It was a place likened to a hell within a heaven. A place only the condemned and cursed could walk, and only meant for those who turned their backs on the twins who ruled the forest. Black trees, reaching for the dark gray sky, seemed dead from their roots and beyond. An eternal fog blanketed the air, and blotted out most of the scenery. Numerous gravestones rest against the blackened trees, marking previously filled ditches in the barren ground. Withered weeds clung to the bases of each gravestone, wrapped heavily in cobwebs and dust. The air was ever burdened with the sting of frost, which only worsened by nightfall… though the sun was scarce to be seen in the day. Indeed, it was a land that was just about uninhabitable, save for the forest magic that still drew breath in even this land. Piles of leaves would spontaneously burst into flame, providing warmth to the unfortunate and condemned who were exiled to these lands.

A heavy hoof struck the center of a freshly constructed pile of withered leaves. A dim spark lit. A slow flame began to chew upon the decay around it, and slowly grew into a natural campfire. The stag pulled his leg away from the flame and took several steps back, before sitting. Roughly eight other souls were already resting within the radius of the flame’s light. Among those gathered, were some particularly familiar figures, a number of them looking starved, some more frail than others. They consisted of a young albino doe with massive antlers, a massive brown-red stag barring vicious yellow eyes and a stitched up mouth barring wolf-like teeth, a ferret-like zombie stag with the horns of a gazelle, a small antlered doe barring vibrant violet markings, a greenish-black eyed doe who really looked like a demonic puppet still bound to her strings, an old six-eyed skeleton of a stag hindered by heavy chains and missing an antler, a pure black doe wearing a sharp toothed skull over her face, an intangible spirit, and finally a famous, greatly oversized zombie stag.

The Big Zombie Deer breathed out a sigh, looking over the assembled group. “Forsaken ones, it seems a doorway back to the Endless Forest has been discovered. As Sinker has explained, the ruins bare an unseen portal between this Black Forest and the Endless. To activate it… a scapegoat of sort is required. We need to first lure a dedicate to those twin gods, perhaps one of the Lightbringers, into this world, and the shedding of its blood will temporarily open an escape for any of you.” The great zombie explained. Among the group, a few of the more violent deer grinned, eagerly flashing pointed teeth. The young albino doe meanwhile yawned loudly, shifting her position to use the stag she sat next to as a pillow, one massive red antler nearly striking the stag nearest to the one she chose to lean on. The ferret-like stag momentarily looked toward her, almost seeming jealous over her choice of who to rest against. Quickly covering his jealousy, he looked back at the Big Zombie Deer. “So, if we can escape, what would come next?” he asked, simply to keep the conversation from falling into awkward silence.

The Big Zombie Deer chuckled, looking over the assembled deer. “What would any of you do, given the chance? Revenge on the twin gods? Spread your anger and misery to those who serve them? Overthrow the entire forest to make a haven for yourselves? Perhaps simply reuniting with companions spared from your fates? ” He asked rhetorically. Among those gathered, some nodded in agreement, others looking like that was only now realized as a good idea. “No matter what you have in mind, it’s apparent that returning to the Endless Forest must come first… and now, you know exactly what must be done.” He finished. “How do you propose we lure a Lightbringer here anyway? The ruins aren’t exactly as great a hotspot among them as the lake is.” Mr. Red growled bluntly. The Big Zombie Deer laughed. “Between all of you, you’ll find a way.” He declared.

The fog around the campfire began to thicken, to the point where even the flame was difficult to see. The shadow of the Big Zombie Deer seemed to expand over the ground, then fade away. He rose to his hooves, turned, and disappeared into the thick fog, leaving the eight behind. The rattling of chains echoed in the fog and cut the slowly approaching silence, as the six eyed stag stood. “Might I make a suggestion?” he rasped, not so much in a way of questioning, as much as demanding. Every eye turned to face the stag as the fog continued to eclipse the air, leaving almost nothing visible.

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The beauty of the forest was something none could deny. White fluffs carrying seeds from the trees wafted through the air. The light of the sun shown brilliantly threw the leaves of the trees, reflecting well off the crystalline surface of the lake. Cardinals and doves sang from the branches of the tall trees, bluebirds and sparrows collected on the soft soil to upturn insects and berries. The occasional bleat of cheery fawns rang out between bouts of laughter. At the bank of the lake, a large group of deer had gathered to enjoy the day. Fawns and stags alike danced and frolicked in the summery state of the afternoon. Ravenflight , Emiva Sky, and Seed were among those at the lake, teaching some of the younger fawns how to cast forest magic and how to ‘roflspasm’, and dance. Sitting a bit away from the lake, on the slope leading up to the twin god hill, Aegle and Mar Sart watched the group.

An older fawn made an attempt to air sit, though without someone telling him exactly how to pull it off, he dropped to the lakebed. The sudden drop quickly pulled Emiva’s attention away from the dancing fawns. She quickly walked to the fallen fawn, which dizzily stood up and blinked once or twice. “Are you alright?” she asked, quickly looking the fawn over. “Yeah, I think so.” He muttered in response. Ravenflight turned to face the two, Emiva looking back to declare the fawn’s well being. Relieved, the feather crested doe resumed her antics with the group of fawns. Seed parted from the group, and approached the fawn. “Hey, I’ll show you how to air sit.” He offered, flashing a calm smile. The fawn let out a bleat of joy, and began to bounce about. “Awesome! Thanks mister Seed!” he giggled, then following the mellowed green stag up the hill leading to the twin gods.

As the two headed up, Aegle rose to her hooves, and began to back away. Mar Sart glanced upward toward Seed as Aegle backed away, offering a friendly hello to his old friend. It really seemed like it had been a long time since they last goofed off, but he wouldn’t distract any teachings. Once the two reached the top, they both began to run back down, hooves soon gripping air rather than grass and dirt. Mar Sart stood, and walked over to where Aegle stood, offering a comforting nuzzle. “S-sorry, M-mar… I-I hate being t-this w-way.” She stammered, shaking slightly still. “It’s ok… No need for apologies.” Mar Sart said, the two returning to sitting at that spot. Aegle smiled, and curled up next to him in the cool grass, and continued to watch the group just a short distance away. The fawn once more attempted to air sit, folding his legs under himself just a few feet above Emiva and Ravenflight’s heads, Seed succeeding to sit a few feet away from the fawn. The fawns dancing near the two does stopped and looked up at the two, rearing and bouncing under them in astonishment. Ravenflight threw herself to the lakebed in laughter, Emiva simply looking up at the two.

On the other side of the lake, Cirrus poked her head out from behind a willow tree, watching the group from afar. Spotting the stone gray stag and natural pelted doe a distance away from the group, Cirrus nearly squealed in excitement. Something that looked like potential romance claimed the spy’s attention like a mouse to cheese. Grinning, she looked around behind herself for her spy partner. “Zerg! Look at this!” She suggested, the orca doe then slipping out from behind another tree. She quickly took up a hiding spot next to Cirrus and looked thru the willow tree’s leaves at the scene. “D’aww!” she exclaimed, holding in a little laugh of her own.

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At the border of the Birch Forest, the Crimson Drifter walked alone within sight of the dilapidated ruins. After the twin gods banished all the truly evil deer from the forest, the ruins had become quite a safe place to visit. Even young fawns could be trusted to run through the ruins without fear of running into ghosts or devils… or so it would seem. He began to head back into the Birch Forest. There was nothing interesting going on after all…

A few yards into the forest, he stopped short as the sound of screaming echoed out of the ruins. He turned; ears perked, and faced the place, glaring in suspicion. There couldn’t be a new black heart in the ruins, could there? Staring hard, he couldn’t spot anyone there at all. He sighed. “I must be hearing things.” Radeon grumbled, and continued on his way, soon disappearing back into the forest.

Not long after he left, a curious fawn, separate from the rest, approached the ruins, having also heard the scream. Slipping past the metal cage, and over remaining pieces of granite and ivory, he began to pluck his way down into what used to be no more than a ditch with a stairwell. An opening had been made, and stairs led endlessly down, into darkness.



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ooc: Oh man! FINALLY I finish this chapter. XD
I'm not too sure about the title at the moment... if anyone thinks of a better one, can you please let me know? kthxbai.
Also, I know not everyone showed up in the first chapter... XD They'll all have appeared in the next 2 or 3 though.