[perhaps the copper coin had a design on it once, but it's so worn now you can't really tell . . .

the path is very long, and lined with more huge, ash-dusted pine trees and rocks. at the start of it is a six-foot-high cluster of pale, opaque crystals, heavily flawed. there are three places as you go where the trees seem to get a little thinner and you might be able to break through!

or you could just keep going.]