The Crystal Lands

Walking down the beach from where you met the twins you gaze off at the ocean sparkling in the setting sun, the splashing of waves on the sands is rather soothing so you pause to rest and enjoy the scenery. The sound of hooves hitting the sands reaches your ears and you turn to see a handsome stallion galloping in the surf, his long golden mane and tail flying out behind him and framing his snow-white body. His hooves send up sand and water as he runs, coming ever closer to you. As you watch you realize he is carrying a single rose.

He slows to a walk as he approaches you. He nods his head in a friendly greeting that you return. You are about to ask him where he is going and why he is carrying a rose when he gives you a sly wink before rearing and dashing off down the beach. You shake your head in confusion and continue down the beach of sparkling sand.

As you walk you realize the sand is turning into rocks, a path leading inland has been cleared through the rocks and with no other real choice you take it. Ahead mountains loom and to your left the sun sets into the sea in a blaze of bright colors. Your gaze wanders the landscape, half-taking in the beauty of it and half-looking for shelter for the night. A flash of white and grey brings you to a dead stop, a tall stallion stood atop a large flat rock staring out to the water. He holds his head high and even from this distance you can make out what looked like black tattoos on his face and down his leg.

He turns toward you and tosses his head, he leaps off the rock and begins to pick his way through the rocks to the cleared path, there he stops, seemingly waiting for you. You begin to walk quickly to catch up with him before he decides to leave. When you reach him he tilts his head to one side. "Your a traveler, no?" You nod affirmative, he goes on. "I'm Turrent - Tribal if you wish, travelers seem to like to know such information - there is a safe camping place ahead on this road, you may want to reach it before the nighttime prowlers come out." You thank him and he lowers his head in a sort of a bow, "Good evening then." Then he goes past you down the path toward the beach. Keeping his advice in mind you continue down the path inland.

It isn't long before you stumble across another stallion, sort of. As you were walking you passed by a rock where a small black and white stallion was sunbathing in the setting sun. You do a double take and the little stallion chuckles. "You've never seen a Mini-Crystal before have you?" Dumbfounded you shake your head, he chuckles again.

"My name is Anda," he offers. "The sun is setting quickly so why don't you let me guide you through the quickest route to the Traveler's Camp?" He stands up and hops down from the rock, "Just follow me!" You follow him up the rocky path, him darting ahead of you and stopping once in a while to check on your progress. Soon you've reached the Travler's Camp, which turns out to be a simple house with a thatched roof and only one room which contained a fireplace, table and chairs and box bed - all of it in remarkable good condition considering the door was hanging open when you got there. It was probably all part of the magic of the place.

"Kept in good condition by Indigo's magic, yes." He said, confirming your guess. You thank him and get ready for the night by lighting the fire. He is still there when you fall asleep but is gone in the morning. Vaguely wondering if he had been a figment of your imagination you continue down the (much less rocky) path and away from the ocean...