Your browser lacks required capabilities. Please upgrade it or switch to another to continue.
Loading…
Not so long ago, the Shadowmere Forest was a place of beauty and wonder. The few people who stumbled upon it often spent weeks wandering through the woods, exploring the many secrets that the ancient trees hid from the outside world. The creatures that made their homes amongst the boughs and leaves were well-loved, especially the squirrels.
[[Then hard winters came, and everything changed...->First Frost]]
''First Frost''
A few years before the second war between Agacata and the Root Of All Evil broke out the squirrels of Shadowmere Forest started to go hungry. At first it was little things, like older trees not producing as many nuts and some of the berries rotting before the squirrels could get to them. It hadn't been a problem until winter came early and they realized that their stores were nowhere near enough to last them until spring.
They huddled together and whispered about the cold and hunger that stole through their families. The young ones were sluggish and weak, and even the healthiest of squirrels had lost their shiny coats. Everyone was scared, and at this rate they would lose many of their number.
Eventually the oldest gathered together, desperate to save their scury. They only had a few weeks before their stores ran out, and they only had a few options. Most of the elders were in favor of asking the lord who built his castle on the edge of the forest, despite his secretive nature. Others argued that the local village would be a better option, even if they were having troubles of their own. They argued back and forth, and towards the end one of them even shouted that they might as well leave the forest and start over.
In the end, it took one of the little ones coming up and begging for scraps for the elders to reach a decision.
[[Did they approach the stranger?->A Little Favor]]
[[Did they go to the village?->Strained Bonds]]
[[Or did they move from the forest?->A New Home]]
''A Small Price''
the end, they decided that the lord at the edge of the forest was their best option. His fortress was large but empty, and they had seen wagons full of food going through the gates. He was the most likely to have food to spare, and they had to risk approaching him.
A small group dashed up the road to the castle, anxious but determined. There was a hooded figure just inside the gate, and the squirrels shivered when they saw him. Weren't two-leged people supposed to stay inside when it was cold? But the man was beckoning them forward, and it was far too late to turn back now.
"Hello little ones," the hooded man called out. "You are far from home. What brings you to my abode?"
Despite the kind words his voice sounded as cold as the air around them, sending shivers through the squirrels that had nothing to do with the cold. For a moment they looked to each other in fear, and they almost turned back. Pangs of hunger reminded them of why they were there in the first place though, and so the leader turned to the man and said "Good sir, we have come to ask for aid. Our stores are not enough to last through the winter, and our children are going hungry. Would you be so kind as to lend us aid?"
The hooded figure chuckled and said "Ah, the sudden winter has taken its toll on you hasn't it? I can spare some food, but I will need a small favor in return." The squirrels froze, wondering what he could possibly want. Before they could say anything the man continued. "I only wish for you to tell me when someone comes towards my castle. Do that, and I will give you as much aid as I can."
The squirrels silently debated. On the one hand, this deal sounded like a dream come true: they would be able to eat, and it didn't sound like they would need to do anything bad. On the other hand, it sounded almost too good to be true.
Whatever was happening, the squirrels needed to make a choice that would effect their entire scury.
[[Did they take the offer?->Honest Work?]]
[[Or did they leave empty-handed?->Wasting Away]]
''Burdens''
The squirrels made several trips to the village, begging for any scraps they could get. For the first few months the humans were glad to help, and gave more than the squirrels needed. Then the frost covered the nearby river, and the humans started to have problems of their own. The ice had never been as thick as it was that year, and the village was suffering for it. Clean water was harder to come by, and the fish that they normally ate were unreachable. The scraps that they used to give the squirrels were suddenly more important than ever, and pleas for aid were soon met with refusals.
With the village struggling to survive and their own stores running low the squirrels started to lose hope. There was little hope that they would make it through this winter, and it was possible that the next one would be just as bad.
[[Did they stay?->Wasting Away]]
[[Or did they try to find a new home?->A Harsh Life]]
''Moving Away''
While the suggestion to move had never been intended as serious, it was eventually what the elders decided was best. If Shadowmere forest couldn't support them any more then they needed to find someplace else, even if the forest had been their home. They went to the rest of the scury with heavy hearts, nowhere near prepared to give them the news that they would be leaving their home.
Predictably, the others were distraught. While the youngest seemed to think that it would be a great adventure the rest knew that it was likely that they would never see their home again. It took the elders almost an hour to calm everyone down and convince them that they needed to leave.
Eventually the discussion turned to where they would be going to. Some squirrels argued that the mountains to the north would make a good home, despite the snow that covered the peak year-round. They said that they had seen steam rising from vents in the rockside, and that there was surely vegetation that they could eat there.
Another group said that the beaches to the south-west were the place to go. They brought up the travelers who would speak of sparkling blue water and giant nuts that grew near the oceanside. They might even find new friends, they said, thinking of the red creatures that one trader had brought with her.
[[Did they go north to the mountains?->A Harsh Life]]
[[Or did they go south to the beach?->Sun And Sand]]
''To Work''
The squirrels accepted the offer, and within a day they were able to bring home baskets full of nuts. The little ones squealed with joy, while the rest of the scury ate their fill for the first time in months. A few of them wondered aloud at the request the hooded man had made, but for the most part they simply reveled in their good fortune.
When a band of travelers started making their way through the forest and towards the castle a group of squirrels raced to tell the hooded man. He chuckled and sent them back home with another basket full of nuts, and they never saw the travelers again. A handful of squirrels wondered where they went, but for the most part the scury kept to themselves.
[[They didn't worry about food until the next winter came, and the cold hit even harder than last year.->Another Favor]]
As winter dragged on and food became even more scarce, the squirrels began to fear for their future. When spring came and the trees remained barren they began to lose hope. By next winter they barely had enough to feed the youngest ones, and even that was not certain. By the next spring there were no more squirrels remaining in Shadowmere Forest.
They had all stayed, despite the warning signs, and every single one of them paid the price. In later years the villagers would wonder whatever became of them, even when their heavy hearts told them the truth.
[[The End->End]]
''Another Task''
The next winter was colder and sharper, and the food ran out earlier. Once again the squirrels scampered to the castle, begging for help. Once again the hooded man met them at the gate, and this time he asked for a larger favor. "Slow any travelers down before they get to me, as well as alerting me to their presence," he said.
The squirrels looked at each other with wide eyes. For years they had been maintaining a friendship with the humans that came through their forest, and it didn't sit right with them to directly interfere with them. This winter was already worse than the last one, and they didn't know if they could afford to refuse.
[[Did they accept the new offer?->Traps]]
[[Or did they leave empty-handed?->Wasting Away]]
''Tricks And Traps''
The squirrels back at the nest chittered and grumbled when the group told them about what they had to agree to, but the promise of food was too much to ignore. So as the baskets full of nuts were passed around the older squirrels started to discuss how to slow down travelers. Eventually the little ones joined in, babbling about all the fun traps they could make.
Throughout the rest of winter they set up more and more traps, learning the best ways to slow down the travelers that came through their forest. The younger generation even made it into a game, competing to see just how annoying they could make their traps. They kept it up through the year, even after the snow had melted and food became plentiful again.
[[They didn't stop there...->A New Threat]]
''Rise Of The Death Squirrels''
More winters passed, and the squirrels kept harassing travelers. The hooded figure asked for more and more extreme measures, and they happily complied. They didn't think much of the gradual changes to their deal with the hooded figure, and eventually they worked their way up to causing serious injury to anyone who entered the forest.
Those who knew the squirrels before the harsh winters were distraught to see the change that came over them, saying that even their fur had turned dark to match their hearts. The creatures who had once welcomed visitors into their forest now did everything in their power to harm almost anyone who entered Shadowmere. The only ones who were allowed safe passage were the Servants of the Root.
[[The End.->End]]
''Thanks For Playing!''
[[Play Again?->Shadowmere Forest]]
Or come play the game at agacata.io!
''Hard Life, Soft Hearts''
Eventually the squirrels decided that the mountains to the north were their only hope, and they moved as soon as they could. The journey was hard, and at times it seemed as if they would not make it, but eventually they arrived at their new home. Their trials were far from over though, and the next few years were trying for the scury.
The mountains were cold all year round, with the exception of the steam vents that would explode every few months. The first year was hard, especially on the young ones, and the scurry lost almost half of their members by the end of the next winter. The remaining squirrels were hardened and seemingly unfeeling, chasing anyone who dared come too close to their homes off the mountain.
Inside their nest was a different matter. They huddled together every time they got close, all too aware that they could lose each other at a moment's notice. They scampered around rock ledges that they carved inside the steam vents, harvesting the moss and vines that flourished in the humid air. Their lives may have been hard, and they may have spent most of their time in dark caverns, but they cherished every moment they had together.
They had survived, despite all the odds, and they would do anything to protect that.
[[The End.->End]]
''Sun And Sand''
The beach was nothing like the squirrels expected. The water was salty enough to make them sick, the nuts were not nuts at all, and the red creatures were mean and pinched them when they got too close. For a while they wondered if they had made a mistake in coming here.
Then a community of humans found them and took them in. They shared their drinking water, gave the scury shelter from the burning sun, and showed them how to eat the "coconuts." The squirrels were beyond grateful, and decided to do everything they could to help the humans in return.
Thus began one of the strangest partnerships in history. The humans would help the squirrels find food and water, while the newly-dubbed Beach Rodents would help make nets and catch crustaceans too small for the humans to grab. It was a strange situation, but both parties were as content as they could be.
[[The End->End]]
[[Play The Game|https://www.agacata.io]]
[[Read More Stories|https://www.agacata.io/stories/index.html]]