Yawning, Agate stretched, relaxing in the totem's gentle magic. Sorting out her thoughts, she slowly set out the day's goals, trying to prioritize them according to importance. Visiting the shamares to report in was probably the most important one, though she was actually torn between going to see Earthsong and True Sight or finding Dreamcatcher to thank her for her assistance during her expedition.
She was also tempted to go see Autumn Ash and Cindertail, but she was sure the foals would understand if she had to wait a little. And the chieftain would probably want to hear the details of what she discovered (or, rather, failed to discover) too, which very well might turn into another storytelling meeting in the Great Hall. Seeing as nothing she found out required any urgent action, though, the filly was sure that Frostbeard wouldn't mind being told of her return second or third, either.
Plan of action (mostly) figured out, she hopped forward, landing on her hooves. Patting her totem, she turned towards the village. Though she really wanted to talk to Dreamcatcher about that crazy dream trip they had together, True Sight's home was much closer.
It didn't take long to reach the shamare's shared abode. Sticking her head through the door, Agate looked around. Unlike her previous morning visits, the pair was nowhere to be seen. Pulling her head out to look at the sky and confirm that, yes, it was actually morning, she stuck her head inside again, listening carefully. True Sight seemed to be still asleep, though Agate couldn't hear anything from Earthsong's room. Stepping deeper inside, she noticed a steaming pot hung over the firepit.
Figuring that either the mare would return soon, or True Sight would wake up, she opted to wait, sitting down by the fire. Watching the slowly crackling wood, she ran through the details of the expedition, making sure she didn't forget anything important. To her delight, the memory exercises they taught her really helped, and she was able to recall everything vividly.
Soon, the door opened, Earthsong stepping through with the handle of a bucket held in her mouth. Setting her cargo down on the table, she walked right by Agate, missing the ethereal filly completely. Stifling a smile, Agate resisted the temptation to jump up and spook her. Who knew, it was probably a dumb idea anyway. The shamare likely had some way of dealing with spirits jumping at her.
"Hello, Earthsong," The filly greeted the shamare, instead.
"Wh- Oh! Well now, would you look at that. And where have you been, young spirit? What business was so urgent that you just up and galloped away one evening?"
"Oh, well, you see..."
Agate didn't really get a chance to explain anything before the shamare grabbed her, effortlessly lifting the weightless spirit up and wrapping her in a hug.
"You silly puffin. You cheeky little tern. What were you thinking, just flying off like that? I know our input wasn't really necessary for this journey, but you could have at least come over to say goodbye!" Eeathsong admonished the filly, giving her a noogie.
"I know! I know! I'm sorry, I just-" Squirming in the shamare's grasp, Agate tried to explain, but the mare wasn't having it, starting to tickle the filly, making her flail wildly.
"Oh, I know what happened, don't worry. Your friends explained it to me the morning after you left. I was a little surprised, but I think I understand what made you do it. Still, just so there's no confusion, could you give me a quick rundown on why you were in such a rush to leave?"
Grumbling a little, Agate slipped out of the shamare's grasp, silently landing on the floor. Fixing her mane, she scrunched her muzzle at Earthsong, puffing out her cheeks. However, the shamare was uncowed by this display of dominance, booping the filly on the nose with a smile.
"...I didn't trust what I saw back then," She finally began, attempting to put her confused feelings into words. "I didn't actually see what happened, only that the city was gone for some reason. It was just too unbelievable, I guess. And, as time went on, my doubts only grew. I tried to suppress them, but they caught up to me eventually. I just snapped, I suppose."
"I see... And you employed the most sensible solution - you went there to see the truth of the matter for yourself. I can't blame you, Agate - the disappearance of your people truly is mind-boggling. I still have a hard time believing it myself, even though other shamares confirmed the same thing. I can only imagine I'd feel the same disbelief if Snowpitt vanished one day. Did you manage to find out anything new, at least?"
"No... Well, yes, but not about crystal ponies. Dreamcatcher uncovered something interesting about snowponies, actually, though I think I'll need her help to explain it all. In fact, this is probably the kind of story that most of the tribe is going to want to hear."
"And the other tribes as well," Earthsong mused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.
"Wait, are they here already? I didn't think I was gone that long. It took me... Two days to reach the valley? No, it was three, I galloped through the night on the first one... Slept in the valley, then turned back..."
Earthsong shook her head, interrupting the filly's counting. "No, not yet. The other tribes usually don't move out until there is a good cover of snow, to make traveling with heavily laden sleds easier. The first snow fell three days ago, and it will take at least a couple weeks until the first ponies start showing up. Still, a few weeks is nothing. And, given that none of them even heard the first part of your story, you're going to be one busy spirit when they arrive. I imagine they've been burning with curiosity the entire time."
"Oh, right. I haven't learned your tongue before they left."
"Indeed. Now then, let's see. We'll do a small meeting first, I think. Go see Dreamcatcher, of course. Is there anything you need to tell Frostbeard?"
"Well, I know that dealing with matters regarding other tribes is his duty, so I should probably tell him about my expedition, even if I didn't actually meet anyone. Some of the hunters wanted me to find the best route to Dream Valley as well, which I did."
As they talked, the two didn't notice the door to True Sight's room opening, the old mare sleepily shuffling towards the table. As she sat down, a chuckle escaped her when she noticed her visitor.
"Well now, look what the windigo dragged in. Did you have fun on your journey?"
"Oh, a little, I guess?"
"Great, I guess you're keeping up with my advice not to overwork yourself, then."
"Well, I try."
And that was it. No admonishments, no tickles or noogies. Agate watched with some amusement as True Sight carried on with her morning routine like nothing happened.
With an almost imperceptible roll of her eyes, Earthsong joined her, retrieving the pot from the firepit and setting it down on the table, pouring a few cups of water from the bucket into the pot and stirring for a few minutes.
"We'll go meet the others right after breakfast, alright, Agate?" She asked, emptying the rest of the bucket into another pot and stowing it away.
"Sure. Take your time."
❅ ❆ ❅
True Sight started asking what their plans were only after she had her breakfast and fully woke up. Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, the elder shrugged, deciding that she had time to join them for a visit to Dreamcatcher. The trio, led by Earthsong, made their way towards the shamare's family home.
Some of Dreamcatcher's extended family apparently returned from their journeys, as there was smoke coming out of the chimney and a few ponies were busy maintaining their equipment in the yard. Once they saw the visitors approaching, they politely ushered them inside, going back to their tasks immediately after. Moments later, the group was standing in front of the shamare's door, Earthsong knocking politely.
Nothing happened at first. Then, nothing continued to happen for a while. Earthsong knocked again, while Agate looked on at the door with some concern. Was Dreamcatcher alright? Did she tire herself out too much with her dream journey? That was days ago now, though, and the shamare should have recovered.
"Calm down, youngling," True Sight reassured Agate, a completely unconcerned expression on the elder's face. "She's probably just lost in her dreams again. This tends to happen more often than not when we visit her, really. It was just luck we caught her awake last time."
Soon enough, some shuffling and grumbling could be heard from behind the door. True Sight took that as an invitation to come in, squeezing by Earthsong and hobbling into the room. Agate followed along, glancing around. Little had changed since last time - the room was still decked out in lots of mystical-looking paraphernalia, though there were slightly fewer dreamcatchers hanging from the ceiling. Their host was lying down on her bed, a cloak draped over her shoulders.
The dreamcatcher's namesake looked around the room, setting her eyes on Agate before looking at True Sight and Earthsong. "So, you're here... But if you two are here too... I guess I'm awake, then."
"Right you are," True Sight replied with a yawn. "Kind of wish I was still asleep, but there you have it. Agate said you had something to tell us? Seeing as she was away, I can only assume you followed her along in the dream realm to talk to her."
"Hrrrm... I did, I did... Or did I? Now, what was it... Don't particularly recall anything specific..." Dreamcatcher closed her eyes, scrutinizing Agate from behind closed eyelids as she rubbed her chin.
"The tunnel, elder, do you remember? You found the echoes of your ancestor's passage in the old mine I discovered under the mountain. I'm not too sure I could really tell that part of the story properly myself." Agate supplied, making the other two shamares look at the pair curiously.
"Ah... Yes, yes, that was some days ago now. Let me untangle my memories a little bit, and I'll get to it," She replied, reaching for a teapot on a table by her bedside.
Earthsong poured her a cup, passing it to Dreamcatcher. The elder nodded, taking sips for a few minutes. Eventually, she cleared her throat, still holding on to her cup.
"Right, so. This little scamp -" She nodded at Agate, the filly folding her ears in embarrassment. "- Ran off all of a sudden. I wasn't too surprised, and I certainly wasn't worried, but I was curious, both about her journey and her progress. So, I did my best to keep an eye on her as she traveled, hard as that is. I managed to have a conversation with her in some dark place, which turned out to be some tunnel deep, deep under a mountain. Turns out, our little traveler here discovered the very trails our ancestors made and used as they fled the windigoes, way back when."
The shamare explained the mystical visions of the past that she managed to summon in her dream, while Agate told them about the old trails cut into the southern mountains that she discovered and followed to the collapsed mineshaft. She also did her best to describe the ancient painting/warning sign of the windigo in as much detail as she could, Dreamcatcher adding in a few details. True Sight and Earthsong listened attentively, nodding along. After they were done telling their story, the other two remained quiet for a while, mulling over the new knowledge.
"This means that our tribes truly are distant cousins, then. Our ancestors left, while Agate's people were the ones that decided to stay in the valley no matter what," Earthsong concluded.
"Some of the lore keepers and singers are going to be very unhappy with this knowledge, while others are going to be over the moon," True Sight added with a wry smile. "Seeing their expressions in the next Gathering is going to be fun."
Dreamcatcher grunted noncommittally, electing to remain quiet. After a few questions about the tunnel, the collected shamares all turned to interrogating Agate about the details of the final leg of her journey. It was quite clear that the impossibility of the Empire's disappearance was as vexing and confusing to the shamares as it was to the filly, and they asked her about every tiny thing that she saw or didn't see while examining the valley. They managed to drag out a rather bland final report of "I didn't really find anything" into a session that lasted a good couple hours, dissecting and weighing every tiny little thing that Agate told them. In the end, though, they were unable to offer the filly any new insights. She shrugged, waving it off.
"I appreciate you trying, I really do. But, like you taught me yourselves, you shouldn't feel guilty if you fail. I'm out of leads for now, but I'll come up with something eventually. Who knows? The other spirits have told me lots of stories about how the three tribes manage to accomplish amazing things when they put their heads together. Maybe someone will think something up during the Gathering."
"That's very nice and selfless of you to say, considering this is your lost family we're talking about. You're a strong filly, Agate, you really are," Earthsong complimented the spirit, gently petting her mane. "But, don't feel the need to be strong all the time. As you saw yourself, holding things in will only lead you to snap and do something rash in the end. Feel free to come to us if you need to share your doubts... Or just find a nice, secluded spot and have a good scream if you need to vent some anger. It helps, it really does."
"Uh... Okay."
With their business concluded, the trio got up to leave, saying their goodbyes to Dreamcatcher. When they were about to step through the door, though, Agate suddenly had an idea. Whirling around, she trotted up to the perpetually sleepy shamare.
"Um, elder... You taught me a lot about dreams and other things. What you did under the mountain - listening to the echoes of the past - could I learn to do that? You said you were able to do it since there was a connection to your actual ancestors there. Could I see what happened to my family and the Empire that way?"
"Ooooohhhh...." Dreamcatcher opened her eyes fully for once, her milky orbs boring into Agate. "What a sharp and interesting question, youngling. It is no easy feat, and not something a novice can perform. You saw yourself how that tired me out. However... Well, you have shown some ability at dreamwalking... Hmmmm...."
Agate waited with bated breath as the shamare evaluated her, the other two remaining silent as well. Eventually, Dreamcatcher clicked her tongue, shrugging. "If you keep learning, well... I can't say for certain, but it's not impossible." She concluded.
"Thank you, " Agate breathed, trying to contain her excitement.
Waving goodbye again, she left the room. Earthsong closed the door behind her, a small, approving smile on the mare's face.
❅ ❆ ❅
Next, they went to see Frostbeard. True Sight peeled off halfway there, saying she had important shamare business to attend to. In her bed. Earthsong chuckled, leading the Agate through the village. They went past the Great Hall, to the western part of Snowpitt that Agate hadn't explored much yet.
The chieftain's home looked a bit like the stallion himself - large and hefty. The walls were made of impressively thick logs, the foundation reinforced with stones and clay. As Earthsong went to knock, Agate noticed several runes similar to the ones carved into the walls of the Hall lining the door.
Unlike Dreamcatcher, the stallion was quick to answer. Throwing the door open, he raised an eyebrow at the shamare. "Ah, Earthsong. What brings you here today? Some bad omen or danger that needs to be taken care of before the other tribes arrive?"
"No, chieftain," She replied, shaking her head. "I was just showing Agate here the way."
"Oh. Apologies, little one, I did not see you there. What business brings you here?"
"Well, I went on a few trips with some hunters and Spear Throw as a scout. They told me a few things about how when you're... Exploring unknown regions, you're supposed to come report to the chieftain what you found after you come back? Well, I went on a journey recently..."
"Ah, of course," The stallion chuckled amicably. "Ah, the nervousness of youth. Don't worry, Agate I will hear you out. Although... Wait... " The look on his face turned contemplative, and then darkened. "There was only one way you were going to go out exploring, wasn't there? The south... And judging by your expression, you haven't found anything good about your tribe, have you? Well, come in, and tell me about it anyway. Will you join us, Earthsong?"
"Oh, I don't think I'll have anything to add here. Agate undertook the journey alone... And I should go get something to eat, I think."
"You can raid my pantry," The stallion grunted. "My doors are always open and my hearth tended for any of my tribesfolk. Come in."
While Earthsong went off to get some food, the stallion led Agate into a large room with a sizeable table in the middle. The legs of the table were rather short, and there were some cushions around it. Hopping on one, Agate noticed a number of maps spread out on the surface. They seemed to depict Snowpitt and its immediate surroundings. A couple dozen wooden carvings of ponies were placed on various spots.
"The Gathering is coming. Have to pick the best spots to house our visitors for the winter," Frostbeard explained, noticing the filly's curious look. Retrieving another old map and a stick of charcoal from a nearby drawer, he sat down next to Agate. "But, that doesn't concern you. I am listening. Tell me everything."
Agate launched into her story for the second time that day, sparing no details about her journey, the terrain that she saw, the (lack) of life that she encountered, and other details important to any pony that might be interested in taking the same route. For his part, Frostbeard listened attentively, only interrupting to clarify some detail or other, scribbling something on the map now and then.
Glancing at the old parchment, the filly saw that it was a rough sketch of the southern mountains, though it seemed somewhat incomplete. Given the snowpony tribe's usually dismissive attitude towards the south, she could only assume that their explorers didn't really bother poking around there much once they found it was mostly bare rock. Frostbeard was adding little lines and symbols along the route Agate was describing, drawing sharper definitions along the mountainsides.
Unlike the shamares, the chieftain didn't question her so much about the details of her dream and the subsequent examination of the Empire's former location, but he did want every detail about the journey itself. As such, it took a few hours again until they were finished. Earthsong came in with a bowl of food at one point, leaving quietly with a wave goodbye when she was done eating. Finally, Frostbeard put down the map, stretching out his forelegs with a groan.
"Well, Agate, I have to say that I am impressed. I will be honest with you - I was expecting something a little more foalish. However, you clearly have sharp eyes and a good attention for detail that matches some of the better scouts of our tribe."
"I had good teachers," Agate demurred, folding her ears. "Spear Throw and Gnarled Root taught me everything."
"Hmm, yes. Still, good teachers can do little if the student is not good as well. Anyway, thank you for the report, even if it only confirms what we thought for a long time - there is nothing for us in the south. The mountains themselves are barren, and the valley beyond... I do not think it would be appropriate to try and settle it, even if there wasn't a possibility that your people might come back there someday. Most ponies would be wary of claiming a place where such a cataclysm happened to another tribe. Still, I think some brave souls will be interested in seeing this supposed ancient homeland of our ancestors with their own eyes. I'll be sure to tell you if they find something new about your people, Agate."
"Thank you, chieftain."
"No, thank you, brave explorer. Going there to see the truth for yourself couldn't have been easy, but you did it anyway. Now, I'm afraid that I need some food too. I'd invite you for dinner, but, well."
Agate snorted, shaking her head. "I do miss food sometimes, but not getting hungry is a nice tradeoff. See you next time, chieftain. Good evening."
"Fair winds," Frostbeard nodded as Agate left the room.
Exiting through the closed door, the filly pondered where to go next as she gazed at the sky. The days were getting short again, and the Sun was already almost hidden beyond the horizon. Still, it was dark, not late, and there was some time left in the day.
"Hmm... I could go see Autumn Ash and Cindertail, but they do live on the other end of the village... Might be too late by the time I get there..."
With a bit more thinking, she eventually shrugged, turning back towards her totem.
❅ ❆ ❅
"I'm dumb."
Agate was currently in her clearing, her hoof planted rather firmly into her face. After coming back from visiting the chieftain, she decided to stargaze for a while until Gnarled Root and Spear Throw showed up for their nightly chat. However, she completely forgot that the two spirits didn't actually know that she came back. After quite a while of stargazing, it finally clicked, which led to her current embarrassed position.
With a sigh, the filly got up, her tail swishing in irritation. After a moment's thought, she started trotting towards Spear Throw's totem. Even if it was too late to talk, she'd at least go and say hello. Unless the stallion was away on a trip with the hunters again, but that wasn't too likely. They happened during spring and early summer, only happening in autumn if there was a special occasion, like a pony spotting a dangerous animal close to the village.
It didn't take long to reach his totem, seeing as it was relatively close by. Reaching a hoof out towards the wooden pillar, Agate stopped suddenly, putting her foreleg down. What would happen if she touched another spirit's totem? Not wanting to find out the hard way whether it was something bad, she circled it, stopping in front of the carving of Spear Throw's face.
"Hey, Spear Throw? You in there?"
She could see the glowing outlines of the runes carved into the wood, a faint aura of magic outlining the timber. It was similar to her own, but didn't have the pull nor the brighter glow that her own totem had. Curiously, she examined the other carvings. The pictures were different than the ones the snowpony artisans carved for her.
There was a scene on the bottom of what was presumably Spear Throw, throwing a spear towards a bear that was rearing up, claws out towards another pony. Further on, there were similar scenes, one with a pack of wolves surrounding a group of ponies, several of the wolves already on the ground with spears sticking out their sides, and one with a yeti in a similar situation. Higher up, there was another yeti, most likely the one that took the stallion's life. That one lay on the ground, broken and mangled, but Spear Throw was injured as well, several red splotches depicting heavy bleeding. Still, the stallion was standing proudly, a group of ponies taking cover behind him.
The eyes of the bust lit up, blinking a couple times before going dark. Moments later, the stallion stepped out, yawning a little. "Agate... Back from your journey, I see. How did things go?"
"Kind of... Like expected, I suppose. I didn't find anything or anyone. The Empire really is gone, and I wasn't able to find any clues as to what happened."
"And...?" The stallion raised an eyebrow, leaning a bit closer to the filly.
"Um... What...?"
"You were far less collected when you left. You faced your fears, yes? And how do you feel now?"
"Oh..." Agate's ears folded, the filly shrinking into herself a little. "I don't... I'm not entirely sure. After I calmed down a little, I focused on memorizing what I saw while going through the mountains. I was a little nervous when I looked into the valley the first time, but I managed. Seeing that I wasn't mistaken was... A relief, as frustrating as the city's disappearance was. I was..."
Agate went quiet, thinking things over. Her journey to Dream Valley and back again, her emotions and thoughts. The strange disappointment/relief combo, her resolution to keep going despite the fact she didn't find anything. Her slowly deepening acceptance of Snowpitt as her new home, and the snowponies as her new tribe. As she thought, her back slowly straightened, the filly standing proudly. She raised a hoof towards her chest, a feeling slowly crystallizing inside her.
"Stronger," She finally concluded. "It was hard. But I feel stronger for it, like you said I would."
"Good!" Spear Throw almost shouted in a rare display of emotion, slapping the filly on her back, making her sway on her hooves. "You have a strength of will that a great many ponies would find admirable. I won't tell you empty platitudes or useless words like "everything is going to be okay". Life does not work that way. I cannot know if you will find out what happened to your people. But I do know that, no matter what happens, you won't let it break you. You're stronger than that."
"T-thank you, Spear. Really," Agate replied, turning away in embarrassment.
"Don't mention it," The stallion said calmly, having returned to his regular stoic demeanor.
"So, ah... It's probably too late to have a chat, but I also wanted to tell Gnarled Root that I got back, too. I don't know where her totem is, though. I thought about going out to find it several times, but other things kept distracting me."
"I can show you. Come along."
With a nod, Agate fell into step beside Spear Throw, the pair of spirits soundlessly making their way along the outskirts of the village. The stallion went west, going past Agate's totem, snaking between the trees. A while later, he turned towards the village, going past a couple houses.
"It's not on the village outskirts, like ours are?" Agate asked curiously.
"It used to be. But, like I told you before, Gnarled Root is old. The village outgrew it's old boundaries, and her totem stayed where it was. It's not too far, though."
As he said, they soon reached Gnarled Root's totem. There were a few houses around, but there was still a respectful amount of space left for the spirit. Four pines grew around it in a semi-circle, with a few bushes in the gaps, all likely planted there on purpose. They all looked far younger than the totem, which looked... Worn. There wasn't any obvious damage or rotting, but the old wood was bleached almost bone white, and appeared incredibly smooth and weathered. The carvings and paintings of various plants were barely recognizable, only really visible if you got quite close and squinted hard. Still, the totem's enchantments evidently still held, as the runes were still glowing with power, all those years later.
"Wow..." Agate breathed quietly.
"Yes, it's quite a sight. She certainly earned the title of "elder" several times over. Now then..."
The stallion reached out towards the totem, brushing the surface ever-so-lightly. Some of the runes flared a tiny bit brighter, Spear Throw quietly saying "Knock knock" as he did it. They waited a little bit for the ancient herbalist to wake up, the mare eventually appearing, her ethereal body blurry as usual.
"Well now, Spear, to what do I owe the late-night visit? It's been a while since a stallion came to me at such an hour. Why, if you weren't so faithful to your wife, I'd suspect-"
"Hello, Root," Agate interrupted, Spear Throw rolling his eyes.
"Oh? Oh! Well look at that, the traveler came back! A pleasure to see you again, Agate. How are things?"
"Pretty well, I think, all things considered. I haven't managed to find out anything about the Empire, though I did accidentally discover some snowpony history. Everyone's been telling me that I'll end up telling lots of stories in the Great Hall again, once the other tribes arrive."
"Sounds like you found something interesting, then. I can guess that you already had to repeat your story several times, so I won't press for details. I'm sure I can wait a few more weeks until the Gathering. So, did you just want to come over to tell me that you're back?"
"Yeah, sorry for waking you up..."
"Oh, don't worry about it," She waved it off dismissively. "Not like I'm busy these days. I think we can chat a little before you go, though. So, what are your plans for the future now? You were learning pathfinding from Spear and me, which I'm assuming you applied in your journey. Is there anything else you're interested in learning next year, or are there any other expeditions you're thinking about?"
"Hmm... I haven't thought about it much, but I'm definitely continuing my lessons with Dreamcatcher. I think I learned just about everything about pathfinding that I could from you. I'd still like to keep up with our evening meetings, though..."
They talked for a little while, discussing the various things Agate could try doing in the future. The filly didn't have all that many concrete plans, but she figured that something to do would present itself. It always seemed to, keeping her busy with something or other. Eventually, the three spirits parted ways, going back to their totems.
❅ ❆ ❅
"Your pumpkins are still ridiculous," Agate remarked as she watched Warm Spring roll the massive thing into a shed.
"It makes me proud to hear you say that, Agate. It's truly a testament to our skill that we manage to grow vegetables that even you find impressive, I think."
"Yeah, I guess, though now I'm wondering how the Sun fits into all of this. Our days are not nearly as short over in the Empire, nor are they that long in the summer... But I think the fact that we're surrounded by mountains on all sides means we actually get less sunlight than you do, most of the time. At least the wind doesn't get too bad in the valley."
"Oh. That sounds... Unfortunate? I don't think I'd like to live in the shadow of a mountain, even if it did provide shelter from the elements. The northern winds can reach terrible speeds over the flat tundra plains, but I do enjoy the sunlight."
"And I liked being surrounded by mountains. When I saw the tundra for the first time, I couldn't tell up from down any more when I was looking into the distance. The way it just stretches out forever is dizzying."
The mare laughed, shaking her head. "Well, I won't argue with that. It's why we had to build our own guide stones all over the place, after all."
Warm Spring and the rest of her family were still busy dealing with their harvest, storing, preparing and preserving the various things they grew in their field. The foals were cleaning and slicing carrots and other smaller vegetables, while the adults dealt with the big ones. Some would be carefully stored for planting next year, a few that kept well would be stored to be eaten through the winter, while the majority were stacked up in temporary storage sheds, awaiting the arrival of the other tribes.
A trade and a feast would take place then, the separate tribes exchanging various foods with each other, both enriching their diets and getting a refreshing taste for something different. To Agate's amusement, even the plant-growing ponies were jittery in anticipation at being able to taste some of the exotic ocean-caught fish again. She had half a mind to start calling them fishponies.
Some kind of sound in the distance interrupted the filly's thoughts, making her ears twitch and turn towards the noise. It was indistinct, but constant, a bit like the muted murmur of a river. Slowly, it got louder, short snippets of voices and song reaching them. Warm Spring heard it too, listening for a moment before going back to sorting her vegetables.
"Well, it sounds like the first wanderers came back," She remarked, hefting a large cabbage.
"Wait, do you mean the other tribes? Or-"
"No, not yet. The nomad groups - you've seen them leave, yes? They aim to come back before the other tribes arrive, so that there's no confusion with too many ponies all appearing at the same time."
Agate nodded, remembering the massive exodus she saw back then. It still sounded a bit odd to her, leaving the city to live in the wilderness on purpose, but from what everyone told her, they enjoyed the experience immensely, talking about the time spent in the tundra with fondness and nostalgia.
"Can we go see them, Mom?" Autumn Ash asked, looking up from her pile of carrots.
"Next time," The mare shook her head. "There's still lots of things to do, and there will be other groups coming back. You know the rules, Autumn. You'll have the whole winter to relax from work, but only after we finish all our tasks."
"Yes, Mom," The filly nodded, her ears wilting a tiny bit. Still, she didn't argue, getting right back to it, her necklace sparkling in the afternoon sun as she cut and cleaned the roots.
The two foals had the amethysts Agate gifted them fashioned into matching necklaces, wearing them everywhere proudly, telling other ponies that the exotic-looking spirit stones were gifts from the generous and wise spirit from far away. Agate was a little embarrassed that they treated them as something that special, making sure to point out that the amethysts weren't enchanted and wouldn't bring them luck or protect them from harm or anything of the sort, and that they shouldn't go around doing silly things.
They assured her that they understood that, but they still played up the "wise spirit" thing, even though they knew she was pretty much their age. At this point, Agate was halfway convinced that they were doing that on purpose just to tease her. With a shake of her head, the filly got up from where she was sitting on one of the pumpkins, hopping down to the ground.
"I'll see you all later, then," She waved goodbye.
"Bye, Agate!"
"Come back any time."
❅ ❆ ❅
Besides her usual meetings with her friends, teachers and other ponies, Agate spent the next few weeks doing something she hadn't done since the last winter - wandering around Snowpitt and learning about the snowponies through observation. The village was buzzing with activity like never before, the inhabitants preparing for winter.
Craftsponies were inspecting houses, patching up holes and shoring up weak spots. A few last dead trees were getting dragged into the village from the forest, to be chopped up and added to the rest of the firewood reserves built up over the summer. Food supplies were being counted, the industrious ponies going on their final foraging and fishing trips before everything froze over completely, more and more snow already falling from the sky.
Large groups of young nomads were returning to the village every few days, laden with all kinds of cargo. Some were dragging their folded-up tents with them, others had woven bags full of dried tundra plants and flowers, while a few were bearing clay pots full of berries, proudly contributing their share of food for the winter, to their parent's approval.
Most were settling back in to their family's homes, though there seemed to be lots of intense debates between a number of the older ponies as to where some of the younglings should go. Despite the vigorous discussions, there was no animosity between the families. In fact, most of them were smiling and looked either very happy or proud of their children, and Agate didn't really understand what the big deal was about. She briefly watched one such exchange before moving on.
"No, no, just look at how much she's showing already," One older mare argued, rubbing a blushing young mare's slightly distended belly, the mare clinging desperately to a similarly blushing young stallion. "Your buck here clearly planted some good seeds there, and I bet my tail hairs she has not one, but two little eggs in her nest right now. Our house is bigger, and they'll need the space. They should move in with us."
"Then you'll be walking with your tail bare next summer. I'll bet it's a colt, and a proper big one, too," Another mare replied sarcastically. "And your house may be bigger, but it's also older and draftier. It's better for them where it's sturdy and warm, and we were planning to expand next summer, anyway."
There was a scoff from a stallion, though Agate already moved on and didn't hear his argument. Seeds? Eggs in her nest? What were they even talking about? Shaking her head, she kept trotting and watching, some of the ponies observing the wandering spirit curiously in return.
Once all of the nomad groups returned and were accounted for, it didn't take long for the first travelers from the other tribes to start showing up. The forest-dwelling westerners were the first, pairs of scouts coming into the village to cheers and warm welcomes, huge caravans slowly snaking towards the village in their wake.
Unlike with the nomad groups that returned rather casually, there was a bit more ceremony to the arrival of the other tribe. Agate watched as Frostbeard stood on the outskirts of Snowpitt, flanked by a dozen shamares. Besides True Sight, Earthsong, and Dreamcatcher, there were a number of younger shamares that returned with the nomads, ones Agate haven't met before.
The western tribe was led by a similarly burly stallion, decked out in a thick brown fur cloak and some kind of armor wrapped around his forelegs, bearing several spears attached to his side. He was also followed by an entourage of shamares. The only one that Agate recognized wore a cloak and an avian mask with a feathered headdress.
"Oak Bark," Frostbeard greeted the other chieftain.
"Frostbeard," The stallion replied with a nod. "Another year behind us. How are things?"
"All quiet in the south. Nothing besides the ordinary patrols to clear out the beasts nesting too close to the village."
"We are safe to enter, then?"
"Of course. We open our doors and tend our hearths for you, guests of far away. Come right in."
From the exchange, it was quite obvious that their entry was a foregone conclusion, but the stallions still wanted to observe the proper customs. Once the greeting was done, the shamares immediately broke their formations, some of them going to greet each other, others going towards their lodgings in the village, already well familiar with where they needed to go from their previous visits. The ponies pulling the cargo-laden sleds moved forward, the long caravan slowly dispersing among the buildings. Some locals guided them towards their lodgings or just trotted along, chatting with their inter-tribal acquaintances about what happened while they were separated. The two chieftains went their own way, talking quietly about something.
Agate silently observed it all, tucked away near the corner of a house. Most ponies didn't notice her, but it seemed that the avian-masked shamare either possessed the heightened perception their kind seemed to have, or the filly just got unlucky. Peeling off from the others, she beelined towards Agate, raising her mask up. Her blue eyes were piercing, but she had a kind smile.
"Well now, I remember you," The mare began, speaking with a slight accent. "Travelling little terror that terribly scared the tribes into a terrified tizzy," She tittered." Everyone was wondering whether you were some kind of bad omen, heralding destruction that was going to come for Snowpitt."
"Really? I didn't know I scared everyone that badly..."
"I'm exaggerating a little. It was brought up as a possibility between the shamares, but no, you didn't scare everyone."
True Sight and Earthsong caught up to them, True Sight smacking the avian mask lightly from behind, making it fall on the shamare's face in a crooked way. "Really, you're a bird in more ways than one. Flitting away in the middle of a conversation the moment something catches your eye."
Fixing her mask, she stuck her tongue out at the other shamare. "We weren't talking about anything important. This little spirit certainly is, though, isn't she? Bet she told you all sorts of interesting things while I was away. Is she even a snowpony?"
"Her name is Agate, and she is from the crystal pony tribe, which you can ask her yourself, by the way. She's right there, and she learned how to speak our tongue just fine. Agate, this is Sky Breath, the current eldest shamare of the western tribe," True Sight explained.
"Pleasure to meet you, Agate," Said shamare exclaimed with a short bow and a swish of her cloak.
"Likewise, elder."
"So, can I ask what the... Crystal ponies are? The word is quite foreign..."
"Well... I don't mind telling you, but it is a long story, and I imagine I'd need to repeat the same thing a thousand times if I told every pony individually. Last time I told it, I think half of Snowpitt or more showed up for it. Would you mind waiting until the northern tribe arrives, too? It'll be much easier when we can all gather in the Great Hall and I can tell everyone at once."
"Oh, I suppose. Patience isn't my strong suit, but I'm sure I can survive a week longer, or however long it takes for the northerners to get here."
"You'll get distracted by something in a moment, probably," True Sight snarked.
Earthsong rolled her eyes as the two old mares started needling each other, waving Agate over as she trotted away.
"Do those two not like each other?" Agate asked, looking behind her.
"What? Oh heavens no, they love each other. Poking fun at each other is one of True Sight's and Sky Breath's favorite pastimes. Sometimes, I think they spend half the summer just thinking up new and creative ways to insult one another. It's their way to "keep their wits sharp", or so they claim."
"So it's like a contest?"
"That's not an inaccurate description, actually. We're great friends with the other tribes, but ponies can be fiercely competitive, so naturally there's always some ponies from different tribes trying to prove that they're the best at something. I never cared for it myself, but it is sometimes fun to watch them go at it. Shamares attempting to compete with magic would likely cause massive devastation, though, so our contests mostly end up being verbal. Duels of wits, verse, riddles, and so on. I'm sure you'll see some of those come winter."
Agate nodded, looking around the now much fuller village. Sleds were being unloaded, ponies moving in to various homes, sometimes empty, sometimes with the locals inviting them in. Some ponies were setting up stalls, creating small marketplaces offering mushrooms, nuts, and other forest delights, trading them for tea and other local plants. Many sleds were loaded with firewood as well, bolstering the village's supplies.
"It's so different with so many ponies here," Agate remarked, looking left and right.
"And it will get even busier," Earthsong replied with a smile. "It gets a little cramped, but seeing all of our kin together warms my heart like nothing else."
"Yeah... Festivals are like that," Agate agreed, thinking about the Crystal Faire.
After some more light conversation, the two parted ways, Earthsong going to meet some other shamares while Agate continued her observations.
❅ ❆ ❅
"Long Stride."
"Frostbeard."
The meeting between the southern and northern tribe's chieftains was almost identical to the previous one. The two stallions met on the northern edge of Snowpitt, accompanied by their shamares, though the southerners were also joined by a few western tribe's ponies.
"How goes your expansion into the north?"
"Excellently. There's losses, of course, but that's a price to pay when dealing with the deep northern wilderness. Still, we're building new outposts and discovering more islands every year. There's at least twice as many ponies living on the islands now than we have in Nilas. I've been thinking of moving out from the coast myself, to be closer to the frontier. How are things back here?"
"Stable. Snowpitt is growing, though not at the breakneck pace your tribe is. Probably because most of the adventurous types go to join you northerners."
Chuckling, Long Stride nodded. "And we appreciate every brave soul. Are we free to enter?"
"Naturally. We open our doors and tend our hearths for you, guests of far away. Come rest your legs."
The permission to enter seemed a little redundant, since a few caravans of the northern ponies already arrived the day before, moving into the village without challenge. Unlike the western tribe, the northerners moved in multiple groups instead of one long caravan, arriving at different times. Still, like before, the chieftains were keen on observing the proper traditions.
Earlier, Agate watched the first arrivals dig around in the fields surrounding Snowpitt, building igloos for themselves and the rest of their arriving kin. Some of the northerners spread out among the longhouses and other lodgings provided for them, but most seemed entirely happy to spend the winter in homes built of ice and snow, of all things. That part still left the filly flabbergasted, but she mostly learned to accept their crazy cold resistance by now.
Briefly, the thought of finding Glacier Glider flashed through Agate's mind, but with how busy everyone was with unpacking and setting up, she decided to wait until things calmed down a little. It took a couple days for all the northerners to arrive and settle in, and by then the chieftains had already arranged a meeting in the Great Hall.
Agate was the most anticipated point of discussion, something that she was well aware of. A number of ponies from the other tribes already approached her, having heard small snippets about her from Snowpitt's locals and wanting to know more. She politely turned them away, informing everyone that she would happily answer all their questions during the upcoming meeting.
Soon after, she was making her way towards the building, both nervous and excited. She spoke in front of a crowd once before already, but this time, there would be even more ponies listening to her, including more chieftains and shamares. Trying to calm her jitters, she performed a few focusing exercises, stopping briefly before the double doors. Casting the last look at the carvings, she stepped inside.
All three floors were packed, the low drone of dozens of conversations drowning out the individual words completely. The filly quickly flitted between and under ponie's legs, making her way past the firepit towards the end of the hall. The shamares from all three tribes were gathered there, Long Stride and Oak Bark sitting among them while Frostbeard sat on the raised platform.
Seeing the filly, he nodded towards the other two chieftains, getting their attention. The stallions watched as Agate climbed on the rug, the rest of the Hall's occupants slowly noticing the spirit and stopping their conversations. A few moments later, the building was mostly quiet, though there was still a fair amount of whispering going on. Clapping his hooves together three times, Frostbeard spoke.
"Good morning, everyone. I am glad to see you all here once more, hale and happy. Usually, we begin these meetings with the latest stories from our northern brethren, seeing as they are constantly pushing boundaries and discovering new things. However, as I'm sure all of you are aware, we have received an astounding visitor from the south last winter. We here in Snowpitt have already heard her story, but I'm certain that the rest of you are dying to know just who she is and how she got here. She also has something new to tell us all as well, or so I've been told. Agate? The floor is yours."
Nodding, Agate took the vacated spot while Frostbeard lay down next to the other chieftains. Sitting down, she looked around at the sea of curious faces. Focusing for one last time, she closed her eyes for a moment, beginning her story.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Agate, and I am a crystal pony from a tribe that used to live in the valley past the southern mountains..."
Just like the first time, she needed to explain some things for context, such as what "crystal" meant, who/what the Equestrians were, and so on. The spectator's reactions were similar as well, curiosity when she was explaining their history and their struggle against the windigoes, and enraged disgust when she described the way Sombra enslaved the crystal ponies, both in spirit and body.
After she finished repeating the story of her arrival to Snowpitt, instead of taking questions, she kept going, explaining how the shamares tried understanding what could have stolen the Empire away, Dreamcatcher's odd premonitions and visions, and Agate's eventual journey to Dream Valley. Once she got to the part with Dreamcatcher appearing in her dream and summoning the visions of her ancestors, many ponies started talking excitedly, making the chieftains call for silence. Agate continued on, describing the empty spot of where the Empire used to stand.
"...Seeing as I haven't found anything in the valley, I turned back. The return journey was rather uneventful, so I don't think you need to hear the details of it. And that's it, more or less. That was around a month ago, and nothing really interesting happened to me since then."
Silence reigned across the hall, everyone digesting the information. "Hrn... Evil magic..." One shamare muttered eventually, though she didn't elaborate. The chieftains shared several glances, Long Stride eventually speaking up.
"I would pledge my tribe's aid in a heartbeat, if this was a problem that could be solved by spears and hooves. However, if that was the case, I am certain our southern kin would have done the same. I am assuming that even the shamares weren't able to unravel this mystery?"
"No," True Sight confirmed, shaking her head. "As Agate said, Dreamcatcher was the only one to make any kind of headway, and even that gave us practically nothing. None of us know of any kind of magic that could be used to make even a house disappear from the world without a trace, let alone a whole village with its inhabitants. Whatever foreign magic spirited Agate's people away is completely unfamiliar, and without knowing it, we cannot hope to counter it."
"Distant as they may be, it's shameful to leave kinfolk in a bind like this," The northerner grumbled.
There were mutters of assent from the gathered ponies, though none of them were forthcoming with solutions. Looking around, Agate considered the situation for a few minutes before clearing her throat, getting their attention.
"It's okay. I mean, it's really not, but you know what I'm trying to say. Ponies have told me several times not to tear myself apart with self-blame and worry. I know they mostly did it because I'm a foal, but you shouldn't do it, either. I appreciate any and all attempts to help, but you shouldn't blame yourselves if you're not able to find out what happened to the Empire."
Several shamares had small smiles at hearing that, looking at the filly respectfully. Long Stride looked like he ate something sour, but grudgingly gave a nod nonetheless. "Wise words, though this feels like we're giving up without even trying. Hay, I think I would like to see this Dream Valley myself, just to see this land of our ancestors if nothing else."
That provoked a big reaction again, multiple ponies raising their voices in offering to lead an expedition south, though there were a few who were scoffing at the whole premise. "Land of our ancestors? Chieftain, please. We are children of the tundra, the northern winds and snow. That fanciful story of us coming from the south is clearly incorrect," One mare said, which immediately led multiple ponies to spring up in defense of Agate's and Dreamcatcher's story, various versions about how and where snowponies came to be being argued back and forth.
"Called it," True Sight wheezed, laughing her flanks off.
The three chieftains glanced at each other again, watching their ponies with bemusement. Frostbeard said something to the other two, Oak Bark shrugging indifferently, while Long Stride rubbed his chin in contemplation. They had a brief conversation that Agate couldn't hear over the arguing, all three chieftains raising their hooves to give a few loud stomps after they were done talking.
"The exact history of how we came to be will likely never be known," Frostbeard began.
"However, I think some of you are dismissing our guest's claims far too easily, especially seeing as you have nothing but old stories to back up your own claims," Oak Bark added, addressing the crowd.
"While Agate here is clearly not a snowpony, but a pony nonetheless, from a different tribe. That alone is proof of a great many things, including the fact that we were wrong about the south being lifeless and dead. It is entirely possible that other parts of our knowledge about the world, no matter how ancient or often repeated they might be, are wrong as well," Long Stride concluded.
That stopped the arguments, some of the spectators looking smug while others were tight-lipped. Silence fell upon the hall again, several ponies taking the chance to retrieve cups of tea from a huge pot hanging over the firepit. After refreshing themselves a little, they started up conversations again, though at a polite volume this time.
"Would you object to us visiting your homeland, Agate?" Long Stride asked.
"What? No, of course not! That trip I took - I didn't just go there for myself. I learned lots about pathfinding through the summer, and I memorized the entire route and the important details in case any snowponies wanted to go there themselves. I just didn't bother telling all the tiny details during my story so it wouldn't drag on. I reported it all to Frostbeard, too. He has a map," The filly explained, nodding towards the stallion.
"Good, good," The stallion nodded, a faraway look in his eyes. "Now, obviously, we won't go just yet. We just got here, after all. Then, there is the Calling and its aftermath to consider... Yes, at least a few good weeks to plan this out properly, I think..." He trailed off, deep in thought.
Taking advantage of the lull in conversation, one of the unfamiliar shamares started asking questions. "Something about your story still bothers me, youngling. Do you truly not have spirits back in your tribe's lands? What happens to ponies when they die?"
"Well..."
❅ ❆ ❅
The shamare's question opened the floodgates, and Agate spent the remaining time of the meeting answering them all, at least the ones she was able to. It was late by the time they finally finished, and the crowd flooded outside in a rush, suddenly reminded of their hunger and other needs now that the exciting conversation was over. Many large pots and firepits were being set up all over Snowpitt, one of the first communal feasts getting underway.
Agate briefly thought about going to find some of her friends, but discarded the idea almost immediately. She felt like she was done talking for the day, choosing to quietly slip away and wander around, instead. Soon, she found a mixed group of ponies from various tribes, waiting by one of the firepits for the food to cook while a small group of bards regaled them with music. With a relaxed sigh, she sat down nearby, listening to the performer.
"Alright, now this song is an old favorite in the northern reaches. It's sometimes called the "trekking mare", or "northern explorer's song"," A mare explained, starting to bang on a pair of drums in a quick rhythm. Moments later, she began singing, another pony joining in with a flute.
"Well a trekking mare am I
And I'm telling you no lie
I gallop among the herds of windigoes
That trail across the sky
There's monsters all around me
And there's danger in the air
There's deep terrors in the water
They'll swallow you like an otter
And frost all in me hair
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
But you go
Well I've slept among the herds of seals
And I wore the seaweed like a cloak
I crept by springs of boiling sulphur
And they nigh on make you choke
I stood knee-deep in freezing seawater
Got sick with a feverish burn
Been running rough
I've seen enough
To make your stomach turn
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
But you go
There's free land and other opportunities galore
The young mares like the rush
And they all come back for more
But soon you're covered in scars
And you look older than you should
For every slip and fail
Made on the northern trail
You pay with flesh and blood
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
But you go
Well a trekking mare am I
And I'm telling you no lie
I gallop among the herds of windigoes
That trail across the sky
There's monsters all around me
And there's danger in the air
There's deep terrors in the water
They'll swallow you like an otter
And frost all in me hair
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
And it's go, mares, go
They'll freeze your very breath
And every day you're in this place
You're flirting with your death
But you go
But you go
But you go!"
The audience cheered, though some of them looked solemn, likely due to the somewhat dark depiction of an explorer's life. The bard smiled, though, winking at them. "Oh, don't look so down. We northerners know what we're getting into when we go out there. Well, most of us do. Here's one story of a stallion that got into trouble way in over his head, though," She said, nodding towards a stallion next to her.
He grinned, clearing his throat. "Now, some ponies say that this story is most likely made up, but I disagree. Surely ponies wouldn't do that? Just make up lies for fun?" He chuckled, some of the listeners laughing. "Either way, here is the story of the windigo's daughter..."