[ Honestly, it wasn't even the time loops that scared them - though, okay, those were utterly terrifying for reasons they will never voice aloud - but the fact that nothing could go in or out of the sealed-off town. It's familiar. Not too familiar, but familiar enough that the thought of being trapped like that again is-

... no, best not to think about it. Not now, anyway. Later, when everyone is safe and the Relic is reclaimed, they can pick apart why the whole situation is the last straw ontop of their already long-frayed trust in the Bureau. For now they'll just have to wait, and hope, and try very hard not to laugh at Will losing his shit at trees.

Or. Mostly try. It's not going very well. ]

That would defeat the purpose of us going to all this trouble to begin with, wouldn't it?

[ "Us", they say, like they've been doing any of the heavy lifting at all. ]

Besides, you wouldn't be able to control where it fell. And having a branch crash into someone's house would definitely count as "ruining the holiday spirit."

[ Like last year was any better- ]