Really Big Tree

Floyd

"What? This place isn't for disappearing or anything! It's dangerous here! And... supposed to be a secret...!" Natsumi says. "The only other one who knows about it is Buttons... and I was gonna tell Freya..."

"Also me 'n' Fox 'n' Dewey!" Katie says.

Natsumi looks shocked. "Katie... please don't go around telling everyone about this place."

"MMMmmmMMMmmmMMMmmm..." Katie thinks to herself. She looks over at you.

Floyd

"Th-that many people know about..." Natsumi stammers. "N-no, I mean this place! This place specifically! This place is very special!"

Freya glares at Natsumi as she starts getting antsy. "Natty."

"Um, but you shouldn't tell people about the Otherworld, either!" Natsumi yells.

"Nat."

Natsumi turns to stare back at Freya. Her voice is deadly serious. "Freya! Listen very carefully. This place... the Otherworld. There are very, very dangerous people involved. You can't let people know you know about this place, or you could end up being targeted. Like I was."

Freya opens her mouth to speak.

Natsumi cuts her off. "Promise me, Freya. Promise you'll keep this secret. And that you'll be really careful about who you talk to about it. And where. Even if it's just Raine-sister, you need to make very, very sure no one could be eavesdropping. I need you to promise."

Freya looks a bit surprised to see Natsumi so serious. She takes a bite of her sandwich while nodding.

Natsumi turns back to you and Katie. "And that goes for you two, too. Be careful talking about the Otherworld. And don't tell anyone about the tree. And tell Fox and Dewey not too, either! Please?"

Floyd

Natsumi pauses. "Ah... Well. That's... a secret," she says. "If, um... If those dangerous people I mentioned knew about this place..."

Freya looks thoughtful. "Wait, but if they tossed you in here, doesn't that mean they already do?"

Natsumi turns pale. "...Oh."

Floyd

Natsumi goes from pale to pale and wide-eyed. "H-how do you know about them!?"

"They attacked us and tried to steal Raine!" Katie volunteers.

Natsumi and Freya both stare at her, stunned.

Floyd

"Miss Hinoh?" the loud voice asks.

"Yeah! Aunt Hinoh scared them off real quick!" Katie answers.

Freya jumps to her feet. "Who are these guys, and what'd they do to Raine!?"

"I don't know, or it wouldn't be such a big problem..." Natsumi says. "Their suits hide their identities. And I didn't have long before they knocked me out. I don't have the slightest idea who it was."

"They said they just wanted to talk to her," Katie says.

"Grrrr..." Freya growls and starts marching towards the portal. "I need to talk to Raine. Now."

"Freya!" Natsumi calls out. "Raine's probably asleep?"

Freya pauses, then looks up at the sky. "Oh, right. It's... night in our world, isn't it?"

"Around one in the morning," Natsumi says.

"I... guess I can wait until the morning proper to talk to her..." Freya says.

"Oh, good! I was worried I'd have to toss you in the creek to calm you down this time." Natsumi smiles.

Freya's serious look fades and she grins back. "Yeah, like a scrawny thing like you could even pick me up."

Natsumi hops up and walks over, wrapping her arms around Freya and struggling to lift her a few inches. "Hnnng... see? I'm... stronger than... I look..."

Freya laughs. "Yeah? I'm so scared. Good luck getting me the rest of the way there!"

Katie finishes her food and quietly snags what's left of Natsumi's sandwich as Natsumi struggles to walk. "They seem to be having fun. Wanna go check out the tree while they're playing around?" She points towards the tree trunk, where you notice a whole going inside like a wooden cave.

Floyd

You wait a moment as Natsumi and Freya stumble through the portal, then you and Katie take off towards the big hole in the side of the tree.

As you look inside, you see a large, wooden landing as big as the school's gym, if not a bit bigger.  The room is lit by sunlight streaming through a few small holes along the walls.  A spiral staircase goes up on one side and down on the other.  Katie looks up the stairs, then bounds over to look down the other set.  She tilts her head to the side.  "Do you... hear that?" she asks.

You focus, and can vaguely hear what sounds like a deep buzzing noise coming from above.

Floyd

You head up the stairs and find yourself staring at what looks like a giant bee's nest, filled with massive honeycombs and several large bugs crawling around. As you approach the perimeter, three of them come swooping down at you. They're at least half your size, with stingers the size of daggers. Most jarringly, the creature has the head of a bear. They bellow out loud roars as they engage.

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