Frost Pelt

This article was written for Summer Camp 2025. Therefore it is unpolished and lacking formatting and information. Feel free to comment with any questions or requests for clarification.

  Frost pelt, also known as land's blanket, is a species of lichen endemic to Yarei. It is estimated that it makes up around forty percent of the ground cover on the island, perfectly adapted to the harsh tundra. Like all lichens, frost pelt is a symbiotic lifeform - in this case, formed of fungus and algae, whose mutual reliance on each other is such that one could not survive without the other. The fungus provides structure, its stronger form giving protection to the algae from the environment and providing an anchor to the earth. The algae provides nutrition to the fungus through photosynthesis, though the fungus also gathers scant nutrients from the ground and the moisture in the air during the summer months.   Soft green in colour, frost pelt can be described as both wrinkly and fluffy, and it has a branching form, reminiscent of antlers or winter trees. It forms a thick mat over the bare rock and thin layeers of soil that make up the topography of Yarei.   For the native Yarine, frost pelt is integral to their lifestyle. It is a vital source of minerals and vitamins in a place where not much plant life grows, and is usually brewed into a slightly bitter tea. It can be eaten raw, but the experience is not pleasant. It is also the main source of food for the reindeer herded by the Yarine, as it is fast growing and abundant in calories. A patch of frost pelt that has been stripped bare will be starting to recover after just a week.   Food is not the only use for frost pelt, however. Dried frost pelt is used to stuff pillows and mattresses, and as an insulating layer in clothing. It can also be used to pack wounds due to its absorbant nature.   The insulating nature of frost pelt is integral to the ecosystem of Yarei in other ways. In areas of thicker soil, usually around the carefully managed stands of conifer trees, starchy tubers known as knobbled grumps grow. The knobbled grump has tough leaves that can pierce through the thick mat of lichen, which helps keep the soil a few degrees warmer. The lichen is also collected by a variety of species to line nests and burrows, including the elusive wild cat that uses it to swathe their kittens.