Author's Notes: I had some ideas popping into my head while playing as my ninja-deer Kinsha the other day. A plot formed in my head that just had to be written.
Kinsha is the loner out of my deer. He has no family that we know of. ...or does he? ;]
The first part is loosely based on how I was playing yesterday, while the later part is completely made up.

To part 2=>
Idol Conversation

~*~
His blue gaze rested upon the towering stone monument, its twin streams of water unending in their flow. Unending sorrow.

Sighing, he lowered his head, the smooth surface of the Orca mask over his face resting against the roughness of the Crying Idol.

“Something troubling you?”

At once, the young stag snapped his head back up, scanning the area to find the source of that voice. “Who said…?” he trailed off, seeing nothing, thinking he had imagined it.

Had the ninja been out-ninja’d?

Kinsha shook his head at his own thoughts. He was nowhere near being a ninja, failing to remain hidden most of the time. He was more of an anti-social coward.

“I’m right in front of you,” the voice continued, sounding somewhat amused now.



The stag’s eyes widened, snapping his attention back to the rock structure.

Was it talking to him?!

Soft chuckling came from the stone. “Don’t worry; you are not going crazy.” Ignoring the look of disbelief it was being shot, the voice continued. “You seem…for lack of better word, down. Is something wrong?”

“Uh…I…” he trailed off. Should he tell it? If it was even really talking, that is. Well, if it was, it probably couldn’t hurt to say. Part of him wanted to tell someone. But perhaps talking while not facing the two ever-pouring eyes would be easier. Sitting might be a good idea, too. Circling around to the patches of poppies growing at the statue’s back, the stag settled himself down amongst them. Heaving a heavy breath, he began to speak.



“I’ve been…looking for someone.” The voice didn’t interrupt, making him feel it was listening; encouraging him to continue with its silence. “My best friend, you could say. Our herd…got attacked when we were both fawns, and…well, I found myself here, in this protected Forest. I’ve been…hoping he found his way here…” As he spoke, the “ninja” could feel a weight coming off his shoulders that he hadn’t realized was there. Kinsha’s voice took on a somber expression, though. “It’s just that…it’s been so long, and I’ve heard no sign, seen no other stag that could possibly be him. I’ve been wondering if there’s even a purpose for my being here…” Blue eyes lowered. “He’s the only family I have left, if he’s still alive. My sister disappeared when we were both fawns—she was always easily distracted—and then my herd finds this gray fawn wandering around. My mother took him in…and made sure we never left her sight. She didn’t want to lose us…like we did her…” There was a heavy tone lacing his voice.

“You feel guilt,” the voice concluded after a moment, causing blue eyes to widen as they were raised again. “For not stopping your sister from disappearing…and for not being able to find your friend.”

Kinsha blinked, neither confirming nor denying the observation.

“You should try not to live in the past.”

“But—”

“No buts. You can’t change what has happened, nor can you blame yourself. You were just a fawn. You should try to move on, live in the now, and stop putting so much of a burden on yourself.” The voice gained an almost-tired tone. “Too many have suffered from self-blame as it is.”

There was a soft scraping sound from the young stag’s head resting against the stone surface. All these words were jumbling up his thoughts—confusing him. …tiring him. “Why bother telling me this?” he murmured as drowsiness was kicking in. The sound of flowing water was quite peaceful. A nap sounded even nicer.

“Because…” he barely heard as sleep took hold. “…no one should have to feel the burden that I have.” Blue eyes were shut off from the world.



---

Hearing the young stag’s breathing slow and deepen, a larger stag emerged from the ever-weeping rock, wearing its red pelt that he associated with grief. He gazed down at the smaller form.

Those eyes… They had been so similar.

“So much like hers once were,” he quietly mused to himself, frowning at his own words as he thought. “And…so much like hers are,” he added, remembering something. “I wonder…” Now that he was closer, he could sense the magic clinging to the younger stag that said he was wearing a “set”—spells to change his looks, much like the Crying Idol pelt he currently wore.

That pelt wasn’t his natural one. He wondered what his true one was…

His thoughts drifted back to the blue eyes. That shade was just like…

The red stag shook his head. What were the chances? They seemed slim.

His eyes fell back on the sleeping form. “Though maybe…not so slim. I shall have to talk with you another time, young one.” He kept his voice low enough not to wake the other. “The names of your family… They may be an important key.” Bowing his head in farewell, though the other was unaware, the larger stag walked off to sit with the birds in the Blue Bowl.

Radeon had his own confusing thoughts to sort through at the moment.

He did not notice when a blue eye cracked open to watch him go, blinking in wonder. ‘I hope I can talk with you again, too,’ he thought as he drifted off for real this time.