#carnivorous trees

[todays-xkcd]

These anomalies are known as Miyake events, named for the pioneering scientist who discovered them and was tragically devoured by a carnivorous tree.

Dendochronology [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

[A cross section of a tree in beige, with a brown bark around the cross section and black rings throughout, sans one layer around the middle wherein white bones are shown in lieu of the rings.]

[Caption below the panel:] Dendrochronologists can date wood samples by identifying growth ring anomalies that correspond to specific events. For example, it's often possible to spot the horrible summer of 1635 when trees turned carnivorous.

[citrusreadstoa]

Reading The Hidden Oracle: Chapter 16 (SPOILERS)

For the record, I still think they're crazy for trying to do a death race in the Labyrinth. They're all crazy. Harley is evil, the Labyrinth is his accomplice, and Chiron and the campers are all enablers.

"Harley loved the attention . . . his table was piled high with offerings (read: bribes) . . . Harley would have made an excellent god . . . He took the gifts, mumbled a few pleasantries, but told his worshippers nothing helpful." Hmmm... This sounds like a good idea. If I ever write a demigods-turned-gods AU, I might add him in.

"The test group this morning ended up in Peru" Omg I forgot about that. Not only is the maze deadly, but it drops you off at random parts of the earth. Ok. Ok ok ok. This isn't going to go well but none of them care because awwww it makes Harley happy. Not that I wouldn't do exactly the same.

"No way to get them off. I hate restraints." I have a feeling this is going to come back again when we learn about her tragic backstory.

"they are from this hidden Oracle." Ayyy he said the title. Anyway, this is a pretty malicious Oracle if it's eating little kids. I think I prefer Delphi. A very carnivorous grove of trees.

"the race doesn't even go through the woods" Yeah, well this is the Labyrinth. It always changes and always changes in exactly the way that makes it as dangerous as possible. YA GONNA END UP IN THE WOODS.

"I felt the way I used to in Leto's womb just before my sister and I were born." YOU REMEMBER THAT BUT YOU CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TREES THAT ARE EATING PEOPLE? I'm sorry. I should be blaming his faulty memory, not him.

"He and Nico loped off." What's up with retraumatizing Nico? He gets sent back to Tartarus, sent back into the Labyrinth, etc. And always with Will, too. Is Will Solace just a really potent bad luck charm?

Also, LOPE (v.): run or move with a long bounding stride

"Surprisingly, though, [Malcolm had] paired himself with Sherman Yang. That didn't seem like a natural partnership" What do you mean? They're the sons of the two war gods. Of course they'd be perfect partners! And a deadly team, too!

"'Do not end up in Peru,' everyone chanted." As if that's gonna do shit to keep them from ending up in Peru. Five bucks one team ends up in a country even further away.

[hotniatheron]

some of you never read The Edge Chronicles growing up and it shows 

[rootedincuteness]

Master Marshmallow: “Oh no! This is an incredibly rare and extremely dangerous plant cryptid known as the Souleater! Don’t get too close to it, or else it might suck out your soul with one of its powerful inhales! Or, as has also been reported, it might sneeze in your face for a laugh. They do tend to be mean fellows.”

Marshmallow’s Human: “Or... it could just be a weird looking tree whose knots happen to look like eyes and a gaping mouth with teeth.”

Master Marshmallow: “It’s a Souleater, I tell you!”

Marshmallow’s Human: “Suuuure it is.” *facepalm*

[i-am-inimitable-i-am-an-original]

WE ARE CARNIVOROUS TREEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS