I still have another journal to write about the day it was foggy. <3 Also Echo, xD I don’t know if it was my tef being messed up, or if you just didn’t load Seth’s set after playing one of your other characters, but Seth appeared totally setless, when he was with Lemon. He got his antlers later, but that’s it. :>

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When I awoke, I bumped into my good friend Raunun, near the pond. We played for a bit, joined by some other deer. After some random fun, we decided to dance. Deer after deer came to join us, until our dance line became quite long! What had begun with merely two happy deer had blossomed into a line-dance involving nearly ten!



Though I giggled at the spontaneity of it all, I was beginning to feel a little nervous around so many new der. After a while, Raunun suddenly broke away from the group and went galloping up the slope, away from the pond. I dutifully followed, glad to have an excuse to get away. I curled up beside him, listening to the deer dance without us.



That’s when I noticed a most peculiar and … strangely comforting scent in the air. My ears flicked and my nose quivered. That scent… it seemed oddly familiar. And it brought with it a surge of emotion that I didn’t quite appreciate. Then, it struck me. Calanthe! I hesitated a moment, making sure that it truly was her, this time. When I had determined her identity to the best of my ability, I ran straight for her.



I was thrilled to see her in the forest, after such a long time. I said hello, suddenly feeling a little bashful about myself. She was with another deer, a deer I didn’t recognize – and of course, that wicked curse of timidity washed over me, ruining me. I retreated back to Raunun, peering over his back at Calanthe, wishing I could be a more amiable girl. Like her.

When Raunun returned from his little rest, he and Calanthe both trotted down the slope toward the pond. I trained along behind, not entirely sure what we were headed toward. When I got close enough to recognize the scent, my heart leapt. It was the twins! Oh, how I was astonished and delighted! Calanthe and Raunun curled up to watch, and I settled down beside dear Calanthe. Eventually, many other deer came to sit and watch, as well. I listened to the twins dance, wishing dearly that I could see them perform. It must be so beautiful…



When they had finished and said their goodbyes, I rose to my feet. That’s when dearest Seth came galloping over, and I laughed. ”Seth!” We danced around each other in the usual way, a circle-shaped frolic. My initial joy upon seeing him then faded, however, when I remembered just who stood a mere few feet away. Oh, Calanthe! I bit my lip, trying to hide the fear in my eyes.

No, no. I wasn’t going to be a child about it; Seth had already told me once that he was fine without her. Why shouldn’t I believe him? I always was a little too trusting. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous. I tried to lead him, little by little, away from the group without his knowing. It seemed to work out rather well, as we were soon situated quite a distance away from the other deer. He suddenly came to a stop, not moving even a single muscle. I stood in front of him, waiting for him to return to his usual ever-giddy self, wondering what had suddenly attained his full attention. As the minutes ticked by, my faith in Seth’s ability to forget his former sweetheart began to fade.

“W-what is it?” I hated the way my voice trembled. Why was I so scared, all of the sudden? I took a step closer, my legs trembling. I reached out, touching my nose to what should have been his. I felt the flat pane of his cheek, and realized that he was looking away from me. Toward her. My heart sank. All of the sudden, I felt exhausted and miserable, and not the least bit happy. My head drooped, my shoulders hunched, my tail tucked tightly against my rump. I was ashamed, disheartened. How could I have ever thought…

I was startled to feel the warmth of his cheek against mine. He embraced me as best he could, holding his head gently against mine. I closed my weary eyes, embarrassed to feel a tear slide down my cheek. ”Lemon,” he said. There was amusement and concern in his voice. ”Don’t worry so much.” I stepped back, hiding my tears, and offered him a quivering smile. ”I’m not going to leave you,” he said. ”Not for Cali.” I bit my lip and smiled, nodding. The anxious side of me wanted to doubt him, to ask if he was sure. But I am quite used to barring my little insecurities from slipping out. Only once or twice do I reveal my true feelings of self-loathing, and then only by accident. I stepped toward him, nestling gently against the nape of his neck.



And then we were off, once again. We deer – or at least Seth and I – aren’t keen on dwelling on the miserable parts of our lives. It would be a shame to waste a life pitying the little things, after all. So Seth and I resumed our playing, I suddenly feeling quite high-spirited and cheery. We ventured further from the group – by now, most of the deer had already wandered off, anyway – in search of entertainment. I stuck by Seth’s side; I am always comforted in knowing that he’s nearby. He’s my eyes.

We met quite a few new deer; including a few curious little fawns. I do love fawns, but I never quite know how to act around them. Sometimes I forget that I’m no longer one of them, and I feel sad. I have a tendency to feel unwanted by them; like an old lady, ruining their play. But I do love fawns. Even if they don’t always enjoy me hovering over them, wishing one of them belonged to me.



After a fairly heavy sleep, I awoke to a most curious sensation. At first, I didn’t quite understand what it was. I felt cold and heavy, and there was a strange sound filling my ears. I lifted my head, curious, and was startled to feel a drop of rain fall right onto my face. I wrinkled my nose, giggling to myself in surprise and glee. Rain! It was raining! And then I felt it, pouring over me, pattering against my soft pelt and creating little dimples and dapples in the silver. I rose to my feet, flicking my ears against the rain. And then I was off – running through the forest as fast as I could! Oh, how my heart delighted at the feel of rain dripping down my chest and trickling down my legs! I do love the rain, oh how dearly I do. I ran until I nearly ran straight into Raunun. We were both surprised to see each other, and we laughed before greeting each other affectionately. Raunun, one of my best friends, always does brighten my days.

”The rain!” I said; ”I know!” he laughed. I followed him a little ways, where we met up with Quamar. I’ve always been a little intimidated by Quamar. He’s such a well-liked deer, it seems that everydeer knows and loves him. But I was feeling giddy by the rain, and happy to have run into my friend Raunun, so I skipped circles around the both of them, glad that my usual feelings of nervousness had subsided for the time being.



Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stick around for long. Nevertheless, I am always happy to be with friends when I can. I laughed and played with Raunun and Quamar for a little while. I like feeling this way; when I don’t want to run and hide. When it’s okay to be silly, and run around in circles. As I fell asleep, listening to the constant drumming of the rain on the pond, I made a thousand silent prayers to the Gods, that I might feel this way for even just a few more days…

Lemon