((I don't have much confidence in my writing... Here's hoping this'll help. This post takes place sometime after I log the Red out today. So that I may get to play him for a bit more..)

A distant trickle of water from the weeping maiden. Songs of small birds settling for the night. Near silence fell upon the forest this evening. No calls from the forest lords. The air cool and pleasent after another clear day.

A sneeze broke the quiet in a not-so-elusive corner of the birch forest. His ears pressed against his head in what appeared to be some form of anxiety. Before him, were two trees. They had become very significant in the many weeks past, time that had merged together to build up to this moment.

The Birch Hart had spent the day running small personal errands. To his most loved ones; his beloved Mate, his two closest friends, his children, biological and adoptee alike, however grown up they are today, and a very well respected brother of his.
His remaining family each had a gift in the form of symbolic red flowers. A plant that well represented them. To them, it was a plant that was of love, nobility - the knights.

The second wave of gifts came in another form. To many, there was a meal. The wounded were gifted with waterweeds, the bringer knowing of their iron value. One ivory doe in particular was offered a slightly larger amount as she slumbered. Others had received grasses, pinecones, and an assortment of other forest edibles. A golden child of the gods. A small starlit doe. His family ties that were not so close; nephews and nieces, adoptee grandchildren. A clumsy magician. Children of the moon, children of friends. And many more.
Beside each meal, a poppy as a signature.

And for those loved ones lost, a poppy, in a place they treasured.

His final gift was for a place treasured above many relations. Red Hill never looked so red. As petals littered the sandy banks. The trampled grass where the Red had slumbered for more than two years had a complete and healthy poppy of its own.

After all this, he had settled to wait by the trees that will take him far away.

((If you want. ^^))

The air grows colder as night slowly threads carefully over the sky. A gentle evening breeze makes the thin fog over the Pond dance before it ceases. The forest and most of its inhabitants slow down, get ready for another night. There is no rustling in the undergrowth and the small birds return to their nests, silent.

Stillness.

In a differen part of the forest, somewhere between the Great Oak and the Ruins, a raven stag sits on a patch of soft grass. He is still as his surroundings, eyes closed, his breathing slow and regular. After a while he opens his eyes and lets out a long breath. Slowly he rises to his feet, shaking dust off his fur and long black hair as he stands. The cold air is refreshing and the rising dew is pleasant against his feet.

Tonight.
Tonight they will begin a journey, he and the Red; and he feels both excitement and sadness for this. To once again feel different soil under his feet, different air in his lungs and under his wings. But who knows what dangers they might face? No one can tell what will happen, and that might be one reason why he is so fond of traveling.

He hasn't said anything to those he know; few know him well, and those who do knows his habit of sometimes making journeys. He trusts they will know he is safe.

Slowly the great moose makes his way into the Birch forest. He notices a trail of scarlet petals in the dry grass. The Red have left his mark tonight.
He sees the other in the distance, sitting in front of the two trees containing the portal that will take them away from here. In the corner of his eye he notices another near, a white shape in the grass. He doesn't mind, and continues to walk towards the Red.

((This will be interesting!))

She watched as well, but from a closer angle. The doe stood in the red flowers, her eyes seeming sad in their sockets as she toyed with a poppy that was on the ground. His gift to her. It seemed as if he was leaving. Phion did not know if he was coming back, but she did know that she would rather say goodbye even if it was silent, so she watched.

The doe's heart beat heavily in her chest. Her teacher was leaving. She stood regally to watch his companion, the great moose Apeldille, as he entered the area. Phion hoped that they both would watch over each other in a place where the gods would not be able to follow.

The small black doe was nestled sleeping in some ferns at the base of a birch tree. The movement of the Red passing close to her resting place awoke her. He was moving intently to some goal in the distance, the tough grass rustling quietly in his passage. Blearily she watched him go. Getting up from her resting spot she made a few tentative steps to follow. Often where Virgil went, Gehirn was too. Interest piqued she followed at a distance. He halted at a strange spot, two intwined trees. Gehirn was not there, but she spied Ephire, approaching silently from the opposite direction. The giant stag loomed hugely even at a distance. She considered them both friend’s they had never been anything but kind to her, but something held her back from approaching. She stood back at a distance, scenting the air and remaining hidden in the shadows.

I won't interfere here, but I will be watching this. I'm a bit anxious.

He watches silently, then shakes his head as if to clear it. He continues towards the two trees, long, slow strides, and at last he stands before them. He turns his gaze to the Red, who seems to reflect some of his own feelings. His friend seems nervous and high-strung. Ephiré knows his own nervousness is there, somewhere, probably hidden deep down in his consciousness.

The white shape in the grass turns out to be an elk. As the stag bows, he respectfully bows his head back, and then turn to his friend. He says nothing, but his eyes seem to ask a question. Soon?

His sensitive ears pick up the faint sounds of others nearby, besides those who are visible here in the pale twilight. That red deer doe whose name he is not familiar with stands some paces away on a hill overlooking the scene. He bows his head slightly to her.

Herla watched as Ephiré, came to a stop next to Virgil. The night hours where not usually a time that found her out and about, preferring to hide and be unseen when she was alone. It could be a dangerous time for a small doe on her own, the darkness made her nervous. Stepping forward into the moon light, the small doe made to approach her friends. She hesitated though when she saw the white stag, he was unknown to her. Her ears swiveled trying to catch every sound. She was tensed, ready to bolt if need be.

She found the meeting of the two stags, strangely odd, and she couldn’t help but feel it was meant to be a private meeting. She took a few more hesitant steps into the moonlight, moving a little closer. Things seemed tense and the small doe didn’t know what to do. Her black pelt absorbed the beams of moonlight but her feathers glinted and reflected it. She sniffed at the wind, something wasn’t right. The air felt as if it dipped then, a sudden change in pressure and a flurry of winds suddenly kicked up. It felt unnatural, and sent alarms of fear through her. Something was happening! Her heart rate shot up, and her breathe quickened. The howling wind seemed purposely menacing; frightened, she bolted forward to her friends, it was her natural instinct to seek them out when she felt threatened.

((I'll butt out, doesn't look like anybody else is supposed to go through the portal! But I'll say goodbye! ))

Far away, the giant stood perfectly silhouetted with the trees around him upon an small hillock. Distance.
He watched the spots of colour, eyes focused on the brown and the blue. Iaurdagnire had tucked away Virgil's gifts left at his tree in secret, and spoke nothing of it to anyone.

Waiting for a moment when the blurred dots had paused in readiness, he let a long, drawn out bellow into the air. It wasn't a goodbye; in fact, not an ounce of it was at all sorrowful. Though loud and quaking, the roar was somehow pleasant and denoted some form of victory. It was a well-wish, a 'see you'.

He walked away, then, not needing to see them leave.

Alright, I'm sorry. I will make a post here.

---

The girl knew something was happening. She was apprehensive, afraid even. But she tried to not let it completely deter her.

From a distance away, she watched the two figures. And much like others before her, she called out, her warbled voice carrying on the wind. It was a mixture of "I'll miss you," and "Good luck."

She didn't want to watch them leave; it would make her ache more. As she heard her call reverberating in the wind, she turned tail to leave, a silent thought crossing her mind.

I will help take care of things while you're gone. Promised.

ooc Silence:

"...?! Darn it, I missed it again! Again!"
_{(Tracking post in disguise.)}

((<3))

So many things happening at once! The bull stood still, watching and listening as more calls came from throughout the forest and more deer joined; so much for trying to sneak away unnoticed, he thought dryly, shifting his gaze to the Red. He nodded once. Ready.

He tilted his head backwards, black hair falling over his neck and shoulders, while he drew a deep breath. A moment later his whole body seemed to shake and ripple, and with an almost-a-sneeze he shifted into his raven form. A thin, almost unnoticeable, light blue smoke lingered for a moment, and on the ground stood now a raven instead of the great moose. It was slightly bigger than usual and one of its eyes were a deep blue-green.

The bird let out a surprised croak when Herla came running towards them. Flapping his wings frantically the raven quickly rose in the air, perching on a low branch, curiously tilting his head.
"Ahrrk", he said, a gentle sound, trying to convey that everything was alright.

He lifted his head and let out a deep call; it echoed trough the forest. Farewell, see you soon.
He was ready to go through the portal when his friend did.

The Red was quiet, his ears erect as the forest came to life with the calls of friends and deer alike. All the while his eyes remained transfixed on their destination - the portal. To cross over, the two had to enter at a very particular angle, something he was unworried about. However, as deer had gotten closer, Brd, followed by Herla, he exhibited a small amount of discomfort by a small shuffle of his hooves.

He wanted to leave. The corner of his hazel eyes had caught the great raven stag beside him take his corvidae form, and then the small white buck Brd nuzzled him. The stag was tense to this, but after a moment of hesitation returned the nuzzle. He did not want to taint this pure one in any way... There were too few pure hearts left in this forsaken place.

Ephiré by then had taken to the trees, the red looked to him, then back to Brd. Lowered his head to the small bucks ears and whispered there. "You are holy." He commented with the hushed tone. The hart is not a religious deer.

He then rose his head and stared quietly at Herla, acknowledging her, yet waiting the chance to flee from this place.

At the red's hill, a pool of freshly spilled blood lay in the grass next to the tree he knew he favored. Wrapped in the crimson liquid, a senescent tine. The scarlet bull shivered from the pain coming from the gaping wound at his leg, old memories returning. Although he knew his voice wouldn't be heard, he whispered, 'Farewell, brother'.

..?!

There was a pause as the bull walked away, ears flicking at all the others that joined him in announcing their farewells. Nostrils flared at the sound of The Monarch, however - finding the sound equally as unpleasant - and a bird in the branch above twittered accusingly. One Virgil had spoken to once, perhaps.
"Brothers have no ties that bind them." He strongly announced to the bird.
"They are the keepers of our identity, and stand freely from each other."
The stag turned and began walking away once more,
"Wind and fire will snuff out the weak, or ignite the great. I wonder if the wind is too strong wherever they find themselves, so they return to the kindling kicking about my heals."
He allowed himself a laugh, strolling away pretending not to care - just like all elder brothers do.

The Red seemed to be exuding a nervous energy that Herla in turn picked up on. This strange night gathering, the odd forlorn calls that where heard in the distance and the shuffling deer, made her cringe into herself, nervously looking at Virgil and Ephiré who now sat perched in crow form. What was happening?

Then Gehirn approached, Herla’s ears tipping forward at the sight of him, her heart leapt and she likewise almost leapt to him…but his demeanor halted her. He seemed…angry. When he spoke to the Red, it was with anger and a touch of hurt, she shrunk back from his words. Shrunk back from Virgil. Looking uncertainly back and forth to the two stags. Leaving? But where? Why? Herla couldn’t imagine ever wanting to leave the forest. Gehirn had mentioned it before, it scared and confused her. If the small black doe could have disappeared she would have, so confused and distressed she was buy this twilight meeting. Gehirn walked away again, the Irish disappearing into the darkness of the woods. She looked up at Ephiré again but his avian eyes where just as unreadable as they were when he was a moose.

She shifted her feet nervously and backed closer to the two trees the group stood by.

((brd will try to follow. If you'd rather he not be involved from this point out I have an idea of how to handle this.))

((would you rather he not make it in after them? I don't want to elbow into something private))

The raven dipped his head in sadness when the great irish stag spoke, and there was a mixture of pain and resignation in his eyes when he looked at him walk away.

He turned to Herla and the little silvery buck, saying nothing, but instead he began to hum. A long time ago, when his voice had been different, he could sing -- now, a deep humming sound was the closest to singing he ever would come. It was an old, old tune, melancholic, slow and sad, but it ended on a lighter note. We will meet again. Be safe.
"It's alright", the raven said when the Red had disappeared in between the two trees.
Then he nodded a goodbye, swooped down from the branch and with a slight shift of wings he turned towards the portal and was gone. A sole black feather was left on the ground before the little doe.


((Yes, ravens are actually able to talk.))

((okay :D I don't know much about the land they're entering, though))

Entering and emerging from the portal was like diving in, and out, of a still water surface. It lasted only for a second, and in that second a lifetime. He glimpsed the great weave of Reality, how the never-ending labyrinth of worlds and universes joined here, right here at this tiny little fracture in the weave.

Slightly dizzy and disoriented he slowly descended and with a sharp turn against the wind he set foot on this new land.
He quickly shook his head and put an awkward feather back in its place before turning his gaze to examine this new place. He felt oddly at home here; the barren landscape, the mountain and the lack of trees reminded him very much of his own home. Even the air felt similar.
An approving croak escaped his beak before he took off for the little stream before them, landing on a big stone.

"Travel by night?" he asked, cocking his head. Ravens were usually not nocturnal creatures and he would have to trust the Hart's sense of direction in this unknown land.

Suddenly a howling gust of wind picked up, ruffling his feathers and chilling the already cold air further; event hough he wasn't sure of where to go he realized that down from this moutain was probably a good first step, and so without hesitation the large raven took off and glided downwards along the little stream.

(It's okay, you know a lot about mountains too?)

The large mammal was glad when Ephiré crossed over safely, at least he had assumed the croak was of his friend bird. The moment the raven had glided over him and onto one of the nearby rocks was when it was confirmed for certain. The red tilted his body slightly before taking a few steps closer.
"Can you see?" He asked. The voice he spoke in had changed; become more feral, perhaps. It wasn't anywhere near as smooth as it was in the forest. Rougher, with a bigger hint of rust.

Ephiré took off, and the red started to follow with a careful trot downstream. That would be sure to change when the terrain became steeper and less predictable. He felt so at home in this... The rough grass, the mountain air. The occasional call of the local wildlife. It all felt so close to home... Perhaps they wouldn't need to go far! He thought... Of course, little knowing just yet there is a great distance between here and his home - Loch Lomond.

Just as a short distance from their starting point had been set, however, he came to an abrupt halt, hearing the sounds of a distinct struggle of someone smaller and clumsy. He looked back, listened, and after a moment of thought, decided to carry on, instead of turning back just yet.
It was not that he intended to be rude in abandoning poor Herla; he simply could not risk the little doe getting the idea she could follow. He knew this land; and her looks within it would draw dangerous levels of attention from man, for sure.
He could not put her life in that sort of risk.

He emitted a grunt to Ephiré, asking the raven to fly a bit closer for a moment. He could not help but to feel concern.

"We go to the bottom, then we turn in the direction of home." He said quietly. He may never have ventured far from his home back when he was young, but he always knew how to find it; You simply turn and walk towards it. Like some homing instinct.

His ears flatterned once the whine had ceased, an invisible frown followed. Either it was still the first follower, or the second. Either way, he felt he could not ignore it, nor could he turn back to them. It was an almost helpless feeling.
He drew to a halt, turned and looked in the approximate direction. There was already a good distance between them and the portal now, and climbing back up would be energy demanding.

"They can not come." He stated, watching the raven in flight. He had felt the closer wingbeat as the raven flew closer before aparrantly changing his mind, and in response the Red tilted his head. He did not mind birds riding him; it had proved to be very handy back in the forest, allowing their company. "Ephiré, would you like to go check on them?" He offered, for he too was worried lest they did not return to their ideal lands. "I will remain on route. Shallow in the trees." He looked further down the mountain, not too far ahead the stream breaks a small line in the canopy of the upcoming treeline. All for the most part pines, and much further down were more deciduous trees. If he were to venture that far whilst his friend flew up there, he would wait for them to be reunited.