How Green Becomes Wood

"Good thing you're so far away," Xander said.

Alec looked at Claire. Then he edged over a few steps, reached out, and shoved Xander.

Xander yelped as he lost his balance and tumbled into the foam.
 
Claire and Sloan both immediately cracked up laughing at the way Xander flailed as he fell into the foam. "Don't drown in the foam!" Sloan laughed, not daring to peer over the edge because she knew what she was at risk of if she dared to.
 
Xander surfaced from the foam and glared at the lot. "You, you, and especially you," he said, pointing at Sloan, Claire, and Alec respectively, "are in so much trouble as soon as I get out of here!"

Alec chuckled and crouched down at the edge, careful to stay out of arm's reach. "Why don't you just hop out?"

Xander threw a foam block at him, and Alec caught it, laughing. With as much dignity as he could muster, Xander started making his way to the edge and what he hoped was freedom.
 
"I'll just climb the rope and you won't be able to reach me," Sloan said, pointing upwards, "I've got killer upper body strength."

"Like you wouldn't believe," Claire nodded solemnly.
 
Xander awkwardly climbed out of the pit. "You still have to come down eventually," he pointed out, brushing off some bits of foam sticking to him. "You're at the bottom of the list."

"Oh, no! Wait!" Alec squealed as Xander charged toward him. "Not me!"

"Absolutely you!" Xander growled.

Alec tried to run, but Xander tackled him into the foam pit without much trouble. Alec flopped around in the foam, trying to figure out how to move when the ground kept moving and there was no solid floor to walk on. He threw in a few theatrics about drowning until Xander rolled his eyes and hauled him back out.
 
"Goodbye, cruel world!" Alec moaned, placing the back of his hand against his forehead.

"Use your legs, you useless lump!" Xander grunted, trying to push him up. "Foam is the worst to push against!"

Alec finally helped himself out of the pit and gave Xander a hand up, too. "Thanks! Although, you are the reason I was down there in the first place."

"Don't you dare push me again," Xander warned.

Alec laughed and walked around to rejoin Sloan and Claire. "So, how are you 'supposed to' use this thing?"
 
"Honestly the best way to use them is just to run and jump in or grab onto the rope like you're in Bridge to Terabithia," Claire answered.

"You want to see how we use it for training, though, right?"
 
"Terabithia," Claire replied, "It's a children's story, a boy and a girl cross into Terabithia by swinging on a rope. It's all play pretend, though, and the girl dies at the end because the rope breaks and she drowns."

"Yeah, I'll show you, you all just need to get out of the way."
 
Xander nodded. "Sounds like a pretty good kid's book, alright."

Alec took Xander and Claire's arms and gently tugged them out of the way. "All clear, Sloan!" He didn't even think about it as he kept hold of their arms, used to randomly holding onto Xander and with his attention fully on Sloan.
 
After feeling she had the space, Sloan bounced a few times to get height and used that energy to start running to the edge of the pit. As she neared it, she began to tumble, showing off a number of her best flips, the trampoline helping her to gain impressive height. Finally at the edge, she used the momentum to do a final combination of flips while in the air before landing safely into the foam. Just like with Claire, it was like gravity no longer applied, but whereas Claire was delicate and nimble, like a fairy, Sloan was powerful. They were both equally graceful and elegant, but it was clear despite them both training together in the same sport, they had different styles leading to distinctive routines.
 
"Wow! That was incredible!" Alec cheered, clapping enthusiastically. "Sloan, you're a powerhouse!"

Xander nodded approvingly. "Not too bad. Almost impressive, even," he drawled with a faint, teasing smirk.
 
"Thanks," Sloan said, pushing herself up and out of the pit, "It helps us practice more serious tricks without risking injury."

"And it's fun," Claire said, "I used to be so sad when pit time was over as a kid."

"
 
"It looks like a lot of fun," Alec agreed. He studied the pit. "I bet I could get a flip! I'm going to try it. I call next go in the pit!" He trotted to the end and made sure everyone was clear. Then he copied how Sloan had prepared before running down the ramp.

"I'm not digging him out this time," Xander stated.

Alec hit the trampoline and gave the flip his best shot. He nailed it! Almost. His landing was still slightly off, so it was a good thing the foam was there to catch him.
 
"Thank you very much!" Alec was tempted for a split second to pull Sloan in with him, but that was a fight he'd never win! Maybe if it was water. Instead, he used her help to get out and shake off the biggest foam pieces trying to stick him. "That is insanely fun! Claire! You should go next!"
 
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