Though the fall was only a second, it felt to Ori as though it took several hours for him and Blitz to hit the bottom. A heavy thud and a grunt from Blitz echoed off the cavern walls. Ori opened his eyes, ears drooping in fear. The fall wasn't too bad, and Blitz managed to stick the landing. Ori hesitantly hopped off of Blitz's shoulder onto the cold stone floor. Blitz let out a frustrated sigh, slipping off his backpack and glaring at the wooden splinter inside. He ripped the splinter out with angry force, shouting in frustration, "Come on! We almost made it!" A few electrical sparks spilled out of the hole in the backpack in intervals. Blitz placed the backpack onto the ground angrily, and started to analyze the cavern.

     The frog-like creature was down there, but wasn't as lucky as Blitz and Ori, as it had been crushed to death by the fallen debris. Ori averted his eyes and shuddered, remembering the giant ram creature that had been crushed in a similar fashion. Blitz put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, putting his hand in front of Ori's face to obscure the crushed creature.

     Blitz looked up at Sein, who was floating above the pair worriedly. "Great. What do we do now oh, mystical light ball?" He asked, words dripping with sarcasm. He quickly stopped himself before he went too far. "I... sorry."

     "I understand your anger, Blitz," Sein spoke warmly, fluttering over Blitz's head.

     "So, Sein, how do we get out of here?" Ori asked, "The cavern isn't too deep, but there's no way I can climb up these sheer rock walls." 

     "Well, let's look around. There's got to be something down here that can help," Blitz answered, scanning the perimeter of the cavern for anything that might be of use. Eventually, he laid his eyes on a tunnel. "Hey! I found something!" he shouted to Ori and Sein, who were looking at the opposite side of the cavern. Ori's ears perked up attentively and he scurried over to Blitz, looking at the tunnel with apprehension.

     Sein hovered at the cave entrance. "I sense something in this tunnel," She spoke, voice echoing down the tunnel, "I sense... light!"

     Ori perked up hopefully. "You do?" He asked, "I'm not the only spirit left?!"

     "Maybe, I'm not su-" Sein was cut off by Ori dashing down the tunnel excitedly, and pulling Sein along with him with an invisible tether. Blitz scrambled to follow the excited spirit.

     They ran down the tunnel, Ori's mind racing. Maybe he was not alone! Maybe there was another spirit here, somebody who could help him! Ori's excitement was overflowing as he ran into the cavern. He expected to see someone who looked like him in the cavern, and he would ask them so many questions he had, and maybe they'd help him and Blitz get out of the ravine.

     But Ori's excitement was short-lived. The cavern was another lake of putrid water, with a small island in the middle, and a rotten wooden dock leading to it. The dock was still decayed and rickety, but it looked far sturdier than the bridge that had dropped them here. The cavern was devoid of all signs of life, except for a tree on the center tree. The tree looked a lot like the spirit tree, but was devoid of leaves and was many, many times smaller; only about a few feet taller than Blitz. Ori's ears drooped in confusion, and he turned to Sein. "Where are they? I thought you said you felt someone was in here?" he asked inquisitively, before glancing back at the tree on the center island.

     "I did," Sein spoke, floating over to the center tree, "But I'm afraid that they're lost to us now."

     Ori's ears drooped even more as realization set in. "Is this... what's left of them?" he asked weakly, gently rubbing a paw over the bark of the tree.

     "Yes," Sein said, "This is an Ancestral Tree. Whenever normal spirits perish, their essence diffuses into the soil, slowly but surely making its way back to the Spirit Tree. But particularly powerful spirits become their own, smaller trees, retaining their consciousness, individuality, and memories in their new form. Some can even become new Spirit Trees.

     "Becoming a Spirit Tree is the highest honor a spirit can achieve, reserved for only the most powerful of spirits. But even then, for a spirit to become a Spirit Tree, the old Spirit Tree must give up its wisp for the new Spirit Tree. But this is very, very rare. I cannot remember my previous vessel before the current Spirit Tree, as it has been far too long for even my memory," Sein explained, hovering around the Ancestral Tree as she did so. Ori stared at Sein with wonder, then at the Ancestral Tree. "So, this was once a spirit? A powerful one?" he asked.

     "Yes. This one's name was Fil. He was quite adept at scaling sheer walls. He always managed to find a grip to leap off of. Come closer, touch the tree, and feel his light. If he deems you worthy, he may pass his knowledge unto you," Sein explained, still hovering above the Ancestral Tree expectantly. Ori nodded, and stared at the Ancestral Tree. After a moment, he took a deep breath and reached out. As his paws met the bark, there was a flash of light from the tree. Ori felt himself being lifted from the ground as tendrils of light snaked out from the tree and enveloped his body. He felt power surge through him, and his consciousness being pulled out of his body, and into the Ancestral Tree.

     A bright flash covered Ori's vision, and he lost all feeling, everywhere.

~~~~~~~~~~

     Ori slowly opened his eyes. He was no longer in the cavern with the Ancestral Tree, but instead found himself in a narrow ravine. This one was lush, with greenery growing along the bottom and the walls. The wind was warm and merciful, and a ray of sunlight leaked down into the ravine. It was a welcome change to the hostile, rotten environment of Nibel.

     Ori got to his feet, looking around with confusion. Where was he? How did he get here? Was it the Ancestral Tree?

     His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle, warm voice from above, "Well, well, a guest." Ori looked up to see a white figure staring down at him from the top of the ravine. The shape hopped over the ledge, sliding down one of the sheer rock walls down towards him. He landed on the ground with great expertise, and Ori got a better look at him. He looked like Ori, but was a foot or two taller, and was far skinnier than him. His ears were smaller, and his head was rounder. His eyes were smaller and more narrow than Ori's, and his feet had paws at the end instead of hooves like Ori. He looked a good bit older than Ori, as his fur was slightly faded, and his face was a little wrinkled from age.

     "My name is Fil," Fil said with a tired voice, "I didn't know there were any survivors, yet here you are. What's your name, young one?"

     "O-Ori," Ori replied sheepishly, "Is there really nobody left?"

     "Afraid so, Ori," Fil answered, with a hint of sadness to his voice, "We all starved and died as the forest decayed."

     "Oh..." Ori's ears drooped. Was he the last of his kind? Was there really nobody left? "What is this place, Fil?" he asked, looking around at the almost dreamy environment around him.

     "This is where my consciousness resides inside my Ancestral Tree. We're not really in a physical place; all of this is just in your mind," Fil answered, "Your consciousness was transported into this Ancestral Tree when you touched it."

     "Uh... why am I here?" Ori asked inquisitively, curiosity starting to brew inside his mind and replacing his sadness. Fil sighed, sounding as if he didn't really have any hope. "Well, the idea is that you're here to prove yourself worthy of my power. If you do, my consciousness will leave my Ancestral Tree and merge with yours, granting you my knowledge and powers. And using my abilities, you'd be able to save the forest. But do yourself a favor, kid, and leave Nibel behind. When she attacked us, she stole our wisp, Sein. Now, she is lost. Without her, all of Nibel is doomed to rot to dust and stone. Leave it behind, save yourself. It is a hopeless endeavor."

     Ori's ears drooped, but quickly perked up again. He looked back up at Fil hopefully. "But Sein isn't lost! I found her!" he informed eagerly. Fil's ears perked up, and the hopelessness drained away from his body language and eyes. "Really? You found our wisp?" he asked hopefully, "So there is hope after all..."

     "Yeah! I promise I'll save Nibel or die trying!" Ori shouted hopefully. Fil nodded thoughtfully, and a warm smile spread across his face as he turned to Ori once more. "We are so lucky to have you, Ori. Normally, you'd have to pass some sort of trial for me to give you my power, but I feel that your mission is far too important," Fil said to Ori, before adding, "But be warned, for the spirits in other Ancestral Trees might not be so generous, regardless of your mission. And the Ancestral Trials are not easy."

     At these last few words, Fil approached Ori. "Are you ready to receive my light?" he asked, and Ori quickly nodded. Fil nodded back, and placed one of his paws on Ori's forehead. The pair both closed their eyes, and Ori felt a massive surge of energy into his body, and a cacophony of emotions, knowledge, and memories flowing into his psyche; Fil's consciousness merging with his own.

     There was another flash of light, and Ori lost all feeling once more.