RP under the cut. Please only reply if you are literate.

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- Cygnus -


The light of the moon flowed over the world like spilled paint. It bathed some areas in more light than others. In particular, the starry sky bathed its mirror in a brighter light than anything else. The sky was a narcissist after all, and loved to see itself in the reflection of the forest's crystal clear pond. It fancied the lilies and fish to be beautiful additions to itself, and enjoyed when the insignificant animals traced its constellations in the pool. It may even have gotten some sick joy out of the creatures believing the reflected stars were food, only to be disappointed to find they were not.


Another being floated in the water this evening, preening himself. If the sky grew jealous of anything at all, it was such a perfect mix of wild grace. Despite his imperfections, his gangly nature, many viewed the male as a thing of beauty to behold. Some believed him to be a thing of fear, and that indeed is what kept the sky from smiting him. His disproportions were very apparent, and different things all too often cause fear in the minds of others.


Cygnus, as the swan stag was known, was all too content to share the pond with the sky. He often admired its beauty in the late night and liked to fancy that he was the son of the constellation he had been named after. From his travels, he had heard of many great kings of man associated with that constellation, though he only dreamed of ruling his own land.


The beast that was part deer and part swan reared up from the water, flapping his giant wings in an attempt to stretch them out. It was a motion that made him appear triumphant, even a bit too proud of himself. He would not feel that way, though, and was ignorant to others' views of him unless he was outright scoffed at for his actions. Luckily, it was the midnight hour and the only judgment came from the sky, who merely put on a smug expression as it watched the beast who marred its mirror with his presence.


The halfling had by now made it to the shoreline. He hoisted his strong, feathered body out of the water and planted his thin legs squarely on the ground. A quick shake and settling of wings signaled that he was done with his midnight swim. The being craned his long neck around to preen the spot between his shoulders before he pulled his hooves from the mud to move further up the soft slope toward the blue bowl.


As Cygnus moved up on the bank, his black eyes spotted something at the forest's edge, watching him. He rose to his full height to watch the shadow warily.