Unbreaking vines

Is it worth getting rid of them?

Unbreaking vines

The vines grew more thickly here, spreading for hundreds of feet around. Having grown knotted and as thick as my thigh from the nourishment of the soil. 

Thick, strong and ropey, they'd seemed to grow up out of nowhere and strangle the very earth, bringing it pain.

It didn't make sense, every week or so we'd need to trade our supplies across the river, and there was no pattern to the brigade of twisted pain springing violently, destroying our wagon and slaughtering our horses.

Everything we'd tried had failed, be it fire, blades or even crossing before harm could come, as quickly as possible, but the will of the vines could not be undermined. They knotted and strangled.

One month, they'd resolved themselves to blocking our path completely. We spend that whole month trying to force our way through, but everything seemed to get worse no matter how much we tried.

Exhausted and defeated, having not slept well many a night for trying to break them down, I gave in to my frustrations. Sliding down the back of one of the larger vines, now as tall as a house, I sat limply at the bottom and relaxed, melted into gentle tears. I felt my aggression and exasperation give way to grief and hopelessness...and only as I did so did a great weight shift and slide behind me. 

With a deep, crackling rumble, the vines withdrew deep into the earth, slowly and majestically.

I couldn't believe it, and climbed to my feet in shocked relief...only to be greeted by a similar rumble, as the same vines exploded their way out of the earth and clasped across my path once again.

One of us in the group soon after decided that the vines feel pity for our sadness and give way. I'm not sure that's it. I don't think they break down until we do.

Now we need to decide if it's worth it, to break ourselves down and abandon hope on a weekly basis. Surely there's another way of trading?