Really Big Tree

Floyd

"I just said: the creek," Freya answers. "Gonna dunk Natsumi a few times."

"What!? Freya, I-" Natsumi protests.

"I'm gonna dunk ya 'til you're ready to stop yelling and talk things out like a normal, reasonable person."

"Freya! Stop joking around, this is serious! Put me down!"

"Oh, you think I'm joking? I know it's serious. That's why I'm going to put you down. In the creek. Until you're calm enough to deal with it seriously. Or are you ready to calm down now?"

Natsumi squirms. "Freya!"

"Creek it is, then." Freya grins at Floyd and Katie, then turns towards the portal. "Back in 5 minutes. 10, tops."

Freya steps through and Katie shrugs at you. "Natsumi knew. I don't think Freya did. She's taking it well, though. Natsumi, not so much for some reason? But she knows I know. So it's kinda weird."

Floyd

"Oh, I dunno," Katie says.  "A really big tree?  Fox 'n' I only found this place last night, we haven't really figured it out yet.  It looks like there's a lot of birds and monsters like that.  I like them, but we didn't get a good look at them.  Maybe we can see them better from up here?"  Katie starts peering over the edge.  "Nope.  Hm.  We should wait for them to get back before exploring.  Anyway..."

Katie looks around into the distance.  "Hmmmm.  Yep.  This place seems pretty good for seeing what else is around.  Theeeere's another little forest over that way, huh...  And is that a lake over that way?  Hm.  Oh, oh!  Look, that red blur in the background is the beach!  There's portals there, too."

As you look over the landscape, most of what you see is barren, grey wasteland.  You spot a handful of shapes moving around, but for the most part it looks lifeless.  The spots Katie points out glow like oases in a desert... far, far in the distance.  Far too far to walk in a few hours, especially if those blobs are monsters...

You look at the base of the tree and notice the grass and its color extends just barely to the very ends of the roots, then simply ends.  Green grass abruptly turns to grey stone.

Just when you start to worry, a still-barefoot Freya walks back through the portal.  Freya's legs are wet, and her shirt is damp from carrying her victim.  Natsumi, still in Freya's arms, is drenched, her wet hair is clinging to her face and her clothes dripping.

Freya grins.  "Well, that was fun, wasn't it Natty?"

"...Kinda..."

"Do you have anything to say?" Freya asks.

"I'm sorry I yelled," Natsumi says.

"I'm sorry I yelled...?" Freya prompts her to continue.

Natsumi sighs.  "I'm sorry I yelled, or I'm going back in the creek."

"Exactly!" Freya nods.  "So, do you two accept her apology?  Or are you getting tossed in next?  Can we all calm down and talk this out rationally?"

"Um, we were always calm..." Katie says.

"True!  Alright, then."  Freya takes a seat, holding Natsumi in her lap.  "Let's just make sure you don't feel tempted to start getting shout-y again, or I'm just going to make you look even sillier.  And then how are they gonna take you seriously?  Now, then.  What is this place?"

"It's called the Otherworld," Natsumi explains.

"There's a lotta different places and some weird monster-y things," Katie adds.  "Also a mean angel lady that wants to destroy the world?  Or save it?  I'm kinda confused about what she wants, but she's a jerk."

There's a good break for you to add to the conversation.

Floyd

"Auntie Hinoh!?" Natsumi interrupts.

Freya squeezes her.  "Indoor voice, Natsumi."

"But we're outside...?  Anyway, I need to speak with her sometime."

"Oh, we'll take you to meet her!" Katie promises.

Freya sits quietly and listens to the rest of the explanation, nodding slowly.  "I was about to ask whether Raine knew about this place.  Yeah...  Yeah, this explains a lotta stuff.  It's not like Raine to sneak in that late.  And I didn't really buy all the stuff about that mannequin thing being some prank, since I saw it so close..."  Freya continues to nod to herself.  She suddenly stops, then glances at you and Katie.  "Would you excuse us a moment?"

Katie nods.

Freya flips Natsumi upside down and jabs her in the stomach.  "So-o-o-o, how long have you known about this place, Natty?"

"A while," Natsumi admits.

"Uh-huh.  Annnnnd when you disappeared back then, you were here, weren't you?  You weren't attacked by a bear."

"Yeah...  Um, well, it was kind of a bear-ish monster?  And I wasn't here by choice or anything.  I kinda got tossed in and probably would've died if one of the Guardians - um, they're kinda like really strong monsters but they change into normal people the opposite of when we use our soul keys.  Some of them are nice and some of them are really, really not...  Anyway, one of the Guardians kept me safe.  And asked me to... um...  I'll tell you about all that later.  But he kept me safe until Buttons rescued me."

"Buttons!?" Freya asks.

"Um, yeah.  He found this place on his own and, well, saved me."

"So Buttons knows about this place, and Katie and Floyd...  Even Raine.  Why didn't you tell me about it?"

"It's dangerous here!  And, um...  Well, I've been trying to tell you for a while, but every time I tried I kinda lost my nerve.  So.  Um.  I was gonna use your birthday as an excuse.  I even had a Soul Key ready for you!  And, um...  Well, I set up a picnic here, too..."  Natsumi points.

You follow her finger and notice a basket and blanket tucked away behind a gnarl in the branch.

"Aw, how sweet..." Freya says.  "But, really?  You were too scared to tell me about all this?"

"I just said it's dangerous..." Natsumi says.

"Oh, but it's fine for you to be here?" Freya says.  "Maybe I don't like the idea of you 'n' my sister and Floyd and Katie running around here alone."

"But I didn't want you to get hurt," Natsumi protests.

"Sounds like someone needs a little reminder about which of us is the stronger one."  Freya hops back up with Natsumi in her arms.  "Could you two wait while I go chuck Natty in the creek again?"

Natsumi giggles.  "Freya, no!  I'm sorry!"

"Really?  Well, I guess we could eat instead..."

"I... think I made enough...?" Natsumi says.

"Good.  So, do you two want to join us?" Freya asks.

Katie looks at you.

Floyd

Freya grins at Floyd and sets Natsumi down. Natsumi shakes herself, sending a few drops of water flying from her hair, then walks over to the picnic basket. "Don't worry, Floyd-person. This place is safe. But, Freya, if you just hold out your hand..."

"Like this?" Freya asks. A small, white key falls from somewhere up above and lands in her palm. Freya almost drops it, then snatches it as it falls. "Huh?" She looks up, confused.

When you look down again, Natsumi has a blanket spread out across the tree branch and is already sitting, pulling out some food. "I... only brought stuff for me 'n' Freya, but we can share." She tears one of the sandwiches in half and holds it out.

Floyd

Natsumi slaps herself in the face.  "I wanted to be the first to say that, but-"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREYA!" Katie shouts.

Freya laughs.  "Thanks."  She glances at Natsumi.  "You can still be the third, Nat."

Natsumi pokes two fingers together.  "Well maybe now I don't wanna..." she mutters.

Freya stares blankly, then jabs her in the flank.  "Naaaaat."

"HNGH?" Natsumi squeaks.  "...Sorry...  This is just really not how I thought all this was gonna go..."

Freya shrugs.  "Oh well.  I'm having fun.  And this place is cool.  Soooo you can either keep sulking, or get over it and be number thr-"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREYA," a deep voice booms, seemingly from everywhere at once.  The branch shakes.

It was very much not Natsumi.  She seems unperturbed.  Freya and Katie look around, confused.

Floyd

"Fionn can't eat sandwiches," Natsumi says. "And apparently he wants to be a jerk today..." She sighs, then jams some sandwich into her mouth.

"Sorry."

"So, uh... I'm guessing this Fionn guy is the one that protected you while you were stuck in here?" Freya asks.

Natsumi nods while she chews.

"Cool. Uh, thanks, Fionn!" Freya calls out to nothing in particular.

"Mh-hm."

Katie looks around, still confused.