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(FoF 2025) Prologue: Memory of Old Tales
The Festive Admiral	November 28, 2025 6:13 pm

Aside from the soft whisper of a cool fall breeze, the monumental event occurred in near silence. Artemis stood at the very edge, eyes glued to the great crack in the ground an inch in front of her paws. Until the crack disappeared. It had been happening from the moment the blessed new Pear Tree sapling had been planted in Solarian soil. It had been small, quiet, and except where they split the land in places her wajas tended to gather, mostly unnoticed. Healing. The Tree was slowly starting to heal the wounds of her homeland, stitching back together what she had caused to be sundered all those years ago. It would be years yet before the sapling could bring everything together again. For now it was still too young, its presence too new. But even these small occurrences were enough to bring a rare smile to Artemis’ muzzle and some sense of peace to her weary heart. She did not immediately make an effort to walk away once the ground was solid again. She simply raised her gaze to the far horizon. Breathed the cool fresh air. Listened to the breeze whispering through the yellowing grasses and the leaves of distant trees. So quiet. So peaceful. “A message from Lord Apollo.” Though she had not heard him coming, Artemis did not startle. The waja that had landed behind her was as familiar as the dearest of family, the same as all of the loyal souls who had vowed their lives to her and to Solaria itself. She slowly turned to glance over her shoulder, offering a slight nod of greeting as she refocused on the here and now. “I am listening, Axiom,” she said to the Fire of her Corps. “The seasons are about to change,” Axiom replied. “Lunaria prepares for the start of their winter festival. Now that there is a stable link between our worlds, he invites the wajas of Solaria to join in.” Together, the two turned fully to look in the opposite direction of where Artemis had been quietly contemplating. The mountains where the Solaria end of the Mad Scientist’s portal had opened was only barely visible, but even from this distance she could see all of the changes that had been made because of it. The wajas of Solaria had taken to the portal with eager hope, delighted in the streams of Lunarian visitors that journeyed back and forth. Where there had once been near impassible slopes, now there was a gentle curving road that led from the mouth of the portal’s sheltering cavern down to the valleys below. Afternoon sunlight glinted off the polished shingled roofs of new settlements. And the bright colors of welcoming banners stood out against a backdrop that had for so long been little more than lifeless brown dirt and gray rock. Signs of life, actual life, and not just dull survival. It had started in small ways the moment the news had begun to spread that a new tree would soon come, and over this past year it had flourished as the sapling flourished. Even if major portions of their world remained broken apart, the joy and prosperity of the times before felt closer than they had been in years. “I think the children of our world will be delighted to finally meet ‘Santa Apollo’,” Artemis replied. “Or Santa Artemis?” Axiom smirked. Artemis shot him a brief glare. Perhaps that particular holiday had been…interesting…but it had not been something she had been inclined to repeat since then. “We had fun that winter!” Axiom pressed. “It was different—all of the holidays have been—but there’s no doubt they know how to celebrate the season there.” “Different?” They had started walking now, almost absentmindedly. Not bothering to take wing, but strolling companionably across the grassy plain. “Pups are given presents, they play games, eat treats, and decorate everything that can’t run away.” She paused, frowning. “Well…I suppose the desire to truly celebrate here in Solaria has been dimmed these last years, but how is Lunaria’s festival that much different from how we used to celebrate?” Now it was Axiom’s turn to glance at her. “Artemis…have you no memory of Klaus? The jolly spirit of the season?” Artemis froze in her tracks, her eyes widening at a sudden flash of memory. Faded, muted, but still there. Her, many many years before. Just a tiny pup. Running in circles around her parents’ den and bellowing the old carol at the top of her lungs. “Klaus, Klaus, jolly Klaus, so merry and so dear! Oh leave us treats and presents sweet and warmth for all the year!” “Klaus…” She shook her head. “I haven’t thought of those old tales in years.” “Perhaps not as loudly as before, but his story is still told,” Axiom replied. “Even though I hardly remember half the old carols anymore, it has felt…odd…not even acknowledging them while we’ve been in Lunaria.” He paused, his expression thoughtful. “I wonder if Lord Apollo knows anything about him.” Artemis shrugged, and then rolled her eyes good-naturedly. “If I know him at all, I think he’d be very interested to know more about how we celebrated the holidays here in Solaria. Sentimental old fuzz.” A stronger gust of breeze danced over the plain, sending the yellow grasses billowing and ruffling fur and feather with a coolness that tasted of snow. White snow this year…Artemis hoped it would be white snow. Not the empty gray that offered nothing but cold. “Fine,” she said. “Tell Apollo that I want to see a celebration this year unlike any other. But if Lunaria is going to share with us, then that means that he must let Solaria share with them.” She smiled again, trying to recall more of the old stories. The bonds between the wajas of both worlds had been building so much this year. It only seemed appropriate that this year would end with a sharing of old traditions. The passing of old stories. And perhaps the chance to give one last spirit of old the chance to inspire hearts again. “Somebody around here had better remember how to make those old raspberry caramel tarts,” she added. “I haven’t had one since I was a pup.” “And the pumpkin chestnut pasties,” Axiom added. Artemis had licked her chops in anticipation before she could stop herself. “Call the rest of the Corps. I want to see how much we all remember.” **** THE FESTIVAL OF FROST BEGINS DEC 5TH, 2025! **** Be sure to check out previous news posts for current events! Referral Event CWP BOGO sale! GivingFest

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