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The icicles filled Mineals water bag. A good idea it was; for any sources of water in this frigid place were sure to be frozen, and even then if he could crack the ice it was not so good to drink stagnant water. So, with his water bag filled he could continue. Equally ingenious was the use of the wires and marking trees. There was no way this could fail; after all trees wouldn't move and a whole city surely couldn't. The first few minutes were uneventful. Only trees and growth coated with snow. However, then the ranger could notice the strange blue light following him off to the side. This time when he looked at it, it did not move or disappear. It seemed to bounce there in the air, content to follow the Ranger.
Mineal made good progress, and tree after tree was marked. Finally, the ranger came to something. A shimmering bright light in the distance shown itself to him. It was almost hard to look at, it was so blindingly bright. What it was remained unclear. But undoubtedly he was making progress. His next step however, ended up in a puddle. Somehow, in all this winter, this water here had not frozen; Despite temperature not changing.
It was almost as if the forest was taunting him. Playing with him even. It was well known this was the domain of the Elfs, home of the Elfhame. To many, seeing one of Mineals kind in this place would be absurd. And perhaps it was? What was even more absurd however, was the changing environment.
With every step forward, every tree marked, the fog started to grow in thickness. Soon it was so strong that it was hard to walk through, stopping all vision but a few feet before the rangers eyes. Curiously though, the bright blue light that had been following him was visible; its vague outline of color piercing the fog gloom. Mineal had many choices on how to proceed, and it was up to the ranger to continue the way he had been making progress or change. Either way, this forest was getting stranger by the minute.
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