Thomas and Shasta stepped out of their home. The lake was still a frozen solid piece of ice. The black mountains loomed over the snow covered evergreen trees.

"What ever could your guild want with a gem that grows in a tree?" Shasta said as she walked next to her mate through the snow as they headed toward the village. "Do you even know where to find such a tree?"

"Oh not to worry. I as a humble scavenger has his means." Thomas said. A white huldah sat on top of his head. It wore a small harness with a lead that attached a harness that Thomas wore to hold all of his tools. He had yet to name his little pet and was still in the process of training it to help in the "scavenging."

"Besides I have this." Thomas waved a piece of paper in the air. "We will need to pick up Toffee and Noel before we leave. Hopefully they will have finished the packing and then we can head to the boat to L'Hatzif."

They made it to the village in record time and saw that Noel, a tan marozi reef Belemoid and Toffee, a beige Belemoid, were indeed waiting for them. A sled sat next to them full of packs and supplies for their long journey.

They greeted each other and then started down to the cove where their ship lay waiting for them.

It turned out to be a rather uneventful trip. Thomas spent the time training his pet huldah. He had settled on the name Pip.

Shasta and Noel, when time permitted and when the wind would quit blowing for a couple of day, would go swimming in the waters.

Toffee spent her days on board learning what she could about ship sailing. And having a blast.

They finally made it to the shores of L'Hatzif.

"Wow look at those trees! They look so weird." Noel said as she helped Toffee, Shasta and Thomas to pack the two boats that were going to take them to land.

From where they were stationed at sea, they could see the tallest of L'Hatzif famous mushroom forest. Noel was excited to see what it would be like to be underneath such amazing trees so different from the forests at home.

They piled into the boats and made for L'Hatzif. Thomas made sure Pip was secured and then enjoyed the quick trip.

As soon as they landed they quickly unpacked and then stood watching the boats row back out to the ship that would wait for them to return.

"All right. Let's pack up and go. We have several days to find the tree." Thomas said. Toffee and Noel quickly started to pack the packs.

Shasta buckled the last buckle on her pack and watched as the rest of the party also finished strapping the packs to their backs.

Thomas opened up the paper he had and studied the map. He kept looking up at the giant mushroom. Pip sat on the top of one of the packs seemingly uninterested.

"Alright we need to go toward the giant mushrooms." Thomas put away the map.

Shasta walked next to her mate. While Noel and Toffee brought up the rear. She could hear them whispering to each other.

The closer they got to the forest the more massive the mushrooms became. The red and white Mushroom trees seemed to touch the light purple skies. As they entered they noticed that under the tall mushroom trees were smaller mushers of varying colors and sizes. Some even seemed to grow in clusters that made them resemble bushes.

"Oh wow! Look at all the mushrooms. We should see if we can bring home some for Kion. I bet he would be able to use them in his cooking." Noel said as she ran back and forth examining all the neat mushrooms.

"We don't know what ones are poisonous and which ones are good to eat." Shasta answered.

"We could always ask a local I am sure they would know." Thomas said. He had pulled out the map and was currently looking it over.

"Toffee! What are you doing? Don't eat that! Weren't you just listening?" Shasta scolded as she saw Toffee pluck a pretty blue mushroom and was in the process of bringing it to her open mouth.

"What? These are good. I have had them before." Toffee said before popping it into her mouth.

"Guys. We came here for a gem. Not mushroom hunting." Thomas said. "According to this we are close. Just a little farther down this path then toward that…" Thomas' voice got quiet. As for the first time he actually had the time to look at his surroundings.

"The tallest mushroom tree that they have seen yet towered over all the others. It was a pale orange in color with bright pink spots covering the top. Underneath the mushrooms 'hat' was cream in color."

"Actually I think we are here. I believe that" Thomas paused to point up at the giant mushroom tree. "Is it?"

Noel and Toffee ran ahead toward the tall 'tree'. Weaving between the larger mushrooms and stepping on the smaller ground hugging ones. Thomas and Shasta followed behind them, making sure to step around and over the mushrooms. They quickly lost sight of the two younger colonists but were able to follow the trail they left behind.

When they finally arrived Noel and Toffee were staring up at the stalk of the tree and seemed to have a puzzled frown.

"What are you two looking at?" Thomas asked as he walked over to them. Shasta followed, also curious.

"It's so high up." Noel said while pointing with a long claw.

Thomas walked up to Noel and looked up. Halfway up the stalk of the giant of giant Mushroom trees was a glittering green gem. It looked like it was only halfway stuck in the stem and should be easy to pry out. But the hard part would be how to get it without damaging the tree.

"We could just cut the tree down." Noel said while staring up at the tree.

"We can't damage the tree." Toffee quickly said echoing Thomas's thoughts.

"Well then how do you propose we get the gem?" asked Shasta. She placed her claw gently on the tree and tried to give it a shake. Nothing happened.

Thomas thought about all the things they brought. Nothing they brought would work. He was a great thief and he was coming up blank. Just then Pip let out a squeak as he woke up from his little nap.

"Ah I might have a way." Thomas said. "Let's see if your training will pay off." Thomas whispered to ((Pip). He tied a much longer thin rope to ((Pip's) harness. Then whispered to the white huldrah. "Bring it."

Pip) looked up at the gem and then jumped on the mushroom stem. His little claws dug into the skin of the stem and he seemed to crawl upwards. Soon he made it to the gem. It took him a little bit of time to figure out how to get the jewel. The huldrah chewed around the gem just enough to loosen it. ((Pip dug at the jewel until it fell. Noel caught it in her upturned palm.

Pip scrambled back down where Thomas sat waiting. A small piece of cheese ready as a treat for his pet. "Good job." He said proudly.

Noel, Toffee, Shasta and Thomas all looked down at the gem.

"Well that was worth the trip." Toffee said. Noel held the gem up to the light. It was clear with no blemishes. She handed it over to Thomas who put it in a pouch on one of his packs.

"So now can we get some mushrooms? " Noel asked with excitement.

"Yes we can get some mushrooms. But don't eat any till we know which once are edible." Shasta answered.

"Yeah!" Noel shouted. Then she started harvesting some of the mushrooms that grew under the giant mushroom tree.