Her fingers were fidgeting with the ends of her shirt, bouncing between her left and right foot, teeth biting her lip, while her eyes racked over everyone roaming the area. God’s Matilda was EXCITED. There was also a touch of anxiety and nerves.
Sure, she had traveled a bit last summer, Japan, Paris, Switzerland, but nothing like this. The whole process was crazy. The party of three, Benji, Bram and Matilda, were waiting in the terminal of the Switzerland Transit office. Floo powder was great, apparating with an adult cool, but traveling to the other side of the world took a little bit more magic than they were capable of. Bram was up at the counter talking to a nice looking witch with salt and pepper hair, getting the necessary documents for their travel.
“Can you believe this? Ugh, I am so excited. The AMAZON BENJI, the freaking AMAZON!” Her best friend since the first minute on the train their first year, sat next to her. When Bram talked with her about the trip and that she could take one friend with her, three came to mind. Rae and Ren weren’t able to come since they had prior things planned, luckily Benji was available and excited to have an adventure, just themselves.
Tilly was ready for adventure, hair in two long braids, thick denim pants that came down to cover the top of her boots and a cute linen top. No skirts today, not in the jungle. Once Benji had arrived at her house in Sweden, they had gone on a shopping spree to get all the required supplies. Backpacks, boots, breathable clothing, hats, mosquito repellant potions and so much more.
“Ok, kids. I have the travel papers. Are you both ready to get this show on the road... so to speak?” Bram said as he came towards the pair sitting on the bench. Tilly nodded at her Gramps, jumping up and grabbing her very full backpack. Thankfully it was magical and had more than enough room for all her outfits and supplies.
“Ready Benji?”
Getting to Brazil was fairly straight forward. The three would take a portkey to the Brazilian Ministry, granted, the portkey was a bit more powerful than the normal London to Wales variety.
It surprised him how easily Julia and Uncle James had agreed to let him wander across the world with his best friend. Considering how the previous summer had gone and the way his behavior had gotten out of hand (and Matilda's...but they didn't need to know that part), he was certain he'd be spending every moment that he wasn't at camp within the estate walls with Rosalie. Julia had laid down the law earlier that spring when the divorce had happened, insisting that life wasn't going to continue the way it had been, and he'd fully expected the iron fist she was well-acquainted with wielding.
Somehow, his new mum and uncle had agreed that a trip with Matilda would be good for him. Something about expanding his mind and finding new adventures. Benji wasn't going to argue with a good thing, and he'd been practically bursting when he'd told his best friend he was allowed to accompany her and her grandad.
James had traveled with him via portkey to Matilda's home in Switzerland, exchanging pleasantries with her grandfather, receiving all the assurances that the boy would be well-looked after. And now, they were standing in the midst of the transit center, Ging looking like she was about to burst, and Benji bouncing his knee wildly with anticipation.
Dressed in jeans, his usual sneakers and Black Sabbath t-shirt, the boy bobbed his head to Bohemian Rhapsody that played from the muggle radio on the counter. He grinned brightly at Matilda, more excited than he'd been for anything in a long time. "I'm just stoked I get to go with you," he said, disbelief peppering his voice. "I mean...remember us in first year? And now look." It was wild. He'd barely had clothes that fit him, and Matilda had come from a small family from humble means. Now, they were both elevated into this crazy world of pureblood wealth and they were about to find themselves in the friggen Amazon.
“Ok, kids. I have the travel papers. Are you both ready to get this show on the road... so to speak?”
Matilda's granddad was the cool sort. Easy-going, fun and had some great jokes up his sleeve. He was exactly what Benji had always imagined a granddad should be like - he wouldn't know for sure having never met either of his. Tills looked to him and he grinned shrugging his shoulders. "Yeah sure! I'm just here for the ride." They could take him to the depths of antarctica at this point and he'd find something to be excited about.
As long as they weren't going to some shitty desert, he'd be all for it.
Benji held out his arm for Matilda. "C'mon firecracker. Let's blow this popsicle stand."
"C'mon firecracker. Let's blow this popsicle stand." Tilly laughed at his new nickname for her, although Ging was still her favorite, she didn’t mind firecracker. Linking her arm with Benji, with a smile bright on her face, the trio walked towards the Portkey attendant that would be getting them to South America safely. After looking over their paperwork, checking ID’s and getting the specifics for where they were going, the attendant waved their wand and tapped the small brass globe that would soon whisk them away.
“Ok folks. This here statue will take you to the South American Ministry, Brazil Branch, Transit station. Once there, you will go through customs, so make sure you don’t have any illegal items on you. If you do, they will find them. Now, if you’re all ready, go ahead and touch the statue on 3, 2, 1!” Just as her fingertips touched the cool metal of the globe, the familiar tug in her belly twisted her up and they were off.
The trip to Brazil, while quick, was not nearly as fast or smooth as the school trips to places in England or Europe. Maybe it was going over the Ocean, but it seemed bumpier and a lot longer than she was used to.
Her feet slammed into the floor as they arrived at the Brazil Ministry Transit Station. Matilda’s legs buckled, feeling wobbly from the trip. “Wow, that was intense.”
“Are you kids ok?” Tilly nodded, although the smile on her face had dimmed a little.
Bram seemed to accept that they were going to live, and ushered them towards the line for customs. The process was pretty seamless. The agent looked over their paperwork, asked Benji a few questions to make sure he wasn’t kidnapped, stamped their documents and sent them on their way.
Another quick portkey, this one much faster and smoother, and they had reached their destination.
A few hours later, Benji and Matilda sat around the living room of a rather posh three bedroom suite. Dinner had been ordered, Bram was checking over their plans for the week ahead in his room, which left the two teens on their own. “This is so surreal, I can’t actually believe that we’re in Brazil right now. And tomorrow we will be sleeping in the jungle, in a tent. If I wasn’t so exhausted I would be really really excited." She said, looking at her best friend. “I’m so glad you’re here. This is going to be the best vacation ever.”
It was that familiar tug against his belly-button that transported them up and away from the safety of the Swiss transit station. His arm tightened around Matilda's as the bumps and cold sear of the wind whipped against the boy.
Benji stumbled a bit with the sudden landing, bracing himself against Matilda. He nodded emphatically, a grin lacing his lips as his eyes caught hers. "Intense but awesome." The Hufflepuff loved portkeys, the way it twisted his stomach and got his heart racing. It was like a muggle rollercoaster in some ways, and he was all but ready to do it again.
Luckily he didn't have to wait long. An assurance that he was perfectly alright, and they were off again for a shorter, albeit just as good, adrenaline rush.
Benji didn't know hotels just gave out free fruit.
He'd never really been in one before. Everywhere he'd ever traveled - and trust that it hadn't been far - he'd stayed in someone's house or apartment. He'd always wondered what it'd be like to stay in one of the large opulent buildings, and he was finding it was rather similar to the estate. People brought them things when they asked, and everything was soft and comfortable.
Strange lack of house elves, but maybe this hotel was a muggle one.
He popped another grape in his mouth as he grinned at Matilda. "Me too, Ging." Genuinely, he was thrilled to be here with her. She had been the first friend at Hogwarts he'd ever made and she'd stuck with him even when he wasn't easy to be around. They'd been through a lot together - especially over last summer - both trying to navigate social circles and deciphering people that were good for them versus people and behaviors that weren't.
And while Benji wasn't exactly on the straight and narrow these days, he was glad Matilda was. She was too good for all that shit. "So about this tent," he said slowly, not sure how to approach it. "It's...not like we're gonna be cuddled up right?" He didn't want to die, genuinely. "Because I'm pretty sure Ren doesn't want me all over you while we're sleeping and Rae would basically decapitate both of us and stick our heads on pikes outside the boathouse."
"So about this tent," Benji said carefully. "It's...not like we're gonna be cuddled up right? Because I'm pretty sure Ren doesn't want me all over you while we're sleeping and Rae would basically decapitate both of us and stick our heads on pikes outside the boathouse."
Matilda looked at Benji with wide eyes. Thoughts of a certain kiss brought back to the forefront of her mind like a slap in the face. Blinking… no, not going there. “I, umm… I have…” Stumbling over her words, because she honestly had no answer. Her tent growing up was small and tight so that was all she had to base her answer off of.
Walking into the living area holding some papers and a canvas hat with chin strap, Bram didn’t look at the teens when he answered. “There will be no cuddling. None. The tent is a wizarding tent, so it is larger than you would think.” Eyes finally finished on the papers he looked up, staring into the eyes of Benji first, then Tilly. “No cuddling.” Pointing at both, he walked back into his bedroom.
Taking the pillow that was in her lap, Tilly smushed it against her face and started hysterically laughing. Falling back onto the couch, the giggles wouldn’t stop. It took a few minutes and some deep breaths for her to gain her composure, at which point she took the pillow and hit Benji in the face with it. “NO CUDDLING!” she said in a loud stage whisper, laughing again.
It had been a fair few hours since arriving, Bram had retired to his room, passing out to prepare for the upcoming hike. Tilly and Benji on the other hand were sitting on the couch, talking and eating snacks, crumbs littered all around them. Conversations about friends, enemies (Tommy), the adventure ahead, their 4th year coming up and the loves of their lives. It had been exactly what she needed. Spending time with her best friend. This would be the best summer ever.
“It’s getting late, well… early? I think the sun is coming up. I guess at this point there is no reason to go to sleep.”
Matilda's gaze got his own, and he stopped mid-chew. Wait. She hadn't thought about this?! His own eyes widened as he stared back, listening to her stuttering and the boy suddenly felt incredibly light-headed, heat flushing his neck and ears.
He remembered last summer and that kiss they'd shared - the kiss that no one else on Merlin's green earth knew about, and he wasn't exactly keen for them to know about tent-spooning either. He loved Matilda. She was a great girl and his closest friend, and she probably wouldn't be terrible to fall asleep next to. But he really, really valued his life and keeping Rae as his girlfriend.
He doubted either of those things would sustain an inadvertent cuddle.
“There will be no cuddling. None. The tent is a wizarding tent, so it is larger than you would think.”
Thank Merlin for overprotective granddads. Benji breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to the man, resuming his snacking with a new lease on life. Tilly was giggling and the boy couldn't help cracking a wide smile of his own. "Shut up," he muttered throwing a grape at her forehead before her pillow hit him square in the face.
"I wouldn't cuddle you if you were the last Ging on earth." A tease, one with a lightheartedness he invited wholeheartedly.
“It’s getting late, well… early? I think the sun is coming up. I guess at this point there is no reason to go to sleep.”
Benji peeked out the window as sleep stung his eyes, seeing the first rays of sun come up over the horizon. It'd been a great night with Matilda. It wasn't often the two got to do stuff like this, just one-on-one and he was finding that he really needed this with her more often. She was genuinely one of the most stable friendships and relationships he had.
The girl kept him grounded, tethered in a way to who he really was and always had been. She had never wanted him to be something else or expected him to change anything about himself or his behaviors. She had always liked him, for exactly who he was and embraced him wholeheartedly. They bickered and argued of course, like siblings did, but there was a comfort and warmth when he was with Matilda that felt like...home in a way.
Different than it felt with Rae - more along the lines of Cassian and Ren - but good and comforting all the same.
"Yeah," he agreed. "So you and Ren..." he grinned at her and gave a little shrug. "Is it love? Or like? And...you two haven't...you know." His smile grew wider as he took a long swig of what was left of his butterbeer. He didn't know what the day held in store for them, but he hoped it wasn't hiking. He'd pass out on the trail for sure.
A yawn escaped her mouth, more tried than she would ever admit. Maybe staying up all night wasn’t the best idea, but it had been such a fun night. Talking, joking around, eating snacks (oye, so many snacks) and of course gossiping.
"So you and Ren..." Benji said with a grin. "Is it love? Or like? And...you two haven't...you know."
He.
Did.
Not.
The color in her cheeks rose to frighteningly bright levels, rivaling the color of her hair. “BENJI ELIZABETH! You did NOT just ask me that?!” She said, kicking him in the thigh playfully. “Of course it’s love, but we haven’t… wait…” Her eyes went wide as frisbees, “HAVE YOU AND RAE?!” The whisper scream was shrill yet hushed, how she accomplished such a feat was anyone's guess.
“Holy shit Benji, seriously?! Like, HOW? WHERE?” She realized after the words were out of her mouth what she had said and her hands went crazy waving in front of her face. “I mean I know how you, I mean, HOW, but like where and how is this the first I’m hearing about it? Are you just getting it on in empty classrooms, maybe the boathouse? If you say the Greenhouse I WILL MURDER YOU WITH A PLANT BENJI PAULINE. And there are no less than three plants that will gladly help me get rid of your body. GODS, I don’t know what to do with this information. I’m in a state of shock right now.”
Tilly’s hands went to her cheeks, over heated and bright red in the morning light coming through the windows. She fell back against the couch cushions, laying down looking at the ceiling. Definitely not tired now.
After finishing their conversation, color returned to normal on Tilly’s face, the door to Bram’s room opened and he came walking out ready for the day. “Oh good, you guys are awake. Why don’t you get changed, we’ll order room service for breakfast then get moving. We have about two hours before we meet our guides. Make sure to wear your hiking boots and the long pants. Are you ok Tills? You look flushed?”
Tilly took the pillow from under her head and flipped it over her face, letting out a long string of giggles. Oh lord, this was going to be an interesting week.
“BENJI ELIZABETH CUDDRUN! You did NOT just ask me that?!”
Elizabeth?! Benji couldn't help the loud roar of laughter that exploded from him at her complete shock. She kicked him and he feigned injury, falling to his side and nursing the little spot with his hand. "You've done it," he moaned dramatically, "Now I'll never be able to hike." It was all just as well. He and Ging could just chill here in the room and couch-rot the day away. Bram would be disappointed, but there was always tomorr -
“HAVE YOU AND RAE?!”
What! Bewilderment crossed Benji's face as he sat back up, his laugh now uncontrollable as she completely lost her mind. He'd seen Ging in a state of wild disbelief before, but this was a new level. He began waving his hands as he tried to get words out, but none could come faster than hers.
“Holy shit Benji, seriously?! Like, HOW? WHERE?”
"Hold on - " His ribs were hurting now with how hard her fast accusations and quiet shrieks were making him laugh. "It's not...that's not what I meant..."
"If you say the Greenhouse I WILL MURDER YOU WITH A PLANT BENJI PAULINE. And there are no less than three plants that will gladly help me get rid of your body."
Finally, he was able to control himself to manage an actual sentence. He grabbed his friend by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Matilda Steve!" He said, bringing his eyes to focus on hers, while his grin grew ever wider. "It's not like that. All we do is snog." He laughed again, releasing her. "Man, you acted like I asked you if you and Ren had done it in front of Merlin and all the Slytherins." He leaned back against the couch and gave a little wink. "But got it. Everyone here is the picture of innocence, and all plants remain unsullied."
He remembered what Matilda had told him at the gala. He knew her quite well.
Matilda's grandad emerged from his room, offering breakfast and hiking instructions. Benji grinned widely when she broke into another round of giggles and he stretched his back, climbing to his feet. "C'mon Matilda Fred. I'm ordering the biggest waffle you've ever seen. Bet you can't out-feast me."
As excited as he was for this trip, lacking any sleep whatsoever, Benji wasn't looking forward to the hike ahead of them. He'd do it, and without complaint, but damn. Waffles at least would be a good consolation.
Everything he had said up to this point had gone in one ear and out the other. She was so surprised and freaked out at the thought of Benji and Rae doing THAT.
"Matilda Steve! It's not like that. All we do is snog." Tilly’s eyes squinted in doubt. Did she believe him? Gods, they were only FOURTEEN! She sure hoped there was no chance of little Benji’s running around the castle. While she wanted to be a cool aunt, she hoped there was a few more years before that title was given.
"Man, you acted like I asked you if you and Ren had done it in front of Merlin and all the Slytherins. But got it. Everyone here is the picture of innocence, and all plants remain unsullied." Her hands went up in a way that said, WHAT THE HELL WAS I SUPPOSED TO THINK!? “You made it sound like we were talking about THAT! Not snogging. For fucks sake Benji, say Snogging next time!”
Thankfully Gramps interrupted their conversation and told them to get ready for the day. Good lord, she was going to be a walking train wreck on this hike. After retreating into her bedroom, securing her hair in two long braids and changing into her long canvas cargo style pants and a white linen shirt with small flowers embroidered on the front, Tilly laced up her trusty boots and brought her repacked bag back into the main living area of the suite.
"C'mon Matilda Fred. I'm ordering the biggest waffle you've ever seen. Bet you can't out-feast me." Huffing a disgruntled sound, Tilly got up from the couch headed for the small living room. “Fine, but leave my bacon the fuck alone Benji Francine.” She muttered under her breath, poking him in the side.
Sitting down to eat, hoarding her bacon to the far side of the plate, Matilda ate her fair share of breakfast, enough to make her slightly uncomfortable. “Oye, I can’t eat another bite. So Gramps, how long is today’s hike?”
Bram, ever the gentleman, finished his bite, patted his mouth and returned the napkin to his lap. “Today’s hike isn’t bad, just 7 miles into the first camp site. From there, tomorrow we have a ten mile hike to the second camp. We will of course stop along the way to see various plants or animals. We will stay at the 2nd camp for two nights, going on expeditions from there during the day, then from there I believe the hike is 11 miles to the third camp.”
Tilly blinked… Did he say 10 miles? They were going to die in this jungle. Rae and Ren would be really pissed when they got the owl. Looking over at Benji, Tilly shrugged. “You only live once right?”
Ok, 7 miles was a crock of crap. It had to have been 15. Her feet hurt, there were blisters on blisters and she was pretty sure one toe had fallen off around mile 5. They were finally walking into camp, where thankfully the guides had arrived first and put the tents up and set up the fire pit. “We're this tent over here.”
What was Gramps playing at? This tent looked no bigger than a single, DEFINETLY no room for three! But as Bram walked in, disappearing completely out of site, Tilly followed only to be greeted by a large open living area, small camp kitchen and three flaps then presumably went to separate rooms. “This is fantastic!” Tilly said, exhausted from their hike.
“Why don’t you two go get settled. There is a small bathroom through there. Clean up and meet me out by the fire. We’ll have dinner and then you can both pass out. You look dead on your feet.”
Yeah, maybe staying up ALL NIGHT had been a mistake.
“You made it sound like we were talking about THAT! Not snogging. For fucks sake Benji, say Snogging next time!”
Benji grinned widely and gave an easy shrug of his shoulders. "Sorry, Ging. I'll make sure my words are crystal clear next time." And he would be partaking of her bacon. All of it if he could manage as much. The prison hover over her plate wouldn't stop him.
While they ate, Matilda's granddad decided to brighten the mood by telling them exactly how many miles they would be walking for the next three days. Benji sat, dumbfounded, his cheeks puffed and full of pancakes. Sorry - did he say seven? And then ten? And then eleven? Eleven what? Light jogging spurts? Certainly not miles. Why the fuck wasn't Ren on this goddamn trip? Why hadn't anyone told him he'd not just be hiking but essentially traversing the entire southern hemisphere with only his trainers?
His eyes moved quickly to Matilda's blinking in tandem with her. Surely she'd speak up and tell her grandad he was completely off his rocker. The man was like ninety-seven years old. There was no way he'd make it a total of twenty-eight miles in the jungle, in the stifling heat, at his ancient age.
And if he died, then Matilda and Benji were going to die. As much as Benji enjoyed tempting fate, he didn't think he wanted to meet it at the fanged-end of a jaguar.
“You only live once right?”
Benji withered. And apparently, only for the next twenty-four hours or so.
Benji's feet felt every inch of those seven goddamn miles. Despite the boy's regular exercise routine, he found that Scotland and southern England's weather conditions had certainly not trained him for this shit, and the idea of doing ten more tomorrow had the boy about ready to be asked to be portkeyed home.
“We're this tent over here.”
At this point, Beni didn't care if he to spoon Bram himself. He needed a nap. A long one. Perhaps a two-day long nap. He barely paid attention to the confusion on Matilda's face, shrugging and following her grandad into the tent, relieved to see it open up into a well-appointed space. "Thank Merlin for magic," he said with a heavy sigh. He flopped over on the ground, letting the cool floor seep through his sweaty clothes. "You go first," he muttered weakly to Matilda, beckoning her to the bathroom.
"I'll just die here."
June 22nd
3pm
Somewhere in the Jungle
They were on their 2nd full day of exploring the jungle, and the Amazon did not disappoint. Her feet hurt, there were no less than 3 blisters on her heels at this moment and one forming between her toes. The days were long, muggy, hot and sweaty, but experiencing this with her Grandpa and Benji was worth every painful step.
When they woke up in the morning, they were greeted with a modest breakfast cooked over the open fire, coffee and a bagged lunch they could eat on their journey. They also had trail mix, candy, granola bars, cut fruit and chips if their lunch wasn’t enough. It appeared they had taken to heart that there were two teens in their party.
Once their backpacks were packed three guides showed them the way through the dense vegetation towards their next camp. Since Benji and Tilly were underage and without wands, they each had a dedicated guide for extra protection. At first Tilly thought this was ridiculous, until her guide, Ayopowe, had stopped a poisonous snake from taking a bite out of her arm. From that point forward she kept very close to her guide.
At different points during their journey, Azikiwe, the lead guide, would stop to show them an interesting plant, insect or animal. Tilly kept her journal in the pocket of her cargo pants, ready to take it out and write down the facts, draw a picture or take a fallen leaf and put it between the pages. The girl was a sponge, soaking up the information.
They were currently stopped by a stream for a water and snack break, a few miles out from their camp for the evening. Luckily, the wizards that ran the camp had apperated their supplies to the next location so they had less to carry. Thank Merlin for small miracles.
“Sweet baby Merlin it’s hot today.” She said to Benji as she chugged her water. Leaning against his back, while he leaned against her. “Did you see those prints, Ayopowe said it was a Jaguar… Hmm… I haven’t taken my allergy potion since being here. Do you think I’m allergic to big cats like I am to domestic cats? Is it weird that I kind of want to find one and see? Probably not the best idea, since it would eat me before I got the chance to pet it.”
“I still can’t believe we saw the Rafflesia plant. That was the weirdest looking flower I’ve ever seen. I wish they’d let me take one back, but with it being endangered, Azikiwe said I’d face prison time. Probably not worth it.”
Tilly let her head fall back on his shoulder, sighing with exhaustion. “You know, when Gramps told me about this trip, he left out the miles and miles and miles of walking in heat and humidity. Do you think that was calculated? Or is the old man going senile?” She said with a giggle, knowing Bram could hear everything she said. In fact, her grandfather turned his head and stuck his tongue out at her like a petulant child. “Yep, definitely senile,” she said laughing and tossing a small rock at the old man.
As opposed to the day before, Benji had found acclimating to the rainforest conditions rather easy at this point. Apparently, all he'd needed was a shower, a good night's sleep and coffee. Benji had never drank coffee before, even though Hogwarts offered it, figuring it was for those who couldn't function on a normal plane of existence.
Nope. It was also for boys in the jungle who had no business being, and now he had an extra little pep in his step. The blisters still hurt, but he'd brought plenty of bandages and he was able to ignore them for the most part, his eyes wandering across the scenery that he'd definitely never find in Scotland.
This hike was a bit rougher, having to traverse through the vegetation rather than around it, but the Hufflepuff was all for a little challenge now that he was properly maintained. His guide...was the quiet sort. Very quiet. In fact he didn't acknowledge Benji's existence at all save for making sure the boy didn't trip over himself while he walked.
“Did you see those prints, Ayopowe said it was a Jaguar… Hmm… I haven’t taken my allergy potion since being here. Do you think I’m allergic to big cats like I am to domestic cats? Is it weird that I kind of want to find one and see? Probably not the best idea, since it would eat me before I got the chance to pet it.”
Benji shook his head as Matilda leaned against his back, and he fanned the collar of his shirt trying to get some of the extra heat off him. "You're on your own there," he said as he took a long swing of his water. "If I'm gonna die it's not gonna be because Matilda Nordstom-Davin decided to pet something higher on the food chain."
He was quiet, shutting his eyes as Ging leaned her head on his shoulder, letting his own loll a bit onto hers. He was listening. Really. All the words were definitely being absorbed into his ears and reconciled in his brain, where he would definitely...sum up...an answer...
The snore that came from the boy was the only answer his friend received. Apparently, coffee also came with a crash and now that they were seated, he was feeling every inch of that comedown. The air was warm against his face, soothing really, as Matilda yapped away, the boy falling deeper and deeper towards his next REM cycle.
“Yep, definitely senile.”
The movement of her arm jolted him awake and he rubbed haggardly at his eyes. "We moving again?" And then another lull as his head drooped back again. Another snore. Louder this time.
"You're on your own there, If I'm gonna die it's not gonna be because Matilda Nordstom-Davin decided to pet something higher on the food chain." The red-head snickered quietly, although in their current position, back to back, he would feel the subtle shake of laughter. “If I didn’t know any better Benji-Anne, I’d say you’d gone boring in your old age.”
“OK, EVERYONE, LETS GET MOVING!” Matilda groaned, but got up all the same. Time for more walking, sweating and hopefully observing the crazy species of plants that inhabited the jungle.
It had been a few hours since their conversation in the jungle, predatory cat allergies long forgotten. Their group sat around the campfire in a small clearing in the heart of the Amazon. Thankful for bug spray, sun screen and magical animal and insect repellent, Tilly was pretty happy in her camp chair staring at the sky. The stars were brilliant this far out from the light pollution of the large cities. Shooting stars zooming across the sky faster than she was able to make a wish. Her body, tired and sore, but content in the moment, happy to just sit and relax with her best friend.
“Do you ever miss your old life?” She asked Benji, out of the blue, in a small timid voice. Very unlike the normal Tilly. She wasn’t even sure he was awake, but didn’t hear any snoring, so thought it was a safe bet. “I mean, there were good times when I was young, before all the magic got in the way. Spending time with my mum in the garden or playing with Toni and Gannon.”
Tilly sighed, “Is it bad that I don’t miss it? I mean, I miss my mom, but that life, that house and my dad. I just… don’t. If my magic hadn’t come in, I wouldn’t have met you, or Ren, Rae and Gramps and so many others at school. I can honestly say that I am happier without my family. If that makes me a bad person, I guess I’ll just have to live with it.”
They talked for another hour before Tilly turned in, sinking into a deep fitful sleep. Dreaming of being back in her old life, no magic, no friends, no Gramps. Waking up, she sighed in relief that things were as they were supposed to be.
Later that Day, June 23rd. 4pm.
The sun was sweltering. Sweat dripped down her neck and back, making her shirt stick in an uncomfortable way. The terrain today had been worse than all the days prior put together. More hills that felt like mountains, dense vegetation that was near impossible to fight through. Sure, the adults had magic, but they only took out their wands when necessary. Something about keeping the jungle clean of outside forces. Her guide had mentioned in passing, plants and animals that fed off magic, growing stronger from it. She could respect their wishes, but it sucked when the vines were thick and prickly.
Benji and Bram were up ahead 20 to 30 feet, when Tilly stopped to tie her shoe. Her guide didn't immediately notice her stopping, and kept moving forward. Tilly kneeled down, pulling up her pant leg to access her boot, pulling the untied laces tight, then retying the knot and doubling it. Just as she was standing, she felt a flutter of leaves pass across her exposed leg. Goosebumps ran up her spine as she looked to the jungle floor and watched as a thick vine wrapped around her right leg and pulled tight against her skin. Her voice shook as Tilly called out to her guide, “Ayopowe?!” Not yet in a panic, but scared to move too much with the vine getting tighter and slithering up to her knee. As her guide turned at the sound of his name, his eyes went wide when he saw where her gaze was locked.
“Miss, don’t move.” He said, moving swiftly, but quietly through the underbrush. His wand was out and his eyes were darting around looking at the ground. As he got within 10 feet of her, there was suddenly a sharp excruciating pain that radiated from where the vine had sunk its small teeth into her skin.
“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
She let out a blood curdling scream just as the vine pulled Matilda off of her feet and began dragging her deeper into the jungle. The vine pulled her faster than should be possible, her clothes and skin being torn by rocks and thorns. Her fingers clawed at the earth, trying to hold on to something that would stop her momentum. It was no use.
“HHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP! BRAAAAAAAAAAAM! BENNNNNNNJJJIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!”
Her voice ended on a sob, the pain taking over. She could hear the others running behind her. The cries of panic coming from Bram. The burning sensation localized in her leg was beginning to travel through her blood. Her entire body was heating from within as the plant injected its prey with venom. Matilda had passed out at some point, shaking with convulsions. Leg bleeding from where the leafy appendages attached themselves to her skin, sucking out her blood and magic. It wouldn’t take long before the vine pulled her into its host tree and killed her painfully and slowly. Even in her unconscious state, Matilda cried from the pain. Blood thinning from the venom, there was very little that could be done if the guides didn’t act quickly.
Trudging through the jungle in the blistering really made you realize how young he was not. Bram, while he loved spending time with Tilly and her young friend, the man hurt in every inch of his body. Watching Tilly with Benji was entertaining. At first, when she mentioned bringing a friend, he figured Ren or a… well, a girl. And then Benji showed up. Bram had been concerned that there may be something between them, but an hour into their vacation it was clear the two were more brother and sister than anything else.
Thank God.
So far everything was going well with the excursion. Tilly had been writing furiously in her journal, cataloging plants and asking more questions than he thought possible to the guides. Benji seemed to be having a good time as well, it was nice to see Tilly interacting with her friends. They smile on her face was lit from within, oozing happiness and joy. After they way he found her last summer, this was a full transformation, one he was so happy to see.
As Bram walked ahead with the lead guide, taking in the beauty of the jungle, he stopped to drink some water from the canteen hanging from his shoulder when a blood curdling scream filled the air.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”
There was only one person in their group that it could be, his blood running cold as he turned and sprinted to where he saw the red hair of his granddaughter being pulled into the brambles by an invisible foe. “MATILDA!” Bram ran, as if his granddaughter's life depended on it… Which from the look of the guides shocked and terrified faces, it did. Wand out, he ran with everything he had towards Matilda. The screaming had stopped, the sound of her screaming his name will be etched in to his psyche for the rest of his life.
The guides were communicating in their native language, pointing and yelling, each going in a different direction. They were moving in on where Tilly had been scooped up and pulled into the heart of the jungle. Wand out, whipping back and forth at the thick vegetation, Bram was cutting though the brush with a single minded focus. Get To Tilly.
As he cut through another wall of leaves and vines, thankfully not the murdering type, they ran into a clearing where Tilly was still being pulled through the underbrush. His heart sank, she was unconscious cut from head to toe with small scratches and other larger gashes. The vine had a tight hold on her leg, blood oozing from where it was attached. Her hair was collecting leaves and twigs as it dragged her lifeless body. Bram saw Benji out of the corner of his eye, his arm shot out towards the young boy. “Benji, stay back. We’ll get her, I promise.” He said, trying to inject confidence that he wasn’t sure he had at the moment.
TW: References To Child Abuse
Later That Night
It was an unexpected question that broke the peaceful quiet between the two of them, and he pulled his gaze from the stars above to the redhead sat beside him, studying her carefully. He wasn't sure what had prompted the question about his old life...if he could call it that. He didn't really separate and compartmentalize the timeframes of his childhood in that way. All of it was a part of his story and very much still a part of his brain chemistry. Everything that had happened to him still influenced the way he reacted to the world around him.
So while his physical environment had changed, he was still very much there.
“I mean, there were good times when I was young, before all the magic got in the way. Spending time with my mum in the garden or playing with Toni and Gannon.”
And maybe that was the difference. Matilda had good memories, a family ideal that she could still cling to, even if her father wasn't a part of that.
Benji shrugged, finally dropping his eyes to the bonfire and thought for a moment. "There's not much for me to miss," he contemplated, his voice quieter and more serious than it had been their entire trip. "I guess the guys I was friends with and the trouble we got into together. Some of that was fun." He trailed off for a moment before continuing, "The beatings, screaming, watching my little sister cry and shake because she was so scared. Having to put myself in between her and my mum?" He scoffed, and dug the heel of his shoe into the dirt, trying to distract himself from the thoughts he'd done well for the past term to ignore.
He didn't elaborate further, knowing it was enough. A small smile crept into the corner of his mouth as he drew his eyes back to hers again. "Here is good. When I have you and all our friends, why would I need anything else?"
Benji was ready to go home.
He'd been excited for this trip, not quite understanding how strenuous this final day of hiking was going to be. It was definitely the most challenging, and he was thoroughly over it at this point. It was all uphill, no matter what direction they went in, which truly boggled his mind and the laws of physics if he cared to contemplate it too long.
The boy trudged on alongside his silent guide, stepping over the thicker vegetation and cursing as his shirt got caught on a branch, scratching open the skin of his shoulder. He stopped for a moment, lifting his sleeve to inspect the cut, when a scream broke out behind him.
He turned as Bram raced past him, already on the move, before Benji's mind could catch up with what he was watching. A flash of red hair, and his eyes widened as Matilda was yanked by something to the ground and then deeper into the vegetation.
At the sound of his name being screamed, Benji tore after her, jumping over fallen trees and rushing through the dense flora, paying absolutely zero mind to the branches whipping against his arms or the sharp sting of thorns tearing at his legs. His lungs burned, but he didn’t stop until he stumbled into a patch of clearing right behind Bram.
He froze. For half a second, his brain refused to make sense of what his eyes were telling him.
Something dark and sinewy was wrapped around Matilda’s leg, dragging her backward across the forest floor. The thing coiled tighter with each pull, slick leaves glinting in the dim light, and Benji’s stomach lurched when he saw the angry marks it left behind.
Her last scream cut through him like a blade, jolting him forward. His boots skidded in the mud as he reached for her, hands out, but the distance between them seemed to stretch no matter how fast he moved. Bram was suddenly in front of him, his arm shooting out to hold him back, insisting they'd get her.
"No...she's..."
His mind was white noise so when the guide came crashing through the undergrowth, wand flashing in his hands, Benji nearly stumbled backward.
The man didn’t hesitate. He dropped low, blue flashes of light hacking into the vine where it coiled tight around Matilda’s leg. The thing writhed with a sickening shudder, then split open, releasing a foul stench that turned Benji’s stomach.
Benji hovered uselessly as the guide lowered Matilda onto the ground between them, his own hands twitching like they were supposed to be doing something. Pressing down on her arm, holding her head up, anything. But he didn’t know what, and every second that passed just made the panic coil tighter in his chest.
He wanted to call her name, to say something sharp and stupid that might snap her awake the way it usually did, but his voice tightened in his throat, smothering any words he could have tried to utter. He was at a loss, his breathing heavy in his chest as he dropped down next to her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder, eyes wide with helplessness.
And the silence of that realization, of being completely, utterly useless, was worse than the screaming had been.
OOC: Powerplay of Matilda and the guide approved by Sarah
He stood there in shocked horror watching the scene unfold. Matilda laying on the forest floor, scraped up, bloody and unconscious, being pulled through the underbrush towards a tree covered in the same fern like vine. The guides had wands out and were screaming spells that bram had never heard of. The action in front of him snapped Bram out of his stupor. Going for his wand, in the next minute Bram was in the frey. The guides were much more adept at fighting the vine, Bram, not so much. He was worried something he sent towards the plant would hurt Matilda more than she already was.
Just as Matilda was being lifted off the ground towards the tree, one of the guides made contact with the vine with just the right spell in just the right spot and the connection snapped. Bram rushed forward with the other adults to carry the slight frame of his granddaughter to a clearing.
The guides worked in a well rehearsed tandem to get her secured and stable. Wands, whipping this way and that, cutting open the leg of her pants, removing her boot, letting it fall to the forest floor.
Bram watched as Benji grabbed the boot, hugging it to his body. He wanted to comfort him, placing a hand on his shoulder and a squeeze to say I know, he wasn’t equipped to deal with such things. Comforting Benji after what they had seen, after what they were still going through, it was all too much.
The guides continued to work, blood dripping from her leg to the ground. They tried pulling the vine still attached to her leg off, but the action caused the vine to whip and Tilly to arch her back in a show of immense pain, even in her unconscious state. The guides looked at each other with a knowing glance. “What? What is it?”
The lead guide looked at Bram with shadowed eyes. “Brazo del Diablo, The Devil’s Arm. The plant will not come off. It will keep sucking the life from her, the vine growing bigger, even without the mother plant. We must get her to a healer immediately.”
Within minutes the three guides, Benji and Bram were standing around the stretcher, Matilda’s face a sickening grey. They all laid a hand on Matilda then with a pop, they were gone.
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