Hello. I was right!

We were being watched. After we woke up and had breakfast we set out. It didn't take long before our path led us into a narrow highsided valley. Ancient oaks lined the top of the steep hills and some smaller ones had grown in the valley below.

When we reached the center of this chokepoint everything attacked. I mean that literally. The ground at our feet opened up and tried to swallow us. The grass we walked on wound itself around our feet and held us. The hillsides swept in to crush us. The old and young oaks roots ripped from the ground and they whipped their roots and branches at us while they came crashing down the hillside.

I even saw a flower punch Julius in the nose.

Naturally we resisted. Fire and blades of water and ice split and seared the earth and plants. The plants regenerated just as fast as we destroyed them and the glassed and frozen sections of earth were swallowed and replaced. I lost track of time as a feverish battle to escape the very earth itself ensued.

I saw Julius go down under a wave of dirt. Lena got swallowed by an oak. Then I saw a branch grow larger faster than I could react. And it was over. We had been captured.

When I woke up I was hanging from roots in an underground dirt walled cave. My satchel and tinglewood staff were gone. I started to summon my tingles when I felt something very sharp press against either side of my head. I was trapped pretty damn well.

Lena and Julius were likewise trussed up. Julius in a little ball cage with thorns that threatened to crush him. And Lena like me hanging from roots by her arms and with what appear to be spears pressed to either side of her head. I am assuming that I had the same doodads as she did.

We heard shuffling feet and the thump of wood on wood approach. A shadow loomed at the only entrance to the room and a spine chilling cackle ripped the air to shreds.

"Kahahahah! Quite an interesting read this!" Squawked our captor. Brandishing MY journal as she approached.

She entered the room and I caught my first look at our foe. An ancient looking lady. Stooped and wizened with cheerful eyes and a head of fluffly white curls. I was expecting someone more diabolical looking. She was supporting herself with a gnarled old walking stick. All in all she didn't look like a threat.

Which made the gut churning horror and wild desperation to escape that ran amok inside my head all the more horrifying.

She may not look like much. But this kindly old woman was setting my instincts on fire. Escape! They screamed. Bite off your own arm if you must but GET OUT OF HERE!!!

Suddenly my dread vanished. I opened my eyes that had been screwed shut in panic, and saw that the old woman was right in my face peering at me curiously.

"Well now." she whispered. "Not many have such a reaction to me these days. I read your journal, just who were you my friend?" I don't know if she expected an answer but after a second of leaden silence she turned away and walked to the center of the room.

"I will let you all down if you all give me your word you will not attack me or mine." She said with a cheerful and calming smile on her wrinkled face. I nodded. I had no interest in doing anything to this monster before us. Lena nodded as well and Julius let out a despondent squeak.

The roots loosened and I fell to the dirt. My arms burning and tingling with pained numbness. Lena was similarily let go and Julius' cage disintegrated. "W-Who are you?" Lena whimpered. I perked my ears up, interested in this mysterious old lady as well.

"Nowadays folk just call me Gramma Gimple." She answered, still smiling calmly. "Now then little one, save your questions for tomorrow. It's been a long day for all of us, and I expect the poison will have made you all rather exhausted. Follow me to your rooms and we will talk in the morning." She turned and slowly walked away.

I guess we had been poisoned? Though I had no memory of the event I was certainly tired. Gramma Gimple gave me back my satchel and journal and now that I have finished cataloguing todays events I will give in to my exhaustion.

Goodnight.