On the path leading out of the cave, Thorfinn encountered a few Children of the Forest. He simply offered them a smile, as only Leaf among them knew the Common Tongue, so Thorfinn did not try to exchange words.
The Children of the Forest are smaller than men. They have deep chestnut-colored skin and large ears. Their great eyes are usually gold, though those born with the gift of greensight have eyes of green or red. Legend claims that such Children of the Forest may become greenseers and gain the green sight if they merge with a weirwood tree. It is a sorrowful thing that their people are no longer great in number, their kin having grown scarce.
Thorfinn and Merek finally stepped out of the cave mouth, where Popsicle was patiently waiting. Seeing Thorfinn arrive, the Ice Spider rose, shifting its massive bulk. It had been terribly bored while waiting and, upon sight of Thorfinn, began to mutter and complain, its grievances spilling out in a rush. Thorfinn soothed Popsicle, and as he playfully nudged it, he was reminded of Alpha, which brought a brief flash of melancholy.
After a few brief words of farewell with Leaf, Thorfinn cast aside his useless sadness. He mounted the Ice Spider's back, followed closely by Merek, as the Children of the Forest watched them depart.
Though Popsicle was annoyed by the extra rider, it endured. It only truly accepted Thorfinn. While this hitchhiking human was a nuisance, it could hardly shake him off without throwing Thorfinn as well, so it had to resign itself. Merek seemed to sense Popsicle's resentment; he could only offer a sheepish, ingratiating grin. No matter how he tried to win the Ice Spider's affection during their time together, he always failed. Thorfinn merely watched with a knowing sigh. Who would be charmed by someone trying to curry favor with a look of forced, awkward charm? Poor Merek was oblivious.
Thorfinn nodded to Leaf. Only after Leaf waved her final good-bye did Popsicle accelerate, charging toward the camp. The Ice Spider's sheer strength gave it a speed nearly equal to a fine carriage. Aside from its somewhat low endurance, it truly had no other faults.
Merek thoroughly enjoyed the speed. After several failed attempts to "abduct" it (to make it his friend), he realized he would have to rely on sheer persistence to win it over. Thorfinn was not overly concerned with that, but the matter of Popsicle's permanent place was a pressing issue. Thorfinn's departure was now a certainty.
First, Popsicle was ill-suited for the south; it belonged Beyond the Wall. While it might survive in the North, Thorfinn knew it drew far too much attention. Second, magical creatures have their own eccentricities, and the Ice Spider's traits made it even more so. Highly sensitive to changes in environment—wind, humidity, and temperature—it would not thrive in the southern lands.
It was another stretch of tiresome travel. In those days, journeys were ever long; no matter the destination, the road was endless. Perhaps only with a dragon could one truly cover a thousand miles a day.
The cold wind danced with the frost and snow, and the mountains seemed to breathe. Perhaps it was the eagerness to be home, but as they drew nearer to the camp, even the air seemed to grow sweeter. The two on the spider's back weren't the only ones whose spirits lifted; Popsicle also showed a powerful curiosity for this entirely new environment.
The trees grew thick and close. The scents carried on the wind became a cacophony—the scent of men. Only humans could blend such a medley of smells. The aroma of smoke, the fragrance of food, the stench of blood and sweat, and the musk of elk, bears, rabbits, wolves, and dogs—all intermingled, that was the smell of man.
Popsicle was particularly fascinated by this scent. Even without Thorfinn's guidance, it followed the wind and found the camp's location. After days of travel, they were finally back.
Merek burst out, "Look ahead, Thorfinn! That's the camp! Hahaha, we're home!"
Thorfinn grinned. "Aye, we've returned."
The journey had taken months, but for them, it felt like years. Every second between life and death stretched out, and the constant threat of sudden demise was agonizing. Thorfinn and Merek had managed to remove the deadly threat hanging over them with a stroke of luck and no small measure of courage, yet the impact of their journey to the far north was far from over...
The camp, already a lively place, burst into a commotion upon the heroes' return. The lazy Free Folk standing guard in the distance blinked, rubbing their eyes repeatedly to ensure what they saw was real and not some frost-induced delusion.
"An Ice... an Ice Spider?" someone gasped. "By the gods! Do such creatures truly exist? I thought they were just old wives' tales!"
Another guard was the first to regain his sense. "Quickly, report to Mance! Let him worry about this headache!"
The first man snapped out of his daze. "Aye, aye! Let Mance deal with it, he's the bloody King-Beyond-the-Wall, not us!" The man then ran like a streak of lightning toward Mance's large tent.
They weren't the only ones surprised. The children playing were the first to find them, shouting and crying out, some frightened, some excited, and some simply wailing. The clamor of the children drew more people, and soon, the adults were flooding in.
Every one of them looked as if they had stumbled upon a rare wonder, curious yet slightly fearful. Had they not recognized the people atop the Ice Spider, they surely would have fled. But since they recognized their own, the people no longer feared the great beast, becoming only more curious about the mythical creature.
The Ice Spider's reputation was great, but mostly for ill deeds. Yet, any of their own who could subdue it must be a mighty warrior. Respect shone in the eyes of the crowd as they looked upon Thorfinn and Merek.
Finally, a spearwife recognized Thorfinn and shouted, "That's Reynar's boy, Thorfinn! The wildling lad who trains with Mance! I know him..."
A young girl nearby also recognized Thorfinn but was annoyed that the other woman had shouted it first.
Thorfinn was quite popular in the camp. Aside from the chiefs, most of those who knew his name were girls—women who openly coveted Thorfinn's handsome face. They knew he was a Skinchanger with a striking appearance, and now the sight of him taming an Ice Spider draped him in a new, mysterious cloak. In an instant, the hearts of many young women were taken.
Merek, standing behind Thorfinn, became a mere shadow. Though he, too, was a good-looking man, he was overshadowed next to Thorfinn. Even if someone recognized and spoke up for him, their voice was lost beneath the clamor of Thorfinn's passionate admirers.
Just then, a spearwife wearing a white weirwood mask stepped forward. Thorfinn knew her as the warrior-witch Morna, or "White Mask," one of the camp's most respected warriors.
"Hold, boy! Control your beast," White Mask commanded, drawing her weapon and standing firm before the crowd. She was not afraid of two youths, but she was wary of the Ice Spider they rode; the monster looked unforgiving.
Popsicle stopped. Merek seized the chance to quickly slide off; two grown men squeezed onto Popsicle was never comfortable. Thorfinn then slowly climbed down.
Facing "White Mask," Thorfinn explained, "Peace, friend. This great creature is my newest skinchanging companion, Morna. You have no need to be nervous."
Morna, however, felt insulted. She put away her weapon. "Nervous? Hah! Just keep your Ice Spider in line." Assured of their safety, she began to take a proper look at the great beast.
By this time, Mance had arrived, followed by Reynar and Darie. Before they could speak, Morla and Lyra rushed forward to Thorfinn, pulling him one to each side, questioning his well-being. Not content with words alone, they felt and prodded him, only stopping after a good while of fussing.
Thorfinn gave a strained laugh. "There, there! You can see I'm perfectly fine! Put your worries to rest!"
Confirming Thorfinn was safe, the two women finally sighed. They had been praying for him these past days, and seeing him well, they shared a silent, knowing smile. In Thorfinn's absence, the tension between them had softened; their old rivalries and pointed barbs had lessened, replaced by a mutual understanding born of shared concern.
Mance was about to speak, but Reynar and Darie launched into another round of profound parental concern, leaving the King-Beyond-the-Wall completely flustered. Thorfinn's family was the only one that could put the King-Beyond-the-Wall in such an awkward spot, for Mance owed their household a great debt.
To the side, Orrik, unable to reach his brother, watched his popular older kin with envy. Val stepped close to Merek. The two chatted, their faces bright with smiles.
Mance cleared his throat. "An Ice Spider, and a massive one. A creature of wonder, indeed."
Others also began to ask questions, so Thorfinn took the chance to explain. "This is Popsicle, my animal companion. Don't be afraid, all of you. It's gentle with friends, provided you do not seek to harm it."
Orrik, who had managed to squeeze forward, said in amazement, "A companion? Thorfinn, you already have a third form. Your growth is terrifying! I thought Skinchangers only gained more companions with vast practice and advancing age. You are truly worthy of renown, Thorfinn!"
Mance was secretly stunned. To have tamed such a beast was no small thing. Every time he thought he had figured Thorfinn out, he found he couldn't grasp the young man at all. Thorfinn always brought surprises, and this time, bringing back a living Ice Spider genuinely shocked even Mance.
Yet, this proved the danger of the journey. To have faced such a savage Ice Spider and then subdued it, Mance could only guess at the peril Thorfinn had endured.
Mance now felt an urgent need for the information Thorfinn carried. He trusted that Thorfinn and Merek had made a discovery; the young Thorfinn was already his best Skinchanger, and if he had found nothing, then no one could explore the Land of Always Winter.
The Free Folk cheered, making Popsicle uneasy. The Ice Spider was not used to such attention. Its long life of solitude had made it mature, but an Ice Spider has its tempers. Popsicle gave an angry snarl, showing its displeasure, forcing Thorfinn to quickly soothe it.
Thorfinn: "All of you staring at it is making it a bit shy."
Mance began to scatter the crowd. "Disperse, all of you! Go find your men and women! There's nothing more to see here. If this Ice Spider decides to rampage, you can't control a brute that size. Clear out, and keep your distance!"
This raised another wave of noise, but the King-Beyond-the-Wall's word held weight. The Free Folk obediently scattered.
Thorfinn took Popsicle to an appropriate spot to rest and prepared food for it. Only then did he sit down to talk with Morla and Orrik. Reynar and Darie's profound parental love, and the joyful reunion with his siblings, filled Thorfinn with comfort.
But the most impatient man now was surely Mance. Though he wouldn't say it aloud, he definitely wanted to speak in detail, for that vital intelligence could be the thing to save them all.
Had anyone else told such a tale, these stubborn wildlings would have scoffed. But Thorfinn, who brought back an Ice Spider, was different. That terrifying-looking beast was a living creature; no one who saw it could call Thorfinn a liar.
In a short time, the grand feat of Thorfinn and Merek exploring the Land of Always Winter became the talk of the camp, temporarily replacing the usual tales of lust and blood in the minds of the rough men.
Some gossips even gave Thorfinn a new name: "The Explorer." Others called him "Ice Spider Warrior" and "The Mage." Even Merek was dubbed "The Adventurer." Such a great risk was far more thrilling than the usual raids over the Wall. Many young folk now looked up to Thorfinn as their idol.
The massive surge in popularity was an unexpected blessing for Thorfinn, but Merek was thrilled. Thanks to this unprecedented journey, Merek had stepped into the public eye and was now seen by the elders as a rising star.
It was said that even Val was looking at him differently. Whenever he spoke of it, Merek felt light and giddy.
Inside Mance's great tent, where hot coals steamed in the cold, all the important figures of the wildling tribes gathered. They came for one reason: to welcome the heroes back from their triumphant exploration of the Land of Always Winter.
This gathering was spurred by Mance's announcement that "Thorfinn was the one who gave him the warning about the Others." Everyone knew little of the Land of Always Winter, only that it was a desolate waste claimed by the Others. Attacks by the dead on villages were becoming frequent. The Others were a chilling presence that had begun to weigh heavily on their minds. They all knew Thorfinn would speak of the Others at the feast, and countless ears were waiting for his account.
With Mance's order, everyone had agreed to slaughter sheep and cattle for the heroes' welcome. Fine food and strong drink were prepared for the banquet—a truly memorable feast, waiting only for the guests of honor to arrive...