While traveling a shadowed ravine, Lucky encountered a thornling—a prickly, mischievous creature cursed by the forest. It challenged her to a game of riddles. If she lost, she'd be trapped in the thorns forever.
She won—barely—and freed the thornling, who pledged to help her once, at a time of great need.
"Thorns remember kindness," it hissed, before vanishing into the brambles.