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Wind buffeted Dark Cacao Cookie as he trudged through the snow. Many cookies would find this weather unpleasant, dangerous even, but to him, it was perfect. He had always enjoyed the feeling of cold wind and snow against his dough. It reminded him that he was alive, that he had survived through everything thrown at him and would continue to do so.
Although he was too busy to do patrols as a king and a father, he always tried to find time for walks. Someday, he would take Dark Choco with him on walks like this. The prince was much too uncoordinated to survive the harsh winds, having turned 10 only a few months ago. He was showing promise, though, taking down cookies twice his size in training. Even if he did get a little… distracted sometimes. Dark Cacao recalled the time he had chased a choco creme wolf pup into the woods and had nearly gotten mauled by its pack. Luckily, one of the watchers had managed to find him in time.
He was brought out of his thoughts by a golden light. He tensed up, spotting a glowing spectral sheep a few paces ahead. They both froze for a second, before it bahhed at him and bounded off into the snow. It left no tracks in the snow, its hooves barely touching the surface. Without hesitation, he followed it.
Everyone in the Cacao Kingdom had heard stories of the Shepherd. It was a ghost that haunted the woods, leading lost souls back home. Every cacaoian knew to follow the golden light, that it meant protection and safety. The ghost rarely showed itself, usually sending one of its sheep instead. There were stories, though. A short, stout woman, dressed in winter clothes more akin to that worn in the south, where the legendary Frost Queen is said to reside. Children would talk excitedly about a mystical golden being holding their hand and leading them back to their village.
It was a little puzzling that he of all cookies had been found by one, he definitely wasn't lost. He knew these forests better than he knew his own dough. However, Dark Cacao knew better than ignoring the Shepherd when it called for him.
The sheep picked up speed as he jogged after it, eventually shifting into a run, then full on sprinting. The cold air burned his throat and snow buffeted his face, although it only made him grin. It reminded him of his adventuring days, searching for unknown dangers and then running from said unknown dangers only minutes later. Pure Vanilla was happy to patch up his wounds, although would consistently scold him for being too careless. He missed those days, as much as he loved his kingdom and son.
Eventually, more light came from ahead. As they got closer, he spotted more sheep crowded around a snow drift. When he approached, they scampered away into the trees. He curiosity approached the area they were crowded around, noticing how oddly shaped the snow was. As he looked closer, he realized with a jolt that he could see bits of clothing peeking out from the pile of snow. He dug into it, his suspicions confirmed as his hand brushed against dough.
Dark Cacao wasted no time in pulling the small cookie out of the snow, kneeling down and resting them on his knees. They were breathing, thankfully, and he quickly scanned them over for injuries. They had a black eye and a cut on their lip, which looked like it could be infected. Their fingers and ears were bitten by frostbite, and he was sure that they had hypothermia. They surely would have been eaten by something if it weren't for the sheep protecting them. Licorice monsters avoided the golden light, strangely enough, although Dark Cacao wasn't complaining.
They had short black hair with a few caramel streaks through it, framing a round face with mocha-colored dough. They probably came from somewhere east, near the caramel village. That didn't explain why they were so far north, especially for such a small cookie. They grumbled slightly as he picked them up, weakly reaching up to bat at his face. He lifted his head to dodge the attack at his chin, smiling to himself a little.
Dark Cacao stood up, taking off his cloak and wrapping it around the child. It was made using chocolate and choco creme wolf fur, making it both flexible and warm. He would be fine without it, and they needed it much more than he did.
As he started to walk back, he spotted something moving to his right. As he looked closer, he noticed a golden lantern lightly bobbing as the figure carrying it walked into the trees. The figure faded, the last shreds of golden light dissipating. He smiled slightly, whispering a thanks to the ghost as he started the trek back to the castle. As he ran, he noticed a small birthmark resembling an arrow on the small cookie's wrist. Based on how far away they were from home and the black eye, he would guess that they had been abandoned. He would check, of course, but it seemed unlikely that they had a home to go back to.
"Caramel Arrow Cookie," He thought, finally spotting the beginning of the walls around the castle. That's what he would name them, if his suspicions were correct. If they had traveled that far as just a small cookie, he had no doubts that they would make a fine watcher one day.
He called out to the watchers scattered around the partially built walls, and they immediately jumped into action when they noticed the small figure in his arms.
"Good luck, Caramel Arrow Cookie." He smiled to himself, leaving them in the capable hands of the watchers as he headed back to the castle.