Wirt feels relief wash over him as he steps back into the Train and feels the familiar presence of his Lantern. He helps Greg and his basket of turtles up into the Train before collapsing into a seat. The presence of his Lantern has eased the pain in his chest but the buzzing of the amulet has only grown stronger as the time has gone on, leaving him feeling disorientated and tired. He desperately wants to take it off, to throw it out the window and never have to wear it again. Logically though, he knows he needs this amulet, whatever the cost. He can't get Greg home and safe without it. Wirt turns to watch Greg, who's determinedly making the turtles line up neatly to receive names. Greg notices him.

"What about that turtle you've got there, Wirt? You got a name for 'em?"

"Uh… no. I haven't."

Greg's eyes sparkle with excitement. "How about…" He stares off into the distance in contemplation. "Woody Guthrie! A good name for a good turt!"

"…Sure. Woody Guthrie it is." Wirt actually rather likes the name. It suits the turtle, in a weird sort of way.

Greg lifts a couple of turtles into the air. "Now you have to help me name some of these ones!"

Wirt laughs, standing to join Greg and the queue of turtles. He can deal with the amulet, as long as he's able to keep Greg safe. As long as he's able to keep Greg happy.

—

Beatrice stands in a grove of edelwood trees, twisted and dripping. The sight of them makes her shudder. She'd heard stories about this specific patch of edelwoods when she was younger. It had been a cautionary tale, one told to warn young children about wandering too far.

A group of kids had been playing one day on the edges of the Beast's forest, when they heard singing. The children followed the sound in curiosity, and were led right to the waiting Beast. Later, when their parents came to find them, they found a ring of edelwoods in their place. Upon seeing this all the parents fell into such despair that they were soon turned to edelwoods too.

She hadn't believed it to be real when her parents first told her, but a visit to the grove had quickly changed her mind. A ring of small edelwoods cradled within taller edelwoods trees, all weeping that sickly black oil. To this day it was still a chilling sight.

Beatrice is here for a reason though. To prevent another child's death, if she can. She's sure the Beast would be able to sense her here, so completely within his territory. But for good measure…

Beatrice swings her axe at the nearest tree. A part of her feels guilty, desecrating the dead in such a way, but if it helps her save a child's life she doesn't think the soul within will mind. She swings the axe again, yelling curses at the Beast as oil flies through the air. It spatters against her face like blood and she flinches, then grits her teeth and prepares to swing again. She will make the Beast hear her.

—

The Train has left the wool strung station far behind and Wirt is starting to feel almost hopeful. They're heading back to Pottsfield, where he plans to assure Beatrice that Greg is safe, before taking Greg back home. There's numerous flaws to the plan of course. Wirt isn't sure how easily Beatrice will believe his story about the Train's safety, and more importantly, that she won't suspect why he's been on the Train in the first place. The amulet should help, but his story is still worryingly full of holes.

If it does work though… then he has to take Greg home. He has to leave him alone again.

Greg has made it clear that he intends to stay by Wirt's side, and Wirt hates that he's going to have to betray his brother's trust again so that Greg can be safe. Another, more selfish part of him, hadn't realised how lonely he was before Greg arrived. He's scared to go back to that. Greg can be annoying, and worrying, but he's also kind and friendly and a better person than Wirt could ever be. He doesn't want to leave his little brother again.

He wonders if part of him is hoping this half formed plan to get Greg home will fail. Maybe that's why he decided to charge off without fully thinking through every aspect. Or maybe it's because of the amulet, still incessantly buzzing in his mind and confusing his thoughts. It's starting to give him a headache.

There's something else there though. He hadn't noticed it before, but Wirt is suddenly aware of a strange feeling washing over him. It solidifies into a thought, as though planted in his mind. Someone is attacking his forest.

He blinks several times and tries to focus. In his head he can hear distant echoes of something, of someone yelling? He can't make out what's being said, but he can feel the anger and frustration and fear and despair within the screaming. He can feel the ghostly wailing of the trees as they call to him.

The influx of thoughts and emotion that aren't his is overwhelming. Ink black tears prick at the corner of his eyes as he tries to ground himself. He grips the edge of the velvet seat, running a thumb back and forth over the fabric, and takes several deep breaths. It's unnerving being able to feel something happening so far away. He wants to ignore it, tells himself he has a job to do, that getting Greg back home is the priority. But he's also curious. What reason would someone have to be chopping edelwoods anymore? The Woodsman no longer needed to feed the Lantern, and throughout his journey through the Unknown it had been clear that anyone sensible avoided the cursed trees like the plague.

It wasn't too far from Pottsfield too, although how he knew that was something he didn't want to think too much about. Maybe a quick detour could be okay… and it would give him more time to prepare for meeting Beatrice.

"Hey Greg?" He calls over to the opposite side of the carriage. Greg looks away from the window, his face oddly marked from where he'd pressed it against the glass.

Wirt smiles. "We're going to stop somewhere else before Pottsfield if that's alright? I need to check something." He thinks for a moment. "When we stop do you think you could stay with the Train please? So the turtles don't get lonely?"

Greg nods resolutely. "Don't worry brother of mine! I'll protect your turtle friends with my life!" He jumps to stand on top of the seat for emphasis. Several turtles fall out of his sleeves as he does so.

Wirt thanks his brother nervously, then heads towards the front carriage. He's sure Greg should be safe if left on the Train, particularly with the large amount of turtles who've become attached to him. Although he's not sure entirely what the turtles would do to protect Greg, he's pretty sure that just the sight of so many of them would warn away most people.

He pulls the Train's chain and it changes direction, instantly responding to his thoughts. The tune that starts to drift through the carriages is almost comforting at this point. He leans against the window, watching as the sky is obscured by trees and the Train travels deeper into the Unknown.

—

The Train slows to a halt near a large grove of edelwoods. Wirt steps out of the Train cautiously, glancing back to make sure Greg isn't following him. His brother waves cheerily from the window, then starts picking up each turtle one by one so that they can wave too. Wirt waves back, then sets off towards the edelwoods.

As he nears the ring of trees he slows down, moving silently to hide behind the largest edelwood. He's still wearing the amulet, which will hopefully prevent anything going too wrong if he's spotted.

Peering out from behind the tree he can see the affected edelwood tree, barely still standing as it bleeds oil from several large gashes in its trunk. The screaming face upon it seems even more distorted than normal. He watches anxiously as a figure in a blue wool cloak approaches it again, readying their axe to strike another blow. Their hair is long and red, flecked with the same black oil that their arms and cloak are. He can't see their face. The figure yells in anger as their axe once again buries itself into the tree. Even though he still can't see the axe wielders face a dread filled realisation hits him. It's Beatrice. Beatrice is the one attacking his forest, Beatrice is the one yelling obscenities at the Beast, at him.

This is going to be a lot harder than even he thought.

—

Beatrice pauses a moment to get her breath back. She's been hacking at the tree and yelling for the Beast for what feels like forever. It's starting to feel like this plan is hopeless. Wiping the oil away from her eyes she turns to look out through a gap in the trees. Instead of seeing the setting sun like she expects to though, the looming shadow of the Train greets her. She laughs slightly, through all the fear and worry. Turns out the Beast was a fool enough to turn up.

This is mostly just set up for the next chapter, which is going to be a fun one!

— Uboacore