As they climb the tree, they see the pilling insects scampering up the branches. They try to lure them away, but they can't. They're afraid of the killing curse that's on the first branch, which means that if they don't make it to the second branch, they'll die. This is the place where the ancient Shamans used to live, and it's a place where they're going to have to kill themselves to get to the third branch. The only way to break the curse is to step onto the platform, which is a ritual of the ancients. They can continue climbing the tree until they reach the seventh branch. They lose two brothers in the process. They still have a chance to get back to the city.