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Dipper peered up at the sky, watching the clouds roll in yet again over the silhouette of the overhead branches. Mabel trailed behind him since only Dipper knew exactly where they were going. It this was just an average venture into the woods, she would be leading far out in front. Walking down the path as an easing pace, they retraced Dipper's steps from the day prior, searching for the point when he strayed off.

"How spooky would it be if it was gone?" commented Mabel, picking up an unusual looking stick from the ground. It was curled almost completely around.

"Don't…do that to me," groaned Dipper, pulling his hat down tighter onto his head.

"What if we're being followed?" chirped Mabel, sneaking up behind Dipper.

"Mabel, stop!" gasped Dipper, turning around just as Mabel pushed him forward.

Dipper stumbled backward until his heels collided with a fallen log, forcing him to fall backward. He splashed into the remains of a mud pile. Peering down at his newly soiled pants and jacket, he groaned, glaring up at Mabel. She covered her mouth.

"I…didn't know that was there," she grinned.

"Well," grumbled Dipper, getting to his feet. "We are going the right way."

"Is this how you got muddy yesterday?" perked Mabel.

"Yes," Dipper nodded, attempting to slop the chunk mud pieces off his jacket. "The tree should be near here."

Dipper helped Mabel over the log. In all actuality, he helped Mabel on top of the log and she jumped into the mud puddle, splashing it out onto Dipper. He remained still, slowly turning to glare at his sister once more. She laughed to the point of tears, body bent over in the greatest laughter Dipper had heard in a while. He smiled, watching her readjust herself.

"C'mon, you goof," he snickered. "It's right 'round here."

Truly, the tree marked with Bill Cipher was just beyond that point. Dipper stood afar from it, watching Mabel creep over to it. She ran her hand over the wood, feeling the clean edges and accurate representation of the demon. She stepped back, quickly glancing over at Dipper with the expression of horror.

"How…?" she whispered.

"I don't know," shrugged Dipper. "I'm gonna take more pictures."

"I'm…gonna step away," sighed Mabel, quickly stepping away from the tree.

Dipper watched her walk pass the tree, hand gently grazing each tree she passed for balance and reassurance. Dipper slipped his camera out, snapping three or four images of the Bill Cipher tree, a few with flash on and a few with it off. Just as he finished, he heard the nearby snap of branches.

"Mabel," called Dipper, looking around hastily. "Let's go…"

"Dipper!" howled Mabel from just up ahead.

"Mabel!" shouted Dipper, rushing over to where her voice had echoed.

She stood beside another tree. It was much smaller than the first but it bore a similar carved design. Though it was luckily not Bill Cipher it was similarly frightening to look at. It was careful representation of a six fingered hand, perfectly drawn like the one from Ford's old journals. Dipper gulped, slowly lifting his camera.

"Check the other trees," he choked.

"You don't think…" pleaded Mabel, rocking on her heels. "Like the…"

"Just check the trees," urged Dipper. "The sooner we can get away from here the better I'll feel."

Mabel nodded, dashing off to examine the other trees. After taking a quick picture of the six fingered carving, Dipper sighed, walking in the other direction so that the two would branch out in a circle around the Bill Cipher tree. If his fears were correct, there would be a tree for each symbol of those on the prophecy wheel. It felt like an eternity since he'd last laid eyes on it.

Sure enough, Dipper came across the symbol once associated with his Great Uncle Stan. It was beautifully carved into the tree just like the others. He ran his fingers along the lines, feeling them curve and deepen into the bark. It felt unreal or shockingly real, he couldn't decide. The branches shuttered, leaves rustling, twigs snapping. Dipper moved swiftly, snapping a picture of the image.

"Mabel, you find any more?" called Dipper, turning around.

Just at that moment, something jumped from the shadows, tackling Dipper to the ground. The camera flung into the air, landing on the ground with a minor crash and a bright flash. Dipper felt the small hands of this being wrapped around his arms. They pinned him in place, barely. Either way, it allowed him a good view of his assailant.

The man, barely out of his preteens it seemed, was scraggly and rather rough around the edges. His hair, a dirtied blond, was knotted and crushed with mud and the associated twigs sticking from it. His outfit was mostly just black, expect a single yellow mark on his left shoulder, though Dipper could not identify it. This man's eyes, though, were wide and almost deranged looking as they stared into Dipper's face.

"Get off!" howled Dipper, kicking the assailant off him.

The man tumbled away slightly, colliding with a nearby tree. Dipper rolled over, jumping to his feet just as the man was charging again. Dipper easily dodged out of the way, allowing the other to collide with another tree. Dipper couldn't help but snicker at the sight of this person continuingly bumping into trees. This time, however, seemed different. The man turned around slowly, grinning.

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"Come again?" perked Dipper.

"Pine Tree?" snickered the person, charging forward again.

"What did you say?" gasped Dipper, stepping back into a tree.

The person rammed into Dipper's stomach, forcing them both to the ground. Once again Dipper was pinned, shoulders pressed into the leaves and dirt. This time the assailant was clever, using his knees to keep Dipper's legs down. Dipper snarled, struggling to trash about.

"You're him…aren't you?" whispered the being. "You're Pine Tree…"

"Who are you!?" shouted Dipper.

"I am merely a chosen child," hummed the being. "And you will bring our lord back…"

Dipper cringed as the person moved swiftly, using one leg to keep Dipper's arm down as the being pulled a switchblade from his pocket. Dipper growled, trying hard to move his arm. Looking to his side, he could see his camera sitting completely unsuspecting. Just beyond it were the shoes of his sister, covered in colored glue, stickers and marker ink. He looked up gently, seeing her face peer around a tree with branch in hand.

"Who is your 'lord' pray tell?" grinned Dipper.

"You should know…you tried to banish him," snickered the being, raising the switchblade's knife into the air.

Mabel swung with as much strength as she good muster, knocking the person over and allowing him to tumble quite a distance. Dipper scrambled to his feet, snatching his camera and grabbing Mabel by the wrist. They both ran, attempting to not trip or stumble, hoping that whomever that person was they weren't following. The trees seemed to overshadow them, stretching up into the sky like demon shadows, crying out with a bang of thunder.

"Who was that?" Mabel finally shouted.

"I don't know…but they called me Pine Tree…" snarled Dipper.

"Pine Tree…" repeated Mabel.

"He knew…" whimpered Dipper, releasing Mabel's wrist. "What is even happening?"