Not Just Any Tree House (solo)

The lean teenager peered intently at the branches growing near his bedroom window. They had already proven their usefulness as a means by which to enter that window, which was what had given Kai the idea in the first place. He hadn't talked to his roommate yet, but he also made frequent use of the window as an entrance/ exit. Kai was sure that Carrick wouldn't mind the modifications he was planning. All the same, he wanted to see if he could actually pull it off before he told him about his idea.

And what a grand idea it was. At least in Kai's opinion. Essentially, it was a simple concept, a cross between a shaded balcony and a tree house. In truth, every boy needed a place to sit and dream, a place he built himself. A place without distractions or tons of other people trafficking in and out. His interaction with Katrina in one of the trees had proven this point. Company was nice, but not always what he needed. A private tree house usually accomplished these goals.

But this was not going to be just any tree house. He despised the idea of hammering and sawing and using all that dead wood. Instead, he was going to shape and grow his plant-fortress.

He had it all mapped out in his head. The higher branches would twist and braid together to form a “ceiling” or covering for the main floor. This was going to be constructed out of the massive lower branch which was about at window level already. Kai would just have to position it so that it stretched straight out towards the window instead of curving towards the sky. That and the minor detail of broadening and flattening it so that he had a decent platform to step out on or sit on.

It wasn't elaborate with many rooms or even walls, but it was perfect nontheless.

Kai sat on the window sill and started directing the tree's movement. It's branches danced as though in a strong wind, but a strange one that whipped one branch this way and another one completely in the opposite direction. He wove leaves and twigs in and out of each other, urging here and suggesting there and even listening to the tree's input as he sculpted an awning that would give him shade below, but caught as much sun as possible for the tree.

They worked happily together for nearly an hour until Kai tired from using his powers sat back and examined his work. He evaluated it honestly and noted that he'd really need to see how it held up to the next rain. And there was plenty still to be done. For now, he was satisfied.