//------------------------------// // Arboreal Distress // Story: Agate's Vigil // by Wingnut //------------------------------// "Hmmm," Pine Ponder hummed quietly to herself. As an experienced forager, the mare knew when to be quiet and alert, and when and where it was safe to hum or softly sing a song to yourself under your breath as you trotted through the woods. This, however, was not a musical hum. It was a thoughtful, concerned hum. One that didn't really fully convey just how serious the situation was. "Spirits, what is happening to you all?" The trees, of course, could not answer. Still, the signs of their poor health were quite obvious, at least to her. Pine Ponder wasn't a shamare, and she wasn't trained in the arts of seeing spirits and communing with them. Despite all of that, she could still feel the tree's spirits withering away. She spent a good part - perhaps even most - of her life in the woods, and she was quite attuned to the flows and ebbs of life in the forests around her home. And right now, something was very, very wrong. She gently ran her foreleg across the branches and needles of a small pine sapling, several branches wilting and yellowing already. It didn't make sense - it was winter. The pests that fed on trees were all asleep, and even tree-borne plagues didn't tend to spread during winter. It was as if the land itself was soaked in death, draining the life from the trees. The healthy ones were getting weaker, and the weak ones were already dead, lifeless husks. If it ended there, it wouldn't be the end of the world. One could always use more lumber and firewood, and the empty spaces would soon be replaced by new saplings. But at this scale, the entire forest would die. All of it. Old trees, young ones, grass, moss, berry bushes... Everything. The locals would have firewood galore, but everything else... Letting out a shuddering breath, she let go of the pine, turning back towards her village. River's Mouth wasn't all that far, but she did scout a rather large area, and the Sun was already setting. Firmly setting the direction in her mind, she began trotting, moving more by feel and experience than sight. It was quite dark when she finally returned, and the village was quiet. Trotting over to the village elder's house, she silently stuck an ear to his door, listening for any sounds. Hearing nothing, she sighed quietly, going home. Though her thoughts were not happy, her sleep was easy, her tired body immediately collapsing into the soft bed. ❅ ❆ ❅ The next day, she immediately went to the elder's house, right after getting some food in her. Politely greeting his family, she was led to the old stallion, the ponies greeting each other with respectful nods. Old Grayhoof (though he kept insisting everyone just call him Grayhoof) was a bit slow in body, but still plenty sharp in mind, and this wasn't their first meeting in the past few weeks. "Pine Ponder," He greeted her, gesturing for the mare to sit down. "You are a mare of few words, which is why I know what you're going to say next is going to be important. Is this to do with the forest again?" "I am a mare of few words mostly because I spend most of my time in silence as I move through the woods, elder," Pine Ponder shrugged. "And yes, this is to do exactly with that. I went trotting yesterday, from before the dawn's light graced the sky, and came back well after dark. I reached the Fang hill from the east, and circled back to the village from the west." "That is quite some distance to cover in a single day, especially in an uneven terrain, such as the forest," Grayhoof nodded with respect. "And is the forest still dying, same as before?" "Yes, elder, it is everywhere. No matter where I looked, no matter where I went. It is not stopping, and I have no clue as to the cause, but I do know that it is happening," She sighed. "You need not prove your honesty to me, youngling," Grayhoof sighed. "I believe you. I never once heard anything about you making things up to amuse your fancy, or anything of the sort. Besides, other ponies, even if they're less observant than you in regards to the woods, are able to see the same things." "Others noticed it too, then?" "Yes, especially when I sent them out with that goal in the first place," The elder nodded. "I took your first warning seriously, you know. Enough to try and investigate. Now, our ponies weren't able to tell me anything more than you did, but I did ask some ponies that were going in the direction of Foamy Rapids to talk to them as well, and see if their shamares have anything to say about it." "And...? Did you find anything out?" Pine Ponder asked with faint excitement, though her voice was also tinged with trepidation. "Yes, though it's not good news," He grimaced, rubbing the side of his head. "They noticed the same thing. It's affecting the entire region, it seems. The entirety of this stretch of the southern forest could die, if nothing changes." "That's... That's massive," Pine Ponder breathed, her eyes wide. "Indeed. I think we need to call in the big spears for this one, with no time to waste. We need to go to Snowpitt, and call on all the shamares there, and all the other villages that we can reach as well," The elder nodded decisively. "Oh my. Well. I guess... I guess it's a good thing we're going to try and do something, at least. I was honestly at wit's end here, but I didn't think..." She trailed off, glancing to the side. "That no one would take you seriously until it was too late?" Grayhoof chuckled. "You're a good mare, Pine, but you're still a youngling. Us old ponies have eyes too, you know, and we can see the things you can as well," He teased her, Pine Ponder feeling happy that her winter coat hid her embarrassed blush so well. "I, uh... Thank you, elder. I guess I'll... Be going, then. Leave you to it," The mare nodded, standing up. "Hmm? I assumed you would like to see this through yourself. You still were the first one to notice that something was wrong." "What do you mean, elder?" She asked, furrowing her brows. "I think you should be the one to go to Snowpitt as a representative of our village. Everyone in River's Mouth knows you're practically a forest spirit yourself. You could probably explain things better than anyone else could," The elder explained. "Me? But I'm just a simple forager..." She said quietly, the elder chuckling and shaking his head. "Oh please, youngling, there's no need for this false modesty. You're the most experienced woodsmare we had in the village for at least a century. You bring in baskets of pine nuts, herbs, berries, and everything else where others find nothing. You told our hunters of yeti tracks multiple times, yet you glide through the woods with nary a hair out of place. Clearly, you're far more than "just a forager", young mare." "W-well, I mean..." "Will you do it?" She stopped to think, weighing her options. It wasn't like there was all that much to do in winter anyway, and if the forest died, she'd have nothing to do ever again. Sure, she could move somewhere where the forests were still alive, but the loss would still hurt. A lot. And it's not like moving large distances in a day bothered her. She nodded slowly to herself first, giving the elder another, firmer nod. "I'll do it." "Good. Now, I don't want you travelling alone, good at sneaking as you might be. I'll ask a hunter or two to accompany you. No one that would slow you down, don't worry. The messenger from Foamy Rapids said that the shamares were quite worried, so it shouldn't be hard to convince them to send someone as well. Try to grab as many ponies as you can from the villages along the way, alright? I don't want the ponies in Snowpitt to think that this isn't a serious or urgent matter." "Of course, elder," Pine Ponder nodded, trying not to grimace. She didn't do all that well in big, loud groups, but at least this one should be focused on moving quickly instead of chattering. ❅ ❆ ❅ Foamy Rapids was their closest neighbor, the old settlement having many ties to River's Mouth. A great many families in the village had distant kin in the older settlement, the younger one being settled by many ambitious youths seeking their own fortunes in the new frontier. There was a small, but long line of shamares that hailed from Foamy Rapids, the stories claiming that the traveler spirit herself watched over them. Pine Ponder never saw the ancient spirit herself, but it made sense that a boon from such a being would bring fortune to one's family. "Either one of you know where to find the local shamares here?" Pine Ponder asked one of the two hunters that accompanied her. One shook his head, while the other one nodded. "I've been here plenty of times to trade. Right this way." He led them through the village, towards where the elders lived. Once Pine Ponder knocked and was let in, the pair of mystics that were talking in serious voices looked her up and down, turning their eyebrows in funny and curious ways. "You move like a shamare, youngling. Are you here on your knowledge journey?" One of them asked. "Oh? No, I'm not, elder. I am here on the behest of River's Mouth's village elder. I, ah... I was the first one to notice the forest dying, and he thought I'd make the best pony for this. He wants us to rush to Snowpitt, and ask their shamares to aid us, gathering more ponies from other villages along the way to help make our case," Pine Ponder explained. "Hmm. Well, he's a sharp one, then," The first shamare nodded with satisfaction. "We were thinking the same thing. We were just talking about whether one of us should go, but our old bones would make whatever trip you take twice or thrice as long." "Yes, it's best if we choose someone young and spry, like your elder did," The second shamare nodded. "Sit down, rest your legs a little. Daughter! Bring our guests some food. We'll be right back, you three. Just need to talk to our own elder and pick the right ponies. Won't take long. We went to the woods several times and saw just how dire the situation is, so I'm sure you're eager to get moving again. Just refresh yourselves a little while we get this sorted, and you can move out as soon as you want." "Of course, elder," Pine Ponder and her companions nodded respectfully, while a younger mare brought them some dried fish to munch on while they waited. The events played out similarly in the other villages along the way. The ponies in the closer ones also noticed something happening to the forest, while the further ones that managed to escape the radius of the mysterious arboreal death were convinced by the large number of village representatives that they managed to gather up to that point. When they finally marched to Snowpitt, the group was made of several dozen ponies, hailing from just about every village along the eastern half of the river. When they arrived, their group didn't garner any attention at all. It was the first month of winter, and the Gathering was underway, ponies from all three tribes pouring into Snowpitt. Making their way through the crowds, they sought out the chieftain, asking the locals for directions. It took a bit of trotting, as the stallion was busy making sure that everything was going smoothly. "You have rather grim expressions for what is supposed to be a mostly happy gathering," He noted immediately. "Did some of your kin die and get lost? You don't need to petition me to call them back, the Calling calls all the lost spirits, without exceptions." "No, chieftain," One of the stallions in the group said. "We come from the eastern villages, and we need the aid of Snowpitt's wisdom and magic, lest something terrible happens to our lands." "All of you? From different villages?" The chieftain frowned. "Yes, elder. I am Wildmane, son of Long Trek, elder of Green Bough." "Spearhead, son of Brine Hoof, messenger from the elder of Foamy Rapids, chieftain," Another stallion spoke. They introduced themselves one by one, Pine Ponder going last. With each pony, the chieftain's frown grew deeper and deeper. Looking around thoughtfully, he eventually shrugged, nodding to himself after a few moments. Waving to the group, he led them away. "Well, it's not like this hasn't been planned in advance, and happened every year for over a thousand years now. I'm sure ponies will manage just fine without me holding their hoof. Let's go find some shamares, and you can tell us all about what led you to come here." There was no shortage of shamares in the ancient settlement. Not only did they have more simply due to the larger population, travelling shamares that got too old to move around tended to retire in Snowpitt, and the other tribes still sent a number of younger shamares each year to lend their power to the Calling. The trick was to find the kind of shamare that you needed for the task. Earthsingers were the obvious choice here, though ones with gifts of foresight, telling fortunes and unravelling hidden mysteries would clearly come in useful as well. And even if their talents didn't lie in fields that were applicable to this issue, there was a chance they still knew some obscure bit of lore or someone that could be of use. As such, the chieftain pretty much swept up every shamare that he came across, leading the group towards the Hall. "Alright, I think that's everyone we could realistically gather on such short notice," He nodded. "Get inside, everyone, and let's listen to what the messengers have to say. This sounds quite serious." The mystics and the messengers all shuffled inside, taking their seats. There wasn't much of a hierarchy in the group, but they were still aware that Pine Ponder was the first one to notice that something bad was happening to the forests, so she was gently pushed onto the speaker's rug first. "Hello, chieftain... Elders," Pine Ponder nodded respectfully to the crowd in front of her. "It all started over a month ago now. At the very start of winter, as I was gathering some firewood, I noticed that the trees seemed weak and sickly. And it was most definitely not just them preparing for winter's slumber. It was odd, and I kept coming back to check on them, and it wasn't stopping..." She explained everything as best as she could, which wasn't much, of course, given that not a single pony from even one of the villages knew just what or why it was happening. None of the others in the group had anything to add, simply confirming her words and informing them whether the forests around their village were affected or not. Most of them were. "This is serious," The chieftain rumbled. "The forest provides important materials and food. The villages have fish and farms, but who's to say even they won't die if this keeps going? Many of the tribe will face starvation. The other settlements will help, but with so many villages affected, we will have many lean years, if not decades, before the situation normalizes." "It would also mean starved and manic yetis descending from the mountains in droves, once the prey animals die off as well," A hunter added. "Quite," The chieftain nodded. "It is unfortunate, then, that we have so little to work with. Has anyone ever heard of anything similar happening in the past?" He asked, turning towards the gathered shamares. "I... Do not think so, chieftain," The eldest southerner said slowly, scanning the western and northern shamares, who were shrugging helplessly. "But this sounds like the work of a truly powerful spirit, to affect an area that large." "Can you defeat it? With your power combined?" He inquired. "Hmm, hmmm," The mystic hummed, thinking deeply. "Well, wards and protective staves can be set up for just about any area, if you have enough shamares. One could ward the entire tundra plains, if they had a thousand thousand shamares under their beck and call. This... Could be possible. Or maybe some of the keen-eyed among us could find and track down the source of whatever foulness poisons the land and attack it directly. We know far too little to say whether we can do something or not, but there is little that cannot be overcome with enough will and magic. And I'm certain none of us here will refuse to go. True mysteries like this are only encountered every few centuries, and I don't intend to miss my chance to witness this myself, even if I'll have to be dragged around on a sleigh every step of the way." The other shamares laughed and nodded, pledging their aid one by one. The chieftain decided to join the expedition as well, pondering which strong stallions to take along to protect the vulnerable elder shamares. As they got to throwing ideas and dates around, a snag presented itself. "Well, we can't leave before the Calling, of course," The elder shamare shook her head. "It has happened for over a thousand years, and it will happen for a thousand years more! It will give us time to prepare, anyway." "How long, elder?" Pine Ponder asked with some concern. "Five days, youngling. And while I understand your plight, I'm afraid I will not budge on this. The lost ones must be called back," She said firmly, the others nodding with agreement. "I'm afraid she is right in that we need to prepare, too," The chieftain nodded. "I will call a bigger meeting this evening, gather all the brave warriors and travelers from the other tribes. We'll put together a grand expedition, but it will take time to sort out the chain of command and prepare everything." "Very well, chieftain." ❅ ❆ ❅ After that, the group broke to get some food and find suitable lodgings for their stay. As Pine Ponder ate, she felt despondent, knowing that every day spent waiting meant another day of the forests getting weaker. At the same time, though, she knew that suddenly moving hundreds of ponies across the tundra in the dead of winter was absolutely out of the question without the proper supplies and planning. The second meeting was far more populous, ponies cramming into every story of the building, their voices melting into a low drone as they watched the group of messengers sitting down below. Travelers, explorers, hunters, adventurous young ponies here to witness the Gathering for the first time - everyone that might be interested in joining a grand outing to overcome a mysterious danger was there. "Quiet down, quiet down," The chieftain called out as he stomped his hoof. "Seems like everyone's here, or we're full to near-bursting anyway, so let's get this underway. Pine Ponder?" With a nod, she trotted over to the speaker's rug again, repeating her story to the much-larger audience, who were listening keenly. Once she was finished, the others added their parts, and after that, the chieftain stepped in, explaining what would be expected of those that volunteered to come. "Shamares can deal with many threats that spears cannot, and at the same time, there's not much they could do against a charging yeti. This would be your job during this expedition. The shamares will doubtlessly need to be escorted all across the forest while they try and sniff out whoever's causing this, or to perform their own magic to counter whatever's happening. There could be danger. There could be unknown beasts and malicious spirits. We honestly don't know what we're going to be trotting into, here," He explained, the audience getting more and more excited with every word. While his tone was one of caution, the words were pretty much honeyed bait to every brave pony that was seeking to prove themselves and have tales of gloriously defeating whatever evil was plaguing the southern forest, ones that they could tell to their children and whoever else was listening. Before long, just about every pony in the Hall was thumping their chest and exclaiming that they were volunteering for the campaign. They all spent a few hours forming groups and sharing tasks, picking out swift ponies to be messengers, rugged hunters for the bodyguard roles, older and wiser ponies as leaders, and so on. The village representatives were roped in to guide them to their respective settlements, the chieftain and the others deciding that the best thing to do would be to divide everyone into a number of groups that they'd send into each village and operate from there, sending probing expeditions into the forest. Once all of that took on at least a rough shape, the chieftain nodded, tapping his hoof. "Alright, we can finish figuring out the fine details over the next few days, now that we have a chain of command and everyone knows who to ask for guidance. Now, usually, I would tell you all to go and get some sleep, but before we do that, I have one final question. Does anyone here know anything that could help with the situation? An old story of something similar happening in your tribe? Some obscure bit of lore on how to restore life to forests? Knowledge about some kind of forest-devouring spirits that could be behind this?" Some ponies began whispering, while most of the others sat silently and shook their heads. It seemed like no one was going to say anything, until a lone mare slowly made her way towards the speaker's side through the crowd. Pine Ponder looked her up and down curiously, as did everyone else. She was wearing a large cloak and boots, with a bag strapped to her side. Her expression was mostly unreadable, because her long bangs almost completely covered the entirety of her face. "Speak, explorer. Who are you, and what do you have to say?" The chieftain asked. "I am Ice Elation of the northern tribe, chieftain," She introduced herself, making a number of northerners mutter. "While I have been to many remote places and saw many strange creatures, I do not know what could be harming the forest. However, I have heard a story about a pony that supposedly managed to bring great life to a tree that was nearly, or perhaps even completely, dead." "Oh? Well, one tree isn't much, but perhaps it could be applied to the whole forest via shamaric magic," He mused. "What did the pony use to achieve that?" "A branch from one of the trees in the crystal forest, chieftain," She said, the Hall erupting into surprised shouts and exclamations. "Silence, silence! The crystal forest, you say? From what I heard, it's in the depths of Ice Land, and few that venture there return," The stallion frowned. "Can you tell me the story, please?" "Naturally, chieftain. Some cast doubt on whether it is even real, yet, of course, they refuse to go and see for themselves. However, the crystal forest is a very real place, I assure you. Though many ponies perished while trying to understand its secrets, some have managed to bring back trophies from there. One of those was a stallion by the name of Mighty Leap. He was an adventurer trying to prove himself, and, as many of them do, he went to Ice Land, the most untamed, wildest place one could possibly think of, where floewolves roam the icy plains, and windigoes circle the skies. He gathered a group of like-minded ponies and, much like him, they were ambitious. Many ponies have performed valorous tasks like taking down floewolves and claiming their fangs over the years, and they considered such a quest insufficient to establish just how good they supposedly were. No, they set their sights on the crystal forest. They... I suppose the details of their journey do not matter all that much. They did manage to reach the forest, without losing anyone along the way. When they entered the forest itself, however... Well, they decided that they needed to take a trophy, to prove that they indeed have been there. And what better trophy to take from a forest than a branch? So they went right up to a tree, and broke one off. The forest took offence to that. When they entered, there were seven of them. Only one managed to make it out alive. Mighty Leap later described getting slashed at by invisible and untouchable enemies, his comrades getting viciously cut down in front of his eyes. Even when their spirits were called back to the tribe afterwards, none of them could describe what actually killed them. They... Well, I suppose that doesn't matter, either. Mighty Leap swore off adventuring after that. His comrades didn't blame him, but he felt guilty regardless, and even his impressive trophy didn't manage to soothe his regret. The crystal branch, the object that his team had died for, was glowing with power, attracting no small amount of curious shamares and other ponies, eager to see the incredible prize from the most remote and unreachable wilderness. Where others would recall their adventure with a mix of hard-learned humility and pained pride - after all, the expedition was a success that achieved something no one else managed to do, even with the losses - with each retelling of the story, the words just grew more and more bitter in Mighty Leap's mouth. The magic was slowly fading from the branch as well, the crystal slowly growing duller, as if in response to Mighty Leap's darkening mood. One day, Mighty Leap had enough. He grew sick of his precious prize, and went outside, stabbing the branch into a half-dead tree that stood near his home. Don't ask me why he did it precisely that way - I think it might have been symbolic, to warn others that seeking such treasures will only bring them death? He himself later said that he wasn't thinking much at all then, and just wanted the thing out of his house so ponies would stop coming over to gawk at it. So, he put it outside, even if it meant leaving it where someone might steal it. Well, the act gave him one last boost of fame anyway. The sputtering and failing dregs of magic flowed from the crystal into the wood, revitalizing it and making new branches and needles sprout from the dead tree. The crystal branch gave out, never growing or changing again, but the tree was given a new lease of life, surviving long past Mighty Leap himself departed to the spirit realms. And that is the story, chieftain. The remains of the tree still stand there to this day, the dead crystal branch still available for everyone to see. Most ponies don't know or forget about the part where the branch's magic restored the tree, since they focus on everything else that happened, or wonder if such magic could be used for other purposes," The mare concluded. "That is... A fascinating and obscure bit of lore indeed," The chieftain mused. "I do wonder how much use it is, though. It does sound like the branch had great power, one that was almost drained when Mighty Leap performed that act... Yet, not only is the forest in the depths of Ice Land, which would be quite a roundtrip during winter, the danger... It sounds like whoever would volunteer for this would be going into near-certain death." "Times have... Changed, chieftain. A little. It has been several centuries since Mighty Leap's expedition, and there had been others who tried to repeat his feat. Some successfully, others - not so much. Either way, with each attempt, the knowledge about that strange place increased. Now, I'm not saying that it's remotely safe. But... It's no longer a certain death sentence," Ice Elation explained evenly. "Hmm... You sound like you have personal experience in that regard," The chieftain nodded with a small smile. "I... Do, yes. I have been to the crystal forest and back." "Well then-" "Twice." That made the crowd explode in mutters again, some northerners nodding while ponies from the other tribes looked at the mare a bit more skeptically. The chieftain rubbed his chin thoughtfully, before raising his head and addressing the crowd. "This mare makes very impressive claims. Does she speak truth? Is her name known among the northern tribe?" A number of answers in the affirmative rang out, though it wasn't unanimous. It seemed that Ice Elation was an adventurer of some renown, but not universally so. Thinking for a short while again, the chieftain nodded to her, picking his words carefully. "Well, it seems that you did make a name for yourself, but I'm not that certain that all that many ponies will want to join you on an expedition to the north. I'm not going to stop any volunteers from coming, of course, but..." "That is fine. In fact, I much prefer to travel alone," Ice Elation shrugged indifferently. "...I see. You'd take on such a risk on yourself? For the southern tribe? We don't know for certain if it will even be necessary," He said, looking towards Pine Ponder and the other messengers. "The forests do not have long left to live, chieftain. Perhaps a month, perhaps two. And perhaps even if they live, they'll get so sickly that disease and pests will kill them either way," She suddenly said, shrinking a little when all of the attention in the Hall turned towards her. "Hrm. Well. I'm not one to turn down help from a brave pony in an hour of need, of course," The chieftain hummed. "And, of course, if something were to happen to you, the southern tribe would make sure that your family won't ever have need of anything ever again," He nodded to Ice Elation. "My family can take care of themselves, but thank you, chieftain. Either way, this situation sounds very serious. Serious enough for some risk. I already went there for far more frivolous reasons," Ice Elation shrugged, digging around in her cloak and pulling out a shining shard of something. "Is that...?" She held up the shard, Pine Ponder and the others squinting to see just what it was. The chieftain trotted over to her, gingerly picking it up and rolling it over in his hoof. "Needles... Odd, crystalline, but still needles from an evergreen... Fascinating," He spoke in a low voice, but still loud enough for the ponies to hear. "Yes. I've done it before, like I said. And I can do it again. A branch would be harder, but... Perhaps a pinecone or something would work as well," Ice Elation nodded. "Pinecone?" Pine Ponder immediately perked up. "...Yes? I saw some on the trees when I was there last," Ice Elation nodded. "That would be so much better than a branch! The sheer power a pinecone like that could contain..." "How in the world would you know that?" From her tone of voice, it sounded like the explorer raised her eyebrows questioningly, though that was obviously impossible to see through her mane. "Well, I might not be an explorer or even a northerner, but I know my trees. And I know pinecones," Pine Ponder nodded confidently. "There is power in them. Life. I collect pine nuts, and a single hoofful of nuts can keep you full for a couple hours. More than that, you said that the branch was slowly bleeding its power away. Which is exactly what happens with branches from regular trees, too. A pinecone, meanwhile, is made to store and protect the seeds, until the right time comes. And until it does, there is very little that can actually harm them. I am... Very certain that a pinecone would contain incredible magic, if those crystal trees are as magical as you say they are." "They are," Ice Elation nodded slowly. "The Breath in the north is so thick, even a regular pony starts feeling like a shamare." "Well, if you could somehow retrieve a pinecone... Are they hard to reach? I know pine trees aren't exactly easy to climb..." "I... Am not the biggest expert on trees. They're not like pines, though. They're more like... Firs? Lower to the ground," Ice Elation shrugged, her quiet confidence dissipating slightly while speaking about a topic that was less familiar to her. "Oh, that makes it easier. I hope there's no crystal squirrels or birds that ate all the seeds, though. Well, if the pinecone is still on the tree, it should be good, I think," Pine Ponder said, pondering pinecones. "...Right," Ice Elation said slowly, while the chieftain grinned. "Sounds like you should take her along. For her expertise in forests, if nothing else." "Wait, what?" Pine Ponder suddenly sat up straighter. "How good are you at being silent? Trotting or galloping non-stop for long distances? Snowwalking? And, most importantly, at being silent?" Ice Elation questioned her. "I- I can sneak by a yeti, but- Why are you talking like I already agreed to go with you?!" Pine Ponder shouted, her eyes wide. "This is your quest. You were the first one to call the alarm. You clearly care about this very strongly, probably stronger than any other pony here," Ice Elation listed the reasons with a slow shrug. "Y-yes, but didn't you say that you prefer to travel alone?" "...Yes, but I think in this case, making sure that the pinecone arrives safely is more important. And having a second pony... Would be a detriment on the way there due to your lack of experience, but, once we reach the forest, you would be a big help. It all hinges on whether you're able to keep up with me, though. Can you?" "Some call her a forest spirit back home," One of the stallions that accompanied Pine Ponder to Snowpitt said. "She's silent as the grave, and can seemingly cover half the forest in a single journey." "Hrm... Adequate," Ice Elation nodded. "Will you take up the mission, then?" "I... I suppose it would be hypocritical of me to refuse," Pine Ponder muttered. "And I would do a lot of things to save the forest." "In that case, we can't waste time. The Calling is in five days, and after that, the plains will be swarming with strange spirits and creatures. We need to be gone before that," Ice Elation proclaimed, nodding firmly. "Isn't it usually a week's journey to reach Nilas?" "It is. This will be an excellent test of what you're capable of." "Great..." "Then it is decided!" The chieftain roared suddenly. "These two brave ponies will go to the north, to hopefully bring extra power for the shamares to save the forest with. While our undertaking will be important, theirs will be even more so. As such, we must give them all the help we need!" When Pine Ponder reflected on it in the future, she thought that what was happening was a lot like the adventure stories that she listened to on occasion. Not just the way it happened, but also the way she felt as it was happening. The suspense and the tense feeling in her gut were the same as when a skilled storyteller was recounting an immersive tale, except this time, it was for real. She was in the story. The southern tribe outfitted her and Ice Elation with everything they could possibly need, from clothes to magic. It was mostly Pine Ponder that needed equipment, though the explorer got no small amount of things as well. Dozens of fire charms for getting warm or warding off predators, a good dozen magical potions to restore strength, an amulet of true sight that made Pine Ponder's vision swim with all the colors that were hidden from her before, and so on. Ice Elation had an ice spear, something that didn't pass Pine Ponder's notice. Ponies that didn't know what they were doing rarely had weapons like that, so she had little reason to doubt her guide's competence, at least. To further enhance her authority, the northerner elders that were present gave her amulets and carved lengths of bone, signifying that she was on a very important mission and that she should be given any kind of aid that she required. The northerner's chieftain wasn't at the Gathering, but the blessings from the elders carried no small amount of importance, either. The traveler spirit wasn't present, either. Someone in the audience asked whether they should ask her for her aid, pointing out that the ancient crystal spirit might be of use in the crystal forest as well. The chieftain shook his head, though. "The ancient one is currently in Green Land with her family. We have no way to reach her easily, and Green Land is a couple weeks of travel away from Ice Land. It would be too much of a detour." "I doubt a spirit would be all that much use either way," Ice Elation shrugged. "Our task is purely physical, and even spirits can't see the dangers of the forest." And that was that. By the next morning, Pine Ponder and Ice Elation were standing on the edge of Snowpitt, a small crowd of shamares, elders, and young, adventurous youths wishing them well and giving their blessings, beseeching the spirits of their ancestors to watch over them on the dangerous path that they were setting on. "Ready?" Ice Elation asked simply. "As ready as I'll ever be, I think," Pine Ponder nodded. "Good. Let's go, then."