The peculiar group of allied herbivores managed to burn away weeks of winter by studying their craft in small tools and medicines. Festelda had taken a short leave from the Homestead to gather poisonous flora indigenous to the area. By carefully extracting a plant's toxic trait, she could concentrate them into a potent cocktail. Any contact with the skin or ingestion could cause physical incapacity or death.
Powders would send the consumer into a deep slumber. Mushrooms offered spores that asphyxiated when inhaled. Nettles irritated skin and blinded eyes. Naturally secreted oils of vine plants paralyzed muscles when entering the blood stream through open wounds. Festelda kept her concoctions meticulously labeled and stored them in small pouches made of waterproof reeds around her waist.
Upon returning to the homestead, she shared her techniques to a focused group of raccoons, badgers, and small rodents through weekly teachings.
Her classes consisted of life-saving defensive tactics such as: the importance of sticking to the shadows, and always having a vantage over a predator by utilizing the tallest trees. Appropriate situations to use a specific poison, powder, spore, or nettle. How do dispose of an incapacitated body to avoid alerting other hunters. Staying silent when approaching enemies. All of these skills – when combined and properly applied – could be the difference between being found, or escaping death. Furthermore, she provided instruction on how to escape, should an herbivore be caught by a predator.
Brenloru and Dahj beamed with pride as they witnessed Festelda boast her craft. Dahj was impressed that someone cared for this land as much as he did. Though she lacked the title of Guardian, the young raccoon was well on her way to becoming a fine candidate for the rank.
On the first day of spring, Dahj stood on a vantage point at the very top of the trunk of the great cedar tree, just beneath the crown. Beavers had crafted a small platform that extended out from a doorway burrowed into the bark of the Homestead. Various animals would use this sky-high platform to dutifully keep watch over the surrounding land in shifts.
The scenery at this time of year comforted Dahj while residing on the platform for deep contemplation. His perspective nearly matched that of the surrounding mountain peaks. Satiated, he concluded that he would no longer need to embark on such a daunting hike to achieve a bird's-eye view of his homelands.
The drastic temperature difference on either side of his body offered a unique sensation. Frigid wind that traveled up the face of the tree clutched his chest like icy tendrils while warm, humid air wafted up the inside of the cylindrical tree and soothed his back. The annual snow cover was almost completely gone, and rays of sun refracted through morning dew droplets coating the field.
Spring was normally a sign of success. With the assistance of his secondary leaders, he would count heads to see who made it through the harshest season of the year. Everyone would be rounded up and they would begin their journey back north as one.
Brenloru crossed the threshold behind Dahj as he cleared his throat to gain his attention. "There's someone I want you to meet, friend," he said with a grin.
***
The pair made their way down to a resting room. Dug into an intricate root network of the tree, the floor was dirt littered with needles, leaves, and small stones. Roots intertwined over them in a dome shape to form a porous roof in the fashion of mangroves. Sunlight and chilled air poured into the room through gaps between the weaving root network.
A horned animal laid on his back on a wooden table that matched the creature's height, located in the very center of the chamber. Malleable branches, vines and leaves loosely covered his still body. Deciduous flora had died after being drained of their donated nourishment. They laid crumpled and exhausted around the table the beast rested on.
"Is he…?" Dahj started to ask.
"Healing, yes." Brenloru nodded, eyes lock on the beast in slumber. "And he's just about wake."
Two sturdy, curved horns sprouted out of either side of the beast's skull, just above his ears. They curled three hundred and sixty degrees before coming to pointed tips adjacent to the side of his head. He had slim, toned arms, but strong hands.
As Dahj approached the table to inspect the hands, he noticed they resembled his own. What were once hooves had split down the middle, replaced by four fingers. Slightly more developed than Dahj's, the resting beast's five fingers were leathery and gruesome, yet much longer, and slenderer. Dahj supposed it was related to the original size of the respective animal's hooves; bison's being blunter, and more rounded – while this creature's had been elongated.
"He was once a ram…" Dahj guessed as he lightly dusted away some of the dead plants that had healed the animal, exposing more of his torso. The creature's legs were wide and powerful from scaling cliffs. His pectoral muscles were shallow and lean, pulled across a prominent, narrow chest.
"Yes," Brenloru replied, gesturing towards the powerful, curved horns. "He had roamed his area for many years. Quite territorial, this one. Proud, too. He died trying to protect friends and family from bears that wanted to seize the area."
"A pack of bears? I've never heard of such a thing," Dahj replied.
"Well, generally they don't move in herds. However, their area to roam was growing smaller and smaller with every bear that was introduced. This hero, Reblex, did what he could to guide dozens of his species to safety for as long as he could," Brenloru said.
Dahj continued to inspect the stranger, first looking over his face. His features were still in an awkward stage of transition, as this was only his first awakening. His eyes were too far apart. Nose long, mouth low and small. Ears tall and slightly pointed. Multiple scars ran down his face and neck that had sealed deep wounds, brought with him from a previous life.
His hair was short and patchy, but covered most of his face and slim torso. The ram's back, however, was much straighter and lacked the exaggerated hunch Dahj still featured in his posture. Yet, standing, the ram's height would have only met the bison's shoulders, if not shorter. Dahj had heard tales about the crack that echoes through the mountain ranges when rams butt heads, and hoped he would stay on Reblex's good side!
The plants that blanketed the hero began to rustle. Vines and roots snugly tied around the ram's body slowly withered and retreated, just before Reblex's eyes shot open. He took a deep, wheezing breath and sharply arched his back.
"Where… where am I?" The ram looked around wildly. "Where is my…"
Brenloru approached the table, hushing lightly and offering the ram a handful of consumable tranquility herbs to relax his mind.
"You are going to have many questions, I know that," Brenloru said in a soothing tone. "I need you to stay calm and come with us."
"The bears… I need to get back to my range. I need to… My hooves! What is wrong with my hooves?" Reblex's face turned bright red as he swatted away the offered herbs that only seemed to stress him further.
Leaping from the table, Reblex identified the exit of the chamber with haste. Digging his toes into the ground, he charged. Lacking adequate control over his hind legs, he quickly stumbled before sharply veering right – directly towards the rock wall opposite the arching, porous roots. A loud crack rang through the room, leaving behind a vertical split that ran through a wave-shaped impact point where his horns had met rock. Reblex stumbled back and landed on his rear.
"Everything," Brenloru said calmly as he helped the confused ram to his feet, "will be explained."
Reblex's hind legs shook violently.
***
Reblex stood in front of the Designer wearing the same expression Dahj had during his first council within the chamber of creation. "And you have no idea how long I've been out… or where my family is?"
"Like I said, my friend. I easily lose track of time." The Designer turned towards Dahj and Brenloru. "I have put all of my faith in these two; I truly believe they will be able to re-empower my appendages and find the elemental Souls of this planet. When that is done, the carnivores will have no other choice than to redesign their appetites."
"We would like to elect Festelda to match our rank and responsibilities as well, Designer," Brenloru proposed.
"I suspected she was heading down that route," the Designer grinned. "She has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the cause. I will see what I can do."
"Reblex. How have you decided to proceed? I need an answer so that I may continue with… adjustments," the Designer lightly hissed.
"I, yes. I will defend my land. I have no other choice, I suppose. But I am dedicated to the cause," Reblex replied cautiously before firmly slapping his right horn twice with his new hand. He was unable to keep eye contact with the Designer for very long; something about the translucent, gelatinous beast was unsettling.
The Designer narrowed his eyes on Reblex. "You possess a unique power that sets you apart from the rest of your species, ram." His pallid flesh flushed a deep red. "I have heard tales of you bludgeoning multiple bears to unconsciousness using only the blunt weapons atop your head."
Reblex hesitated as if he was going to be chastised for his actions.
"I must inquire. What do you feel? Where does this unbridled power come from?" The Designer slithered towards the ram for inspection. He desired to retrieve a sample of Reblex in order to duplicate him. Just a little fur, or skin.
"I don't know," Reblex replied, shaking slightly. His cheeks turned pink as he slowly backed away from the encroaching tentacles. "When I know myself, or any of my blood are in danger, everything turns fuzzy. I just dip my head and run straight for them."
"Fair enough…" The Designer seemed disappointed, as if expecting a more straightforward answer with an exact definition of how he 'unlocked' this unique strength. He shifted, slightly unsettled.
The Designer's flesh neutralized back to a sickly translucent, unable to flash his deep land-tones now that he lacked the respective appendage.
"Just remember the rules, ram; these powers are for defensive measures only. I don't want to find out you've been headbutting half the forest seeking some kind of 'revenge'. The breeds out there are of a different generation – ones you have never encountered."
"Yes sir. My actions are in the name of the land. I will honor that," Reblex replied honestly.
The Designer turned back to Dahj and Brenloru. "Spring is here. I trust you have had time to prepare your arsenal and map your places of exceptional representation?"
"Yes," Brenloru replied, stepping forward. "We have chosen to find the highest plateau, the deepest canyon, the darkest cave, the densest forest, and the widest valley we possibly can. We will approach these places and achieve harmony with your appendage. Only then will we return to you. We think we know just the spots."
"All of those sound perfectly obtainable in this region, Guardians," the Designer replied with a wide smile on his face. "Do you know why I chose this area for my homestead?"
Dahj and Brenloru glanced at each other, shaking their heads.
"To the far southeast of us, lies a place of incredible power." The Designer retrieved a crude map and gestured to a region foreign to the Guardians.
"At first, I was afraid to populate it at all due to its supernatural geological features and unpredictable landscape. Despite its beauty in the summer, the region is nearly inhospitable in the winter. Myths whispered of scalding water that shoots from the ground directly into the air, and bubbling pools of viscous mud. Ponds with incredible depths decorated with an array of vibrant colors. It features one of the deepest canyons on the continent and many of the highest peaks. I believe it to be a special collaboration of all four of the planet's Souls." The Designer manipulated his three remaining appendages in an alternating fashion. The fourth, severed appendage writhed along from within Dahj's hip pouch as if still connected to the Designer.
The Designer slowly paced the room as he boasted the place of power. "Land has crafted the terrain to perfection; an image of what he wishes the entire planet could reflect. Aquatic offered many of the tallest falls, widest rivers, and grandest lakes that are now teeming with colorful fish. Atmosphere provides gusts of clean oxygen across the pristine land to fuel the ongoing spread of diversity. Most importantly, underneath the crust of it all, Reclamation stokes the heat that makes this place unique. The entire region is now known as an active 'super volcano'. It is truly a place of magic."
Colorful beads and strings representing the various elements shot through the Designer's head as he recalled the stunning beauty of the unique landscape. "My one wish is that you visit this place for at least one of the locations you mentioned to empower my appendage." The Designer seemed to be delighted to explain this mythical place. His skin flushed various elemental colors as his excitement to live vicariously through the Guardians grew stronger.
"Every day, I yearn to visit the area at least once more. Alas, I am trapped in my research dungeon. Allow me to live vicariously through you – visit a place I may never get to again, Guardians. It is truly an experience anyone should witness at least once."