Travelling on Snowy Peaks
Amber had seen snow before, walked in it, experienced it falling from the sky, and even been caught in a storm once. But never had she seen it like this before as she stood at the edge of a snow field.
"This place is beautiful," she whispered as she stared at a thermal spring and snow covered forest.
It was far from winter but even the early fall brought a fresh layer of fluffy white snow to blanket everything in the mountains. It was bright, clean, and mystical. Not at all like the dull gray ash that covered the Winding Ridge and beyond. After a week of traveling with nothing but rocks and the occasional mountain bush, she did not expect to stumble upon a winter wonderland. She almost did not believe the scene was real, only confirming its existence when she picked up a handful of the cold snow to make sure she was not imagining it.
"No wonder caravans come this way," she said while approaching the hot spring.
She put a hand into the water and was pleased to find it at a comfortable temperature. Perfect to soak her feet while eating lunch. She leaned down to begin taking her boots off.
"If you're going to take a bath I would recommend against that. Your fur will freeze after you finish," a voice called out.
Amber shot up and looked around, her pistol in her hand as her eyes scanned her surroundings. She spotted a small figure standing between the trees on the other side of the spring.
"Where'd you come from?" she asked, realizing the individual to be a Spirit Guardian if she remembered correctly.
"Back that way. Where'd you come from?" was the response, pitch indicating a male and not at all concerned about the pistol.
"Back that way," Amber relaxed as the shock wore off, putting her pistol away calmly.
"Central Town… Drifter looking for relics to bring back?"
"Not quite. But I am drifter...or was one… Actually I don't know what I am at this point," Amber sighed, pinching the bridge of her muzzle.
The Guardian cocked his head and walked over. He was shorter than her by about a foot and had much thicker fur. He reminded her of a mountain goat due to his stubby horns, small ears, and fuzzy appearance. The only physical aspect that ruined the image was the long fluffy tail that mirrored her own save for the color difference. As far as she could tell, he only had his fur and the pouch around his shoulder on him.
The memories of her parents teasing her two weeks ago came to mind.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" Amber asked.
"Looking for herbs, sorry about the surprise earlier. I'm Milo," he stuck out his hand.
"Amber," she shook the offered limb.
"Pleased to meet you. A bit refreshing for someone from Central Town who isn't asking questions for bygone relics, even for a drifter."
"Heh, I can imagine. We're somewhat stubborn in our search for scraps."
"So what brings you here to Salvan?" Milo questioned.
"Salvan?" the mountains were named?
"Well...we're not quite in Salvan itself. Just the outskirts. It took three generations of hard work just to establish a presence here and we're not having the easiest time growing. Mountain forests don't provide the best means of expanding the Light...or so other clans say whenever we speak with them," Milo shrugged.
Amber had no clue what he meant by that. The "Light?" What light? From her limited knowledge about Spirit Guardians, she knew they did not even have an understanding of electricity outside of their weird powers. At least magic could be somewhat explained as a different form of science…
"I've lost ya haven't I," Milo stated rather than questioned.
"Yeah you have," Amber sighed, once again pinching the bridge of her muzzle.
"How about I just bring you to my village? It's not far from here and you can get some understanding of the world outside of Central Town."
Seeing no reason to deny him, Amber agreed. He likely knew the area (and the outside world) far better than she did. Even if it meant leaving the hot springs, she was fairly sure she would see more wondrous sights on her journey across the mountains...or was it Salvan?
Several minutes later Milo had guided Amber deeper into the forest. She was partially reminded about the Crystal Forest due to the lack of ambient noise but she felt safe.
"So...how much farther?" she asked as they walked, her stomach giving off a light groan.
"A few more minutes. It's not exactly on the main trade route but we enjoy the peace," Milo answered.
"How do you know so much about Central Town anyway? I've talked to a few merchants before and they hardly have an idea about the place. Hell, you could pass as a resident there just by the accent alone."
"Around thirty years ago a group left Central Town in hopes of making a more permanent contact with the rest of the world. They stumbled upon Salvan and soon set up a settlement within our borders. They act as a partial trade hub between Central Town and the Belran Desert. You probably know them as Icehaven."
Icehaven? Everyone knew it existed but it was a wild rumor beyond that. The merchants never really discussed anything outside of their wares and whatever information they were willing to part with provided they were compensated. The few drifters who went searching for the settlement came back after a few days of fruitless searching assuming they came back at all.
"It's nearby?" Amber asked, awestruck.
"Heh, much closer than you would believe. You follow the trade route and you'll run into it eventually," Milo said.
"Why does no one know about this?"
"In Central Town? Isolation if the merchants and people in Icehaven are to be believed. Those ruins seem to hold much more than old secrets if you ask me."
Far more than you'd ever know, Amber thought privately.
Leaving home was starting to appear more like the right choice the further along she went. A community of Spirit Guardians, a week away by foot, in the mountains. Icehaven, on the main trade route in and out of the region but not the map to denote its importance. Central Town truly was a trap that was focused on the past...one she was still in even after leaving it behind her.
They continued traveling silently. Save for a clump of snow falling from the branches and hitting Amber in the head, nothing happened. It did not take long for them to reach the village Milo told her about.
The village was small, barely passing the edges of the clearing it was built in. Treehouses and small huts were organized to make the most of the room. In the center was a building sitting over another hot spring, appearing to be a hothouse. There was no sign of any advanced technology at all, not even the thermal lamps which burned wood or used some kind of magic to function. There were various Guardians milling about of different shapes and sizes, resembling goats, mountain hares, and even foxes. The atmosphere was peaceful and calm, holding none of the underlying tensions that were entrenched in Central Town.
"Make yourself at home," Milo said warmly as they entered the clearing.
"So you really explore scary places for machines?"
"Yep. I have one in my bag. Here, let me show you," Amber pulled out the data tablet and turned it on, displaying it to the small audience surrounding her.
The group of young Guardians jumped at the sight of holograms but were immediately entranced. Barely having time to sit down and have the soup provided by the village and she was surrounded by curious youngsters. Their curious and innocent questions reminded Amber of her younger years looking up to older drifters. While she was still hungry, she found the attention rather endearing.
"Wow!"
"How does it work?"
"Is it using the Light?!"
Amber chuckled at the myriad of questions and expressions of curiosity.
"I don't think I can really answer all of those," she looked at the holograms and noticed one particular file had popped up, "Here, I have another one if you're interested."
The youngsters all grinned and nodded eagerly. She turned the tablet off (happy they did not ask questions regarding the Immortal Cell) and pulled out her holomap. Turning it on, it showed a map of the world. She smiled at their reactions and began to focus on Central Town.
"This is where I'm from. Central Town, see?" she said.
"That's Central Town? It looks so small," one of the children commented.
"No, it's a map silly," another said.
"How did you get a map that changes?"
"It was a gift. Got it once I proved I could be a drifter," Amber answered, putting the map down next to her and taking a sip of the soup.
"Well it appears someone has become an interest," Milo walked up, holding his own bowl of soup.
"Just showing them some things," Amber said, taking another sip.
"Mmm, and I think they have chores to do. Go on, off with you."
The children groaned but left at his command. Amber turned off the holomap and resumed drinking the soup. It reminded her of the meals she cooked with her parents…
The spices, the chopped vegetables, the mushrooms…
She missed her parents so much.
"I hope they weren't bothering you," Milo said, noticing her expression.
"Huh? Nah, they were fine. Much better than the usual folks who come clambering to meet me. Those kids are much more polite and less likely to send me to whatever the afterlife is," Amber responded with a pointed look.
"I see… Out here you won't likely run into such individuals so long as you stick to the trade route. Icehaven is a day's worth of travel from here and the Desert another two. Salvan fortunately has been established before the Decay could reach these mountains but the wildlife can be as harsh as the winter on a bad day."
Amber has heard many rumors about the Decay, all of them bad. She had no intentions on finding out which of them are truthful.
"I'll take your word for it. Anything I should know about the Decay if it's out there?" she asked seriously.
"It's out there and far worse than anything you've likely heard about. If you don't want to be trapped in an undying death, stay away from it whenever possible and if you happen to run into Decayed, kill them without any hesitation. I say these things as a Guardian and as a warrior. The Decay has been trying to reach Central Town for years and has only been held back by the lack of life to easily infect. Salvan has simply made it harder for it to infect these lands. You'll recognize its effects when you see them," Milo downed the rest of his soup with a hard expression.
Well that's just cheery, "Good to know," Amber finished her own soup with a firm calmness.
Amber had stayed the night and left the next day. A better part of the previous day was telling stories to the youngsters and learning about Guardians in general. Most of the knowledge was basic but it was more than what she knew two days prior. She returned the favor for letting her stay and the information by helping cook dinner last night despite the insistence that she was a guest. Even so, no one complained when she added her own flair to the rich soup.
Before leaving, Milo had given her a farewell: "May the Light guide your path."
"Still don't know what the Light is," she muttered as she walked along a snow covered foot trail.
The sky was clear and the forest was silent. Her breath fogged on occasion as she walked, forming brief clouds that dissipated as quickly as they formed. The bandana covering her muzzle was providing some resistance against the cold air as she breathed it in and out. She found herself staring wide eyed at the few vistas showing the distant mountains whenever there was a break in the trees, taking a moment to pause to enjoy the scenery before continuing onwards.
In the distance came a howl. Amber immediately reached for her pistol, remembering the Crystal Forest and the warning Milo gave her. More howls followed and the entire forest was filled with them. Amber picked up her pace, pistol in one hand and sword hilt in the other.
"What's got them so excited?" she asked herself as she pushed onwards.
She doubted the creatures would hunt her but she would rather not tempt fate. Even with the difficult terrain, she travelled quickly. Even when the howls stopped she kept up her pace, stopping only to briefly eat and rest and kept her weapons close by.
By nightfall the various creatures of Salvan were aware of the message for all. The message was shared to every being that a meeting would take place in three days. They would meet as one unified group and put aside disputes as commanded by tradition. For when the Spirit Tree that protected the forest called, all shall answer. From the Spirit Guardians to the hares, the denizens of the forest would heed the call of the Light.
That night, they learned a terrible truth: the Decay had its sights on Salvan and Central Town. This time it would not be a simple raid or mere half-hearted reminder. There was a storm brewing in the mountains and it would bring ice, biting cold, and fury. Should it pass through, Central Town would experience a second apocalypse and perhaps be destroyed permanently. Salvan had to hold the line and keep the Decay out, so it was declared that night.
None could have guessed that what they aimed to protect had already slipped right past them. No one would have recognized the danger, how could they? Very little of value actually left Central Town and most were more interested in the advanced weapons that outclassed militaries around the world.
But what good are weapons and machines of war when compared against knowledge? Merchants brought technology, art, literature, and other items to and from Central Town. They would circumnavigate the defenses of Salvan without even noticing and Salvan would be blind to this fact. No one would suspect such a critical event happening in broad daylight. Not the denizens of Salvan, not the merchants, not even the Decay.
Not even the one setting things into motion and bringing the prize out from safety.
"Another drifter leaving the ruins of Central Town… Welcome to Icehaven. Are you staying for a while or leaving in the morning?" the racoon guard asked.
"I'll be staying for the night. Are there any caravans going to Crossroad I can join by chance?" Amber asked as she rolled her shoulder to adjust her pack, standing just outside the walls of Icehaven as the last rays of light slipped behind the mountains.