Growth

A new strength came over me in the glen, something like a warm stillness in the limbs. After that my staff felt steadier in my hand, and I held my guard with more skill than before. Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild, and when I first spoke it I felt the forest answer, softly, like a friend who had been waiting at the door. Skinning came to me too, by Terunne's patient word.

I learned Tanning and Skinning, so that nothing the beasts leave behind need go to waste. Terunne Bearshaper later greeted me in Aldrassil and asked whether I cared to learn how to gather leather from slain beasts, or needed new tools.

After the work in the glen I felt a new strength settle into my arms and my stance. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened.

Mardant welcomed me as "my brother." He spoke of the call of the Emerald Dream, which will one day take hold of me. I will hibernate for many years and walk amongst the purest of forms, and there my ultimate training will take place. I learned Mark of the Wild from him, and for a moment the whole tree seemed to hum with it.

Somewhere between the sabers and the boars I felt a new strength settle into my limbs, like a branch thickening by a ring. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened a little as well.

I learned Tanning and Skinning, so that nothing I take from the forest need be wasted. Terunne Bearshaper asked whether I cared to learn how to gather leather from slain beasts, and I did.

Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt it settle over me like a warm hand on the shoulder.

I learned Skinning, and Tanning with it, so the beasts I've thinned need not go entirely to waste. It is a quiet craft, and it suits a druid who feels bad about the boar.

Then a new strength settled over me in the middle of the afternoon, like a warm hand on my shoulder, and I knew I had grown. My staff came to me more easily, and I stood more steadily against the world. Mardant also taught me the Mark of the Wild, and I felt the forest answer it. I felt as though the moon had winked again, and I am not going to be talked out of that.

Strength came to me quietly in Shadowglen: a warmth in the arms, a steadiness in the stance. My skill at Defense and with the staff both rose to five. Then Mardant taught me Mark of the Wild, and I felt the forest lean a little closer, as if it had been waiting to be asked. I have already offered it to a tree, which did not object.

Somewhere between the sabers and the boars I felt strength settle into me, quiet and warm, like a lamp being lit behind the ribs. I had grown. My defense and my skill with the staff both rose a little, to five apiece. Then Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild, and I cast it on myself at once, and again on a tree to be fair. He also spoke of the Emerald Dream, which will one day call me to hibernate for many years and walk among the purest of forms. I do not know when. I listened as one listens to a faraway song.

Mardant Strongoak taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt it settle over me like warm moss. He spoke of the Emerald Dream, and how its call will one day take hold of me and I will sleep for many years and walk among the purest of forms. I nodded gravely. I was also thinking about supper, and I am sorry.

Somewhere between the climbing and the thinning, I felt a new strength rise in me, like sap in spring. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened. The moon was not yet up, but I am sure it noticed.

I also learned Skinning and Tanning, so I can now gather leather from slain beasts. Terunne Bearshaper in Aldrassil asked whether I cared to learn it, and I had already begun. I tried to look as though I had planned it.

Somewhere between the boars and the sabers I felt new strength settle into me, a quiet widening, as if the glen had made room. My skill with the staff grew, and so did my defense. After I took the Verdant Sigil to Mardant, he taught me the Mark of the Wild. The first time I spoke it, a little warmth moved across my shoulders like a hand. I would like to say I took it with calm dignity. I said "oh!" out loud.

Mardant spoke of the call of the Emerald Dream, which will someday take hold of me, and of the long sleep, and of walking among the purest of forms. I do not yet understand it. But when he said it, the air in Aldrassil seemed to listen.

Partway through the evening a new strength settled in me, like a second heartbeat arriving beside the first. My guard grew steadier and my staff swung truer. Mardant then taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt its green blessing settle on my shoulders like a cloak of small leaves. I whispered thanks to Elune. Then, because the moon was just rising, I thanked it again directly and waited for the wink. It was either a wink or a cloud. I am counting it.

Somewhere between the sabers and the boars, I felt it. A new strength settled into my limbs like warm sap rising in spring. I stood very still, in case Elune wished to say something. She did not, but the moon seemed to approve. My Defense and my Staves both sharpened as well.

I also learned Tanning and Skinning, so that nothing the forest gives up need be wasted. Terunne Bearshaper asked if I cared to learn how to gather leather from slain beasts, and I most certainly did.

Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild. It is a blessing of the growing world, and I felt it settle on me. He spoke too of the day the call of the Emerald Dream will take hold, when I shall hibernate for many years and walk amongst the purest of forms. I nodded gravely. Privately I wondered whether there will be snacks.

Strength rose in me quietly, like sap in spring. My staff-work and my guard both improved a little. Then Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild, and when I cast it I felt the whole forest lean toward me, just slightly, as though to check that I meant it. I did. I certainly did.

Strength came to me quietly in the middle of the day, like warmth spreading through a cold hand. I was stronger, steadier, and my defense and my skill with the staff each rose a little. I stood a long while looking at the glen after that, as if it had changed, though it was only I.

Then Mardant Strongoak welcomed me as a brother and taught me Mark of the Wild. He spoke of the day the Emerald Dream will call and I will sleep for many years and walk among the purest of forms. He promised to be my mentor and guide until then, and told me to return as often as I liked. I mean to. I will probably arrive with a dramatic entrance. He will pretend not to have noticed.

Somewhere in the middle of the afternoon I felt a new strength settle into my limbs, quiet and sure, like roots finding water. My skill with the staff and my defense each grew to five, small things but mine.

Mardant Strongoak taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt the blessing of the wild wrap around me, and for a moment every leaf in Aldrassil seemed to lean closer to see.

Today I learned the arts of Tanning and Skinning, so that a slain beast may give back something useful. Terunne Bearshaper asked if I cared to learn to gather leather from slain beasts, and I did. I said "yes" with perhaps too much enthusiasm, and she was very patient.

Somewhere between the boars and the nightsabers I felt a new strength settle into me, like a second heartbeat. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened a little.

Mardant Strongoak welcomed me as "my brother" and said he would be my mentor and guide. He spoke of the day the Emerald Dream will call me, when I will sleep for many years and walk among the purest forms. I tried to look wise, but I was mostly thinking about how nice it would be to sleep. He taught me the Mark of the Wild, and when I cast it, the air around me smelled of rain on old bark.

Strength came to me gently, like a tide, and I felt myself grow a little stronger. My skill with the staff and my defense each rose to five, and I did a small pose. Then I went to Mardant Strongoak, who called me "my brother" and promised to be my mentor. He spoke of the day the Emerald Dream will call me to hibernate for many years and walk among the purest forms. He taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt it settle upon me like moonlight through leaves, and for a moment I was entirely unafraid.

Somewhere between the boars and the sabers, a new strength settled into my limbs, quiet as dew. I stood a little straighter and held my staff as though it had always known me. My skill at guarding myself and at the staff both sharpened.

Mardant then taught me the Mark of the Wild. I have never felt the forest lean toward me so plainly, as though every leaf were leaning in to listen. I said the words to a fern, to be safe.

Mardant also spoke of a time when the call of the Emerald Dream will take hold of me, and I will sleep for many years among the purest forms of things. I nodded gravely. I wondered if there would be snacks.

In the middle of the day something rose in me like sap in spring. I was stronger, steadier and surer of my footing than I had been, and I stood a moment in the glen to feel it. My defense and my skill with the staff both sharpened, which I like to think the trees noticed.

Mardant then taught me the Mark of the Wild, my first true gift of the druid's way. I felt the whole forest lean in a little, as if to say there you are. I have decided the moon had a hand in this. It winked. I am almost sure.

I felt new strength settle into me before the evening was half done, the kind that makes a person stand a little taller under the canopy. My footing in combat sharpened — both my guard and my staff-work grew surer — and Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild, a blessing I can now lay upon myself and, I hope, upon friends who ask nicely. Small steps, but Shadowglen does not seem the sort of place that rushes anyone.