They'd entered a part of the swamp where the trees were so ancient that their thick, gnarled roots were almost as impressive and the eerie canopy above, curling over one another as they broke through the water's surface and vanished into its mysterious depths. The two girls felt for certain that if they were going to find the swamp spirits anywhere, it would be there. Despite this, they'd also done everything possible to keep out of the water. It was just too dangerous: The instant they disturbed the still surface, they'd be attacked—and who knew if the swamp spirits would feel like listening when they tried to drag them into the abyss.

As the two girls called out across the swamp though, it didn't seem like they would have much of a choice but to make that gamble. Everything remained eerily quiet until Hat Kid picked up a broken twig and threw it in the water. It landed with a soft plunk before bobbing back up amid the newly formed ripples.

Bow Kid squatted down on the large root they balanced on to peer below, but didn't see anything either, "Do you think they're all down in their own realm? Maybe they're hiding from the cold."

It was possible. As worried as the fire spirits had been over the second-coming of Vanessa's storm, it made sense that others would try to flee from it at the first sign of snow. It made her wonder how deep their realm actually went—if it was more of an expanded, distorted version of this part of forest or its own pocket of space altogether more similar to the Horizon. If it was the latter, maybe they wouldn't care at all about trying to save Subcon since they could just warp out of harm's way easily.

It didn't stop her from wanting to try to get their help. Hat mentally braced herself and sat down on the root, making sure her Projectile Badge was securely fastened to the brim of her cap. Umbrella tightly in her grasp, she held out her free hand to Bow, "Looks like there's only one way to find out. I'll need you to hang onto me. If they try to drag me away, you need to pull me back."

No further explanation was needed. Spirit realm or not, neither of them could breathe underwater. Bow seemed reluctant, but with no other plan, she grasped her friend's hand tightly and brandished her own weapon readily at her side.

Hat took a long breath. She shouted in warning before sliding off the root, "I'm coming in, spirits!"

The cold water jolted her system, and although it wasn't bad enough to affect her muscles, she still shivered. So much for all that work getting over that cold… She'd be lucky if she didn't relapse. That thought was barely in the back on the young alien's mind though as she kept her eyes peeled on her surroundings, searching the water fervently for any sign of movement.

There was none—or at least, not at first. She'd expected the sludge to manifest itself into the stretched, writhing appendages that had encircled her and grappled for her before. Instead, something clamped around her waist under the water and tried pulling her away from behind. She yelped in surprise, fighting to keep her head up while Bow planted her feet firmly against the wood to hang on to her.

Whatever had ahold of her felt like the tail of a snake or a long fish. It was slick, scaly, and heavily muscled. Hat Kid could feel the four lobes of its tail contorted around her like fingers, matching the hand-like shape of the sludge they typically summoned to attack.

There was a gasp and a loud blast sounded through the forest. Bow Kid had raised her umbrella to ward off another grimy shape coming for her from behind next, propelling it back into the bog. A pair of webbed hands reached out around Hat Kid next, raking past her ponytail, as she felt the spirit coil around her further and she screamed, "Thane Fen! We're just here to talk to the Thane of the Fen!"

Everything seemed to stop all at once and the tight hold on her thankfully loosened. She breathed carefully through her nose, trying to steady her heartbeat in case the other being could feel how rapidly it pounded against her chest. She fought the urge to twist her umbrella around so it would already be aimed at the spirit in case things still took a turn for the worst: The movement likely wouldn't go unnoticed and instead just enrage them.

She didn't feel any more at ease when the spirit did draw away, vanishing into the depths with a rush of movement and the end of its tail briefly peeking above the surface right beside her before slipping back under. The girls wasted no time, scrambling to get Hat back out of the water and huddling close to each other in the middle of the large root where they waited the following minutes in silence.

Hat Kid continued to shiver, wanting nothing more than to return to Subcon village and join the foxes around any one of their warm fires. Even Kit's overly spicy food seemed good to her at the moment—anything to spark some heat back into her core. She took advantage of the brief delay to wring the swamp water out of her cape and tunic, hoping that all of this would really be worth it. From that one experience alone though, the swamp spirits did appear to be as physically strong as they were ruthless.

It wasn't until after they finally surfaced that the girl realized she'd never gotten a proper look at them beyond quick blurs of movement and their spells. Five of them appeared: Four male and one female, all with a humanesque form. The way the water rippled in odd places; however, it wouldn't have surprised the two aliens to learn that there were more lying in wait. Each swamp spirit shared a mottled look to their skin and scales, fin-like 'ears,' a set of horns, and extremely long hair. Their mostly violet colorations, meanwhile, slightly differed and each bore unique patterns across their face and collarbone.

It was easy to tell which one was Thane Fen simply by the air of authority he carried around himself. He looked to be the strongest of the group and had small finlets that ran across his shoulders like epaulettes, as well as a smaller pair of points that branched off the tall, jagged horns protruding from his head. He kept his hair pulled back in a slick, low ponytail that billowed in the water like some kind of shadowy, undersea plant. While his skin was clear compared to the others, the dark, twin markings around his eyes reminded the girls of a skull's blank sockets—only made all the more jarring by his steely gaze.

Hat and Bow braved themselves against his observing stare. Although showing any hint of aggression was probably the wrong idea, neither of them felt that they could afford to look weak either. As it was, the Thane still raised an unimpressed, quizzical brow at them. His voice was deep and jeering, directed at one of the other swamp spirits even as he continued to eye them, "You dragged me up to this foul place just for a pair of Dweller children?"

"We're not actually Dwellers," Bow corrected him, the grip on her weapon no less firm even as she looked at the spirits with barely hidden fascination, "We're just here to talk to you for them."

"Wherever you're from, you're all the same kind of sad, surface dweller to me." Despite the threatening, on-edge demeaner his kind exuded, he almost seemed bored—as if he wanted the pair to present some actual danger. He swam to the side to lean against another root close to their one with a huff, propping himself against it. "Present yourselves," as the girls shared a confused look, he rephrased, "Explain yourselves. Where do a pair of small fries find the gall to intrude on our swamp and call my name?"

Hat Kid was proud of herself for managing to keep back a snippy remark. The Thane was so sure of himself that he reminded of her more of Snatcher by the second. It was no wonder they couldn't see eye-to-eye! It meant that she and Bow had to be good representatives in his place. She dipped her head at the commanding spirit politely, "Snatcher send us. We're here because we need your help. Vanessa's attacking the forest again. We're trying to gather as many spirits to fight back against her as we can."

"I've noticed…" Fingers laced together, his chin propped against them, Thane Fen glanced at the nearby slush with a harsh look before his gaze returned to them. He chuffed mockingly, continuing, "Subcon's grim Shadow sent a pair of little girls my way for that? He must be losing his edge."

Two of the other spirits chuckled darkly at his words. This was getting nowhere fast.

He waved his hand at them dismissively, "You should know we have no love for you Dwellers. I don't care if the entire surface is sent into a new ice age thanks to that witch: Run along and tell the Shadow he has no allies here."

Hat Kid insisted, "But Vanessa's only stronger now! Wasn't the storm bad the first time? If the ice spreads, it'll only be worse!"

"We can take ourselves."

Bow quickly added, "Even if you can, this part of the swamp probably won't make it. Are you really ok losing a part of your home?"

"And what exactly does the Shadow plan to do to stop it anyway?" he countered, eyes narrowing, "No spirit was able to prevent that wave before. I sincerely doubt any one could put a halt to it now."

"They're already working hard at it! We've got the fire spirits casting their barriers all over the forest, and Snatcher and his minions are using their own magic to melt the ice."

Mentioning the fire spirits might've been the wrong move. At the sound of their name, the Thane sneered in disgust. Hat Kid could only guess that he didn't like them anymore than the snow women she'd met in the Horizon did, as natural enemies thanks to their opposing elements: Water vs. Fire. He seemed more than content to end the conversation there, raising up, "We don't work with those foxes."

"Well, you might not have a choice."

The bold claim slipped out of Hat Kid's lips before she could stop them. She couldn't help it: Even knowing it in advance, it was hard to believe how incredibly stubborn the swamp spirits were being! Bow gave her a worried glanced. Hat noticed more than few shocked, stern expressions aimed her way.

The worst one was from Thane Fen himself. He directed all of that sneering disgust to her, the boredom in his tone replaced by something much more severe. He stared long and hard at her once again.

"I think I just realized who you are," he said, "You're that audacious, little urchin that snuck around my guards not too long ago, that flushed out the main pipes of the well, aren't you?"

Hat didn't immediately answer, shuffling on her feet and biting the inside of her cheek. The swamp spirits didn't seem to think much about their intrusion this time, given their reason, but her previous contracts with Snatcher probably wouldn't be a good enough excuse. The gazes leveled at them seemed harsher and she tried to think of the best way to charge out of their situation if needed. Which way was the closest back to solid ground?

To her astonishment—and trepidation—a small, smug grin drew itself onto the Thane's face. He paused, considering something to himself mutely, then offered, "My men don't work with anyone weaker than them either. Tell you what? You want our help so badly? Prove yourself. Fight one of my warriors—I'll eve let you and your friend here work together. If you win, we'll help you fend off the witch."

He said nothing about what would happen if they lost. Then again, he didn't really need to: The only wagers a spirit like him seemed to deal with were the ones that involved life and death. If it was two against one though, even if they were pretty strong…

Bow Kid gave Hat a reassuring nod. If they had to fight, they'd fight together. They agreed to Thane Fen's terms.

He sent one of his men to collect someone else, which caught the girls off-guard. They would've thought any one of his strongest guards would've already surfaced with him. Whey they returned, it was with a female swamp spirit with waves of long, crimped, springy hair. Her skin was shades of light lavender with small, dark mottled spots that coated over her body and across her nose like freckles. Unlike the others though, she had no horns and the end of her tail was shape more like an eel's rather than a fish's. Most noticeably though was the faint, ethereal glow that traced her body as she surfaced—and how startlingly familiar she seemed to Hat Kid even though she was certain they'd never met before.

Although the woman stared at Thane Fen with a deep frown, he gently brushed a wild lock of hair away from her face, "Ah, my lovely water lily… Are you feeling up to a bit of sport?"