What if I told you, there was a war waging within the natural world around you? A war between Life and Decay? A war that has been waging for countless millenia, longer than the oldest tree has records of? That this war maintains a delicate balance for Growth?

What if I told you that the balance must be maintained? That, in the end, neither side is good or evil? There is only Growth?

I would tell you to take a close look. If you still can't see it, then I'd tell you to take a closer look.

Because it is there, ever-present, ever-waging, a neverending cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

And it must continue. No matter the cost.


The darkening clouds alerted them as they watched the fading embers on the forest floor below the trio. "Won't be long now. The rains herald a new Queen. This Blight has to be eradicated now or it could cause problems again in the very near future."

Three pairs of blue eyes focused on the hollowed, blackened shell of a tree stump that had once been the home of the forest's Lord of Decay. "That's the last part. Returning that stump to the Earth will complete the task, and make a fitting grave for Nightshade and his followers. Then we continue to Windbreak and collect the newest Tender."

Focused will cracked the earth's surface beneath the stump. Three auras flared with power while the ground swallowed the remains of what had once been the core of a cancer within the smaller forest in North Carolina, leaving no trace behind when the earth closed once more. Bright blue eyes looked down slightly to meet deep blue as the first few drops of rain hit the ground around them. "Do you think this Queen will be more amenable to our kind once we arrive?"

The lone female of the trio shrugged. "Who knows? We don't even know if she's a Shyuma yet. It's not the first time that a non-Shyuma has become an Heir. If the new Queen doesn't have a strong enough will though to retain her own identity... Our mission may be quickly compromised."

Both men nodded. More than one Queen had lost her mind upon being chosen in their recorded histories, and Tenders had been summoned by the Earth Herself to correct the issue. That alone had caused more than one Forest Conclave to nearly ban their presence. They hoped this time, as they did each time, there would be no complications on their main mission.

Every new drop of rain that hit the earth sprouted new life, finding seeds that had been long forgotten within the hold of the Blight and reawakening them, a carpet of green spreading over the newly turned ground while the three stood and bore witness. "At least she has enough sense to put some Growth energy into her first rain."

"Remember to keep your comments of that nature to yourself, Boll. It would look very bad for us if your mouth got us kicked out of Windbreak before we pick up the infant." Cobalt-blue eyes looked up slightly at the bigger of the two men as he sighed and nodded his affirmative. "We need every Tender child that Terra alerts us to. We can't exactly have Tender children ourselves."

"Yes, Fen, I get it. Trust me, a few of us have tried back at the Hold!" Boll's snicker was cut short by the sharp jab in the back. "Hey! Cut it out, Jasper! Geez!"

"Just because you wish to try and compete with Stompers for the title of Most Amorous does not mean we need to know about it, or that we even want to know." Jasper growled softly as he met the other's eyes in a steady gaze. "It is already established that most of the new births in the Hold are of your doing. It does not look well on you to admit such proclivities. You can not support yourself, let alone provide for six new children."

Boll rolled his eyes at the nagging. It had long ago become old news to him and he knew responding in any way would only fuel the older Shyuma's patient ranting. Instead, he turned to walk across the newly green field to a spot that hadn't yet grown anything more significant in height than a handful of mushrooms and moss. "Well, if we're going to go get our new brother or sister, we'd better get a move on! This weather isn't going to hold out for long!"

Fen nodded as she pulled the cowl up on her flying cloak while the first of three massive ravens landed near Boll to wait for their partners to mount. "Let's get this over with. I want a nice, warm, dry camp before we begin the return flight."

Within seconds, three black shadows glided lazily across the sky, ready for just about any challenge they might face at their destination.