The briarbane crouched, his form perfectly still, his vines coiling and ready to strike at a moment's notice.

The blood-haired boy was finally deciding to take a break! This was the perfect moment to strike!

While following him near the shoreline, the briar-woven monster witnessed horrible acts of desecration--the cloaked figure would stop, look around suspiciously, bend over, and tear a still-living, still-breathing plant from the soil and place it in his bag!

The briarbane wondered what kind of monster would do such a thing to another living being. Then, he began to wonder... Was this what Mother meant by people wishing to harm the forest?

Harm meant a lot of things. When he chased down, slew, and consumed pray, he was doing harm to another living being. But thus was the circle of life--one had to eat to live, and he and his brothers could only consume meat. Thus, the harm was justified.

But... Not once did this boy, this trespasser, this adventurer, after snatching dozens upon dozens of innocent plants, proceed to stuff them in his mouth! He put them in his satchel! This was inconceivable to the briarbane. Not only was he stealing from his Mother, he was doing so for no discernible reason whatsoever! He was not partaking in the circle of life, he was just taking to take! This had to have been what Mother meant by harming the forest!

Mother would want to meet this man to pass judgment on him.

And then, if everything worked out in the briarbane's favor, he would finally get to eat.