Twigs snapped suddenly, leaves bursting into movement and Maxwell straightened immediately, instinctively going for the knife in his boot as the stranger skidded onto the scene.

Blade in one hand, he lifted the other, palm out in a placating gesture.

"Easy, it's alright..." he said slowly, tone soothing, despite how ready he was to strike back if James came at him. "...What do you mean about the trees?"

He didn't dare turn away from the man to look himself, but if he weren't completely mad and there was something dangerous about them, he wanted to know.