"As I told you earlier, I used to live in this forest, before the War. Now that I am thinking about it, I knew your mother, Plucky. I have some very fond memories of her. I helped her prepare to marry your father. Those were very happy days."
"You knew my father?"
"Yes, yes I did. I don't know if your parents ever told you, but your father was a magician."
Plucky's eyes lit up as he looked at Olive.
"My mom told me he was the most powerful mage in the forest!"
"Indeed, he was a very good mage... I should tell you that I am a very powerful witch in my own right. I am telling you this because it has much to do with what happened next."
Plucky looked back up at Olive in surprise.
"The Nine Lions knew your father was powerful and they were envious of him, so much so that they tried several times to imprison him and thus steal his magic from him. After a slew of unsuccessful tries the Lions shifted their goal. They now decided that if they could not have his magic, then no one could... they sought to destroy him once and for all. After one attempt on his life nearly succeeded, your father came to me for help. He told me he did not want to harm the Lions if it could be avoided. He asked me to help him make a ruby... during this process he would imbue a portion of his magic and life force into said ruby. His plan was to give it to your mother so that if something should ever happen to your father they would still be together."
Plucky held his pendant with a newfound respect. His mother had never told him this. Olive continued.
"As powerful as your father was, he could not perform this magic alone. I agreed to help him. Of course, this process weakened your father. It also weakened me. A spying crow told the Lions what I had done for your father and they were furious. They openly accused me of trying to usurp them and cast me out of the forest. I had no choice but to leave. The Lions also accused your father of treason, and through their subtlety convinced many in the forest that he was guilty. Through this they gained possession of the ruby. Despite this, some still held fast to the belief that he was innocent, and it was this disagreement that in time led to the War of the Forest."
Plucky had stopped eating, and not because he was full.
"Outside the protective barrier of the forest I became aware that I was aging at a slightly accelerated pace. I had no idea where your father was, for his fate was hidden from me as I was banished first. After contemplation for a great while I realized I would have to reunite the ruby in order to restore my youth. In my weakened state I knew I could not confront the Lions so I gathered all the help I could find and made my way back to this Forest. Unfortunately I arrived during the heat of battle, and both sides turned their weapons against me and my small pack of hyenas. We were driven back but not before the ruby was split in two. My magic, and I assume your father's, has been slowly draining ever since. This is why I have returned now. This may very well be my last chance before my magic, and my lifeblood vanishes forevermore."
Plucky thought for a few moments, then pulled up his pendant over his head. "I see you have most of the ruby now. If that is what it will take to save your magic and life, then take my pendant."
"Alas, dear Plucky, I cannot reunify the ruby, much less in this place. Only your father, or someone carrying his blood may perform this act. If you would be so kind as to meld this ruby I would aid you in the search for your mother."
Plucky had by now finished eating. After he had swallowed the last mouthful of potato, he spoke.
"Give me your piece of the ruby; I will do it here so we can then look for my mother."
"Plucky, I cannot do this here. It is not that simple. The Ruby's shards can only be unified in the same place it was created, as well as the same time: under a blue moon. Unfortunately it's rather far from here. I would whisk you there using my magic but I have lost too much of my magic as it is. I cannot part with my ruby, as it has feebly slowed my aging. I must retain it for as long as I can."
"Where was the ruby created?"
"There is a silver meadow where the land meets the sea. You will know it because the grass shines as if it were silver under the rays of the sun. If you would be so kind to help me I would be greatly indebted to you. Perhaps you would grasp the distance required by this journey if you consulted a map."
With a flick of her wrist, Olive produced a rolled up map which she unrolled on the table across from Plucky's plate. Plucky stood up from his chair and moved to get a closer look at the map. He saw his forest on the lower left corner of the map. To the north of the forest lay the scar - a mountain ridge denoted by countless crags and boulders. Above that lay a nameless desert. South of the scar and east of the forest lay the Formian plain alongside which flowed the Evergreen River which emanated from the Forest which slowly curved into and through a series of mountains before connecting with the sea. The plain extended east for quiet a distance - until also sloping down to the ocean. North of the ocean lay an enclosed lagoon over which a bridge was built. This bridge led to the Silver Meadow. And all of this geography was new to Plucky. He had never left the Forest, and there were even parts of the forest he had yet to explore.
"Do you understand where you must take your ruby, Plucky?"
"Let me wash and put away the dishes so I can pack and we can be on our way."
"It would not be wise for us to travel together."
"Why not?"
"Remember what I told you about the Lions. Their only desire is to obtain both pieces of the ruby. I was able to cast a sleeping spell over the Lions but there is no telling how long the enchantment will last. If we should travel together that only makes it easier for the Lions to regain their bounty. If that should happen, your mother may be hopelessly lost forever."
"I understand. I will leave as soon as I pack. Where will you go?"
"I will go in a separate direction, but will be awaiting your arrival at the Meadow. And Plucky, you must reach the meadow before the last blue moon, seven nights from now. Be careful, Plucky! May the ruby keep you safe!"
Without so much as a sound, Olive smoothly found her way out the front door, closing it behind her. Plucky heard a slight breeze, then total silence. Curious, Plucky opened the door and looked for paw prints of any kind but he could not see any that might belong to her. Plucky was alone again. It was time to pack.
