle the trees again, the boy took a running start again and leaped, jumping higher this time around in the hopes that he could grab the tree's roots without getting wet on the lily pad first. If not.... well it was still there to break his fall. He hoped.

The sticky terrors were distracted enough by the lice to not notice it being put down. They snacked happily, eager to get their fill.

The wand left blissfully unguarded.

The roots are there for the grabbing, though the tree sways dramatically when you hit them, causing your feet to drag in the water. Soggy. Shoes.

The path back to the wand tree is still there as it was the first and second time you traversed it.

The question is, do you have the stamina to make it back, again?

As he flew at the tree he saw it floating away and cursed himself. Why couldn't things be simple? Today just wasn't his day and now he found himself squirming as he felt things crawling all over him. Reaching his hands out in front of him so he could catch whatever was in front of him.

His fingers grabbing at the roots he slid down to the very end of the roots but the woodlice running around him made him squirm even more causing his grip to loosen and ending up with him in the water. Fine. He was getting tired from all this climbing around business. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the gillyweed and making a face stuck it in his mouth and swallowed. He nearly gagged at the squirm, slimy, ickiness of it all and forced himself to get it down

Oh god oh god oh god oh Merlin alive the bowtruckles were following the lice down and Raiden was free to jump to the next tree. Suppressing the urge to let out a gleeful shout, because he didn't know if they'd get mad at him for it, the champion waited for the right moment and jumped to the tree that held his wand.

Tentatively, he reached for it. Merlin, Merlin, thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

The roots are there for the grabbing, though the tree sways dramatically when you hit them, causing your feet to drag in the water. Soggy. Shoes.

The path back to the wand tree is still there as it was the first and second time you traversed it.

The question is, do you have the stamina to make it back, again?

His success at landing on the first tree kept Fletcher inspired to keep going. But as the light grew brighter and brighter, it seemed that his his energy level dipped lower and lower. The boy really was nearly out of steam now, and it did not help that his shoes were soaaaaaking wet. Even his wrinkly old socks were wet. He could FEEL IT.

"Guuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh," he huffed and he puffed. One arm in front of the other, all right? His fire bush hadn't gone out yet, so neither should he. "One more. One more."

Or two or four, but he was practically to the bowtruckle!tree.

Noooo!

HMPH!

Fine. Stupid fireseed. Stupid little pus squirter!

Ooooooh! She had an idea!!!

Running back to the umbrella tree's, Cameron stared at the tree's trying to find one with a really really wide, thick leaf. She could place it over the plant and sprrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnt and hopefully not die of acid in the process.

So.. To find a few leaves..?

She'd need a few.. Quite a few..

Your wood lice unfortunately drowned, everything else seems to be in order as you swallow the gillyweed.

The sensation is extreme as you sprout gills and webbing at your hands and feet. In the moments before you have to submerge yourself in order to breathe easy, you might notice a glow up in the tree line, far to your right. I is near the rock wall that borders that side of the lake. The far shore, your eventual destination, is in another direction.

Which way? And how is your light?

You reach your wand easily, the bowtruckles still occupied with the wood lice, much appeased. Your teeshirt, unfortunately, has seen better days.

Wand now in hand, you might want to see to some additional light, and a quick look around will tell you that you are in the middle of the lake, with the far shore in front of you. That is your destination. That is where you must go.

The lilypads below seem to bob in and out of the water as it churns and the trees spread further apart. Skittering among the leaves suggests that the bowtruckles in neighboring treesare anxious to be appeased, as well.

Almost there, and the bowtruckles are again skittering, moving toward you as you move toward them. Almost there!

The sticks look angry as they approach, ready to strike.

The umbrella flowers, for the most part, had similarly shaped petals, though there were various sizes around for the picking. All were within reach.

Wiiiiiiin!

Cameron had no idea if this would work - but she'd try. Her hardest. She'd promised everyone that.

Even though she was short, the petal leafed tree thingummies were within her reach. She riiiiiipped a few down. She'd need a couple to get past the path. It was obvious from the haphazard ripping that the girl hadn't had much respect for plants nor her Herbology classes.

Eh.

Now.. To check.

She got as close to the plant thing as she could and placed one smallish leaf down. Even if it held back the squirtystuff for a moment, it'd be enough time for her to run.

And run, she would.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

Almost there, and the bowtruckles are again skittering, moving toward you as you move toward them. Almost there!

The sticks look angry as they approach, ready to strike.

"I come in peace. I bring you gifts. Take me to your leader. I come in peace. I bring you gifts. Take me to your leader......" Fletcher chanted as he hopped onto the next tree, the one closest to the bowtruckles. He was prepared, oh yes he was. But how to deliver the fairy eggs to the little critters? Throwing them?

........mmm no, they'd just break that way. He had to think fast and think up a way to deliver the eggs. Make a... basket or something? Could he untangle the gillyweed and use it to hold the eggs for the bowtruckles? The more distance between his hand and their sharp little teeth, the better.

Quickly, Fletcher's deft fingers reached into his right pocket and pulled out one bundle of tightly-packed gillyweed and started unraveling it, spreading it out like a little bowl as he went. Hmm. He had one bundle left... and you never knew when that might come in handy.

Once he had enough of a bowl that would (hopefully) be sturdy enough to hold some fairy eggs, Fletcher reached into his other pocket and piled the eggs in there. He decided to leave the mushrooms out for now, so they could be like.... a surprise dessert, maybe.

He faked a smile for the bowtruckles and held the offering out, slowly reaching toward the bottom of the tree containing his wand at the top. If they all scuttled far enough away from it.... maybe he could reach out, grab it, and get outta here!

Miles grimaced and grabbed at his neck and hands as he started to grow webbed feet and gills. He couldn't breathe anymore and knew he had to get under the water. With a quick look around first he spotted a light to his right. Looking down at his own torch he knew that it wouldn't last long in the water. Running out of breath he ducked below the water with one last glance toward the right and going under the water decided to go toward the glowing light in the trees.

The only good thing about gillyweed is that now he felt like a fish as he swam as fast as he could toward the direction of the right shore using the light to see as well as he could before it went out which wouldn't be long he knew that.

HE HAD HIS WAND OH HAPPY FRACKING DAYS FOREVER.

Raiden gripped his wand tightly; he was never, ever letting go of it. NEVER. Even as he gripped tighter onto the tree, he summoned the fireseed branch to him. It didn't afford much light, but... it would be useful, quite possibly. Anything could be useful. Quickly, he tied the string around his wrist again, this time letting the branch dangle as he gripped onto a limb of the tree, to keep himself from falling off.

"Lumos."

Light flooded the surrounding area, and the young man looked around; he was in the middle of the lake? Which wouldn't have been bad, had the trees not just... floated apart, WHYYYYYYY.

The stirring of the bowtruckles worried him, and he cast his eyes toward his teeshirt, previously full of squirmy bugs. Were the bowtruckles controlling the trees' movements? If he got more stuff for them to nom, would they put them back so he could leave?

Putting out his light, he flicked his wand at the dangling fireseed branch, to see if he could make it glow a bit brighter for just a moment. Then, looking toward shore, he bit his lip. Not summoning the wood lice, they would drive him mad if they all flew at him.

"Accio fairy eggs."

Bowtruckles ate those too, right?

The petal, while unharmed by the goo, did not hold it back, as it continued to spray across the opening, from right to left, like horizontal bars blocking the passageway.

The smell of gasoline was overwhelming.

The bowtruckles who had begun to advance in defense were now descending to see to the eggs in the makeshift basket, skittering along.

Decidedly not hostile at this point, they moved away from the wand, leaving it unguarded.

The light dimmed and dimmed before going out completely, the glow in the tree the only source of light in the cavern. But even that wasn't much as it did not illuminate things around it.

The water was calmer under the surface, though the surface churned.

When you get close enough, you'll realize that the faint glow you’ve been seeing this whole time is extremely familiar—it’s your wand! It’s nestled safely in a tree, but don't celebrate yet! A number of sticks seem to be standing guard within the branches of the tree. The sticks are moving around and look like tiny little stick figures with very long fingers…they’re clearly Bowtruckles. It’s very obvious that the only way you’re going to get your wand back is to make it past this little army of tree men…but how?

To add to the difficulty of the problem, it is too high to reach from the water as it is nestled in the branches, and you still have gills.

Most of the eggs never make it to you as they slam into tree branches, but a good dozen head your way. Hope you have a plan to catch them.

The bowtruckles that guarded your wand are still happily nomming on the remains of the woodlice and your woodlice flavored shirt.

It's the ones in the other trees to worry about.

The trees continue to float to and fro, sometimes closing the gaps, sometimes widening them, but more severely than before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

The bowtruckles who had begun to advance in defense were now descending to see to the eggs in the makeshift basket, skittering along.

Decidedly not hostile at this point, they moved away from the wand, leaving it unguarded.

Hurrrrrrah the bowtruckles were behaving themselves! They left his wand and went for the food instead. Smart creatures. Vile, evil, mean creatures, but smart ones nontheless.

Eager to grab at his wand, Fletcher had to muster all of his self-discipline to carefully nestle the basket of fairy eggs at the edge of the tree's roots. Once he made sure it wasn't going anywhere, the boy grinned and leaned out for his wand, half his body dangling off his current tree to grab it. Almost.... almost.................!

The fire branch was now hanging directly over the water from his makeshift cardigan belt/knot thing, which was at least doing its job.

The petal was fine.

*lightbulb*

She could use it as a shield but honestly.. She'd have to carry that and the fireseed branch. Maaaaaaan...

*cough*

That smell was disgustingly overwhelming. In fact.. She was feeling a tad light headed. The fireseed lights were dancing.

*mesmerized*

CONCENTRATE!

Picking up the petal, the very largest she could find, she raised it to her face and tried not to leave so much of her hand exposed as she used to light to
Guide her past the little.. Annoying plant things.

And now.. To RUN!

Well that didn't work out as expected.

The few eggs that did reach Raiden came in fast, and not even switching at the last minute to a levitation charm saved them all. He was left with a handful of fairy eggs, which... wouldn't do him much use. Still, he levitated them close to the next tree over, just to see what would happen. If they would take them, and maybe the tree would stop moving so erratically? Maybe they'd let him jump to it?

Think. Think.

Wouldn't dare summon the bugs, because they were disgusting and then they'd be all over him, and the bowtruckles were likely to eat the sweatshirt right off of him, then. They were having enough of a time with his tee-shirt.

The water would have been more tempting were it not sloshing so much at the moment.

Maybe he should try duplicating what was left of his tee-shirt. At least they'd be able to taste the lice, and maybe they'd be appeased...

Your wand is easily graspable as the bowtruckles are still with the fairy eggs. Nothing stops you from feeling the smooth wood between your fingers.

Wand now in hand, you may want to see to some additional light, and a quick look around will tell you that you are in the middle of the lake, with the far shore in front of you. That is your destination. That is where you must go.

The lilypads below seem to bob in and out of the water as it churns and the trees spread further apart. Skittering among the leaves suggests that the bowtruckles in neighboring treesare anxious to be appeased, as well.

The petal made a fine enough shield, though the entire umbrella would have served better as pus spurted at the petal and the fingers that grasped it.

Bubotuber pus. Stinky, gross, burning bubotuber pus.

If it hit your skin, you're looking at some nasty boils.

But, in any event, you're still alive and if you've still got fireseed for light, the next turn in the cave should be visible. The passage narrows somewhat, the light bouncing off what look like fairy eggs nestled in the crevices. But as soon as they're noticed, the passage opens into a huge cavern, the light reflecting upward, if not outward. The gentle sounds of water lapping at the shore can be heard, but not yet seen. Along the back wall of the cavern, near where you stand, plant life of all sorts presses up against the stone. Nascent trees crawling with wood lice. Alihotsy plants mingling with angel's trumpet. Slimy bundles of what look like green rat tails nestle against gurdyroots. Deathcaps press up against their muggle counterparts. All ignorable, so long as you aren't anxious for a snack.

When you finally come to the shore, you can see what appears to be a lake - though the far side if obscured from view by the dark. What is apparent, however, is that the other two sides have no shores - just sheer rock faces. There is nowhere to go but across the lake. Giant lilypads float on the surface, some appearing close enough to leap one to the other. Gravity resistant trees hover above the surface, again appearing to, at least at the start, be close enough to travel one to the other. As for the water, it seems calm if one simply wanted to swim. There's no telling what lies beyond the limit of your sight, but you have to start somewhere.

The bowtruckles in the next tree over accepted the fairy eggs but the movement of the tree didn't change. It still floated to and fro, occasionally coming close enough to jump to, before moving away again.

The trees between you and the shore all do this. There are periods of time where the jump could be easy, and then others where it would certainly result in a swim.

The water still sloshes, and the lilypads are close enough together to go one to another, though they submerge in the water of their own accord.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Narrator

Your wand is easily graspable as the bowtruckles are still with the fairy eggs. Nothing stops you from feeling the smooth wood between your fingers.

Wand now in hand, you may want to see to some additional light, and a quick look around will tell you that you are in the middle of the lake, with the far shore in front of you. That is your destination. That is where you must go.

The lilypads below seem to bob in and out of the water as it churns and the trees spread further apart. Skittering among the leaves suggests that the bowtruckles in neighboring treesare anxious to be appeased, as well.

FINALLY.

Fletcher felt so accomplished at this moment in time. He grabbed his wand and put the cool, smooth, polished wood to his cheek. Eyes closed, he savored the feeling of being reconnected at last and then pulled it away from his face to examine it for any damages. Hmm. It looked okay... but was it really? Really? He gave it a few consoling kisses and strokes and then decided it was time to figure out a way outta here.

"Lumos," Fletcher (thought he) whispered, flicking his wand and aiming its bright, bright beam all around. He hadn't forgotten about his branch, but now he could duel-wield the light! Or at least until the poor branch lost all of its seeds.... it had been through the wringer tonight.

Fletcher bent down and blew on the few remaining seeds. Uh oh. He heard that telltale scuttling coming his way too. More bowtruckles. Brilliant. Fletcher was NOT going to feed all of them. No way no how.

He glanced down at the lily pads, then back up at the trees all around. The ones ahead were infested with more bowtruckles, most likely, and they seemed to be swinging too wildly for him to be able to do anything. Well. It looked like he was down to two options.... he'd try one first, now that he had his wand and all.

Swinging his bowtruckle-free tree, Fletcher swung back toward what looked like one of the sturdier lily pads. He slid down the edge of the roots, and then, right when he seemed to be directly over the center of the plant, he let go. Hopefully he'd fall more gently this time and then he could move on to step two of his exit strategy.

Well. Either that wasn't good enough, or the trees weren't being controlled by the bowtruckles. Which meant that he was in trouble. Still... Raiden kept his eyes on that tree, lighting his wand again with a silent flick. Better to be able to see... the fireseeds were still attached to his arm, but the light from his wand was much, much brighter.

There wasn't much for it but to try the next tree. Waiting for it to swing back toward him, which was difficult to measure due to the now accelerated and unhappy behaviour, he jumped toward it. At least he'd be a tiny bit closer to the shore should he get ahold of it. If not... well he had his wand now. Whenever he did make it there, drying charms weren't that difficult. The only thing that would be was breathing.

It was working and her jubilation, a small squeak of glee caused a miss- step and a lapse in concentration and it hit her arm. She stepped out from the pathway to catch a breath and examine the wound. It huuuurt. Her eyes watered and she swore in Welsh.

THAT was painful. Throwing the petal to the floor, she shook herself. A stupid plant [which was starting to boil into a lovely welt type scab] wasn't going to stop her from at LEAST completing the TWT.

Readjusting the branch in her hand, she started to jog on, distracting herself from the pain with clearing her head of the gasoline smell. The lightheadedness wasn't helping.

She came to another corner and came
To a shore and squiiiiiinted. She couldn't see the other side. Fear. She tried to still her nerves.

Oliver wouldn't forgive her if she chickened out. Not when it seemed she was getting somewhere.

Right.

So.. How to tackle the water?

She approached the lily pads and tested their boyancy. It didn't look like it would hold her weight. The skin on her arm throbbed horribly and she bit her tongue.

It huuuuurt.

*pout*

Swim? Hmph. WHO knew what was under the surface.. And
If it was any relation of the Squid Cam would literally start crying like a baby.

Her best bet was those tree's. They obviously weren't
Floating on their own accord.

She was just about to start on her tree hopping until she remembered she had a giant branch
In her hand AND he left hand was injured.

She was going to have to make sacrifice. She snapped her fireseed branch into a smaller one and threw the other side onto the shore when she saw something
illuminated by the light.

FAIRY EGGS!

And perhaps some part of her brain that still had some sense in it, told her to take them.

So she ran over and took a few off the passage wall, dropping them lightly in her pocket.

*groaaaans*

Her arm HURT!

But she had a task. Readjusting the branch, she
Stepped onto the first tree, closest to the shore, one hand around the trunk and the other on the fireseed branch.

Hope she didn't die?