Aaron looked over the forest in awe, amazed at seeing the world covered in a blanket of white. But no matter how breathtaking the view from up high was, it still couldn’t stop his irritation. ‘It’s too damn cold!’ He grumbled, pulling his cloak tighter.

They had learned about the change of seasons from the humans, but this was their first time experiencing it. Aaron couldn’t help but see it as a horrible thing that should never exist. ‘Couldn’t it just stay warm?’

Even though he found the cold insufferable, he did enjoy the scenery. The forest canopy was covered in snow, making the view look more like hills than trees. But the snowstorms were not as simple as they appeared, making his unease even worse.

There were strange magical emanations from within the storms. Wild mana had mixed in with the blizzards, causing odd things to occur. The first snowstorm had brought forth a giant ivory worm that flew high into the sky before disappearing into the clouds.

Cornelius and Nara believed the storms had weakened the barrier between the realms, allowing strange creatures to pass through. That, or they were all going crazy. Aaron didn’t like it, as it was just another threat in a world already full of danger.

Sighing, he fell from the treetop, dancing nimbly from branch to branch. Heading toward the settlement, Aaron once again admired the quality of his new cloak. If not for its warm embrace, he would have been more miserable than he already was.

Nara had harvested a strange material from worm-like beasts that were living on the great tree. She then created threads and wove them into clothing and various fabrics that flowed freely against the skin. Aaron believed the closest human term would be silk, yet it was far more durable.

Cornelius had taken it to even greater heights.

Peering at the inside surface, Aaron saw faint Runes woven into the fabric. He could use his mana to power the Runes allowing it to warm him or even become more durable. Cornelius had even been able to implement a restore feature, so long as all the fabric remained.

Continuing his trek, Aaron was amazed at how far his brother had come in his experiments with the Runes. Their everyday lives had been greatly improved due to his brother’s hard work. Everything began to make Aaron aware of one troubling fact, and combined with the cold, it made him even more irritable.

He felt like he wasn't contributing enough.

All his siblings were working hard and making tremendous headway. Everyone had contributed in some way to push them further. But what had he done to really help? That single thought formed a knot in his gut, and he couldn’t shake his sense of failure.

Doom and gloom…

That was all he had ever given.

Aaron growled, dismissing his foolish thoughts. There was no time for wallowing in self-pity, and he knew it wouldn’t get him anywhere anyway. As he got closer to the settlement, he began to feel the temperature rising, and relief washed through him. The sense of home they all felt from the great tree was something they cherished.

Luckily, the Mother Tree had sheltered them from the brunt of the snowstorms. Small amounts of snow had fallen, but nothing like their surroundings. Even the temperature remained bearable, unlike the frozen wasteland the forest had become.

Aaron slowed, preparing for the odd sensation that would assault him when passing the barrier to the inner circle of the great tree. Cornelius had buried large crystals in a perimeter around their location. They would disorient and confuse travelers attempting to reach their settlement.

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It wasn’t like an illusion but more of a mental nudge in the wrong direction. The Runes were powered by the aura spilling from the Mother Tree and would cause you to lose your bearing. The forest was already difficult to travel, so the crystals worked surprisingly well.

But they couldn’t fool everyone, especially him and his siblings. The great tree was a part of them as its essence ran through their veins. Plus, no matter how confused or disoriented, they could feel one another's location through the Bond.

Aaron grunted, feeling himself pass through an invisible wall as he continued forward, shaking the odd feeling assaulting him. Sounds from the settlement began to fill his ears, bringing a smile to his face.

They had expanded outward, creating a small market district. Though they had no need or sense of money as all their needs were readily available, many of his siblings chose to trade and barter for goods. Aaron headed toward a particular stall, squeezing through those that were gathered.

He didn’t know how to refer to their home, as it wasn’t quite big enough to be called a city, but at the same time, the Mother Tree was far too grand to be called a town. Walking through the crowd, he noticed how lively everyone was due to the upcoming celebrations. Their excitement was palpable, and he found it rather uplifting.

They had agreed to hold a festival for the winter solstice much like the humans did. Cornelius believed it to be a grand event and stressed how they should continue to honor it. Seeing no point in arguing, they began preparations, causing their settlement to explode with activity.

He passed several stalls filled with assortments of finely crafted jewelry and ornaments, even some with small gemstones. They were meticulously crafted and painted with elaborate designs that flowed elegantly. Aaron enjoyed himself as he looked over each stall with pride.

They were beginning to show their own culture, carving their name into the world. It filled his heart with joy to see his siblings doing the things they loved and expressing themselves. Continuing onward, he came to the last section designated for armor and equipment.

“Aaron!” Mordan called out as he quickly finished helping one of their siblings before rushing over excitedly. “It’s already been sent to Cornelius for the final touches,” he explained.

Aaron frowned, causing Mordan to chuckle. His brother was making armor crafted out of bark shed from the Mother Tree. The wood was nigh unbreakable and required Nara and her group to help shape and form it into something workable.

“Cheer up,” Mordan laughed, clasping Aaron’s shoulder. “Though it won't be quite as unrestrictive as your leather armor, I'm positive you will find it to your liking.”

“What can I give you in return, Brother?” Aaron pressed, as he didn’t enjoy his siblings wasting their time and resources just for him.

“Tonight's festival is a testament to our survival. You are the figurehead of our race and will be given the honors you deserve. Nothing will be owed,” he declared firmly before his features softened and excitement gleamed in his eyes as he leaned forward. “Have you heard the news?” He asked quietly.

Aaron looked at his brother questioningly, clearly confused. What exactly was he supposed to hear?

“We have chosen a name,” Mordan whispered, his smile reaching his eyes.

“So soon?” Aaron gasped, surprised to hear that they had come to a decision so quickly. His siblings had all stressed the importance of having a name for their settlement, so a vote was to be taken. Aaron stayed out of it, having already had his fill of naming stuff, and would agree to whatever they chose.

“It was surprisingly easy and will become official at tonight's ceremony.”

Aaron stared intently as if waiting for him to continue.

“I can’t ruin the surprise!” Mordan laughed boisterously.

"Why bring it up in the first place?" Aaron scowled, making his brother laugh even harder. They talked back and forth as Mordan showed him different armor types and weapons they were crafting. His brother was a burly type originally from Damien's group of battle nuts, but instead of fighting, he put his love of war into crafting and forging. Noticing how busy his brother was, Aaron bid farewell and headed for the training grounds to try and kill some time.

Most of his siblings were busy with other tasks, so the grounds were currently empty. Aaron began his martial exercises before slowly becoming bored and returning to his cave to prepare for the night's event. Time seemed to pass at a crawl as he waited with anticipation.

Sitting in meditation upon his rock, a faint sound trickled into his cave. It was the sound of harps and musical instruments. Aaron smiled wide as he rose, heading to the exit.

The Winter Solstice had begun.