"So where's the closest outskirts sapling?" MacWillie is all energy, bouncing on her feet as she chivvies Huckens into motion, lifting him up from his kneeling position, but the young man's feet are obviously dragging. "How soon can we get there?"

"One moment, Chief Engineer MacWillie," Stove replies, Broom standing beside her. "We have not yet decided to give you permission to experiment with the trees. You are asking us to meddle with centuries of hard work, of life bought with death. We live as the trees live, and die as they die."

"Also," Broom adds, holding up a hand to forestall MacWillie's objection, "you need to rest. Your boy is about to pass out. Better to take time to recover now than waste it in the future because mistakes were made."

MacWillie turns towards Huckens. He's swaying on his feet, eyelids drooping, hands held to the tool bag at his waist.

"I can do it, Chief," his mouth stretches in a jaw-cracking yawn, and he almost falls over, "you don't listen to them. Gonna be... space dog... raise... moonhounds..." His knees buckle and he collapses on his butt. "Just need... quick nap..."

"Alright, fine, maybe you've a point," MacWillie admits, "the lad's not a true space dog yet. Find him a bed and I'll get the initial tests up and running." She unhooks the tool bag from Huckens' belt and hefts it over her shoulder, leaving him snoring on the ground. "Now where's that tree?"

"Aren't you tired, Chief Engineer MacWillie?" Stove and Broom both have an eyebrow raised, and Broom continues. "The way Sky explained it, you've been fighting for three days straight."

"Aye," MacWillie bares her teeth, "and that's why I'm the Chief Engineer. Or, was, rather," she amends her statement, "but the title makes no difference. I've the levels the lad doesn't, and a half night of rest is more than I need to keep my own engine running. We don't have time for me to be lazing about. The Voidmarch is going to be mustering forces soon, and we need all the hours we can beg, borrow, or steal."

Broom and Stove face me, and Stove speaks.

"Sky. Outsider Chief Engineer MacWillie is telling the truth, or at least thinks she is, but it is not a truth I am equipped to judge properly. What do you think we should do? Is it worth potentially sacrificing a tree?"

I freeze. Why do the clan leaders keep asking me for advice?

If MacWillie can harness the power of your trees, Sky, it solves a great many problems for us. I told you your village needed to change to help support your growth. Tapping into the trees will keep your people safe and provide us many more options.