No risks taken, no rewards earned.

[StormShroud]

"A carnival?" Storm Shroud asked, blinking once or twice at the idea of it. Come to think of it.. He'd never /been/ to a carnival before. He'd flown over one before with his father, but he hadn't actually been down to it. All he could remember of it was the bright lights below, and the laughter he could hear as they swooped down below.

"I don't--" Storm Shroud sighed sharply, lifting a hoof to rub at his face as his eyes closed, "I don't think I can. I'm really tired.. Come on-- If my friend /is/ still there, there's no doubt in my mind she'd let us stay the night. I'd probably make a cloud tent for myself, and I'm sure her home is lovely--" Shroud paused, then, hovering in place, smacking a hoof to his face as he realize he'd started referring to his friend as 'she'.

"They, I mean. /They'd/.. aw, man." He groaned tiredly, sinking back down to the ground as his wings drooped at his sides, plain pooped at this point.

[Red Charge]

Ranger stared at Shroudy for a moment. So not only he refused the tickets Ranger had already bought him, but he would also ask Ranger to pass up his time and miss the carnival to go visit this friend of his, for whom apparently he could stay up. So Ranger lost his money, and won't get to have fun at all, while he goes to meet whoever this mare is.

As unfair as it was, Ranger tried hard to remind himself that this day was for Shroudy, and that his feelings were less important at the moment. That didn't stop him from being disappointed and slightly offended inwardly, but what was he going to do about it?

"Fine, but you better be awake. If we get jumped by a monster and you're not capable of fighting, It'll be both our heads." He said finally, replacing the tickets in his satchel, taking a few moments more to hide his head under his cloak, pretending to rummage in there and letting out a long, inaudible sigh during it.

[StormShroud]

"Deal." Storm Shroud stated, offering Ranger an apologetic glance. With that, however, they were off into the night, toward Whitetail forest.


Moving at a brisk pace, it wasn't long until they reached the general vicinity of Willow's tree. As they crept through the whitetail forest toward the clearing, Storm Shroud kept his ears perked and aware, glancing back and forth between the path he walked, and his surroundings.

"It should be just through this thicket, you said? So far so good, I suppose.." Shroud whispered softly, so as not to draw attention to themselves from any lurking dangers.

[Red Charge]

Ranger wished he had bothered to take all of his equipment before coming. As it was he only had a smoke pellet and his knife. Hardly monster fighting gear. Hopefully they would find Willow's house soon enough and get inside to safety. "Yes, right through here." He pointed ahead.

He still did resent having to crawl through Whitetail at this hour instead of warming up with some cotton candy at the carnival, maybe catch a ride on the Ferris Wheel, shoot some bottles off the shelf for a stuffed doll for Sprite... And naturally, those bits he paid for the tickets were not going to pay themselves back. He should have probably just taken Sprite instead. Sometimes he hated being a nice guy. He really did.

[StormShroud]

As they began to wade through the thicket, Storm Shroud kept his wings pressed tightly against his sides, so they wouldn't catch on any of the closed-in branches. But after a good while of wrestling through the thick bushes, they pushed through, and popped out on the other side into a wide open meadow, with a large willow tree overlooking a small pond which connected to a small brook twisting through the meadow.

It was more beautiful in the daytime, when the colors of the flowers dotting the meadow could be seen in all their vibrant glory, but it was equally mysterious and beautiful at night. Fireflies flit about the cat-tails and reeds lining the pond bed, crickets and frogs gently chirped here and there. For some it was scary and forboding, for others it was serene and mystical.

There was only one window settled into the willow tree, down near the bottom of the trunk, beside a thick wooden door which was currently latched shut. But the window glowed a warm orange glow, which suggested there was someone inside at the moment.


Storm Shroud's eyes brightened a bit as he saw that someone did indeed still live here -- And it could only be one person, in that case.

"Good, she's still here.." He breathed a sigh of relief, wings flapping to carry him over to the grand old weeping willow tree, "In that case, there's only one person it could be." Shroud mentioned, landing down in front of the door, lifting a hoof to knock on it.

But.. he paused. He seemed to blink a few times, before simply staring at the door, ears twitching back somewhat as his hoof remained raised, silent.

[Red Charge]

Ranger stepped ahead and knocked on the door three times in quick succession. "Hello? This is Ranger, the woods pony? We've talked a few times. I have a friend here who wants to see you!" He called afterwards, deciding he was not going to wait for Shroudy to deal with his insecurities. Though it was spring, it was a cool night, Ranger missed his carnival, and he wanted to be in a warm environment to heat himself up.

[StormShroud]

Blinking suddenly, Storm Shroud's hoof dropped to the ground as he looked sharply to the side at Ranger, surprised. "R-Ranger!" Shroud hissed softly - He just needed one more minute to.. Oh, forget it. He'd have to talk to her sooner or later anyway.


A bit of clinking and rustling could be heard inside prior to the sound of hoof clopping toward the door. As a lock clicked on the other side, a soft grunt was given as the door was then pulled open a crack, a pair of sky-blue eyes peering out from beneath leafy forest-green mane. "Ranger? Yes, I remember you. Who could possibly have made you come all the way out here at this time of night..?" She asked, voice ever so soft and delicate.

Storm Shroud swallowed the lump in his throat, and cleared his throat softly as he pressed a hoof against the door, opening it a tiny bit wider, leaning to the side so she could see his face. He offered a weak smile. "Hey, Willow."


Willow Wind gasped sharply, eyes widening a bit as she stepped back, allowing the door to be pushed open a bit more. "Storm Shroud!" She exclaimed, expression reading shock--from what you could see under her ever flowing mane, the poor mare was practically buried in hair. A pair of wings fluttered hopelessly beneath the mane with dampened hopes of expanding in greeting.

"What... I-- What are you doing here? Please-- Come in. I'm sorry it's not very tidy." She offered, pulling the door open fully to let them into the warmth of the room. Candles dotted around the common room--which seemed to be the only room--gave it the gentle warm glow that could be seen through the window. Clutter--plants and leaves, twigs and the like scattered all over the room was the 'untidiness' she had mentioned. There appeared to be a small table surrounded by wooden stools with cushions on them - It didn't look very comfortable at all, but then, it was a meeting room and nothing more. A trap door on the other side of the room suggested the rest of her home was actually underground.

[Red Charge]

"I'm sorry for the intrusion Willow, this one insisted that we came to see you tonight." Ranger bowed his head as he entered, finding a nice empty spot in the corner where he could stand without being immediately in view of the two. If Storm Shroud would ask Ranger to leave the room to allow them privacy Ranger would leave towards Ponyville entirely. He did not come all this way just to be told to go to another room.

What's more, he did not want Sprite getting into any trouble at home. Sure she could take care of herself, and well at that. However, she was also a mischievous little scamp, and loved to play pranks on the poor ponies of Ponyville. Ranger only stood quietly and hoped that he would not have to leave in a scene. He didn't fancy the long walk home at this hour.

[StormShroud]

"I'm sorry, Willow. For me to be coming here, dragging Ranger along, after all this time.. I'd understand if you threw me out." Shroud muttered quietly, not daring to try to look Willow in the eye.

Tsking softly, Willow tilted her head at Shroud. "Well... Let's-- Let's not talk about that right now. It's been a few years since I saw you last, and it's far too late for either of you to be traveling alone out there right now. I have a guest room you can stay in, and I was just about to put away dinner." She offered them, turning and walking over to flip open the trap door, descending down the steps.

"Come on! It's much more comfortable down here."

Assuming they went with her, they would descend into a much larger room, with tunnels leading into individual rooms. Roots from the willow tree served several purposes - They acted as furniture, supports, tools, just to name a few. The room they entered just after the stairs was a cozy living room kitchen combination, with a stove built into a chunk of rock which held a small cauldron bubbling with some potato-leek stew. A low-rising table made from a stump rest in the middle of the room, and a wood-frame sofa stuffed with cotton and scented leaves and covered with a soft cloth served as something to sit on at the table. Fireflies tucked into glass orbs hanging from roots in the ceiling served as the light source here.

Willow motioned for them to make themselves comfortable as she walked over to the stone shelves fit into the compacted dirt wall, plucking two bowls from them before going to the cauldron to spoon up some stew.

"You seem quite agitated, Ranger. Is everything alright?" Willow asked, in between handling the ladel with her mouth to dish the stew.

[Red Charge]

"I'm alright. A bit edgy, I don't fancy nightly walks around the woods anymore." He admitted falsely. "Thank you for your hospitality Willow. I appreciate it. If you ever need anything at all feel free to ask." He bowed his head at her slightly. The hooded pony examined his hoof as he waited for her to finish ladling out the stew. It was still healing from the fight he had with the salamander not so far from here.

"It worries me that salamanders come so far out of Everfree to end up here." He said quietly, "If White Tail is no longer safe, our route to Canterlot will be blocked... Whatever is stirring in the forest would want that." He continued, he had not said anything about what was going on deep in the woods. Not to anyone.

"There's something in there now. I don't know what it is, I can't see it or hear it. But I can feel it. It's like the forest has its own will... It worries me that I am the foremost expert on it, and I can't explain why that is." He did not raise his eyes to meet neither Shroudy's nor Willow's as he talked. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling..."

[StormShroud]

After dishing out the bowls, Willow first brought a bowl to ranger, and then brought a bowl to Storm Shroud. She'd already pulled the pot off of the fire to cool so she could clean it later, so all that was left was to sit down and listen to what Ranger was saying.

Storm Shroud remained silent, only dabbing into the stew here and there as he listened intently to Ranger - And when Ranger apologized for rambling, both Shroud and Willow shook their heads.

"It's quite alright, Ranger." Willow offered, smiling at him reassuringly, "I'm sure you have much pressing on your mind. It's only natural that you should vent it all to someone." She offered, glancing toward the door, "I've only been attacked a few times during the entire time I've lived here, but I've always been able to fly away or hide down here. Before the first attack, I never felt safer out here. I don't know what could be going on, but I hope--.. Well, I hope it ends soon." Willow added, at this point glancing over to Storm Shroud.


"Well. It's about time we all went to sleep - But you came here for a reason, I'm sure. Why were you so insistent on coming out to see me tonight?" She asked, tilting her head at Storm Shroud.



Storm Shroud paused. Lifting his head from the bowl, he licked his lips briefly, clearing his throat in the next moment.

"I've.." He glanced toward Ranger, also not making eye-contact, "..I've been having a few problems. Big ones, more or less - And every problem I run into, stress builds, and then it just keeps coming back to--.. I mean.. Well-- You /know/ about it, Willow." Storm Shroud frowned softly, peering toward her, observing how her kind smile faltered some, ears tipping back.

[Red Charge]

Ranger listened intently, body language non-existing, as still as a statue. He wanted to know what they were talking about, intrusive though it may be. He sort of wished Valor was here, for he would be able to hear the conversation even from another room and relay it to Sprite when they got home. He had to admit he did have a small fit of self loathing at that thought.

Being careful not to move, even so much as to breath, Ranger continued listening.

[StormShroud]

"I don't blame you for my mother's death, don't you understand that by now, Storm shroud?" Willow pressed, exasperated, "You were just a colt! What else would you have done?"


"Something besides running! I could've-- I could've dug her out, just enough for her to breathe!" Shroud replied, voice tense, but not raised. He shuddered, standing, walking over to a corner to wallow in his shame.


Willow, with tears beading at the corners of her eyes, shuddered softly herself as she wiped at her eyes.


It was now that she remembered there was another pony in the room, and she gasped softly, cheeks flushing with color.


"Oh-- M-Mister Ranger, I'm sorry.. I should-- I should explain." She sniffled softly, clearing her throat.


"Directly after I moved to the ground and made my home in this willow tree, I was going to hold a housewarming party. I wasn't going to ask Storm Shroud to come, because he was busy training in the 'Y.M.O.T training camp--Young Military of Tomorrow'.. But my parents insisted. They knew how close Storm Shroud and I were, practically brother and sister."


Taking a moment to calm herself and breathe, she brushed her mane out of her eyes, and continued on.

"However, because the obstacle courses stretched over the route they would have to take to fly here, and flying near the obstacle course was disallowed, they had to make a detour on hoof through Whitetail Woods.


But along the way... There was a terrible land slide.

While the ground slid right out from my mother, more debris fell on top of my father and Shroud. My father pushed Shroud out of the way, but in turn he was pinned by a falling tree.


My mother was almost completely buried in the debris, and my father couldn't move. He yelled for Storm Shroud to help my mother, but-- How--" She stammered, looking over at Shroud, "Shroud was just a /colt/, what could he have possibly done? He flew home, and got his parents instead, but-- By that point.." She trailed off, eyes watering.



"By the time Shroud's mother arrived with aid, my mother.. she was gone.


My father has never forgiven Storm Shroud, but /I/ have. He just won't accept the fact that I forgive him, I don't /blame/ him for what happened." Willow stated, staring at Storm Shroud's back. He refused to look at Willow.

[Red Charge]

"There was nothing you could have done, even as an adult it would be a hard stretch... much less a colt..." Ranger said, taking a few steps towards the pegasus. "I know how that feels. My failures recently cost the life of more than one pony. I can't take sole credit for it, but I'm a big part of it. An adult me, a me that was in charge, and capable. Bad things happen, it's how nature works. You can't carry that around with you."

He sighed, and then began recounting, "I was put in charge of a mission to eliminate the last remnants of the Winter Ferals out of Equestria. It was a test run for a special unit of ponies. It was a catastrophic failure." He explained taking off his robe and revealing the scars he still bore on his sides. "We were almost to the den mother when we were ambushed by a type of feral we never ran into before. Praetorians. They ripped Corsair apart and almost killed myself and the other soldier I was with. She lost an eye." He continued.

"Not long after that, a friend of Corsair, grief struck lashed out in Ponyville, and as punishment was sent to community service in the Militia. She accused me of killing Corsair, of not trying to save him hard enough. I got angry and careless. We ran into a Green Salamander, and it crushed her. I didn't bother properly preparing her for the encounter. They both died because of me. There's no force of nature to blame here, no age difference to clear my conscience. Just me. But I can't, YOU can't carry any of that around. It will eat you up."

[StormShroud]

"I--" Storm Shroud had begun to speak; However, he found this was nearly impossible as a lump appeared in his throat. He shook his head and swallowed it down, turning to face Ranger and Willow.


"I'm-- sorry. I don't know what to say aside that.." He stated, eyes flickering between them, and the floor.



Giving a soft 'tsk', Willow rose from her seat, walking over to the pair in the corner. She first wrapped a leg around Ranger and pulled him forward, before wrapping her other leg around Shroud in a group hug, giving them both a consoling nuzzle. Storm Shroud sank into the group hug, exhaling sharply as he felt his stress slowly melting away.


"You don't have to be sorry, Shroud. I forgive you. And as long as you let go of your guilt like Ranger said, I'm positive my mother forgives you as well." Willow gave them both a brief squeeze, before releasing them.


"Terrible things happen, but even more terrible things will happen if you don't move on." She smiled softly, wiping remnants of shed tears from her cheeks and eyes.


"Thank you," He breathed, "Thank you--Both of you. I'll let it go," He paused again, glancing at Ranger, "It's easier, knowing I'm not the only one." he murmured softly.

Yes, it was easier knowing he wasn't the only one who had struggled with guilt. Maybe Ranger was still struggling? Shroud wasn't sure, but if he managed to make it back from the impending battle roughly a day or so from now, he'd be sure first pay his respects to Willow's mother, and then, maybe.. Well, maybe it would be time for Shroud and Ranger to have a chat that wasn't thick with awkward tension.