"You came all the way here to ask me {that}?" Iylara gave Colin a flat look. "Colin, next time you want something simple, just call me."
His watch buzzed. Iylara's contact had been added to his phone book.
"Thank you. You can call me as well." Colin replied, so that his contact was entered into her phone book too.
"What about me?" Satrox asked mildly.
"You can come visit." Iylara said sweetly. "I haven't forgotten what you did to my Kraken."
"That was necessary!" Satrox protested.
"So?"
Satrox grumbled under his breath.
[What happened to your Kraken?] Colin asked Iylara, mind to mind.
[Ask him.] Iylara said.
"What did you do to her Kraken?" Colin asked Satrox.
"Ask her." Satrox said shortly.
Iylara laughed.
"Never mind." Colin shook his head. "So… how shall we do this?"
"Just call me when your shipment's ready to move." Iylara told him. "I'll send help. Just make sure you choose the fastest ships. It doesn't matter how many small ones you use, just make sure they're fast. I don't want my Wilds spending too much time guarding your convoy."
"Thank you." Colin said, in relief. "I'll get on it right away."
"You'll be needing a lift to the Crescent Continent, then." Satrox guessed. "This, I gotta see. I'll bring you there."
"Thanks, Satrox." Colin grinned.
As they took off from Iylara's place, however, a thought came to Colin. "Hey, Satrox, can we land at the Forest of Legends? I'd like to confirm all this with Lynn."
"We can't." Satrox said. "The Forest Wilds are going to shoot me down."
"They won't if they can see me." Colin said.
"That's IF they see you before they shoot. They'll be shooting from a long way off." Satrox told him. "And you're kinda small compared to Noble."
"Oh." Colin winced. "Well..."
And then another thought hit him. That's right. Since I'm in the area…
"What about Hot Springs Village?" Colin asked. "Katrin's been complaining that I haven't seen the new farm."
Satrox laughed. "Hot Springs it is."
***
{I haven't been here since I almost drowned in that flood… back when this place was still called Hot Sands.}
Colin had to admit, it looked so different, he could barely recognize the place.
The water was there, all right, and there were streams leading off from it towards the east and west. The entire village was built like a cluster of floating houses, or boats on the lake itself.
Colin touched the water. It was warm. "That's odd."
"Why?" Satrox asked. "It IS called Hot Springs, you know."
"But the water comes directly from the mountain." Colin said. "Shouldn't it be cold?"
"You were almost drowned in it, remember?" Satrox mused. "Tell me, did it feel cold?"
Colin thought back, remembering. His eyes widened in surprise. "No…"
"The mountain itself is a bit volcanic." Satrox said. "The water that comes down from it is actually quite warm. It affects the desert sands too. Why do you think this place was first called 'Hot Sands'? Now that it's flooded, the sand keeps the water warm. It's not really a hot spring, and the people here use heaters in certain places to get the heat they want, but the name makes it popular and the facilities they've built around here keeps visitors satisfied."
Colin saw it and sighed. {The Forest of Legends needs this water. I want it for the forest.}
Mayor Henry saw them in the air above and waved. Satrox and Colin waved back. With a satisfied nod, he turned and went about his business.
Katrin and Edward had built their farm right where she said it would be. Colin pointed it out and Satrox took them down for a landing.
"Colin?" Edward looked surprised to see him. "Where's Katrin? I thought she went with you."
"Huh?" Colin blinked. "I thought she was here with you!"
"No. She gave me her farm Comrades to go travel with you." Edward shook his head.
"I didn't hear a thing about it." Colin frowned. "Where is she?"
"I think she went to the airport." Edward guessed.
"That's not going to help. The Lamico airport was destroyed." Colin told him.
"But she could get a flight to Crabby Island and take a ship to Lamico from there." Edward pointed out.
{That's right… or she could get one from Maro Airport.}
Colin called her on the spot. "Katrin!"
"Colin?" she sounded surprised. "I… I thought you were mad at me…"
"Forget that. Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm at Lynn Airport. Why?"
"I'm at your farm." Colin told her.
There was silence for a whole long minute.
Satrox scratched his head, Edward gave him a questioning look and Satrox just shrugged helplessly.
Colin said nothing the entire time.
Katrin spoke first. "I quit the investigation. I don't want you to think I…"
"Never mind. What are you doing? I thought you wanted to farm." Colin said.
"I did, at first… but then… well…" Katrin paused. "It became work. I wanted to go back… back to those simple times, when I could play with my friends. But you guys all went to the Lamico Continent."
"What happened to your other friends? I thought the J-Knights…"
"They're my colleagues. We work together. It's not the same. You and Satrox both went to Lamico, and I wanted to see Rita and Henry again…"
"You never did get to Travel with them, did you…?" Colin realized. "Even though you fought to save Rita, you didn't reach her in time. You never met her that time."
"She, Henry and Phillip are the ones I haven't really spoken to yet…" Katrin said. "Out of the Eight."
The Eight. Those of them who started on the same night and were hunted by the Green Men. Five of them, including Henry and Rita, had been caught and released with some memories lost. Katrin, Colin and the missing Phillip were the only ones left… that is, if Phillip hadn't already been captured earlier. Nobody knew where he was, so nobody knew for sure.
"I never got to Travel with you either." Katrin pointed out. "We chased our first Comrades together, and saved that white lioness, but we never Traveled together, even though we played and trained on the farm."
"True." Colin agreed. "It was fun, though."
"Well, I remember what you said about Traveling being different from farming. If I don't start now, I'm afraid I'll never Travel."
"Good point." Colin said. "I was thinking the same about being a Forester. I just need to settle everything in the South Lamico Forest before I move on."
"I want to see it." Katrin said. "I want to see your forest."
"It's going to grow bigger." Colin warned. "I want to plant more trees and cover twice as much space."
"Planting? I'd like to help you with that." Katrin said. "I'm good at planting!"
"Great." Colin thought for a bit. "You're at the airport, right? Can you make it to Maro City to try to find some fast transport ships? They don't have to be very big, but they must be able to reach Lamico Seaport quickly. I'm trying to bring several hundred Wilds over."
"What kind of Wilds?" Katrin asked. "How big?"
"Not very big. I need moles, beavers and Megants, mainly. Squirrels, too, if I can."
"Megants…?" Katrin hesitated. "Colin, that's…"
"Not the easiest thing in the world, I know. I'll have to talk to Lynn first." Colin told her. "Either way, I'd need ships."
"That's not going to be easy either." Katrin said. "With so much trouble going on over here, especially with those pirates, we've been getting a shortage of traders. I'll see what I can do."
"Wait!" Colin paused. "Um… Kat…?"
"Hmm?"
"I was wondering… before you do that… maybe you could come into the Forest of Legends with us."
***
They met at the J-Knight Desert Outpost.
{Katrin looks… happy. She gave up her beloved farm, but she looks happy.}
Colin glanced over her Comrades. The Comrades he gave her, some time back. He greeted them all, and they seemed happy to see him.
Now that he thought of it, though, they seemed to be at odds with each other. Colin had to wonder if it was okay for Katrin to have such a mixed bunch.
"What's your theme?" he asked her.
"My theme?" Katrin hesitated. "I didn't want to give up the Comrades given to me, so… my theme is 'given by Colin'."
Colin blinked. "Is that possible?"
"Aoi said it's a pretty strong theme." Katrin answered.
{Well, I can understand that. I didn't want to give up the Comrades given to me by others either.}
"But that means that all your Comrades has to be…"
"From you." Katrin nodded. "Aoi said Tames will do, you don't have to bond them first."
"Oh." Colin said, letting out a breath of relief. "I was afraid that I'd have to do it the hard way."
"Me too." Katrin said. "By the way, where are all your Comrades?"
The only one with Colin now was Shiro, on his shoulder.
"Resting back at my Outpost Base or Home Base." Colin said. "Purple Badge, remember? I can just touch my badge, call their names and they'll be Warped In."
"Oh. That's right." Katrin paused. "How's Raiki?"
"She was having a match with Ardent, last I checked." Colin told her. "Yachad had some sort of challenge for them."
"Who?" Katrin blinked.
"Oh, Ardent's a Leafy Cougar." Colin said. "And Yachad… well… he's a Rooty Cougar."
"Cougars are the wildcats of the Lamico forest." Satrox explained without turning around. "In the Sunshine Forest, you'd find panthers more often than not. In the Forest of Legends, you'd get tigers, or..."
Satrox, Colin realized, was studying Mika. He was the one who bred Mika and Mika's siblings from Meek and a Desert Lynxmouse. Mika's father had been given to Henry along with all of Satrox's other Lynxmice except Wraith.
"Not bad at all…" Satrox was saying. He turned around at last. "Shall we go?"
They headed west, letting Katrin and her Comrades deal with the plain Wilds on the road until they entered the edge of the Forest of Legends.
{This shade… this smell… this peace…} Colin smiled, closing his eyes to take it all in. The Forest stirred in welcome. Colin called out with his mind. [Lynn?]
[Colin! You're back!] Her thoughts came to him with warmth. [Welcome home.]
He sent her his memories, all the way back to the last time they met, with a single flash of thought.
[Oh dear… Colin, you shouldn't have kicked Katrin off the cliff.] she said at once.
[Never mind that. She seems to have calmed down. What about the Wilds and the new clans?]
[It can be done.] Lynn agreed. [And it would strengthen the South Lamico Forest greatly. But Colin, to take so many Wilds from the Sunshine Forest… it's going to weaken that place.]
[I'll return it!] Colin offered. [Feelo Wasps and Oakin…]
[The Oakin are too strong for a place like the Sunshine Forest. Think, Colin. We don't want to turn a newbie zone into a death-trap.]
Colin fell silent.
[They will change.] Lynn continued. [The beavers and moles and squirrels and Megants... they will change when they spend time in the South Lamico Forest. They will grow stronger, as they must. But to bring stronger Wilds to a weaker forest… that's cruel.]
[What can I do?] Colin asked.
Lynn sighed. [You can't do a thing about it. I'll have to fix it myself. I'm going to demand some sacrifices from you.]
[More sacrifice?] Colin winced. [What is it this time?]
[Two of your Comrades.] She told him slowly. [The Leafy Cougar and the Forktail Swallow. Give them away.]
[What?! Why?] Colin stared.
[That's just the beginning.] Lynn added. [Quit the J-Knights. Tonight.]
[That's going to happen whether I like it or not.] Colin threw back.
[Leave Lost Paradise alone.] Lynn continued. [Do not extend the forest past the Southern Lamico Mountains.]
[Uh… okay…]
[Trust me, it's going to be too much trouble to keep going around the mountains to settle the sort of problems that come with Lost Paradise.] Lynn told him. [Best to leave them as neighbors.]
Colin winced. [I hope they're okay with that.]
[You'll have to deal with their anger yourself if they're disappointed with not joining the Forest.] Lynn said. [That's part of your price.]
[Fair enough.] Colin sighed.
"Colin?" Katrin blinked. "Are you all right?"
"I'm… I'm fine." Colin said. "Let me think awhile, okay?"
Katrin subsided as they continued on their way.
[Fourth, you must complete the first of the three riddles.] Lynn told him. [By tomorrow night, I want your answer to the first part of the Quest.]
Colin gulped. [But with the planting of the forest…]
[Leave it to the Lords of the Wilds.] Lynn told him. [Oreb or Kyubia can see to it. You owe me that quest.]
Colin fell silent, but the fact was, he really didn't have a choice in the matter any more. [All right. I'll do it.]
There was an Aspena up ahead. It looked like it had been through a recent fight. Colin remembered this one. It was particularly grouchy about being disturbed. He greeted it politely. "Hey there."
The Aspena gave him a polite bow in reply.
"How are you doing?" Colin asked.
The Aspena creaked, then turned to Katrin.
Colin blinked. "Kat… did you attack this Aspena?"
"It's a Wild!" Katrin protested. "And I was traveling on the road… and I needed to get to Forest Village, but…"
The Aspena creaked. Rall growled.
"You lost?" Colin stared. "How did you lose? He says it was fourteen to one!"
"He's too strong." Katrin said flatly.
"He's just a regular Wild around here." Colin told her. "A bit impatient for an Aspena, but…"
They were staring at him. Satrox and Katrin both looked at him with widening eyes.
"I… didn't tell you about my fight here." Katrin said in realization. "How did you know about it… unless…"
The Aspena creaked again.
"They do not look silly!" Colin told it. "They're just… surprised."
Realization struck him too. I should have been more careful… now both Satrox and Katrin know about Foresters being able to communicate with the Forest Wilds.
"Look, you guys, keep this a secret, okay?" Colin said. "I don't want the other Foresters mad at me."
"Well… I guess it should be obvious. I mean, if you can command the Forest Wilds, you have to be able to talk to them…" Satrox trailed off. "But actually seeing it…"
"I quit the investigation already." Katrin said softly. "Nobody needs to know. At least, not from me."
"Thanks." Colin said, then paused. [Lynn? I was thinking of dropping in for a visit, but if our business is concluded…]
[Get over here, Colin. Sonia wants to see you.] She said.
"Lynn's waiting." Colin said at last.
The Aspena creaked.
"Thanks for the offer," Colin replied. "But I think we'd move faster on foot."
"What?" Katrin blinked. "What did he say?"
"He offered to give me a lift." Colin told her.
"Oh."