<=To chapter 10 * Chapter 12 coming soon->

Author's Notes: *falls over* It's 5:30. AM. I had this half-done a few weeks ago. I just spent the last hour finishing it. Yes, the last hour. XD I seem to write better at strange hours.
Well, enough of the insane rambling of the half-crazed insomniac. Surprised I can still spell at this hour... Get on with reading. And forgive any mistakes. It's 5:30. XD; Now, onto

Origins
Chapter 11

~*~
The sounds of chirping filled the air as birds called out to each other from the treetops. A breeze sent leaves twirling in mini tornadoes. One strayed from the group, landing on dark fur.

Groan.

The stag’s ear flicked away the annoying leaf, his eyes opening a second later.

“It’s about time.”

He squinted at the bright sunlight. ‘…wha..?’

Pink wings fluttered as the dragonfly landed on his Orca mask. “I’ve been waiting awhile for you to wake up.”

Scape let loose another groan as he slowly climbed to his feet. He shook his head to clear it the rest of the way. “What happened?”

The insect flitted into view, landing on his mask again. “Don’t you remember? You were sent back to your old home, to find your little brother and bring him to the Endless Forest, since he is unable to receive instructions like you were.”

Scape froze, staring at his surroundings.

The trees were more tightly packed together in this forest, with bushes dotting the ground in between – but that’s not why he froze.

Images were flashing through his head at an alarming rate, so fast he nearly felt dizzy.

“I remember…” he whispered.

The dragonfly twitched its head, gazing at gray eyes. “What?”

The stag refocused on the insect. “Everything just… I remember my fawn-hood.”

It tilted its head the other way. “Yes…” it started in a strange tone, “talking” slowly. “I would hope so, otherwise that means you kept your eyes open again.”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!” He rapidly shook his head, making the dragonfly cling for its life, lest it get flung off. “I mean I…remember before that…before I was in the Endless Forest!” His voice rose in excitement. “I remember my mother!” Gray eyes widened, lowering to the ground. “My mother…” The dark head rose again. “What if she doesn’t know it’s me?”

It sighed. “You won’t know unless you find her. But remember.” Its voice turned serious. “You’ve been gone from here for almost two months. You would be considered an outsider to the herd now. Tread lightly.” The last line was emphasized by it looking straight into the stag’s eyes.

Scape stared back as he nodded. “Right. Let’s go then.”

With that, the dragonfly took to the air, leading the deer back to his former herd’s territory, keeping to the thicker brush as it would be better to hide in.

Soon, the gentle sound of running water filled his ears. Through the bushes, the stag could see the reeds that lined the slow-moving brook, and catch the scent of water. There was also another, familiar scent to the air. One he would know no matter what.

His mother had been here recently.

But that’s not all he smelled nearby. There was another deer’s scent; one that was newer and less “aged”, but also slightly familiar.

It had to be his little brother’s scent.

As silently as he could, the dark stag crept closer, trying to reach that one spot he always liked to visit. The one where the blue dragonflies always gathered.

“Hold on a minute.”

He paused. “Huh?”

The pink insect landed on his mask again. “Slow down. You almost blew your cover,” it reprimanded him.

Gray eyes sweeped the area. He’d nearly walked out into the open, having been only focused on the brook ahead.

His ears lowered sheepishly. “I didn’t realize.”

The dragonfly sighed. “I am aware of that…but I understand. Just try to stay hidden until the right time…” It took to the air again, flying ahead.

Releasing a sigh of his own, Scape started on his way again, this time making sure he was well-hidden.

Finally, he got a clear view of the dragonfly swarm.

There was no one in sight, but the young smell he’d picked up before was strong here. ‘They must come here often,’ he thought.

The dragonfly that had accompanied him was amongst the blue group. Soon, it flew back to the deer, landing on a nearby branch. “It seems the young one we are looking for comes here every day around the same time – just before sunset. And he talks to the dragonflies.”

Scape was starting to nod, but paused. “Wait. He talks to them?” At the “yes” he received, another question was formed. “But I thought he couldn’t understand dragonflies?”

“Ah. That may be true, but that doesn’t mean he can’t talk to them.” At the confused look it got from that, the colorful insect took to the air again, landing on the shiny mask’s surface. “He talks to them, thinking they won’t respond, as he can’t understand when they do. In other words, it’s no different than him talking to himself.”

A blink. “Oh.”

“Anyway!” The stag jumped at its raised and suddenly cheerful “voice”. “We only need wait a little while for the young one to appear. Until then, there shouldn’t be any harm staying where we are. The area’s clear at the moment, and with the amount of birds in this forest, we have a sort of alarm system.”

“Well…alright then.”

The stag settled down to wait.



He’d fallen asleep.

With nothing better to do while waiting, and being advised not to walk into view, the boredom had grown to unbearable levels.

Until…

His head suddenly jerked upright. Not fully awake yet, Scape shook off the last remnants of sleep, frantically scanning the area as he rose to his hooves again. The area was beginning to gain a warm tone as the sun slowly fell.

It was almost sunset! That meant the fawn should be here soon!

Now, what had woken him up?

He froze as his ears picked up a sound.

There had been rustling coming from – he scanned the area, looking for signs of movement - …there!

A bush had moved slightly, just enough for him to know something must be in it. A moment later, a shape emerged, turning this way and that to search the area.

The dark stag’s eyes widened.

It was a fawn.

With a flat face!

His muscles tensed, wanting to run over and greet him, but he stopped himself. The little deer looked very cautious. Any wrong moves might send them running.

Soon, the young one seemed to calm, probably deeming the area clear, nearing the section of the brook with the dragonfly swarm.

Gray eyes could only watch as the fawn sat amongst the stalks on the bank, much like he himself had done what felt like ages ago.

‘So that’s my brother…’