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___ “Otis…please stir, my child. Your mother wishes to speak with you,” A maternal voice beckons, surrounded in an elusive calm rare to her tongue.
___ He flicks his eyes open, his breathing even and demeanor relaxed. Surrounded by plush, soft birch grass, he raises his eyes toward the infinite horizon line only made larger by the hill on which he rests. The air carries the scent of fresh rain and the hint of flowering flora, a delicious and sweet combination that causes the young deer to smile. It is only when the voice continues does he realize the cause of his awakening.
___ “I wanted to tell you a few words,” she continues as a slight breeze whistles through the canopy and tickles the branches above. “… About your father.”
___ Otis’ ears snap forward to the mention of the word, his head parting with the ground below in favor of looking upwards. Curious eyes flash through a whirlwind of emotion kept silent by sealed lips.
___ “His name…did I ever tell you his name, Otis? I had a choice in it, unlike yours.” The voice mentions, a hint of slight agitation evident in the range of tone. “I figured since everyone else seems keen on sharing it, I should at least tell you first hand.”
___ The young deer nods his head quickly towards the unending sky, making obvious his blatant curiosity.
___ “His name was Wudiin,” she finally announced, another gust of spring air whisking its way through the forest canopy. “A celestial name for a moon’s child…quite fitting, wouldn’t you think?”
___ Otis nodded once again, before his stare trailed off back to the horizon. The view from Red Hill allowed a spectacular array of patterns and colors that stretched the entire span of the forest in one collection of panoramas. He adored it.
___ “But, it wasn’t merely his name I sought you to mention…” The tranquil voice added. “I also wanted to tell you why he no longer remains with you, never to actually meet you.”
___ He furrowed his brow, lowering his gaze to the earth which he lay next to. A sigh escaped his mouth, followed by his vision being covered in dark lids. He waited.
___ “He wanted to return to me. And through the tides did I welcome him back into my warm embrace...” The voice paused yet again, as if recalling the distant memory. “…should you ever decide to d-“ A stumble in the words, “…to do the same, I…I will be here, Otis. With him.”
___ He raised his gaze towards the sky as his eyes began to open once again.



___ “…w-with you.”


___