<=To chapter 2 * To chapter 4=>

Author's Notes: O_O I'm just as surprised as I'm sure all of you are that this is out already.
What the heck is wrong with me?? XD This definitely isn't normal.
Anyway, it's longer this time, but it feels like it could be better. I'll leave that up to you to decide.
Well, here's

Origins
Chapter 3

~*~
No one that way.

No one the other way.

That way was clear, too.

No one was around.

Good. All the better for him.

The fawn had hardly stuck around the others before taking off on his own. He didn’t wish to hear any insults. Besides, he had more important matters to attend to.

Like continuing his conversation with the dragonfly at the brook. He just hoped he was still there.

‘But then…it did say I’d know where to find it, so I guess that means it’ll still be there.’

Briefly checking for other deer again, the young buck covered the remaining distance to the brook. The dragonflies were there. Not that he hadn’t expected them to be; he’d always seen them flitting about here. Soon, the biggest one landed on a stalk near him.

“Greetings, young one. I expected your return.”

He smiled, recognizing the dragonfly’s buzzing “voice”. “Hello again. Um…” He cast his eyes to the side, suddenly feeling awkward. “I wanted to continue our conversation from earlier…”

The insect made a sound he thought was similar to chuckling. “Ah, yes. I thought as much. What do you wish to know?” It seemed almost eager to “talk” to the fawn.

“You mentioned something about a forest before…?” he prompted, unsure of a better way to begin.

At once the dragonfly stood straighter on the stalk. “The Endless Forest, home of mystical deer, protected by the Twin Gods.” It sounded almost like it had rehearsed this.

The fawn nodded eagerly, intrigued even moreso. “Yea. But…what do you mean by ‘mystical’, and who are the…the ‘Twin Gods’?” The unknown words felt strange on his tongue, but also sent a jolt up his spine.

“If you are like the flat-faced deer of the Endless Forest, then you are blessed with abilities of a different brand than normal deer. These deer who live in the Endless Forest are protected by its creators, who are known as the Twin Gods. They are also said to have created the flat-faced deer, making them the ‘parents’ to all deer of the Forest,” it finished with a nod.

The young deer sat down in front of the insect, taking its “words” in.

“You sure know a lot…for dragonfly I mean,” he finished with a sheepish smile.

There was that version of chuckling again. “I doubt you’ve talked to many dragonflies. Especially ones like me.” He swore he could hear a grin in its “voice”.

The young deer softly chuckled, too. “Nope. I definitely haven’t. But stuff about deer doesn’t sound like something a dragonfly would really know. I mean, the deer of the herd don’t know much about dragonflies.” He shrugged.

“You’d be right, in fact. Most dragonflies don’t know much about deer, except for what they see. Truthfully…” Its “voice” dropped in its way of a whisper, almost as if it were spilling the secret of the century. “…another deer told me. It’s true that few have understood my kind’s way of speaking. This one was the only other deer I’ve spoken to. He also happened to have a flat face.”

The fawn’s ears perked in growing interest. “Really?”

“Yes. In fact, he even asked that if I were to spot a fawn with a flat face, that I explain everything I just told you.”

Gray eyes widened. Did that mean…?

“Were they red?” he asked suddenly.

“What?”

“The other flat-faced deer. Was their pelt red? Bright red.” His mother’s comparison came to mind. “Like a robin’s breast.”

If dragonflies could blink, the fawn swore this one just did. “Yes. Quite red in fact. I’d never seen a deer that color before.”

“Then that must’ve been my father!” the fawn all but shouted.

The blue-colored insect’s head seemed to tilt. “It’s possible. Quite possible actually. Though he didn’t say his reasoning for my passing on this knowledge. But there was something else different about this deer…” Its “voice” took on a more serious note, causing the fawn to lean forward in case he might miss something important. “He had a…small sun floating above his head.”

The deer tilted his head. “Sun?”

A nod. “Yes. When I asked what it was, he simply said it was his name. That the Gods had chosen for their “deer children” to have their names floating above their heads, further making them special. Deer of the Endless Forest choose their own names, he explained, and a unique glowing symbol is then created for that deer; a pictogram – the picture version of that name.”

“His name?” The fawn looked to the side in thought. He didn’t have a sun over his head even though he was a flat-faced deer…but he also didn’t have a name, so… “If I chose a name, would I get a ‘sun’ over my head, too?” He looked back to the dragonfly in curiosity.

The flying insect was silent for a moment, as if contemplating the deer’s words. “I would assume so. But I think it has more to do with the Endless Forest and the doings of the Twin Gods that would give you a ‘pictogram’. You probably need to ask them directly rather than just choosing.”

“Hm…” The young deer was silent for a time.

“OK!” He suddenly sprang to his feet.

The dragonfly looked at him questioningly.

The fawn just looked at him like he’d concluded something. “Everything happens for a reason. That’s what you said before, right?”

“Well, yes…”

“Alright. And I was born a flat-faced deer, which I can assume my father also is.”

“I suppose…”

“And since he told you about the Endless Forest, and how deer choose their own names to get a pictogram over their heads, that must mean he’s from the Endless Forest.”

“…Where are you going with this?”

He met the blue-winged insect’s eyes. “I think I’m meant to live in the Endless Forest.”

The dragonfly really did seem to blink this time. “Hm. Seems logical. But…how would you get there?”

He suddenly drooped. “That’s the problem.” He raised hopeful gray eyes. “That other deer didn’t happen to tell you where the Forest was, did he?”

“I’m afraid not.”

A sigh. “Great…”

The flying insect was silent for a moment, slowly turning on the spot as if scanning the area. When it seemed satisfied – or maybe spotted what it was looking for – it turned back to the young deer. “Tell you what.”

The fawn raised his head again.

“Think your decision over. Give it as much time as you need. If you’re still sure you’re meant to go the Endless Forest in two days, come back here. If you’re not sure, come back anyway, to let me know.”

The ‘little one’ stared in silence for a moment. Finally, he nodded in agreement, his face determined.

“Make sure you also take into account what you’d be leaving behind if you did go. Not just the herd…but your mother.”

That last part seemed to hit home, causing the determined look to soften. He nodded again. “Ok…”

Insect eyes gazed back for a moment. “Alright then. And now I believe it’s time for you to go. The sun is sinking fast, and I’m sure your mother will be wondering where you are.”

“Right.” The fawn turned to trot back into the tree line, but when he got there, he paused, turning back for a moment. With a smile, he bowed in farewell, before disappearing into the forest.