After nearly a year of training, Martyn felt that Ridge was finally ready for the encounter and anything that led him beyond that. The night before the two friends were going to confront the townsmen was a night filled with preparations.

"Do we need our swords?" Ridge asked the forest spirit. Martyn was on the other side of the clearing, packing food, water, and the necessities for an unforeseen emergency.

"Yeah, it's best if we take them, but try and hide it. We don't want the folks to feel threatened. Remember, it's a peaceful meeting."

"Do you think they'll really listen just because I'm here?" Ridge said doubtfully. "I can't imagine that happening, to be honest."

"It might not work," Martyn admitted. The forest spirit stuffed a bag of apples into his white backpack. "But if we just make ourselves clear, we might be able to figure out something."

Ridge stuffed the rest of his little clothing into his backpack and pulled on his overcoat. He stood up and looked over at Martyn, who was still crouching next to his bag. "Are you ready?"

A few more rustles in his backpack, and Martyn stood up. "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's get this over with."

The two extinguished the dim torches that provided light within the clearing and felt their way out of the heart of the forest.

xxXxxXxx

A young teenage boy ran through the darkened streets, his feet padding softly atop the small gravel path. The path itself wound its way up a small hill before coming at a stop in front of a stone brick building. The building looked ordinary, save for the tall spire that rose up from the roof like it was reaching for the stars above it.

The boy's small feet built up speed until he was sprinting along the road, sending granules of gravel behind him. His hand reached out to grab the wooden doorknob as he was nearing his destination. The door opened and closed with a slam, disturbing an old man from his book.

"Great Notch, Toby!" He exclaimed, rather unhappily. "What in Minecraftia has brought you here in this hour? It's past midnight. Don't you think you would be missed?"

"No, no it's not that," Toby said hurriedly. He paused to catch his breath. "Holmes! The forest spirit! He's recruiting!"

The man's white eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Recruiting? What do you mean?" He asked slowly.

"I was spying on him, and I saw him practicing swordplay with another person! I don't know what's up with that, but they might be plotting an attack! But, Holmes, their sparring! It was a sight to see! They're better than even four Evans combined!" Toby's eyes shone with excitement.

"If they are really plotting an attack, then we must get ready…" The old man, Holmes, mused. "Toby, you should sound the alarm. Make sure everyone has a weapon, and wake the iron golems." His eyes narrowed. "If their swordplay is as good as you say, then we might need to evacuate the women and children. Go, Toby, and make haste!"

"Yes, sir!"

xxXxxXxx

"It's oddly silent…" Martyn whispered as the two friends quietly crept their way to the outskirts of the village.

It was dawn. The birds haven't woken up to chirp their morning songs yet, and the plains quiet. A group of wild boars grazed peacefully in the distance.

"Wouldn't most people still be sleeping?" Ridge asked. "Is it that odd?"

Martyn nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on the buildings. "Most people wake up early in the morning."

"Oh."

They had entered the borders of the town. It was small, ordinary, and reminded Ridge of his own poor village a thousand leagues away. The path was paved with small grains of gravel, and the houses were silent, dark and seemingly empty. They passed through the town without any trouble.

Once they reached the town square, Martyn's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Where is everyone?" He demanded.

"I don't know. Weapons at the ready?" Ridge asked.

"Not yet. We still don't know what's going on. Keep up your guard though."

Ridge nodded silently. For minutes, they stood in the center of the town, listening for the smallest sound that would tell them where the villagers are.

"Watch out!" Martyn grabbed Ridge's coat and pulled them down into a crouch. A twang of a released bowstring sounded as clear as day, and an arrow flew over their heads. Two more arrows followed, one landing just in front of Ridge's feet and another impaling itself into Martyn's backpack.

"Weapons out, Ridge," The forest spirit whispered urgently to him. "But don't strike."

Ridge drew his diamond sword from its scabbard. The hilt was growing old, and it was chipped badly in several areas, but the blade itself was still as sharp as ever, capable of slicing through man in a few well-placed swings.

"Hold your fire!" Martyn shouted to no one in particular. "We come in peace! We only want to talk!"

"Talk?" A small voice asked. "You just want to talk?"

"Yeah, only to talk. I promise." Martyn held his free hand up to his heart in an honest gesture.

A boy, only a few years younger than Ridge himself, dropped down from a nearby roof. An iron sword was held tight in his hand, but Ridge could see that it was shaking slightly. Still, the boy radiated a fiery aura.

"Drop your weapons and slide them towards me," he commanded.

Martyn and Ridge looked at each other. The forest spirit nodded silently, so he and Ridge dropped their weapons. The diamond blades clattered the floor with a clear ring. Martyn removed his bow, and Ridge dropped his knife. Once the weapons were on the floor, Martyn nudged them towards the boy with his foot.

"We only want to talk," he reiterated.

The boy shifted the weapons so they were behind him, well away from the forest spirit and teenager. "What," he said, "do you want?"

Martyn raised his hands. "I just want peace."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want you guys to cut down any more trees."

"If this is what you're here for, then go back. We won't stop." The boy's black eyes glittered with hostility, and possibly a little fear.

"Look, boy. The forest is slowly dying because of your village's excessive logging. That forest is home to many birds and other creatures. It's also a home for me. At least replant the saplings that the trees give. It's not so hard, now is it?"

"How do we know that you won't kill us all in our sleep?"

"He's with me. The two of us have been living in the forest together for about a year. If I was hostile towards man, don't you think I would've killed him when he first entered my forest?" Martyn countered, nodding towards Ridgedog.

You did try to kill me when I first entered your forest, you little liar…

"Martyn's really nice, just saying," Ridge said. "And, uh… He likes apples..." Martyn rolled his eyes at the unintelligent statement.

The boy stayed silent for a few minutes, no doubt thinking about the things they had just said. Several tense moments passed, and he still hasn't said anything.

"I'll go talk to the elder and we'll make our decision," He finally decided. "Meanwhile, take your weapons and go back to your forest. I'll come down there myself to tell you our answer."

"Thanks." Martyn and Ridge accepted their respective weapons from the boy. "What's your name?"

"Call me Toby."

A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update... I really am. I got stuck with the absolute worst writer's block. Add that with school and procrastination, and you have the ultimate formula for not updating your story. Sorry!

Also, the figure is Toby! Pretty obvious, but yeah. Review and all that, I'll see you guys later.

Havs, out!