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[Part one:]

Jayden Of course decided to help the substitute teacher. It would be something to do and would be more useful then something like popping balloons or wacking tiny plushies with a hammer.

He came to a forked path. Jayden, carefully studied his surroundings trying to decide on a path to take. Usually Jayden would pick the cave, but he figured someone would more likely leave a note in a sweet smelling place, then they would in a dark cave.

[Investigating the tree]

As he came closer to the tree, he started to notice it slowly moving and comming to life. He growled as the vines wrapped around his body, and flings him towards the ground.There was no way he was ganna let a tree eat him. not if he could stop it anyway... If not well he'd be better off dead anyways, he'd have no more pride if he lost to a tree.

"My name, sweet child," the teacher said, his voice a rasp and little more, "is irrelevant. But, nonetheless, I am known as X." His pleasant disposition vanished as a girl approached him, petite in stature (or at least, in comparison to him, for he was tall and stick-like and-- well. Slender.) "Thank you, child," he hissed, icily, snatching the amulet and disappearing into shadows (a burst of wild tentacle shaped shadows, followed soon by anxious muttering) for a brief period of time.

The amulet was a precious thing, you see.

He returned shortly, his cool and calm carefully recollected, and X's featureless face turned to observe a well-dressed boil, and the Slenderman offered him a brief-- but polite-- nod of the head in acknowledgement. The pair of them ran off shortly after,

There was no time for anything else, for an irate horseman swiftly stormed out of the woods. His smile was nearly palpable, despite his lack of a mouth. "The Weeping Forest is not forbidden simply because the gnomes long for a vacation getaway," he said, a heady note of amusement in his voice. "But since you have seen the beast, and still have your wits, please take your reward."

The ghoul that had brought the amulet returned with a vial, and this time, he was calmer. "You have done well nonetheless. These vials are of great import-- or they will be one day, at any rate. Take your reward, for you have earned it."

He told the same to the next ghoul, taking in her harried appearance. Sweet summer children-- what did they know of fear?

A horsewoman returned to him, and he embraced her in a quick hug, ecstatic, possibly the most emotion he'd shown thus far at this booth. "Thank you," he said, "for your magnificent delivery."

A valkyrie emerged from the forest next, and X muttered and hid this one away, too. Curse these creatures of the forest, perverted forms of fear twisted into something ominous, and their penchant for stealing his things. He gestured to the pets, letting her take one.

"Oh, another delivery?" The Slenderman slunk an arm around the boil's shoulders, shaking him vigorously. A stray tentacle of wispy shadows touched his face. So gently. "I thank you for your kindness, sir."











((prizes given out to here!))

Handing X the vial, she turned her head to stare at the forest entrance. She still hadn't found a note, so she marched right back in.

She may as well try the cave again. Hopefully she would not run into that creature she met earlier.

The lights were blinding. How had she forgotten about these annoying lights? Next time she would definitely take the glade path.

The hissing was louder... and right behind her.

Panicked, Millie ran and tripped, knocking herself out.

Andrew woke up with a start. Was that just a dream? His answer wasn’t correct… the riddle bothered him though. What was the answer? What was he missing? He had disappointed the beast. He glanced over at the Beeb next to him. How had that thing found him again?

He groaned and got up, walking off, still pondering the riddle.

She should have left. Really. REALLY.
Why didn't she?

Instead, she found herself marching back into the glade, this time, heading straight for the tree.
She was going to give that tree a piece of her mind for hurting Molan and-
Wait, was that...

On one of the branches, there was something small and gold. Was that... one of Molan's bells? Well, no wonder he looked troubled. At least she could try and get that for him...

Of course, it was easier said then done, as the bell-chiming took on an ugly tone, vines whipping out towards her.
She managed to fend off some, but there were so many, and she let out a gasp as one wrapped around her mid-section, flinging her towards the ground with a smack. There was a gasp of pain, and she groaned.

J-Jackdamnit... and this music...
Rubbing her head, she let out a startled gasp as the tree splintered in half, revealing....
No. NO.
Nononononononono-

Instead, she was tossed.
... Well, at least she didn't get assaulted by bugs. The horror.

PART FOUR: Bone Hollow of Hollow Bones

Rep couldn't move, he knew he had to but was completely immobilised, even as the thing got closer, angry now at being clouted with the rock, fangs and fangs and fangs and fangs. He was somewhere else entirely, watching passive and distant as if by throwing himself out of reality he'd throw himself out of harm's way.

It was only as he found himself over Harrison's shoulder that the world jolted back. He held on, it was about all he was good for, remembering acutely every time his thoughts tried to surface, rising water, the hissing and the slither of a chill body against his legs, poison that would steal the breath from your lungs, inevitably fading away before the eyes of the people you couldn't bear to leave. Made to watch your own death. He kept his eyes closed, the green flames in the depths of the sockets extinguished but it didn't stop the sound.

He'd forgotten they were in golems, in the grips of such raw primal terror there was no room for anything else. He was trying to yell no, no, don't fight it, but the words were incoherent, even before they fell.

There had never been more relief at falling who knew how far, the hissing distant and far away. It was slimy but it was quiet. He took a moment to compose himself, holding onto Harrison for dear life, too shaken to talk, wracked with embarrassment at losing it so easily and risking them both. He got off of the not-a-demon and looked around, still flighty and ready to jump out of his skin at even the slightest hiss.

He didn't say anything right away and just as well, something was sleeping over there, and he gestured anxiously.

The place was disgusting, slimy and horrible with bones strewn carelessly around. Rep edged over to one and poked it with a foot claw. It crumbled, dry and hollow as if it had been sucked clean of marrow by some awful predator, presumably their sleeping friend.

Something crawled out of a hole and scuttled off, not a snake thankfully, they didn't scuttle, but a hand with no owner. Rep felt ill.

Waking up behind the booth was getting old. This time, it would be personal. No more dancing around this stupid tree.

Summoning Esu, Millie ran headlong into the forest, straight to the glade and jumped to attack the tree before it could wrap it's vines around her.

Except for the fact that either the tree could feel her presence when she entered the forest and had plenty of time to prepare itself or it's reflexes were far better than the reaper's as Millie was once again held immobile by the tree's vines.

This time the vines pulsated, sapping Millie of her FEAR. The bells chimed louder as the music became repetitive and hypnotic. In danger of falling asleep and being consumed by this tree, Millie heard another sound... a different noise. Looking around from her vantage point, she could see Professor X who.. might be speaking to the tree with a bandolier of bells he was wearing.

The tree released her and withdrew its vines within moments. As the professor helped her to her feet, he offered her a NOTE.

Snatching it angrily, "I could have done it myself, you know," she grumbled as she walked back with the professor, utterly irritated that she needed to be saved.