Norbert looked down at the branch he was standing on; unable to fully comprehend the tree's magnitude or even if it could be called a tree at all. Bending down examining the branch, the dark brown of the tree, the growths and lines showing twisting among themselves, from within the cracks, imperceptible unless you knew what to look for, webs of purple light slowly pulsed to life on the branch. Standing up, he saw that it encompassed the entire branch as it went up and up into the canopy, the faint purple line going fainter and fainter until it was lost in the mass of branches and leaves.

Looking in the other direction on the journey to the centre of the tree and eventually down, following the purple veins, Norbert saw that it condensed into a knot at the base of the trunk before going down and into the tree, with other branches of lights also going towards it. Norbert saw that these trees continued as far as the eye could see, knowing the forest must continue for ages as only the trunks blocked his view from seeing any further.

With a deep breath, Norbert looked down at his clothes, still wearing his regular clothes, wiggling his toes in the slip on shoes, and said a little prayer. Combing his hand through his hair, pulling another leaf, before placing it in his pocket for safekeeping. Walking forward Norbert took the first step of many on his journey to the ground.

***

After too long and slightly winded from being careful not to fall, the nerves making each step slightly shaky and take longer than normal, Norbert placed his hand to the trunk. With the first leg of his plan behind him, Norbert punched his fist in the air with victory, quickly placing a hand on the trunk before he lost balance.

Norbert looked down, hoping to see a path while rubbing his hand across the bark. Catching on something Norbert saw parts of the bark were jutting out at random intervals, with just enough space to grasp. Further around the tree, he saw a branch further down, waiting to see a branch or something to rest on between his climbs to the bottom. About three meters down, another branch was across the side of the tree, just as big as the one he was currently on.

Looking across, he could see the same network of purple veins going around the limb with the same knot where the branch met the trunk. Stealing a breath, he looked out; it would take two widths of his extended body to get above the branch before he could continue to slide against the tree until hitting the branch. Shaking his hands and drying them on his pants, Norbert breathed in one last time before grasping the tree and leaving his feet from something solid.

Dangling in the air, feet scrambling until finally, the purchase was found; still holding his breath, Norbert reached to the right, feeling for another section of bark he could reach. Fingers slowly slicker with each passing moment. Norbert thought would he be able to find another handhold, or would he be stuck there until his legs finally gave out and he dropped? With a sigh of relief, he looked feeling again to the side and reached out; finally, above the branch, Norbert slowly slid down, his feet hitting the branch, knees buckling in relief.

Looking around, he found the next branch to head towards, his path towards the ground slowly forming in his mind. Standing up again, he reached around, finding the appropriate grips to make his way. Norbert could slide his way across it, making it over there.

And with that, Norbert's journey continued going from one branch to the next branch, with barely any change in the system, each time looking down and the ground still a looming death trap as before. The tops of the branches, where he first started from disappearing time and time again until it was completely lost in the deep canopy above. After what felt like hours, Norbert came across something different. He was finally reaching the birds, if these creatures could even be called birds.

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Some of the most prominent flyers had wings as long as him with massive feathers losing track of the bird. Each composed mostly of a single colour, some the same purple as the trees, some the red of blood, a rose spinning through the air or a drop of blood falling off a brow. In contrast, others were the size of sparrows, able to sit on a finger and chirp around. The cacophony was consuming him; between the squawking and chirping, it was all around. Having a break, Norbert rested, catching his breath hoping he would be able to return home soon.

While resting, one of the smaller birds, similar to an eagle, rested on his knee. Its feathers as black as obsidian, with speckles of white reflecting from the bird. Able to truly be seen when the light that can pierce down through the canopy. Moving its head from left to right, the bird stared at him, waiting for something. Ever so slowly, Norbert moved his hand out, a finger extended, and gently brushed the bird's head; from his new friend, Norbert heard a cooing, and with a ruffle of its feathers, it flew away.

Smiling at the break and reprieve the bird gave him, Norbert stood up and dusted off his pants.

While looking once more at the floor, the circle appeared underneath him; not a single bird around him made any pattern change acting as if no light suddenly appeared, and just like once before, he was consumed by darkness.

As he once more floated around in the darkness, unable to move, Norbert made a plan for getting to the ground safer. He would always have some climbing rope on him and learn how to make the appropriate knots so he could easily navigate the branches and respectably reach the bottom in one piece. Once more, the darkness bled away, and he found himself one more in the empty stall.

With a look of worry and remembering what he needed to do, Norbert quickly relieved himself, his body relaxing one he was truly safe. Looking at his items on the ground, Norbert pulled out his phone from his bag, showing that barely any time had passed, with just enough time to get to class.

Exiting the restroom, drying his hands on his pants, Norbert raced around the building; once in the classroom, he made it to the back, pulled out his laptop and started searching across the web.

Knowing that he could be transported whenever he would sadly always need to be prepared. With a big backpack to hold everything in as whatever items he had with him were always taken, enough rope to make it as far down as possible, as well as some food to eat and water, as he was unsure how long he might stay there. With everything jotted down or bought, he sat out for the rest of the class.

Once more, reuniting with Jack to have their weekly pizza, Norbert rushed home again to swallow it down and continue his research for his great climb down to the bottom. Looking at how to tie knots, any tips and tricks and more researching once more into if anybody had seen it, and with no luck in that regard.

As the days passed, Norbert received an alert on his phone saying the packages had arrived; giddy in Norbert's every step, he rushed back to his place, barging in with Jack already there, watching TV and the packages in the room. Tearing one after the other open, Norbert inspected his packages before taking the bundle into his room; with a sigh, Jack got up and placed all the rubbish into a box to be taken outside the next time either left.

In his room and dumping everything onto the bed, Norbert rushed in and started ripping open the packages; grabbing the knife he had just bought, he slashed his packs open one after the other, coiling the rope that was needed, placing the carabiners together in the pack in its compartment, the bars on the outside and testing out the harness to know how to position on himself when needed as to get it quickly.

With everything packed and sorted and backpack slung around Norbert's arm, he went off to fill up the water bottle he acquired from the purchase, topped it with water, and placed it within the backpack. With everything sorted and ready for his next adventure, Norbert looked around, smiling, only to stop when he reached Jack, a single brow raised in question.

"What's with that look, Jack?"

"You sure you haven't lost your mind there, Norbert? When have you ever been into the outdoors?"

"It's a new thing ok, wanted to try it out to see how it feels."

With a sigh, Jack returned to the show on TV, blaring into his eyes; Norbert sat down as well, hand resting on the backpack in case it ever happened.

And with another quiet night, Norbert went to his room, backpack still in hand. Norbert shrugged it onto his back and fell onto the bed. Knowing that tonight would be his worst night of sleeping ever, and for the weeks to come until once more, he was taken to the other place, but he would be prepared, be ready, and survive no matter what.

With the thought slowly leaving, Norbert rested again for the night.