Myoba

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Traveler for hire, mostly by those who are perfectly capable of doing the errand themselves but would rather pay someone else a few coins instead. Passes messages, picks up and delivers packages, finds shops items samples creatures passages drakes, and occasionally gets into trouble. Holds puppet shows in between jobs. It works out well in terms of steady income, as fetch quests always eventually send her somewhere else with a fresh audience. Wanderin lair makes for a good home base in the Windswept Plateau as the rent's low, storage is secure and she already knows Johnny and Peat. Got a customized feather charm to hang on her pack to indicate she's available for hire for intellectual or physical tasks. All it ever gets her outside Wind territory is queries where she bought it. She should get a commission for advertising service.

Accepting payment in the form of a pillow is a one time thing. It will not happen again. (Not least because it's too bulky to travel with so she somehow ended up giving it back to the client to hold for her until whenever she comes around again... yeah she definitely got gulled.)

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Quote: BSJ 20 > Floral Philanthropy Tempus needs help delivering bundles of sunflowers during the Brightshine Jubilee! Visit a new clan each day to pass out flowers, meet new dragons, and collect new experiences around Sornieth before the festival ends! Yoya's Travelogue:

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Wooden Flute Trinkets A fantastic instrument, provided one has lips. 27

Day One: FluffyTundras #235298

The Ykwi'Maw Friends made here: Szałwia, Świerk "Well, you're certainly too big to stay in the burrow", said Szałwia. Myoba guessed that the Tundra's duty was to make her stay enjoyable. For now, unfortunately, she didn't feel well: an Ice dragon in Fire domain. She kept herself cold enough with her magic but she was afraid that soon it might not be enough. The burrow seemed like a nice place to rest yet she was too big to crawl inside through the entrance. The whole clan consisted of Tundras and the main lair wasn't prepared to host larger guests. "Come with me", proposed brownish Tundra. They've landed on a top of the hill in which the burrow had been dug. The wind carried sweet aromas from the steppe and the branches of the trees provided a little shade. Underneath them there was a cozy space, ideal for Myoba's size. She lied in the dry grass and made herself comfortable. "So... I've heard you hold puppet shows?", asked Szałwia. Myoba nodded and Tundra grinned cheerfully. "That's great! Would you like to host one here?" Myoba waited patiently while Świerk was telling her names of all the hatchlings that he brought. They all stared at her in a curious way, never seeing a Coatl before. "That's it.", he finished. "Sorry, it took longer than I've expected". "Can we start? Please!", begged one of the hatchlings. The other ones shouted in agreement. The Coatl smiled and pulled a puppet from her baggage. Then she lowered her voice, imitating the Lightweaver and started her play. She thought she'll be playing only for hatchlings. But during her performance more dragons started to show up and soon the whole clan was here, watching her show. It wasn't big in numbers but it still delivered a great aplause. Then, they switched places. Local clan members were performing and she could watch their shows. There were dances, songs, stories and plays -- and they all made her forget her about the heat. Szałwia prepared her food for the rest of her journey and together with Świerk she bid Myoba farewell.

Day Two: Starphire, Clan Starphire #380833 "Welcome!" A guardian exclaimed, "You must be Myoba, we've been expecting you." She turned and started strolling along at a gentle pace. "If you will follow me? We have some snacks and such for you, in case you were hungry after your travels from the last clan, it was a long way after all." As Myoba followed the guardian into the trees from her landing field, she noticed a number of young Fae in the trees watching them. "I do hope you'll excuse them" the guardian murmured, "we haven't had many visitors from so far away recently, and we haven't had a Coatl in the clan since long before the were hatched. You are something of a novelty to them, but after they hear you talk during dinner, I am sure they will lose any shyness they currently possess. I can almost guarantee it." The guardian then grimaced "that may be a mixed blessing, of course. We tend to encourage inquery and curiosity around here, and that includes the questions required to get the answers which are sought. If you get too bombarded by them, or anyone with a little too much curiosity, come find me, or Starfall. He and I are going to be your hosts, although I trust the rest of my clan to be duly welcoming, so you should feel free to ask anyone should you need something. Oh! And I am terribly sorry, I almost forgot, my name is Stargazer. And I welcome you to the Clan Starphire!" By the end of this, Myoba noticed a widening of the path they were on, and there began to be glowing lights and bright sparkling vials and glasses holding things which caught and refracted the light, all hanging in the tree boughs surrounding the path. As the continued further, the path opened up into a small glade, which seemed ancillary to a much larger series of clearings, all vibrantly festooned with even more of the lights and glitter. There were a number of Guardians and Fae, as well as a Mirror, and the odd Pearlcatcher or Imp, gathered around a series of tables and stools. "As I said, we've been expecting you." Stargazer remarked with a smile. "We are very happy you are joining us during your journey." By the end of dinner, Stargazer' assumption proved correct, and most of the younger dragons were quite comfortable with the Coatl, to the point of overwhelming her. Caecilius, a younger Fae of only a year and a half, stopped by. "Would you care to go for a walk in the woods? They are really nice, now that we've got them all lit up for Brightshine, or so I've been told. And to be fully upfront, I am curious about your travels abroad, but if you'd rather talk of something else, I'd be happy to." Myoba looked a bit more closely at the Fae, but all she saw were his pale ice eyes. Caecilius must have sensed her stare, as he turned away and muttered "I'm mostly blind, I can see some shadow, which is better than it used to be, but... I will need my familiar to join us, as it is late enough I'm liable to trip on roots otherwise." He turned back to her and said more clearly "It's one of the reasons I'm so curious about your travels. My training partners, classmates if you will, have also embarked on the same journey you are on right now. I wanted to join them myself, but as my new familiar and I are just learning each other, we decided it was too dangerous for now. Maybe next year. But what about you? Have you been on one of these journeys before? Are there places in Sornieth you still want to go? What was your favorite? Ugh! And I did say I wouldn't grill you if you didn't want more of the same from dinner!" He ducked his head and grinned. "Oops?" Myoba was intrigued by the young Fae, and decided a nice stroll in the woods would give her a chance to settle the dinner, and explore this clan so very different and yet similar in some ways to her own. As they walked and chatted, about how their homes and habits were different or the same. She saw how his familiar flew ahead, and rusted his tail in one way or another, and Caecilius would respond by striding differently or shifting out of the way of objects she could barely see as the twilight deepened. Sometime later, the glowing lights in the trees were almost the only light available, and they had returned to the collection of clearings which made up the clan's home and lair. "Well, thank you so much for taking the time, it was really nice to get to know someone from beyond the clan! And your travels and jobs are really impressive. I think I'd like to do that too someday. If you ever need an apprentice, let me know?" Caecilius stopped at a large set of trees with hollows at the base, it almost looked like someone had woven the ring of younger trunks together, and then cleared out the space beneath, making a nice enough denning spot for the night. "I think Stargazer mentioned to you, but if this doesn't work, we have other spots, we just figured what with you being on the road so much, you might want something with some walls and more privacy than up a tree or in the field. That's what most of the clan is doing at the moment. I'm up there" he pointed to a larger tree across the next clearing "and Stargazer is just over there" this was accompanied by a wave on the other side of Myoba's clearing, where a larger form could be seen between the trees "so just give a yell if you need anything, yeah?" As he and the Eyewing got ready to fly, he paused "Oh, right! Stargazer made a little pack for you, for your next leg of the journey. I'm not sure if you have any extra space but it's got food and some stuff, it's in your tree spot, just take what works for you!" And with that they both waved, and left so that Myoba could settle in for the night. It was a pretty chatty group, she reflected, and very friendly. Seems she was gathering potential friends as well as distributing sunflowers. Not too bad! And with that she went to sleep, pondering what the next day would bring.

Glasswing Butterfly Insect Almost too pretty to eat. Almost. 43 5

Day Three: GuardianDragonak, Willowlight Shadows #309079 Myoba arrived at the clan borders in the early morning where a guide greets her and proceeds to tell her that it is too dangerous to head to the main village. He then tells her that another safer area has been set up for her visit, so the two of them head through the forest. Once the two of them arrive at their destination (an open field of wildflowers), she is greeted by one of the clan leaders, Nightcore. The guide departs while Nightcore introduces her to Frei, who is practically a ray of sunshine. Frei leads Myoba around the field and they spend the day decorating the trees with sunflowers, or passing them out to a few strange animals. As the sun begins to set, odd, yet gorgeous bugs fill the air, catching the light in a way that sets them aglow as they flutter about the field. It's a breathtaking sight. The two even manage to catch a few, and Frei insists that Myoba take them home with her to share, along with some of the wildflowers. After helping Myoba pack, Frei says her farewells and disappears into the forest, and Myoba heads onward to her next lair.

Manyleaves Plant This lightning-resistant aloe plant clings to the highest points of the skyscraping escarpments ringing the Thunderhead Savanna. It gives the mouth a slight tingle when consumed. 29 3

Day Four: TheAwesoMew, Clan Thunder Hollow #379235 Myoba was well used to traveling long distances, and yet even she could admit to a tiny bit of fatigue as she set down in the bustling central plaza of her fourth host clan. She had flown from Fire to Light to Nature, and now to Lightning; each new day seemed to send her flapping all the way across Sornieth. Who decided that was a good idea? Maybe they'd heard that she ran deliveries and took it to mean she was endlessly resilient. As she stood in the plaza and caught her breath, an eager voice hailed her from across the cobbles. She looked up to see a vibrant teal-and-blue skydancer waving at her from a booth that was set up next the impressive central fountain. Somewhat confused, Myoba trotted over. "Hello there, traveller!" the skydancer chirped with a smile, "Would this happen to be your first time visiting Thunder Hollow?" "Yes, it is. Have I landed in the wrong place or something like that? I couldn't really make out any gates from the air..." "Oh, no, you're just fine. I just wanted to make sure that you could get all the the resources you need before you headed off into the festivities is all!" She pushed a pamphlet forward that turned out to be a map of the clan's public area. Myoba took it and looked it over, trying to pinpoint where she ought to make her delivery. There was a trade port by the sea, but it seemed to be designed for inter-clan business, not simple sunflower deliveries. "Hey," she asked, looking up from the map, "do you know where incoming deliveries get sent to? I've got some sunflowers here that need delivering and not the foggiest clue as to where to put them." "Oh, you're a sunflower courier? Well, we don't have any place in particular for our deliveries to go. We want our visitors to be able to enjoy themselves and make new friends, and let their experiences here decide where they deliver at the end of the day. This is a festival, after all! We want it to be a time of celebration and enjoyment, especially for our selfless sunflower couriers. On that note, here!" The skydancer removed a small leather pouch from beneath her booth and thrust it into Myoba's paws. "This contains a key to a room in our Inn. You're welcome to stay there, free of charge, as a thanks for your effort this Brightshine's!" "Oh! Thanks. I'll be certain to make use of an offer like that!" "Of course, and good luck with your delivery! I hope you have an excellent time during your stay here." - - - Myoba wasn't particularly used to deciding where to send the deliveries she carried. After all, a big part of being a paid courier is following directions and ensuring that your cargo gets where it's supposed to be going! Having this sort of creative freedom was new, but not unwelcome. However, looking at the bustling festivities raging all around her, she didn't feel quite ready to jump into the celebrations. She felt exhausted, and with the opportunity to rest without worrying about payment sounded wonderful. Checking the map, she located the Inn and headed quickly off for it; once she had some rest to bolster her, she could enjoy the festivities to the fullest (not to mention, it would be cooler at night--perfect for an Ice dragon like her). The Inn wasn't far off from the central plaza, being located down a wide main street. It was a gorgeous, sprawling building, with deep red paint and dark wooden beams to make it stand out from its bright, sylvan backdrop. A wide courtyard surrounded it, serving as a home for an array of podiums, benches, and tables. Dragons were hard at work decorating, setting up banners and strings of lights. It seemed as though an event was in the works for later in the day; Myoba resolved to see what it was after she caught some well-deserved rest. She turned and entered the Inn. The lobby was rather luxurious, with plush red carpets lining the freshly-polished wooden floor. An orangeish skydancer hummed to herself from behind a wide semicircular desk, and she looked up as Myoba walked in. "Hello!" she chimed, offering Myoba a warm smile, "Are you here to reserve a room? We still have plenty of space--or do you have a reservation?" "I believe I have a reservation," Myoba replied, lifting the leather pouch from her bag, "I'm a sunflower courier, and I was told there was a room already reserved for me. Is that right?" She really hoped it wasn't just a prank--though this wasn't a Shadow lair, so there was no reason for it to be. "Absolutely! The key in that pouch will give you access to room 103, which you'll find just up the stairs and to the right. We also have some meal vouchers available here for you that are good for redeeming free meals from our neighboring restaurant, The Emerald Hearth, whenever you find yourself hungry, so don't hesitate to ask for them! I hope you have a wonderful stay, and thank you for all your hard work this Brightshine's." Myoba thanked the skydancer before making her way up the stairs and to room 103. - - - Myoba awoke a few hours later feeling rested and rejuvenated. There was a fresh pep in her step as she made her way out of room 103 and back to the hotel lobby. The deep oranges of sunset filtered through the lobby's large main window, illuminating the cluster of dragons that stood between her and the doors. The skydancer who had directed her to her room was talking in a low voice with another skydancer, a pale coatl, and a dark greenish mirror. "They're all injured? Every single one?" the other skydancer, whose feathers were quite similar in color to the carpets, asked in a worried tone. "There was a Shade attack just after they left the rehearsals--they've all got cuts at the least, and Chloris broke her leg!! There's no way around it, Sunder. We're going to have to cancel the reenactment." the mirror replied, her expression set somewhere between concern and anger. "But it's a staple! I don't think I've seen a festival in Thunder Hollow where we didn't reenact the first celebration. What're we going to tell the visitors who inevitably show up? The thing's supposed to go on in half an hour, and there's no way we'll get the news out that fast." "We could try to put on another show," the coatl suggested, looking lost in thought, "I can go get Glacia and we can do some sort of music routine." "You've been playing and singing all day--I can't expect you to do a new routine on such short notice! Most of our usual performers have been working their tails off for this festival...I can't think of anyone I'd ask in good conscience," the reddish skydancer--Sunder--replied, looking discouraged. "Maybe I could help?" Myoba spoke up quickly, thinking of how well her puppet performances had been received throughout her life--and, indeed, throughout her journey. The gathered dragons all swiveled to look at her. "Really?" Sunder piped up, his eyes sparkling, "What can you- wait. Are you a visitor? I can't recall seeing you around here before..." "I am. My name is Myoba, and I just arrived here today. But! I have a knack for puppetry, and if you need an entertaining show..." "Well, firstly, it's a pleasure to meet you Myoba! Secondly, are you sure? I would love your help, but I don't want to hamper your Brightshine experience." "I'm sure!" she replied resolutely, "I love what I do, and I'm sure I'll have time to enjoy the rest of the festivities later tonight. You're doing a reenactment of the first Brightshine Jubilee, right? I think I have just the puppets..." - - - Myoba was quickly set up on one of the podiums she had passed earlier. Using a spare festival booth and a few of the sunflowers she was meant to deliver, Myoba constructed a simple puppetry stand before laying out her gear and listening to Sunder's quick rundown of the usual reenactment's plot. He quickly had to dash off to help settle the influx of eager attendees, but he flashed her a quick thumbs-up before he left, mouthing 'thank-you' at her with a smile. She was pretty confident in her routine as dragons began to gather around the stage, taking seats at tables and talking with one another as they waited for the performance to start. As the lights went dim and the last of the visitors were settled, she took a deep breath and lifted her puppets. A spotlight flashed on, and she began. At first, the dragons in the crowd seemed a bit confused, probably expecting something a bit more theatrical. However, as her routine wore on, they softened to it and began to smile and chuckle. Some even laughed out loud, adding a welcome layer of sound in the absence of music. By the end of her show, nearly every attendee was grinning appreciatively, and when she finally stood up and took a bow, they showered her in applause. Some even tossed coins and trinkets onto the stage, which she made sure to gather once the crowd had filtered away from the podium. Sunder rushed up to her when she had finished packing up her supplies. "You were amazing!" he cried, beaming at her, "That was the best rendition of the first Brightshine we've had in ages! I cannot thank you enough for the help." "It was no trouble," she said nonchalantly, returning his smile, "I never miss a chance to perform." He offered her a small coinpurse. "I know it's not a lot, but please take this as a thanks. I don't know what we would have done without you!" She accepted it gratefully and bid him farewell before heading off to see what the rest of the clan had to offer for nighttime festivities. When she returned later that night, she remembered to leave the rest of her sunflowers at the front desk for the dragons of the Inn before heading back up to her room to catch a few more hours of rest before her next flight.

Day Five: ReginaChaos, Aphid Hive #457490 Despite every possible method of searching, from turning the map upside down to yelling from the top of a large rock, Myoba just could not find Aphid Hive that day!

Day Six: mintea00 #475171 "Look dada!! it MOVESSS!" A small hatchling pointed at Myoba's puppet and exclaimed loudly to her father, a golden pearlcatcher with flaming eyes. "Hmm...indeed, it would seem so," he replied, amused. "Would you like to wait to see what happens?" The hatchling nodded excitedly and sat down on a small plush, claws clasped in anticipation. Myoba, who noticed the hatchling plopped on the ground, sauntered over. It was over an hour before the show was set to begin, and she figured she might as well spend some time with this small enthusiastic supporter. "Do you like puppets?" she asked, dangling one of her favorites in front of the hatchling. The hatchling, who seemed to have been frightened, suddenly turned to her father and tugged at his arm. "Please excuse my daughter," the pearlcatcher said. "She is fascinated by all things that move and thinks they are magical." "Ah, I see," Myoba replied, somewhat disappointed. And here she had thought that finally, there was a youngling with exquisite taste and loved the art of puppetry. Instead her trade was just mere childplay. She was about to head back to her preparations when the pearlcatcher remarked, "But my family comes from a long tradition of puppeteering, passing on the secrets and skills from generation to generation. My brother has his own show now somewhere in the Ashfall Waste...though it's been a while so I can't quite recall.." Intrigued, Myoba responded, "It's good to see an appreciator of the fine arts of puppetry in this day and age...I would be interested in reaching out for sure." "Yes, of course." The pearlcatcher handed the coatl a note with the information written on it. "Tell him that I sent you...speaking of which, you are not just a puppeteer, are you?" His sharp eyes gleaned the bag with dozens of trinkets and odd bits and pieces of tools. "I daresay we could use some help here at Sundial Terrace. The border patrol have found an excess of small bandits trying to get in and steal food and treasure." "You've got a keen eye," Myoba observed, surprised. "But how do I know I can trust you?" Chuckling, the pearlcatcher said, "The name's Eliorn, and I am on the council here at Sundial Terrace. My word is good as any; meet me by the meadow entrance tonight for your first task."

Alstroemeria Fox Familiar The happiest fox. 2000

Day Seven: Jaspernoir, Alstroemeria clan #363800 Sour Strawberry Plant You probably should have waited a few more days before harvesting this. 70 8 Travelled to the Alstroemeria Clan Your dragon appeared during their sunflower delivery route, through the brambles and blacksand beaches, to end up with the Alstroemeria clan for a time~ With a renewed sense of whimsy and a few weird trinkets, they head off to their next destination! Achieved: BSJ 2020

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation Travel to the Sornieth Winter Game fairgrounds to take part in the Crystalline Gala. Races, dancing, ice fishing, warm drinks, sweet treats, and special surprises await! Be sure to see the Tallest Snowwarden! > Try out the slalom course! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch Finch has invented a wand capable of sprouting seeds into full blooms! Collect materials and follow his instructions to build one of your own! > Gather 3 Tangled Band from the Bramblecrown Stoats in Boreal Wood

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Starfrost Valley was an irregular bowl of gentle slopes, usually sheltered from the harsher extremes of weather by the surrounding peaks and not far from the Rimebone Stockade, so it was a natural location for the outdoor events of the Crystalline Gala. It was also usually a quiet, empty expanse of snow, just like everywhere outdoors in the Southern Icefield, so to see it full of dragons, colorful tents, and piping music was always a shock to Yoya's system.

But a pleasant one. Skiers had already dotted the upper slopes surrounding the valley and ropes and flags were visible marking some of the courses for the official races. Yoya pulled in a breath of crisp, chill air, swapped her snowshoes for the skis in her pack, picked out a course of trees to dodge and shifted her weight to start her descent toward the festival grounds.

A grin split her face at the rush of wind chill and adrenaline. She might never be good enough to compete with top athletes, as little time as she spent in her homeland, but nothing beat the thrill of winter sports. Maybe she could manage to join in some of the open free-for-alls between competitions if she wasn't too busy.

The first thing that caught Yoya's eye when she entered the fairgrounds was an enthusiastic sales pitch for... an unexplained, miracle food source that appeared to be a magic wand. You didn't just buy your own, you built it.

Hoax, gimmick, or highly constrained souvenir, Yoya guessed, and promptly joined the line. It looked like fun, after all. She wanted one.

Tangled bands were apparently what Yoya's wand was going to be constructed from. She knew right where to find those.

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > Take part in the luge competition! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > Collect 2 Runed Tuft of Fur from the Runic Bats in Forgotten Cave

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Yoya was not asking why there was a dragon in the bowels of a cave enchanting the local bat population. Or why the enchanter had worked to tame the bats to the point they'd flutter into the dragon's grasp to be groomed. She kept her mouth shut on all potential questions, accepted the tufts of fur the enchanter offered after Yoya's greeting, and went right back the way she came, just grateful she hadn't had to come up with a method to capture and de-tuft bats herself.

...Or went left back the way she came, apparently. Frost it. Which way led out?

The ground hardened under Yoya's feet as she turned in a new direction, from giving to slick, cold seeping through protective layers into the tips of her toes. She didn't notice immediately when the ground began to slope. Then she tripped.

Then she slid.

Yoya hadn't planned on sledding her way instead of walking, but when gravity insisted...

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > Knifetoe Knick is making trouble for festival goers on Frostmoon Lake! Defeat him in a hockey match so the skating competition can resume! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > Deliver 2 items of your chosen color

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Yoya was not a sucker for adorable hatchlings. Yoya didn't have any favorite colors, and given that the ingredients she'd already collected were curls of pink metal and tufts of brownish fur that glowed with pink runes, the color of the wand she was supposed to make was probably already set.

So she went to 'think about it' while going fishing. Maybe she could offer anything she caught - the iridescent sheen of fish scales were always pretty regardless of color.

Finding a spot to cast a line wasn't easy in the crowd of stalls and courses surrounded by milling dragons, but there was a lake in the valley, iced over or not, which meant Yoya could and would go fishing before the festival was over. She just had to get to it.

A bright spot of color standing out from the rest caught her eye at one stall near the lake as she passed it, and when Yoya turned to look she paused, stepped out of the flow of traffic and had to ask: "Is that honey? That's green?"

It was. After that particular hive's honey had come out with that astonishing tint the beekeeper had followed the bees responsible and discovered they were harvesting the 'nectar' of a lost, half-melted crate of crystallized candy.

The green honey was correspondingly more expensive for the rarity. Its delicate, translucent-whitish color would go really well with pink - even thematically, for an object that made plants bloom like in springtime. Yoya was not a sucker for adorable hatchlings.

...Yoya was such a sucker for adorable hatchlings. She was going to fish until she caught enough to make up for the ridiculous expense.

Yoya was considerate of others when she carved her hole in the ice; she deliberately picked a spot no one else was frequenting, and even hefted the cut circle out to the side so she could put it back and refreeze it in place when she was done. The weather was consistently cold enough to ensure there would be no weak seam left after only a few hours.

"Hey! This is my ice, what do you think you're doing?"

Yoya yanked her pole out of the way a split second before a hockey stick slammed down where the bamboo had been. Yoya looked up at the wildclaw at the other end of the stick.

"This is free ice." Yoya always informed herself of the legalities and limitations for fishing wherever she was.

The wildclaw's hockey stick came down on the other side of the ice cutout, scraping it noisily over the frozen surface like a giant puck until it splashed back into the hole it came from and bobbed to the surface. Yoya's eyes narrowed.

"The ice belongs to the one strong enough to hold it! If you want to use my ice, you'll have to beat me in a game!"

Yoya sealed the ice cutout with a directed breath of frost and, whoopsydoopsy, spilled it farther onto the wildclaw's toes. "Stick. Pads. How many points to play to."

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > Who will win the historic Great Southern Icefield Speed Skating Race? Cheer on your favorite to ensure their place! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > Time your spell to blend with Finch's magic fire to enchant your wand! > Place your wand in the dye pan to set its color!

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Yoya checked her list of the day's tasks she'd picked up to be sure she'd finished them - sugared nuts cone delivered to the beleaguered hatchiecare supervisor while still hot, check; lost cat found and returned; note clandestinely passed from one dragon to another on the opposite side of the same clearing; escort of extremely directionally challenged tourist to the stall they most wanted to visit, success (finally).

Oh! The next step for the magic wand, she hadn't done that yet today. A glance over toward Finch's bonfire revealed it was still thronged with other dragons, and the speed skating was about to start so she would just have to stop by later. Yoya hurried to join the crowd shuffling into the stands for seats, close-packed enough to make the frigid air cozy before it turned stuffy, and craned her neck toward the starting line in anticipation.

A timeless bout of screaming support for Their Guy versus Those Dastards later Yoya departed the stands for the nearest warm drink stalls with a mob of new friends she hadn't met and wouldn't see again, all bound in a shared high of victorious camaraderie. It was a while before she remembered the last task still left to do on her list.

Infuse her native element into the wand at the same time as she exposed it to the enchanted fire Finch and his associate had prepared. The magic of ice wasn't only for freezing and killing and preservation - it could also bring sharing and creation and moments of wonder in unending cold. She could make a wand that made seeds bloom!

And it might even turn out lovely, crystalline green-tinged clear instead of pink. (Maybe she did have some favorite colors after all.)

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > Master the technique of cross-country skiing to travel quickly over open snow! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > Acquire the Grand Seeds of 2 plants to test your wand!

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Shuff-shluff, shuff-shluff. Yoya's muscles worked and lungs pumped, breathing in and out a cloud of frigid condensation she constantly forged through, body settled in the rhythm required for forward motion while her gaze swept the pristine snow-covered landscape.

Cross-country skiing wasn't always as practical a method of travel as snowshoes, but it could be more fun. Of course, it was more fun when Yoya wasn't looking for something as ridiculous as wild-grown brussels sprouts, in winter. Because the hothouse or farmed varieties "just weren't the same." Where did brussels sprouts even grow wild?

This was what she got for accepting jobs just because she could combine them with another. If she did manage to find any, she was definitely bringing some back to use for the wand test solely so she'd never have to go look for them again.

...Ooh. Minty jadevine. Well she could use that too.

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > It's your time to shine! Copy each move of the figure skating routine with perfect timing to receive the crown! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > Obtain a Pohip Planter from the dryads of Blooming Grove

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The wand appeared to actually work! It was a pleasant surprise; Yoya liked those. Then she got further lucky when she reached the grove and found the dryads weren't in a fractious temper. It wouldn't have been surprising, given the increase in significant dragon population nearby for the holiday, but instead the dryads appeared to be in a festive spirit too. They were capable of some truly graceful motions in the dancing they were demonstrating on the frozen pond. It turned their winter garden into a scene of ephemeral fantasy for an unsuspecting audience.

Yoya would have been happy to play audience. Unfortunately, she needed one of the pohip planters they made, and her efforts to open trade were firmly and clearly rebuffed. The planters were going to the dancers. Yoya was pointed to the ice.

...Great. The dryads were tiny, svelte, featherweight, wingless and bipedal. The ice skating routine they were each taking turns completing utilized all of that. And they wanted to see Yoya pull those moves off?

...Right. She could do this. Eventually. It'd just take a lot of core strength... and balance... and practice. No sweat.

(So much sweat.)

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Quote: CG 22 > A Break in Hibernation > Get the best height for the best view in the ski jump! CG 22 > Lazy Leafy Lunch > The wand is complete! Celebrate with a farewell feast full of goodies!

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Create a booster seat out of ice so a ridgeback hatchling could get high enough to have a good view of the ski jumping event. A very wriggly ridgeback hatchling. Yoya was supposed to be done when the hatchling climbed in but had to hastily build all the sides higher and thicker for fear the hatchie breaking their neck tumbling out would revoke her payment.

If only the father hadn't offered such a rare fish she wanted in exchange. This would be worth it, months from now, when she still had the record of the fish and the memory of the job was faded.

"I wanna do that too!" the hatchling exclaimed with shrieking enthusiasm as a contestant hit the first jump and soared into the air.

The adult ridgeback visibly eyed the sloping walls of the booster seat - because pulling ice vapor upward while freezing it in place did not lend itself to flat planes - followed by the ski jump course. "You know, would you--"

"No."

She had a feast to get to.

The harvest created by the plant wands was lavish, delicious, and a loud-crowded-bellyful good time. Finch bustled everywhere, keeping some order bobbing in the chaos. One of the curling teams started recreating a recent game with potato onions sliced in half and appropriated trays from the nearest dishes scored with knives for the board.

"Oh my gracious - could someone please stop them? There's extra iced-sugar honeycrisps in it if you do."

Now that was a more than worthwhile job for the reward.