Finally, the time has come...for a new life...to take its first...steps among earths creatures. Us.
February 16, 2011 - 9:51am — BrownLupine
Read more for the story and the pictures.
It was a relative early and slightly cool morning when the contractions started to get stronger, but to be honest; it was no surprise to me. I felt the uneasiness already yesterday, walking around nervously. Though in the end, but with the knowledge what this feeling was telling me what would happen, I somehow managed to fall asleep next to Gehirn.
Now that the horizon of this never ending space was finally filled with the dim grey light of dawn, I got up and took a deep breath. My body felt even more nervous and restless than the day before and the stingy pains were indicating that without a doubt, the time had come to seek out the chosen birth spot.
If that was my first fawn, I would have probably freaked, but by now I knew what to do. My knowledge would guide me through this and for the rest... well there my instinct would take over.
I looked around, assessing my surrounding, taking a few steps. There were a few deer, some asleep, some awake, already walking or running around, grazing, drinking and such.
A sigh escaped my mouth, realizing that it would be best to keep all of them away from me. Not that my instincts gave me much choice anyway.
A sound behind me took my attention and I turned my head, flinching slightly at a soft contraction and looked to the black stag behind me, who had got up by now. I felt sorry for waking him.
Simply by looking at him, I could tell that he knew of what was to come, and I could spot his worry immediately.
“Gehirn, I…”
“It’s okay… just go.”
He let his big dark ears hang and looked somewhat sad. Poor guy. He wouldn’t be able to approach me for a while now, since I wouldn’t let him or anyone near the fawn until it could walk and flee properly. I heaved my body around and gave him a quick nuzzle.
“Don’t worry too much. You know, it takes more than a little fawn to take me down.”
“It’s not the fawn I am worried about.”
I looked deep into his eyes, knowing exactly what he was talking about. But another cramped reminded me, that the fawn didn’t want any deep talks now. I simply turned and walked off to the silent place I have chosen: A patch of high grass in the birch forest. The earth here was soft, and the grass was not as rough as it was usually. It was the perfect cover us from all that was awaiting me and the new life.
This was the worst part of a birth if you ask me. Not because of the cramps or the pain…but the waiting. Why? Because it gave me the opportunity to do something I didn’t like: Thinking about things that worry or annoy me. There was nothing much I could do in this phase, except lying around or standing or walking a few steps, maybe nibbling some plants. Then it happened, I started to wonder about the things I dislike and why. Were these things my fault? Should I change my point of view of the said things here? Or was that already a runaway train because I didn’t do it before?
I shook my head frantically. No thinking, I should stop thinking about such things. By now, every contraction was a welcomed gift to distract me. Now that liquid tainted the ground beneath me and I felt eager shifting in my belly was a sign, I knew for sure, the little one was on their way…
How much better it would have been to give birth to the fawn outside of this forest, considering those distracting thoughts. They just made cramp up more and got me more stressed than the actual birth. And all the stress just delayed it, doing no good to me or the fawn. Sure, this forest wasn’t so bad either; otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen the birth place here. After all I had so much here: Plenty of food and water, soft seasons, no predators… for the most part at least.
But you might think of me now as a crazy person, if I tell you that I love the outside world with all its dangers and flaws more than this oh so paradise like forest.
Let me explain why: Since the moment I was able to create life and leave my birth herd, I got around a lot. For you see, we Storytellers are travellers at heart. And the fewer comrades are around us, the further we can go. So I traveled alone for a long time. The world was my home, and the creatures living in it my family. No matter if they were hungry for my flesh or afraid of me, or didn’t even care for my existence. On my journeys I learned much about my surroundings and why things are like they are, the motives from other creatures to do the things they do, and why they chose their way of doing it. I experienced the peeks and depths of life that formed me, formed my heart and soul, my “Storytelling”.
You have to know, my singing, the “breath” you see, is not simply formed by will. We need feelings, emotions to form it in our lungs and throats and this can only be done by the right feelings. A story told without feelings for the situation of the protagonists... What kind of story would that be? A story without a heart is nothing but a lump of old metal: Cold, rusty, unformed, unusable. Heavy and dragging you down, catching you in a place of sadness and pain, like the chains and steel bars and fences and traps humans use. And that’s how our stories will be, if we don’t form them. That’s why we go to travel, to experience things and feelings that make us understand, that teach us how our heroes and villains feel, all the main and side characters, the creatures in their stories and their motives, how to create the mood of a scenery when telling the story. And not to forget…the story itself.
So what I wanted to say is that I learned to love and respect the outside world in all its dark glory on my ways.
I feel home there.
I love all creatures there and all the dangers.
Paradise… for me it’s a place where you feel life.
And I feel it there in any moment, be it so tiring or terrible.
The thumping sounds of the paws of a hunter next to me, their breath on my fur, their snarls and grumbles.
The difficult search for food.
The fight for places of solace, keeping you from the cold in the winter and the heat in the summer. The storms that crashes against your body with the force of wind and water.
Having only short moments of rest in between. Being always on the guard. Not knowing what awaits you behind the next corner.
Yes, all that things and more let me live life to its full intensity and that is paradise in my eyes.
I could talk all day long about that, but you must understand that I have to stop my trail of thoughts here. For you see, I think someone wants finally to see the world by itself. I got to my legs, knowing that a little moving and adjusting of my position would help the process go on. Okay, I admit, the last part of the birth did hurt, but nothing too serious. I will manage it.
Once more my body found itself on the floor beneath my hooves and I waited patiently for the arrival, helping myself by pressing with each cramp running now in short intervals through my system.
I sighed. Just a little bit more…
…………
I could laugh. Laugh from the release I was feeling, laugh from the fact that I managed to give another life a chance to breathe. Yes I was tired, but I got up anyway, to clean the little black lump before me. Black like the night, with some hints of white that might grow out to some markings later on. A face like its father and somewhere in the process of cleaning the little one I found out that Gehirn has a little daughter now.
A smile found its way to my face. Barely born and already the little flower wanted so badly to be in motion: Her ears are flicking around, her muscles twitch, same with her legs. She wanted to move, no matter how tired she was.
Inspiring.
It raises the want in me to “sing” again.
A spirit, a muse, a source of inspiration, full of life.
I kneeled my front down and whisper into her ear, smiling at the memory of this little ritual we have back home for the naming of the newborns.
“You, who were born under the sinking sun and the growing moon of the second circle of the year and with the gender of the carriers, shall be called by the name ´Verve´.
For you will be the source of life, love and inspiration for your family and friends. That is the name your mother Trees gave to you in love. Now go and live, young heart Verve.”
After I did that and watched how she tried eagerly to keep her eyes open, I looked up and could swear that I saw a black shadow in the distance.
I closed my eyes and concentrated, letting my lungs fill with “breath” and the inspiration Verve gave to me. And then with a small and concentrated blast I let a small amount of breath form a little ball which transformed into a little white bird. I gave it a little push to send it out. It wasn’t all too big nor was it colorful, but in its looks it was intense. It had to, because I sent this bird out to all my friends and my family and everyone in this forest to know about the new life beneath us… And if Polt and Ravenflight grant me their strength, it might even surpass the border of the forest and reach to those beyond…
Is it alright if I feel
Best of luck and lots of well wishes to both the worried dad and the poor mother who's going to have a very long day. ;_;
I shall anxiously wait for the evening with you guys. ♥
This is looking great so
I look forward to seeing it progress. <3
Placing a track, so I can see
Awww I can't wait ;_; Go
♥
! =D
Ah this is awesome, makes me
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Tracking ♥
Storyteller... awesome.
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This is so beautiful. The CSS
This is so exciting!
Ah! I didn't realize that
Anyway I LOVE the art here.
Whoa, I love the artwork in
♥ All this is lovely
Final bump! Play the music
Play the music people! ♥
BEBE Yaaaay 'Grats to Trees
Yaaaay 'Grats to Trees and Geh! I really love how this came out, the song combined with the last part of the story gave me shivers and made for a great mood!
Beautiful ending to a
Thank you guys, for sharing this with us. You are awesome.
aww, lots of girls born this
I wish I could hear the music, but perhaps later
Congrats to you two!
So Adorable! Awww congrats to
Awww congrats to them. ^^
Lovely work. Congratulations.
Ohwow, the fawn is so
This story is beautiful, as I
(:
I love the art a great deal,
http://endlessforest.org/community/asiootus-owl039s-bio
http://endlessforest.org/community/spirited-one-0