He tries to walk through them at first, dislodge them second, but once he feels the numbing in his toes, it becomes obvious his options are limited.

A trap. His lips press together in displeasure -- but it makes sense. He pushes back the anxious throbbing in his belly (are they paralyzing him, what happens if hey climb higher...)

Hei stops and straightens. Then, much like the plants, he begins to glow. Not for a long time -- just long enough for him to release a crackling, sizzling wave of electricity down his body and into the water.

Plant, animal, trap; he's yet to see a living thing that didn't burn.