The Ranger Book One: A thousand years ago.

The morning came early for Nolan. Feris was waiting for him in his families long house's dining area. His father was sipping of a glass of fruit juice as he chatted with Feris. Nolan's mother was preparing food and serving it when it was ready.

"Ah! Here he is! The conquering hero finally graces us with his presence." Feris said, chuckling as he spoke.

"Stop. He had a rough day yesterday. Here, dear. Eat, you'll need your strength." His mother said as she placed a plate loaded with bacon, eggs and diced and fried potatoes.

"Yes he did. As did Feris. Nolan showed his mettle. He was able to adapt to very adverse conditions and overcame powerful foes. He proved that he is ready to be an adult and join the Council. His voice will have bearing and his opinion will hold merit and sway. Feris, I want you to take him to the Castle of The Two Sisters and talk to a pony smith in the settlement there by the name of Heavy Hammer. He owes me a favor and I want him to make a set of armor for my son. Hammer will know what I want, but I want it made for Nolan's measurements. And make sure it can be used with his headdress. Nolan, bring your spearhead as it appears now. Hammer might fix it up for you as a gift. Take some time after you finish at Hammer's shop and familiarize yourself the ponies as much as you can. We view the Myrkvior as a cursed and dangerous place, so when the ponies set their settlement there, we didn't care. The elders fear that these newcomers with their new request for a trade for land will take what they want by force, taking land through violence and death. Should it come to that, they will not find us lacking. It is my hope, however, that our peoples can live in peace and harmony. I've said as much in my correspondences, limited as they are to the ponies rulers. The Sisters are strong, both physically and in magical power, but are relatively new to leadership, only being a little older than you Nolan. They show wisdom by having advisors for just about everything. Feris has been to their settlement before, so he will show you the way. Learn what you can about them. It will be of use to you later." The chief said at length.

Nolan and Feris had been eating while the chief spoke.

"As you command, father." Nolan said as he and Feris finished. They packed lightly for the journey. Nolan put his hunters knife on his belt, donned his new necklace, packed his bow and arrows as well as the remains of his spear. He also brought his collection of gemstones. While their value in the eyes of ponies may be slightly less, they could still be used to barter.

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It took them most of the morning to reach the settlement, though they hadn't been moving very fast. Finding the smithy was easy enough. Communicating with the smith was a different matter. He spoke in a dialect that was unknown to either wolf and the accent in which he spoke was so thick as to make understanding him even more difficult. Fortunately, he had an assistant that could translate.

The measurement process took a couple of hours, and when they were done, the smith got right to work. His assistant said it would be a few months before it was finished. Heavy Hammer was more than willing to to give Nolan a new length of ironwood, which had already been cut and shaped down into a spear shaft. Hammer had also worked in a couple of enchantments that would strengthen the wood even more. After that, the two set out exploring. They got lunch at a small pony business that was called a tavern by the ponies, and seemed to serve the same roll as a feasting hall among the wolven.

Of course, after a couple of drinks, Feris started to tell the story of his brave and wise cousins First Hunt. Several looked at the pair with no small amount of skepticism. Many of the stallions who had the look of soldiers to them, while looking a bit dubiously at the young wolves, had a reserved respect for the young hunters. A few of the mares looked at them with a curious and...perhaps hungry look to their eyes.

They paid their tab and went through some of the shops. One of which was a jewelry store. The mare who ran it caught sight of Nolan's necklace and seemed to think that Wolven field craft and craft work, while lacking the sophistication of current pony styles, would sell very well due to their uncomplicated nature. She asked that Nolan bring it up to the proper authorities back at their settlement. It could bring some monetary improvements to both Ponies and Wolves.

Nolan assured her that he would. He traded an amethyst and two emeralds to her for a silver tiara with blue highlights and aquamarine stones for his mothers birthday. He thought that she would appreciate it. After finishing their business and with a final assurance of bringing up trade with his Chief, they said their goodbyes and stepped back outside.

"We'll need to move swiftly to ensure that we make it back before sundown. I can't guarantee that they'll induct you, but I'm very confident. Come. Let's get home quickly." Feris said as they began to jog out of the pony settlement.

The trip back was much faster, and they didn't run into any trouble along the way. Once back, his mother helped Nolan into a new set of buckskins which had a small and tasteful amount of bead work and feathers placed strategically. He arrived in front of the council lodge just as the sun dropped below the horizon. The elders and his father came out at that moment. The assembled villagers gave the chief their full attention.

"By now, you have all heard about Nolan's First Hunt, and how while on that hunt, he and his party were attacked by a Manticore. You have also more than likely heard how he killed that monster with little more than a knife and ruined spear. This kind of deed hasn't been done in an age on a First Hunt. What makes this deed well and truly worthy, is that they didn't go looking for the Manticore. They would have been pleased with the bear they were hunting. But when the challenge arose and presented itself, they didn't shirk from their responsibility to each other, and others who may have been in the area. They killed the beast and in so doing, have become legend.
"It is with this, and great joy and pride, that we acknowledge and accept Nolan as a member of the council and as a hunter and full member of our tribe." The last was spoken as his mother placed his new bear hide headdress over his shoulders. As she made a few last adjustments, Nolan whispered a quiet and heartfelt thank you to her, which was accepted and welcomed with a loving smile.

"Come, Hunter. It is time for you to take your place amongst the council fire." The tribe's Shaman said. As Nolan walked in, Feris was beside him and slipped him a small leather pouch.

"That's a high grade pipe tobacco. They'll ask you for an offering for the spirits, and when they toss that into the fire, I expect that the spirits will be very pleased with this offering. Just remember to always bring something small to offer to them." Feris whispered to the young wolf.

"Thanks. Anything else I should be aware of?"

"No, not really."

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They walked into the lodge and found a place to sit around the fire. There was a banquet table to one side piled high with food for them to eat, along with ale, mead, and liquor. Several of the councilors started to pack the bowls of peace pipes and got other such things ready for use. Soon, the meeting was called to order and the offerings to the spirits and ancestors were made by all, with the chief and the shaman also making an offering to Fenris. Feris also made an offering to Loki in addition to the spirits.

When it came time for Nolan to make his offering, he tossed the pouch in, and as the fire consumed it, a series of multi hued lights swirled and danced over the fire and through the smoke.

'Thank you!' The words were spoken inside Nolan's head. The shaman looked at the lights and nodded sagely.

"The spirits are pleased with your offering, young Nolan. They may favor you with a small boon this evening." The spiritual leader of the tribe said with a pleased smile. Several topics were discussed, at length, through out the night. Most of them were easy enough to speak about. Everything from the planting of the plants they used for medicine and food, to organizing next years First Hunt. There were enough youngsters to warrant at least two such events. Possibly even a third.

After that, the chief stood and spoke to the council.

"I have here a missive from the leadership of the Ponies. They ask for a grant, a trade for some of our lands. This is no easy thing. I am inclined to trade them for the lands, but what would be fair? For every part of our territory, there would have to be a different price. What say you all?"

Some were on the fence, some vehemently opposed. Some were for it, while others stayed completely silent. After some argument, with a few of those involved getting rather heated, the chieftain called for quiet.

"Nolan. You have heard all the arguments, you know what the Ponies ask for. What do you think?"

"My chief, I would say no..." Nolan started as he was suddenly and loudly cut off by the council erupting in agreement and praise for his wisdom as well as condemnation for his poor choice.

"I WOULD SAY NO, PROVISIONALLY!" Nolan shouted over the crowd. All other speaking stopped.

"I will here your provisions." The chief replied.

"I was approached by a business owner who wanted to set up trade between us for some of our hand and field crafts in exchange for their hard currency. I would say that we use this as a means of testing to see how the Ponies fare as business partners. If they prove honest and fair, then we can explore avenues which could lead to trading for the land they want. It will take longer, but in the end, I believe we will gain enough knowledge about Ponykind to better judge if they are honorable. If they prove true, then we have a new set of friends. If not, we can make plans and take steps to keep them trapped in the Myrkvior. Time, my chief, will prove to be our greatest asset and friend in these coming days and weeks." Nolan spoke at length, laying out a small frame work for the council to consider.

"There is wisdom in what you say, Nolan. I will send a message back asking them to send a negotiator to discuss terms of setting up a trade agreement or two. Do you remember the the name of the mare that asked you to trade with her?" The chief asked.

"Yes her name is Emerald Star. She was kind if just a little insistent about me promising to speak with those responsible for such things. I even did a little business with her, and she was very fair, though to be honest, I don't know if that was to make me more inclined to help her with her trade proposition, or if she's normally a fair trader." Nolan said as he thought back to the encounter.

"Very well. We will look into this matter in more depth once the negotiator arrives." The chief said as they all began to eat and drink. The peace pipes were starting to make their way around the fire.

"Is there any other matters that need discussion?" The shaman asked. No one seemed to have any other business. No one except Feris.

"I have something that I would like the council to make an official ruling on." Feris declared firmly.

"And what would that be?" one of the other councilors asked.

"I move that this council rule, when the time is correct, that Nolan be placed as the head of our warriors, once he has completed the warrior training and this council agrees that he has earned such a position. I know that this is slightly out of order, but while we have many skilled hunters, and many brave warriors, none of them have slayed a Manticore, and none have been deemed by this council worthy of the position." Feris said with a smirk.

The shaman and the chief spoke quietly to each other for several moments. After some time they stopped.

"What you suggest Feris, is inappropriate at this time. While Nolan has achieved adulthood and proven his skill and bravery, he isn't old enough for the position you suggest. However, putting him through the warrior training is a prudent idea as it would improve many of his skills. What say you, Nolan?" The shaman asked.

Nolan thought about it for a moment. Warrior training wasn't taken lightly, and it wasn't just handed out. The skills would be useful, and it would help his prospects with the shewolves when that time came. But did he want to be a warrior? He had hopped for a peaceful life.

'You will not know peace. Not for many years. But you will know it. Someday. a voice of strength and power said in his mind. It was so much different from the earlier voice that it made him jump slightly. He realized that everyone was still waiting on his answer.

"I will take the training. It will strengthen our tribe, our people. When do I start?" Nolan asked.

"Not for a week at most. I will send for you. Keep your spear with you." Frost Paw, one of the old warriors said with a knowing smile. With that, the evening came to an end.