The Dark Origins of the Windigo

by Schattendrache


Day I

I know not why my dear Morning Dew has given to me this small journal but at her insistence, I shall endeavor to record each day of my journey so as to have an accurate account of the everyday happenings on my journey to give to her upon my return.

November 23, 08:00
I began the required organization of the supplies I will need to traverse the Frozen Spires. The reports from the northwesternmost outposts of the Crystal Empire have made suggestions of an unknown tribe of creatures past those infernal mountains of ice and despair. Had I not been of high acclaim for my skills at survival in the Frozen Wastes, I doubt that the crown would have seen fit to request my aid in the exploratory efforts to confirm the reports. As it stands, I am to accompany three other crystal ponies over and across the mountains to reach their other side. While I have faith in the competence of the individuals that have been selected, I must question my inclusion in the exploratory party. While I have proven my worth as a survivalist in the Wastes, I must humbly say that such experience is due to the lands and weather patterns of the Wastes being well understood and the occasions of my treks coinciding with the passing of the more severe storms, as that is when the Wastes are at their most forgiving. The Frozen Spires are not only unknown in their topography, but are wholly inconsistent in the behavior, length, and occurrence of their weather. While I might know well the actions that need be taken to assure my companions and my safety when traveling through the mountains, I can not say with any certainty that I would be able to properly assist should things go wrong. I hope dearly that upon our arrival to that unknown sierra, to the completion of our journey, that the clear skies that permitted the outpost to view the possible civilization maintain themselves.

November 23, 13:00
I have just returned from the noon meeting with the empire’s queen where the final requirements in preparation for our expedition were laid out. The four pony team that has been organised consists of me leading the party, a linguist by the name of Orator for when we reach the other side of the mountain, a farmer by the name of Hard Soil to examine the foods they have over there and tell of our foods, and a guard by the name of Iron Hoof who had been stationed at the outpost and had volunteered to help with carrying supplies for us. It isn’t a secret that the primary reason that he volunteered was to be one of the first ponies to see a new civilization. While none of us fault his desire to learn more of the world, and the fact his inclusion will lighten our load makes his inclusion a boon for us, Hard Soil and I both agreed that we will be razzing him throughout the trip. I have already started work on my first batch of filly friend jabs I’m going to be using on him.

November 23, 21:00
Our little expedition group decided to have a drink together before we head out to tomorrow. It wasn't anything too obscene, simply a few glasses of mead and a round of whiskey. (As you read this my dear I apologize for my lying to you that my night excursion was to check to see that everypony had properly prepared) I learned that Hard Soil and I are of the same age, with him being my junior by only four months and some change. I had figured we were of similar ages but had guessed him to be my senior by several years judging by the wear on his face. I told him as much and he responded in kind. Our other two companions were both astonished that we were only three years past our fortieth winter, apparently, farming and crossing the Frozen Wastes to trade with neighboring communities ages a pony beyond their natural years. When asked for their ages it was Hard Soil and I’s turn to be surprised. Neither of them had seen their twenty-fifth summer, Orator being twenty-two and Iron Hoof being twenty-three. Both of them were young enough to be Hard Soil and I’s sons.

The remainder of the night was spent discussing our lives before this and what we would do after this. Orator desires to be one of the queens top advisors after the expedition and had spent a great deal of his life practicing to reach this goal. He is quite disappointed that he was sent on this expedition as he was planning to attend a lecture by the current advisor to the queen on how a pony is to properly assess a situation and maneuver one's self to take advantage of events that are to transpire. But he does admit, if there is indeed a civilization past the Frozen Spires then his presence with us would greatly help in his goals. Iron Hoof said that his hopes for this expedition are that the queen sees his potential and permits him to further explore the world and help establish relationships with foreign nations. I told him that such nations are fantasy, that there exists nothing beyond the Southern Barrens. I told him of my attempt to find such lands and how they were met with disaster. The only good that ever came from my voyage to those forsaken plains was meeting you my sweet. He simply laughed, he was not so easily dissuaded. He told us of his colthood, when he was nothing more than a malnourished stick of a foal living in one of the eastern provinces of the empire, and how, through will alone, he made it into the guard and was stationed along the western edge of the empire. Hard Soil asked him where he could also get some of that will because he was starting to feel a little peckish. This was probably one of the funnier jokes I had heard in some time.

As for Hard Soil and I, we were both content with our lives. He has a wife, two sons, and a daughter still among us. When pressed on my life, I simply told them I sought nothing more than to continue my life as a simple trader between the towns and villages of the empire. As we agreed, I kept our familial troubles out of the discussion. I know how it hurts you so to remember our misfortunes and for those not within our family to have said knowledge.

The last half hour of our get together was spent in silence. For what reasons I can only guess. For the two younger members of our crew, judging by the satisfied smirks they wore, I figure they were imagining all of the benefits they would attain when they return, having not only been the first ponies to have successfully bested the seemingly unbeatable Frozen Spires, but also as the first ponies to have made contact with a new nation. As for Hard Soil and I, our outlook on this venture was anything but positive. I could see from his face he was not looking forward to this venture, as a pensive frown had worked itself onto his muzzle, the same frown I felt had worked itself onto my own muzzle. Our years on this earth have wisened us to the parts of life which truly matter, and finding a new creature to engage with was not one of them. Were it not for the queen's personal desire to see the two of us on this expedition, but rather the entirety of it be comprised of volunteers, I would bet that no pony who had seen their thirtieth Summer would have been on it

Tomorrow we travel the first leg of the fifty-four kilometer trip to the outpost where the lights had been sighted. We should be able to arrive in two days time should the Frozen Wastes decide to cooperate with our goals.