Only when the coast was clear, and the doe was sleeping safe and sound, would the stag get up to leave her side.
Never for long, but he hoped one day it would be long enough.

It had been quite some time since Herla asked him for a stone. The birth glade had already filled up with them. Each their own meaning, story. All from different deer.

But his was still missing.



The stars shone brightly. Every time he sat down here, and worried, it seemed they became even brighter.



In quiet contemplation, his thoughts mingled with another. Perhaps he should be surprised at her arrival, but one should remember they were never alone to begin with.

The celestial mother was not naïve, she heard every prayer, every question. Returning from the neverending fields to answer, but only if the other remembered her.
So one day, she knew, she would not have to return.

She saw the black giant differently than most. Saw his scars, his recent hurt, his worry. There was no hiding from her keen gaze.

Poltergeist shared his heartache.



The green, shining necklace, once given to the Mother as a token of love. As she knew she was dying, she laid it to rest around her children’s necks. Her token of love.

After her burial, the emerald was hung from a low branch on the tree where the twins were born. A sanctuary for those who needed someone who would listen.
And ever since, it has hung there, so her children could return to it.

The stag, of course, knows of these stories, had he not almost been a father to the doe.

“It should be brought to her.” The starry nightsky speaks.

The stag, was quiet. Was it a wise idea to bring a pregnant doe an emerald, carried before by another pregnant doe…
..Who died giving birth?
Poltergeist could see the worry in his eyes.

“Don’t worry, the emerald didn’t kill me.”

The pair sit in silence, his form concealed by shadow and hers completley invisible.



The morning star walks gently now, aside from her bright lunar markings and starry flecks she blends silently into the nights embrace, and slowly but surely she arrives at the tree to be alone, little does she know the Irish sitting underneath it. Gehirn can see Poltergeist shifting now, her stellar gaze softening, she speaks ever so gently "Oh my little Sterre...you've grown so beautiful..." Gehirn looks to Poltergeist and looks to Sterre. Can she see her?

"Hey Gehirn! I didn't see you there.." Sterre smiles sweetly like she always had done and silently sits beside him. His antlers outstretch over the two does as if he is the connection. A messenger. The small doe looks up to Gehirn, and up to the emerald now "It always glows real pretty at night, but Im sure you know that..."



Poltergeist whispers now, gently like a prayer in the Irishes ear. "She should give it to her"
Gehirn looks towards Poltergeist, and Sterres attention is roused

"What is it Gehirn?"

"Nothing...Its quite fine Sterre"

"She cannot see me. Not yet"

Sterre looks towards her shoulder, where that one small gold fleck was. "Woah, I've never seen it glow like that before"



Poltergeist smiles.

"She is to give it to Herla, It just gathers dust up there..." Poltergeists eyes remain on Sterre, as the small doe looks out to the pond quietly, unable to see her. "I only ask that it be returned once the twins are born safely" She smiles at Gehirn and embraces him. "Not a star in the sky can count the ways I miss you" She speaks openly, out to Sterre but smiles to Gehirn.



The starry mother stands now, her elegant pillars walking towards Sterre who is looking outwards. "My daughter...You will see me when the time is right...." She nuzzles the side of her face gently and the stars in her fragments are sent into a frenzy. In a moment, Poltergeist is gone again.

"Hey, Sterre..."



Gehirn looks up to the tree, his antlers arch upwards and slowly lift the emerald off the branch and down to her eye level; Sterres eyes widening.

"You know that your mother wore this, it was a gift from the moon..."

He places it around her neck now.

"I think you should give this to Herla, just for a little while, until the fawns are born. I’m sure your mum would love that..."

Unsure of what else to say, or what else to think of the encounter, he watched as Sterre trotted off with the emerald around her neck.

Giving one more glance to the night sky, the ever comforting blanket of lights, before the Irish follows the Morning star.

Sterre comes across Herla, who is sitting peacefully.

"Hey Herla! I.....I have something for you....j-just for a little while"

She lowers her neck and the small glowing emerald drops to the ground gently.

"It was my mums...when she was pregnant with me and Otis...and I just thought...."



"Well, I thought it might keep you safe. It keeps me and my brother safe too.” The doe smiled. “It’s really special to us."


Gehirn settled on a distance, as so not to disturb the two. He would later hang the emerald on a lower branch on the tree in the glade.

That way, It could keep watch over them during the stressful times to come.