#2 – A Very Bad Idea

The tree kept going, its bigger limbs shifting and creaking as well. It knew they were out of reach and didn't intend to let that stop it. Bigger branches swung now, as the tree itself seemed to lean in order to reach. A thundering, slamming impact hit the ground beside the two teenagers - damaging some leaves and flattening that section of grass.

Mathias laughed at Kierian's words, though had no idea how serious the Hufflepuff was about it. He yelped and pulled his legs closer to his chest when the large branch banged the ground in front of them. Oh, that was too close for comfort. He hurried to his feet and watched what Kier had in mind next.

'Careful, mate,' Mathias said. 'Don't let it break your wand. What have you got in mind?' He was tempted to get his own wand out but are certain he'd be the one who ended up with a broken wand. The fireworks were enough to send him flying from distraction and he couldn't risk anything worst.

The branch swung at Kieran as he cast the first spell. It slowed for a moment then added pressure, fighting the effects of the spell with impressive magical strength. Despite that, his plan seemed to work so far until the second spell was cast. A line appeared on the branch that should have severed, as if something more than tough bark protected the willow from irreparable damage.

But to cast the second spell, Kieran had to release the first one's effects - giving the branch back its momentum. The tree swung with increased force, very narrowly missing Kieran though zoomed by close enough that it'd have scratched up his arm/sleeve pretty badly.

The tree increased its attack. It creaked against as more limbs gained movement, and the tree leaned back to prepare a bigger slam towards the boys. They had precious little time before the entire tree would attempt a more deathly blow. Branches continued to swing, forcing them to jump or duck to spare themselves from dangerous harm.

Kier cringed when the branch flashed past him and whipped his arm with enough force to both tear up his sleeve and numb his arm completely. He quickly jumped out of range before it could take another swing and stood laughing while Mathias ran back to the rocks for a moment, for what Kier had no clue. He was really taking one hell of a beating for only his second day of school.

First the bruises and cut from Amara, and now ravaged arms from a stupid tree. Perhaps this was some sort of karma for never really getting bullied in school despite seeing quite a few students go through it. Then again, he doubted that was exactly how karma worked. Maybe this was just the prelude to a really crap-tastic year.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise as Mathias suddenly straight up rode the branch as if it were an angry abraxan. It definitely caused Mathias to gain Kier's respect and the Hufflepuff quickly strode forward to help. With one arm numb as hell and his fingers still stinging, he was wise enough not to try and copy the boy. Frankly, it hurt enough just holding his wand steady. Instead, he decided to play support, focusing harder than he had in quite a long time.

"Arresto Momentum!" He was careful in his aim to make sure he wouldn't hit the crazy Ravenclaw by accident, once more firing a slowing charm at the tree. This time, however, Kier focused entirely on the spell and tried to make it as strong as he could. He knew the tree was magic and it probably still wouldn't do much, but anything was better than nothing. Especially if it meant they could finally get a stupid stick or two and Kier could retreat to lick his wounds. He was going to have a hell of a time hiding this from his house-mates as it was.

Look, Mathias was a simple yet ordinary-enough teenage wizard...If some aggressive tree swung him around from an uncomfortable height while he clung on in sheer hope of surviving, he was not beneath screaming when it got too scary. Of course, there was also a thrill in the speed like some sort of sports broom, so it was a mix of screaming then whooping with laughter. Perhaps he wasn't so simple and ordinary because most people wouldn't have been stupid enough to jump onto the tree in the first place.

Once aware of Kieran's clever assistance, Mathis risked it all but hugging the tree with his legs and using both hands to grab hold of a potential stick. He yelled with unintelligable words of victory when the wood snapped. 'I have it!' He swore in accomplishment, then leapt - then rolled into the grass, from the tree.

'That was rough, but we did it!' He grinned, wanting to celebrate and thank Kieran - but cringes at a rather foreboding type of creak. 'Merlin's pants.' Mathias stared in horror when the tree prepared its worst. 'Uh...RUN' He grabbed at Kieran's sleeve to urge him, then hurried to Klaus to motivate the Slytherin into action as well.

Once sure his classmates were moving, even assisting/supporting them if necessary, Mathias headed for the hill away from the tree. He collapsed onto the grass once absolutely certain the tree could not possible reach them that far away. He sprawled on his back, hugging the stick to his chest like a valuable object, and just starting laughing. He couldn't help sounding like a madman, but just laughed himself silly until his lungs hurt.

'We were attacked by a tree, Kier!' Mathias said in between bouts of laughter. 'A bloody tree almost killed us, of all things.'

Mathias laughed again at the thought of a rabid bush. He was surprised that Kieran turned out to be a great teammate for the task. 'Oh, but we do - we do.' He nodded, propping himself on elbows to extend a hand for Kieran to shake. 'Thanks, mate. Couldn't have done it without you.' He then peered closely at the stick and sighed when it didn't move. He'd have to experiment with it later.

Sitting there in the grass, waiting for the tree to realise they were no longer a threat to it, Mathias had a strange feeling he was forgetting something important. He stared at his hands and one had something smudged on it - the remnants of some reminder that he should probably--

'Becca!' Mathias slapped his forehead, then winced at the pain. He hurried to his feet, safely tucking the stick away somewhere that wouldn't result in accidentally grabbing it instead of his wand. 'Sorry, mates, I gotta go.' He frowned at Kieran, then glanced at Klaus. 'You two don't look so hot though, maybe pay Madam Pomfrey a visit?' He checked himself over, wondering how he even survived with only some scratches or bruises he'll feel the pain of more later.

Mathias checked he had everything and there was nothing on the ground to trip him in his returned haste. He glanced back at Kieran and flashed a friendly smile, then used the hill's position to overlook the grounds. It was too hard to spot someone specific from where they were, so he'd just have to look around the old fashioned way. Mathias waved his classmates off then rushed to go find Becca, squinting hazardously at his hand as he went.