The orb has recently been acquired by Hollowlight Ventures in a sojourn into Tanaris. It is cold to the touch and frosted slightly, tinging the orb a hoary white at all times. An intense magical aura has been discovered already, but now it is up to you to discover the aura's purpose through experimentation.
For a moment as you puzzle over the orb, you are reminded of a snowglobe. The edges of your mouth twitch upwards in a small smile as you shake the orb idly. To your surprise, this gets a reaction.
From within the orb, as if falling from a space above what you can see, is an endless shower of small, thin leaves. You peer closer at this strange occurance, the spinning and twisting leaves drawing you inexorably farther into them, very nearly hypnotic. You feel yourself falling with the leaves, spinning and twirling through space as the senses of your body fall away from you. You see your hand grow longer and sharper as it grasps the snowglobe.
Your eyes open to behold the frozen surface of a lake, you right yourself and take in your surroundings.
[[You have much to do in a very short time.|start]]
(set: $inv to (a:))
[[Inventory]]
(set: $flowers to 1)
(set: $bottle to 1)
(set: $mountains to 1)
(set: $bearmen to 1)
(set: $saber to 1)
(set: $wanderer to 1)
(set: $cave to 1)
(set: $dragons to 1)
(set: $bearcave to 1)
(set: $woods to 1)
(set: $springs to 1)
(set: $garden to 1)
(set: $shrine to 1)You find yourself in the middle of a frozen lake.
[[South]]
[[East]]
[[West]]
[[North]]
[[Northeast]]
[[Northwest]]
[[Southwest]]
[[Southeast]]
[[Far Southeast]]
[[Far North]]
(if: $nest is 7) [It is time to [[build]].]
(else:)[It is getting colder.]You gaze longingly this direction. Kindness lives here in the little lights and woodskin homes. Helps you.
[[A light in the distance]]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]]A brood here. Bearmen walk along the frost. Speak in strange ritual. Your tongue can make some of the sounds now. Sounds they make like thunder from their mouths rising up.
(if: $bearmen is 1)[Walk to the [[camp|bear men]].] (if: $bearmen is 2)[Best not to bother the bear men again.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]]Danger this way. You know it well. Ripped muscles carry scattered sharp they have cut into you.
(if: $bearcave is 1)[Heartflutter as you chime [[forward|goblins]].] (if: $bearcave is 2)[Ugly places. Do not want to go again.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]]On glittering snowplains dance flurries. It is so cold here.
(if: $flowers is 1)[Walk to the [[Terrace|Walk to Terrace]].] (if: $flowers is 2)[Nothing else in the Terrace.]
(if: $wanderer is 1)[ Follow the wind's [[howl|Follow the wind's howl]].]
(if: $wanderer is 2)[Should not return to wanderer without bones.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]]
(if: $inv's length > 0)[The things you carry: (print: $inv.join(", ")).](else:)[Your inventory is empty.]
(link-goto: "Return", (history:)'s last)
(if: (passage:)'s name is "Inventory")[ ]
Double-click this passage to edit it.Many smooth lines wrap around permafrost like tongues of stone. Cradled within are stillflowers. Glittering, sometimes they drip ice. Like they are sorrowfully wishing to be alive oncemore.
You know the pain of a sorrow-wish. It is why you tread.
(if: $garden is 1)[Go towards the [[Garden]].] (if: $garden is 2)[The garden holds many beautiful things, but sun is sinking.]
[[Leave this place.|North]]
[[Inventory]] Wanderers are here sometimes. You know many bones have been found in the snow. It is softblood-death in places.
(if: $inv contains "blood of warmth")[You [[brace]] against the biting winds. The warmth of the springs surge through you.]
(else:)[Lost, wandering, [[snowblind|Death3]].]
The garden once held much life, but now hangs in a crystalline slumber.
The [[flowers]] here are beautiful.
(set: $garden to 2)You dig some flowers from the ground, clutching the dirt-clodden permafrost as you trudge back.
[[Walk back to the Terrace.|Walk to Terrace]]
(set: $flowers to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "stillflowers"))Little alcove of broken buildings. You can hear the stones wail, but others cannot. Their bigness echoes across the lake. Must be wary of spiritwalkers.
(if: $shrine is 1)[The [[shrine]] is here.]
(if: $shrine is 2)[Blessing of unbreaking. Shrine is merciful most times.]
(if: $woods is 1)[ The [[blackwood|woods]] rests behind her like a faded wing, crushed and crumpled, wild in its tangles.]
(if: $woods is 2)[Woods too dark now.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]](if: $mountains is 1)[Go [[deep in the mountains]] .] (if: $mountains is 2)[You dare not return to the mountain's depths.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]]
(if: $dragons is 1)[You hear there are [[changers|dragons]] here.] (if: $dragons is 2)[They have paid their debt.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]]
[[Inventory]](if: $bottle is 1)[Your sharp feet clink against something in a [[snowdrift]].] (if: $bottle is 2)[Nothing else in snowdrift.]
(if: $cave is 1)[Pad off soundlessly into the [[snow|pad off soundlessly into the snow]].] (if: $cave is 2)[Dare not go back.]
[[Return to the Lake.|start]]
[[Inventory]] Maiden, you were taught. Deep marks on her face. She is as still as the frozen lake. One of her arms is gone now. She stands tall, still holding the wide hollow stone. Time has forgotten her, a silent pillar of loss. She stands like a sickle. Stoneslab before her is bitterly empty. Caked with frozen dirt.
Must be careful to not listen to how she sings when the sun sinks.
(if: $inv contains "stillflowers")[You lay a frozen [[offering]] before her.]
(else:)[Her stone eyes pierce you.]
[[Leave this place.|South]] (if: $inv contains "glowbark")[The blackwood [[beckons]] you closer.]
(else:)[The woods encircle like a gaping maw. Scary sounds.]
[[Leave this place.|South]] Stillflowers tumble onto stone. She does not seem to mind the dirtclod. You are always careful not to scratch the stone stab. Eyes stare down glowing like two moons. Light with cold fire.
[[An ancient tradition, you are told.|blessing]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "blessing of the shrinemaiden"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "stillflowers"))
(if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[ You move towards the [[light]]. ]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].]
The man knows your approach. He smokes in the frozen tundra. He has tried to teach his name for sometime. You have tried to say it, and he says you are doing well. You know he is not a Taker. You call him something that rattles out in recognition.
The man is here. He is kind. He trades things. He tells you the less cold-warm will happen again when the moons pass.
(if: $inv contains "blackbark")[ Trade [[blackbark]] ]
(if: $inv contains "glimmerstone")[ Trade [[glimmerstone]] ]
(if: $inv contains "blueshale")[ Trade [[blueshale]] ]
(if: $inv contains "sunflicker")[ Trade [[sunflicker]] ]
(if: $inv contains "feralbone")[ Trade [[feralbone]] ]
(if: $inv contains "jingleskin")[ Trade [[jingleskin]] ]
(else:)[You have nothing else to trade.]
[[Leave, promising to be safe.|Northeast]]
[[Inventory]]
The lake is frozen, looking like the sky in the earth. You travel slowly across it, travel hard across such a slick surface but you are persistant. There are no threats or predators in sight or sound or smell, so you are eased into time-taking.
You hear the cracks before you see. See the shapes of trees created in the ice, moving as fast as the stormtrees that sometimes streak across the sky. Your limbs tense to react but the ice reacts first. You dive into burning cold and struggle to return to the sky you see through the shattered ice. But there is something holding you, some things. You tear your eyes from the sky above and look around to see the lights of dead things as they clutch at you, hungry. Your struggles do not make you rise, the hollow eyes of dead things surround you. They block out the sky, along with your hope. The water enters your lungs and you join the dead things in their cold, dark peace.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) Man runs hands through his skullfur as he takes the glimmerstone, light bouncing off sunrays. Turns over in leathered flesh.
He tells you not to go back there. It is not safe where the mountains move. Tells you most of the glimmerstones still hide in the Wound, but are drowned by the blood of the mountain.
He gives you a tightly-bundled swath of barktalons. They are good. You do not know how he gets them here. Even the hightrees are frozen now.
[[You ponder.|light]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "barktalons"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glimmerstone"))
(set: $nest += 1)Man gapes at this like the cry of a young. He says blueshale is so rare here. Asks where you got it, then stares into himself for a long time as if questioning his own question. You try to provide an answer, and he happy-chirps in response.
Man polishes the blueshale. You stare at it mesmerized, eyes focusing on unseen colors in a field of impossible azure, swirling iridescense.
He gives you a whole tangle of fur-worms, creature smelling.
[[You have never seen a whole tangle of them before.|light]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "furworms"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "blueshale"))
(set: $nest += 1)Man bows his head solemnly. He knows what the takers have done to you. Pulled the searing shards from you the fartalons left. Silverskin covers the spots now.
He peels wine-dark hardblood from sunflicker and drops spots of red into the snow. His face shows mercy-worry to you. Mouth says others will want the sunflicker, he has something for you.
Brings you watermuck in hollow-wood with a longworm for carrying. Man says it will help.
[[a foundation.|light]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "watermuck"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "sunflicker"))
(set: $nest += 1)Snow melts from stillflowers as they clink onto stoneslab. Water pouring down like watching ripples spread. Snowlily leafcolors come from the stillflowers as they water-weep.
Stone eyes go soft. Something emblazoned glowing.
Maiden likes stillflowers, she says. Likes being remembered. Will make the ice stay whole.
[[Leave this place.|South]]
(set: $shrine to 2)Man is never sure how you get blackbark. You have brought it before. Says is no way into blackwood, even with glowbark.
Turns inky stone shining over and over. Says soft thing good trade for hard thing.
Piles of warmthgivers, feathering like wisps in the wind. Soft as fresh snow.
[[Their smell comforts you so.|light]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "warmthgivers"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "blackbark"))
(set: $nest += 1)You journey until predator awakening, sun's flight gone behind the western mountains. It is difficult and your bones ache with deep cold but you cannot rest unfulfilled. You are fearful of hidden-danger and the snows are strange and unfamiliar.
A glimmer in the snow catches your eye like the sudden movement of a hare. Investigating, you find a closed long-glass of firesmell sap, capped by spongemeat. Its color is one not here. Your sharp nose seethes at the smell as you grasp the leafshade glass in your clutches, appendages clinking. It has no use to you, but you know others that will find it fondly. There must be more this far south.
[[Take, clinking and waterswishing.|Far Southeast]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "firesmell sap"))
(set: $bottle to 2)
(if: $inv contains "glowbark")[There is a [[cave]] here.]
(else:)[There is something here, but upon drawing closer, it is too dark for you to see further within. Beady eyes glimmer in thought. Danger looms.]
[[Return to the Lake|start]] Wound in the earth opens before you, tall sides give danger to trespassers, the bottom unfamiliar to life that is not meant to be there like bone within a body. Mountains move slowly along the bottom, you have not seen earth prowl before but they attempt. Hunters without prey, there is nothing else in the wound.
Your eyes catch bright star among the fallen stone trees of the wound, brighter than the long-glass you still clutch. You want this too, you are certain.
[[further into the dark, glowbark grasped tightly.|cave2]]
Trees here did not rot. When the greatfrost came, they steeled themselves inward, crooked in their collapsing. Turning to stone. Some say curse. Say you will be lost in their darkness and bigness.
Glowbark crackles faintly. Grimglow against blackbark. Amber-red against inky sable.
You tilt your head upward to a low-hanging blacklimb, falling with not a snap but a crumble. Clutch it quickly as the branches howl. Nothing in the blackwood is ever sleeping.
[[Leave this place.|South]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "blackbark"))
(set: $woods to 2)
(if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[ Close to the lake, following the direction of sun's journey, you arrive at a roost of the white bearmen. In the center of their roost, they have built a nest for the sun and the sun's young cry out in eternal hunger as they rest on the barktalons and treeflesh. A large bearman tends a hardwell full of bubbles that rests against the nest, dressed in self-feathers and deer antler.
You are cautious of where the [[bear men|bear men2]] are. ]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].]
Moving to east trees, your heart is gripped by icetalons as you spy a group of vicious Takers. Their small bodies low to the ground like a snowshadow hatchling attempting to hunt.
Glimmering fartalons on their back cause silverscars to ache from past times. Some you know have fallen to them.
[[Fight]]
[[Flight|Death.]]
(if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[ The land swoops down as you continue southeast, a steep-sided vale halting abruptly into the mouth of a massive cave shaped like a bear's jaws moments before they snapped shut on its prey. This place is ancient and known to you as a place to be wary-watching. Larger things older than a hundred lifetimes dwell in this roost.
This also makes it a place of valued items, materials you may need. Such an item catches your eye in the form of a shining glimmer on the ground. As you dip to retrieve it a [[voice|dragons2]] calls out. ]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].]It is in the shape of another thing but your senses are keen and its camouflage is weak to you, though perhaps it is not trying to hide very hard. It speaks with strength-grace, it does not need caution, you are as a hatchling to this thing. You are surprise-wary, predators often disarm prey before they strike. Its hunt-teeth are bared but this is not supposed to be threatening. You are threatened regardless.
[[Bow your great head]]
[[Take the shiny-glimmering item and leave|Death2.]](if: $inv contains "firesmell sap")[You halt on the edge of the bearmen's nest and roll the firesmell sap in its long-glass towards them. The flocking bearmen's eyes light with hungergreed as they see your prize. The bearman wearing self-feathers steps slowharmless towards you, featherless wings extended wide as it growls its [[reverence|booze]] for you.]
(else:)[They eye you [[warily|start]].]
(if: $inv contains "deer carcass")[You lay the [[a carcass]] before it.]
(else:)[The bear opens its maw in a terrible [[roar|death4]].] You see the land-clouds rising from the earth before you see the waters with the warmth of the sun, and the nest soon after that.
(if: $springs is 1)[Walk to the [[cloudlands|hot springs1]].] (if: $springs is 2)[Blood feels warmer.]
[[Back to the Lake.|start]] (if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[Coming to a halt next to the nest you look around for any Others that may have what you need. A blue one appears with a prey-sound of ungard, but it quickly regains.
The blue one speaks to you softwords, though clearly seeing you as rabbit-brained. It wants to let you enter the waters with the warmth of the sun paid for with a piece of you.
A barktalon from a tree, a wound that will regrow, it [[assures|hot springs]] you.]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].](if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[ Moving over the mountains northwest of the lake, your keen eyes make sight of a Mooneye who has made prey of a deer. It is hunched over, using brightshale to strip the skin from the flesh. Deep in the mountains. No one goes here. Mooneye is alone.
You move [[closer.|deer carcass]]. ]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].]
(if: $saber is 1)[Walk towards the [[steep rock]].] (if: $saber is 2)[Too much sorrow to visit again now.]
[[Return to the Lake.|start]] The self-feather wearer grabs your prize in its heavy talons and retreats to the sun's nest, gutting the spongemeat from the long-glass it spills the firesmell sap into the bubbling hardwell. The leaf-color shines like thawed lakewater when the sun comes high.
Pleased, the bearman reaches for a long barktalon and strikes it among the sun's young. When it is returned, one of the sun's young has perched on the barktalon. This is offered to you with thankful reverence.
[[Something always burns, even in this place.|Southwest]]
(set: $bearmen to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "glowbark"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "firesmell sap"))He eyes the feralbone carefully. Knows what it means. Says it is something called a "shame". The word ripples throught you like warmwater, snow coming to your eyes in hot fire.
You cover yourself in shoulderblankets like a mourning veil. If snowshadow passes, will you too?
Man preens you with gentletouch. Whispers warmwords. A cluster of treefur at your side, given for the feralbone. He says is new life for old death. Your throat rasps as you cry a dull note.
[[A grateful pain|light]] washes over you.
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "treefur"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "feralbone"))
(set: $nest += 1)(if: $inv contains "blessing of the shrinemaiden")[You move far past many hunting grounds into the north. The massive rocktalon looms before you, home to many snowshadows. Snowshadows reveal themselves to you, you are hunterequal and they have no quarrel with your journey. You climb to the top of the rocktalon to rest from your journey and find the snowshadow ally who greets you more cautiously than the real snowshadows, even if it wears their fur. You rest at the [[peak of the rocktalon|steep rock2]].]
(else:)[You hear a [[cracking]].]The snowshadow ally speaks as you rest, telling you of the end of its favored friend who's tree-rings grew long with time. Snow comes to its eyes and it preens them with its dull flesh.
The sky has darkened as the snowshadow ally speaks. When it is finished, it lowers itself in thanks and speaks warmwords. A large feralbone is extended to you for your patience, worn with time.
[[Leave with eyewater.|Far North]]
(set: $saber to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "feralbone"))Man leathergrasps the jingleskin in your clutches gently. Deep cuts are punctured into it, but the jingles have stayed. He says you are smart for knowing there are jingles in jingleskins, something he taught you long ago.
Says he is sorry the bear is still in a safespot. Says he is sorry the frost has stayed so long. Comforts you with bundles of groundleaves, crisping as you gently squeeze them.
[[groundleaves are rarer every moon-hide.|light]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "groundleaves"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "jingleskin"))
(set: $nest += 1)
(if: $inv contains "blood of warmth")[You cry out in cautious greeting as you draw closer. Mooneye turns its head to bare fangs in greeting. Rising to its full height it speaks warmwords to you, though your eyes stay hungrily on its fallen prey, hot redwater spilling forth onto the snow, you can almost feel that hotness on your own [[tongue]].]
(else:)[Lost, wandering, [[snowblind|Death3]].]
You do not flee, instead you strike with the speed of a stormtree. Before the greedhungry Takers can raise fartalons against you you are among them, rending one of their little bodies asunder and spilling redwater on snow. They preysqueal and you are hungry for their fear. Several flee from your presence and you cry out in terrible, hungry unmercy.
From your prey's hotmisting carcass you take the Sunflicker, object like you, piercing flesh. Your bloody prize brings you joy as you go further, revealing a cave.
Going inside, you are faced with the hulking form of a white bear, the scent of its past feedings heavy in its [[breath.|bear cave]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "sunflicker"))You turn to flee-escape, the ice in your chest clutching you like the grip of talons. Your limbs strain with panic-strength as you try to gain as much distance as you can. You cannot let the Takers have you, what you are doing is too important. A crack of thunder breaks through the sounds of nature, hot sharp-pain blossoms in your side. Another crack, you are not even aware of where it has struck you. You only know the feelings of unbearable terror-pain, of the hot wet blood that trails down your body that is for once not the blood of prey, of that very body falling, falling... Then the pain is gone, and with it, everything else.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) You bow your head to it even though you know it is camouflaged and greater than you, this seems to please it. It speaks of far away aid your kind has given them and it knows of what you seek. A dull talon is extended, though you know its true talons are far sharper than any other, and it offers Blueshale. You take it with greed-need and leave [[eagerly|Southeast]].
(set: $dragons to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "blueshale"))
It is dangerous like snowshadow playing with prey that has no chance of longer life. You do not trust it and you dart downward to take the shiny-glimmer. As you come into contact with it there is bright hot. You unravel as you feel every healed wound unheal and return before disappearing to the time before they were received. Everything is undone and as the blinding flash dissipates, so too do you.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) A wanderer. Eyes glowing like burning suns. Looking for something good to eat. Beak rends through strong bones like snapping flowerstems. You have seen it.
(if: $inv contains "deerbones")[Offer [[deerbone]].]
(else:)[ The wanderer encroaches with [[hostility|Death5]].]The cold has grown worse. The chill-freezing wind howls like a frenzied bear and bites you with teeth of ice. Your movement slows, but your keen eyes cannot see safe roost through the flurries. The cold-burning lessens as you continue, the skies must be emptying but you can still only see flurries. You feel better-warm, safe and weary. You feel warm now, and no longer need to seek roost safety. You lay down in the snow. It is warm. You are warm. The shivering has stopped entirely as you drift into eternal sleep, your form hidden beneath the welcoming snows.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) You had not fled the Takers, but you were in your element. You are in the territory of the white bear and you are defenseless to it. You did not flee the Takers but you turn to get away from the white bear. Pain dazzles your senses like a burst of snow against your mind as you are crushed to the ground. You cry out in confusion and fear as your throat is bitten down on. You understand this, you too are a hunter, but the well of instinct within you speaks only one mandate: survive.
You struggle and thrash, limbs kicking and clawing as the life is shook from you. You can feel your ability to resist bleed-dripping onto the cold stone. As the last drops of resistance spill out from your form, your eyes close. Something like exhaustion takes you, but you will never rouse.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) Wanderer's deer-mantle snaps down in hunger to proffered bones. Snaps like falling branch through spiderweb. Thick, black bonesap wreathes face. Glow-eyes stand against black form like a spiritwalker. Approaches you.
Webwing claw slashes chest. You think you are dying. Beady eyes glint grey. Growing dark. Chest begins to glow blue, burning like frostbite. Marked.
Although it is soulseethe pain, you know what the mark means. It is one of warding.
[[Leave this place.|North]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "blessing of the wanderer"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "deerbones"))
(set: $wanderer to 2)
(set: $nest += 1)
You are unable to flee as the Wanderer makes its way to you, something strikes you unmovable like a hare before a predator. Its talons snap down with breaking-strength. Your body hits the ground but you still cannot move. The Wanderer cries out in pain-hunger. It has not eaten in so long. You understand it. Yet you cannot forgive it as you feel your form rended, hot blood spilling on white snow and ice. You become empty upon the ground, and soon there is nothing left.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) A grisly trade carried on by your mothers, and now you. The white bear descends upon the already dead prey with great hunger, the bloodflecks of a meal rightfully yours makes your ribs gnaw with hunger.
You snatch the jingleskin of one of the bear’s old prey, a Taker with face frozen in death-terror.
[[Blood in the snow in your tracks.|East]]
(set: $bearcave to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "jingleskin"))
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "deer carcass"))You accept this taking and giving, for your mission is more important than any one piece of you. The blue thing stalks forward and slow-snatches from your head a piece of magic that is without color, although it is like water you can see yourself inside of it.
The blue one beckons you towards the waters with the warmth of the sun, as you move in to them your being becomes soaked with good heat, total warmth, something you have not felt since you were the smallest you ever were, with your mother. You do not know when this stops, but when you at last emerge, a piece of that warmth travels with you.
(set: $springs to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "blood of warmth"))
[[Leave this place.|West]] The Mooneye senses your interest, you were not hiding this discreetly. Stepping to the side it extends a featherless wing towards the carcass and expresses intent to hunt again. You take the carcass with thankfulness and offer a feather in exchange, the Mooneye graciously accepts and returns to the snow-covered mountains as you turn towards other areas.
[[Leave the mountains.|Northwest]]
(set: $mountains to 2)
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "deer carcass"))
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "deerbones"))
[[Speed is your ally|death6]]
[[The darkness hides more than predators|cave3]]Shadows at night can be as black as the night between the stars and you blend in to your surroundings with natural ease. Caution-worry stains your movements like prey. You are hunting, but you are not the hunter. The earth trembles as the mountains stalk around you, but mountains make poor hunters.
Once you are free of the Wound once more, you look at the large Glimmerstone in your clutches, it is good, and you are still alive.
[[mountains looking for you. must go now.|Far Southeast]]
(set: $inv to $inv + (a: "glimmerstone"))
(set: $cave to 2)You are swifter than anything in these lands, and mountains are not meant to move. You dart forward with hunt-confidence. The star glimmer is your prey and you hunger to grasp it. There is the tearing groan of a boulder wrenching free from the mountain it is hatched from and suddenly one of the mountains is above you, around you. So large, larger than anything you have seen. Stone crashes around you, faster than you can move, too fast to feel pain. Too fast to feel anything.
[[reincarnate.|start1]]
(set: $inv to $inv - (a: "glowbark", "feralbone", "glimmerstone", "blueshale", "jingleskin", "frozen flowers", "deer carcass", "blackbark", "blood of warmth", "firesmell sap","sunflicker","deerbones","blessing of the wanderer", "blessing of the shrinemaiden", "warmthgivers", "treefur", "groundleaves", "watermuck", "furworms", "barktalons")) You smooth out snow, tearing away from the permafrost, finding a warm layer of black earth.
You sculpt the [[watermuck]].Watermuck in a cradle, smooth base. Melding beneath you into shapes, tempered by the snow. Cradle.
Add [[barktalons and groundleaves]].Barktalons and groundleaves weave seamlessly into one another. The strength of barktalons crunch, hearty brown twisting up to dry husk of groundleaves. Weaving and weaving.
You begins to tie the [[furworms]].A whole tangle of furworms. You take them in your sharp mouth, weaving splotches of creaturesmell skycolor and sunset throughout barktalons. Talons need to become softer.
Line with [[treefur and warmthgivers]].Treefur in beautiful emerald-yellow leafshades drapes across. Adhering to watermuck, it will be nourished. Warmthgivers scattered over middle, gossamer, softer than rabbitfur.
[[Complete.|secinv]]
(align: "=><=")[ [[Inventory|secinv2]] ](align: "=><=")[The things you carry: [[an egg]].](align: "=><=") [ You hear a [[cracking|cracking2]].]This is not a cracking of sorrow. The perfectly smooth, ivory egg begins to crack open. Small headfull of warmthgivers peeks out. Big, dark-soft eyes.
Feathers white, like your own.
You are safe here in the frozen wanderer howl.
[[A familiar voice]]A man has come to visit you. Wanderer's mark drips on his skin. He brings bloodmeat and lakewater, warmthgivers and treefur bought by jingleskins. Feathers fall around like leafsnow.
He happy-chirps as he calls your name, the one who escaped the winter.
[["Snowblind".|end]]
"Thin Ice"
Written with love by Wallace and Greaves.
[[play again|start1]]