(Trade-ish thing for EternalWanderer. Info here)

"Poor thing...", the does all spoke. Their eyes all watched a lone fawn, wandering without any sense of direction, calling out to anyone. Nobody would approach the little one, they were all too busy with their conversations and grazing. "Her mother will find her...", they would say, or "She's not my problem..."

The fawn was born blind.

She stumbled into a patch of violet flowers, sitting, perking her ears as she listened to the butterflies above flutter. It was one of the few sounds she could recognize so far, and was very soothing to hear. She used the sounds to guide her through the Forest, and she sought shelter under the butterflies when she felt lost.

"Anyone here?", she asked again. The fawn sat and listened. No hoofbeats were coming, no one spoke.

She let out a sigh and sat alone. Raising her head to the butterflies, she said, "I wish I knew what you were, sound."

"Butterflies. They're called butterflies. Don't worry, they won't hurt you, they're very friendly."

The fawn smiled. "Bu...tterflies...", she repeated.

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Lilly sat up, stretching her legs and breathing in the fresh air. She had slept for quite a while under one of the trees, and looking off, she made sure she could see the Pond.

Was he there? She peered into the horizon, hoping to catch the familiar shape of a stag she's been looking for.

He isn't there...

She lets out a small sigh, and turning, she sees a fawn sitting nearby, her head upward, eyes closed. Lilly tilts her head curiously. She had never seen the fawn before, never heard her speak a few moments before.

Hesitantly, Lilly spoke, "Hello there..."

The fawn opened her eyes. There was something odd about those eyes. Lilly tilted her head curiously, "Are you...can you see anything?"

The little one was also hesitant to speak. She didn't know the young doe, but since she was the only other living thing around aside from the butterflies, she replied, "I only see darkness, though sometimes..." The fawn turned her head toward the direction of Lilly's voice. There appeared something else in her vision, "It's not much but I can see your shape."

A slight, blurred silhouette of a standing doe was in her vision. She saw this with the butterflies as well. It was the only vision she had.

"What is your name, little one?", Lilly asked. She felt bad for the fawn - her eyes were almost completely white, a clouded look to them as she stared blankly toward Lilly's voice.

"My mother named me Tara.", the fawn replied, her head moving off a little. Lilly smiled very slightly. What a lovely name, she thought. Tara then continued to speak, "I cannot find her anywhere."

Lilly lowered her head. There wasn't anything she could do, she didn't know Tara's mother (or very many does for that matter). "I'm afraid I wouldn't know her...", she spoke to the fawn, "but is there anything else I could do for you? It shouldn't be fair for you to be sitting alone like that."

Tara had a soft smile on her face, "Please sit with me then. What is your name?", she asked. Lilly told the fawn her own name. The fawn smiled a little, "What a beautiful name...", she said.

The doe approached and sat on the flowers with the little fawn. Tara felt her presence much closer than before, and she leaned onto Lilly's body, resting her head on the doe's shoulder. "It's been a long time since I felt such warmth.", Tara said quietly, closing her blind eyes and enjoying much needed comfort.

Lilly gave the fawn a little nuzzle, "It's the least I could do.", she replied.

They sat together for a few moments, listening to the bugs buzzing along, enjoying the sunlight. It was a nice day, and things were about to get better. "Listen...", Tara spoke, "There were voices before, very distinct ones. They told me that they were gods."

"I know them. Michael and Auriea.", Lilly replied two of the few names she could remember well.

"They said something about us all having gifts. I didn't understand it at first but they said that whenever I wished for something, it would come true.", Tara spoke. Her wishes were limited, she could not wish anything on herself other than little things, such as her wish to know what butterflies were, and there were rules on wishes for other deer.

Lilly was intrigued, "Oh that sounds wonderful. I'd enjoy a gift like that.", she replied.

"Well, they said I can use it on others, but only one wish for each. I've never tried it before...", Tara started to say, hesitating before she explained further, "...no one has ever come and sat with me, but I wanted to ask you: what would you like to wish for?"

The doe hesitated. She didn't believe her ears, she had a wish! She could have anything - her memory back, finding the stag she wanted, freedom from her nightmares...but then she looked to the little fawn, her sweet blind eyes trying to look to her new friend. It pained her deeply knowing that Tara couldn't enjoy the beauty of the world.

"I wish for you to see.", Lilly said.

Tara's ears rose when she heard the words. It caught her off guard, she didn't expect the doe to be so selfless. And as soon as the wish was granted, her eyes unclouded - gorgeous brown eyes looked at the doe. Her eyesight was blurry at first, as she had never seen anything before other than slight shapes, but she saw Lilly - the very first thing she had ever truly seen. A lovely shade of violet and glistening white fur, a sleek dark face, intricate antlers, kind eyes that looked down upon her.

"Oh Lilly...you're even more beautiful than I imagined!", Tara cried happily, "You gave your only wish to me. How could I ever thank you for it?"

The doe didn't have the words to reply, but she nuzzled the little fawn once more. It was enough for Tara to understand - there were things Lilly would have liked, but the one thing that made her truly happy was letting others see the beautiful world she saw.

End