Priscilla Bramblewhisk, a squirrelling ranger, has always enjoyed an adventure since she was a wee-squirrelling. Whether it was climbing trees, hopping over rocks, or exploring burrows of other creatures within her realm. As she grew older, her adventures grew grander, though her parents may disagree for danger always loomed, and took her to further new places. Upon one such adventure, a tribe of mandrake blights tried to capture her. Darting and dodging away from their lunges, one grabbed Priscilla by the ankle and tackled her. Lucky for her, kicking the blight twice in the head knocked the rooty face clear off! She quickly decided to stuff the wooden head into her backpack before darting out of the burrow. When she finally returned back to her family burrow, bruised and battered, she was weary to try such an adventure again. Once she remembered the head of the mandrake blight stuffed into her pack, she decided that should not stop her adventures. Better yet, her first unfriendly encounter should be a reminder to herself to always seek passage, and maybe even a warning sign to other beings she may stumble across in future expeditions. Priscilla now always brings her trusty quarterstaff with her. Serving as a walking stick, weapon, and reminder to foes that she is not to be trifled with!

Finally feeling refreshed, Priscilla Bramblewhisk decides to enjoy another outdoor saunter, and hopes it is a quiet journey. She follows one of her favorite, tried and true paths, until it no longer seems the same as it was....

"A mushroom?... but red? You're a new friend in my forest," Priscilla mutters to herself continuing onward. "Friend!? I'd love to be a friend!"

"EEP!" Priscilla springs up into the air, using her quarterstaff to propel her even higher! Landing startled, the tiny, high-pitched voice says "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! Just wanted to say I'd love to be your friend!" "What are you?!" Still very taken aback, Priscilla stands and dusts her cloak.

"Well, see, I was just a mushroom. But then I, well, I think became more alive? I always alive before, but now I'm just.." (The tiny mushroom babbles on for sometime, while Priscilla has tuned out the little thing).

"But why?" She finally interrupts.

"Oh! Well. I don't know. I don't know much as you see I am but a wee mushroom..." (more babbling).Ignoring the tiny thing, Priscilla decides it is bet to take the odd mineral, and continue on her quiet walk. Pocketing the rock, she can't help but ponder wherever that noisy, little mushroom have come from? Priscilla knows these woods and especially this path all too well for it to not be something odd. Still unsure of what it does, Priscilla will be offering her new-found rock to the questing beast.

Priscilla Bramblewhisk continues down her usual path, but this time she hears a strange jingling like the clattering of metal in the light wind. What could that be? Rounding a bend, she comes across a slow lumbering object or critter? Hard to tell from this angle...

"Gah!" Priscilla gasped and jumped back as this slow moving creature turned around.

"Why are yo following me? Hmmm??"

"I didn't know I was! My name is Priscilla Bramblewhisk and I live around these woods. Who are you?" She inquired.

"I am Yarrow, a wanderer," the sloth backpacker responded in his slow drawl.

"Wandering where?" Priscilla asked.

"Why all over the place you see. I pack many things with me. I never move fast enough to need and stop anywhere," Yarrow responded.

The pair continued on through the mushroom-filled woods, seeing as they appeared to be heading the same direction. Of course, Yarrow's slow pace took Priscilla some getting used to.

"So what's with the magnifier?" She finally asked.

"Well I cannot see very far in front of me. So I must go slow to be careful," Yarrow calmly responded.

It seemed as if nothing could frustrate this creature, even though it felt like there were eyes all around the pair, following them along the path.

All of a sudden something large moved through the brush at surprising speed for it's size. Blocking their path, and standing double their height, a large mushroom-shaped figure prevented them from moving forwards.

"Whomst hath entered my wood?" Bellowed the low voice.

Clamoring for words, Priscilla answered for the pair, "Priscilla Bramblewhisk of the Squirrelling Rangers, and, uh, Yarrow... of the wanderers?" She didn't sound convinced in this answer herself. Priscilla drew up her quarterstaff ready to defend herself, while Yarrow slowly lifted his magnifying staff to see who was talking ahead of him.

And at the point, the Mushroom Ent stepped closer. "Why are you here? These woods are mine! I have been here before you were born!"

Not believing that for a second, Priscilla quickly darted underneath the large swinging arms, swinging her quarterstaff as she went with all her might. The figure tumbled to the ground, mushrooms going in every direction.

"Time to pick up the pace Yarrow!" She called as she darted down the path. Priscilla heard the clattering of trinkets become more rapid in their clattering, knowing Yarrow had also escaped that close call!

Feeling grateful for having made it away from the Mushroom Ent, Priscilla quickly hurried back down the path to check on Yarrow.

"Yarrow! Are you okay? I heard your clattering and so glad you made it away!"

"Yes, yes, my dear, I am quite alright," responded the new seemingly older and even slower sloth. "You know, I never really introduce myself properly. Yes, I am Yarrow, a wanderer of the woods, but I am also more than that. You may know me as the 'Questing Beast,' for many do, albeit I keep quiet about such things."

"You're the questing beast?!" Priscilla couldn't believe it! She was trying to make it out of the wood to return her found stone to such a beast when she encountered Yarrow to begin with!

"Yes, one of my many names. Do I not look the warrior part, hmm?" inquired Yarrow.

"Well, I, no, that's not what I meant," stammered Priscilla. She always hated when misunderstandings like this took her by surprise.

Yarrow chuckled, "it is quite alright dear, I did not wish you to until now." Now Priscilla was just utterly confused. "You have something for me, an object I believe?" continued Yarrow.

"Oh! Yes! It's right here, I made sure to not lose it," as she handed over the stone of sorts.

"Ah, I wondered if this would be the type of object you procured. You seem like the type," Yarrow mentioned. Priscilla now looked even more confused. "This specific stone has magic within it I have not yet discerned, but then again, I sense you do too!" Yarrow's slow sloth eyes lit up making this connection.

"What? Me?!" gasped Priscilla. "No I am a ranger, a mere squirrelling ranger. I'm not a wizard or have magic of any kind!"

She took comfort in Yarrow's slow tone this time, "It is not about a physical magic, but one of the humble heart instead. Your magic does come from within your heart, for you have taken care of these woods for years, and even with this new fungal growth, you took care in approaching the situation. I know you will care for the delve in the future as long as you continue to seek out and take the good in life."

Staring wide-eyed, Priscilla finally squeaked, "well now what?"

"Take back this stone, and meditate. I imagine all will be revealed," reassured Yarrow. Priscilla then did just that and a calmness swept over her. She was imagining whatever "heart magic" Yarrow was talking about, and even though she didn't believe it herself, she found herself believing that he was right.

A sudden clatter took her out of this focused state. "Yarrow!" She exclaimed, frantically looking for where he had gone, yet seeing only his pack left there. Looking at it more closely, a tag embroidered on the inside of the backpack read; 'The Good. Items for all that require them.'

"The good indeed," sighed Priscilla in relief. She shouldered the pack, with the stone now fixed to her quarterstaff. Not only was she Priscilla Bramblewhisk the Squirrelling Ranger, but she had become Priscilla Bramblewhisk; the Wanderer of Heart.

Built for the online campagin contest hosted by The Brothers Brick, Priscilla Bramblewhisk is my protagonist venturing through the delve. Focused on the minifigure, trying to capture detail, and add character to the scene while not being overly build heavy was a fun challenge.

Thank you to The Brothers Brick for hosting!