......:A deft cold gently carressed my face, sending a shiver shooting through my body as I softly opened my eyes. I blinked, confused, before another speck of cold once again landed atop my face, causing my ears to flick and my fur to stand on end. Silently, I exhaled a soft, warm breath, watching as the cloud of condensed water floated in front of my face. I lay there, watching this intriguing pattern and the occasional chill of a snowflake landing atop me, breathlessly wondering how I even still remained. Was this a dream? No...I did believe I was still breathing. Finally, I managed to focus my vision from it's previously blurred state. A dark color appeared in front of me....similiar...no...it was grass. I began to shiver more consistantly now, watching as my once crisp vision soon fell prey to the clouded mists' blurring curtain. I held my breath, only for a moment, trying to grab hold of my surroundings.
......:I took my breath in sharply, cutting off my air supply for only a moment as I looked out beyond what lay in my nearest focus of vision. Snow flawlessly fell onto the landscape, shrouding everything in sight with a cool blanket of crisp white. I grinned, the sight of the forest overwhelming me. Was this....snow? It had been so long since I had seen it. Choking on my already quickened breath, I closed my eyes ever slight, curling up my body within itself to preserve myself from the cold. Madri Gras....a celebrated holiday....was the last time I saw such an amazing sight. I traveled back in time, within my own mind, trying to recall the feelings I had been overcome the last time I saw such a pure substance fall from the sky.
......:It was before all of these terrible health problems had even begun. I was such a strong stag back then, and it wasn't even that long ago. Yet, I feel as if time has slowed for the moment, and I've come to appreciating what is small and meager to many others. I recalled that last snow in my mind over and over, shuttering at a sudden realization. I remember..discussing my fear of that upsetting substance....with my mother. Blood. That was the name. Blood. Hadn't I....managed to expel some of that before...I had lost conciousness...? I shivered even more steadily now, relying on my clouded breath to keep my face from freezing. I almost cursed out then and there, but barely managed restrict myself from such incorherrant tendencies. Then I realized the slight taste of a metal like substance tinting my mouth, soon realizing my fear. I blinked, opening my eyes hazily as I tried desperatly to raise my body into the cold air. I had coughed up this cursed scarlet substance, and I had no plans of keeping that dreadful taste in my mouth. Shivering as I walked, I managed to arrive at the pond, only to be greeted by water that was nothing but frozen over. I shut my eyes, tightly, cringing as I slouched over the cool ice, which emitted a frosty temperature that shot right down my spine.
......:"Foolish is those who don't understand...." I shuttered, my voice cracking in it's whisper as shivers interupted the flow of voice. "A legend tells....of a gypsy woman..." I rose my head, looking out to the frozen water, leaning away from the snow that now blended with my pelt. "....who pleaded with the moon until dawn." I paused from my words, turning off my hooves and began to walk away from the pond. I couldn't hear any others around me, only the soft gusts that howled when the snow was shifted by a cool breeze in the chilled air.





.......:At the moment, I decided to stop my ill-attentive ramblings, and just began to walk in silence. My heartbeat was particularily slow, soft....easy to deal with. Yet I still breathed quickly, trying to catch bits of the falling stars which were snow in my mouth to wash away the taste of the crimson poison called blood. Suddenly, I pricked my ears, swiveling my large antlers to face the approaching sound. Almost instantly, I spotted Miss Ravenflight, and with the vision I almost tumbled backwards, realizing how rude I must have been...running from her before. I bowed, lowering my head and avoiding the doe's gaze, shivering as she approached. Only when did she finally utter a worried greeting did I raise my body. "I'm so incredibly sorry, miss. I was so rude....I do hope you can forgive me for such terrible behaivor." I locked eyes with the doe beneath her deer-like mask, before averting my gaze. "I obviously had no manners." I added in, and she nodded with a sudden approaving notion. Wtih a grin, she motioned her an I into a small dance, once a shy fawn joined our group.



......:Afterwards, we seemed to go into a masterpiece of silly games. Another deer joined us, with the skull mask, patterned pelt, and doe antlers. Also...I do believe Miss Cirrus joined us as well. It was quite refreshing to see so many familiar faces.








......:Eventually though, our group grew tired, and we all came to settling upon the forest stones within the ruins. I took this opportunity in stride to stay warm amidst the cool air. It was funny, truly, for the flowers of spring stilled remained amidst the falling snowflakes.



......:The forest was quiet, save for the calm breaths which were the deer surrounding me...and myself. The fog of warmth surrounded us in snippets, keeping the group warm amidst the cool surrounding air. I felt another shiver surge down my spine, before I perked my ears to something familiar. Miss Poltergeist. No. Poltergeist....I could call her by her name only...now. I stood up, whispering a quick 'Excuse me', before rushing over to the nearby hill. My heart was thundering like a stampede of wild horses, but I didn't care in the slightest. "Poltergeist..." I whispered, before she burst out into a full sprint towards me. I nuzzled her as soon as she neared close enough to do so, and was glad for a breif moment of warmth. "Can you believe the snow?" I chuckled, letting my warm breath escape through my nostils. "Truly amazing. But...isn't it supposed to be Spring?" I grinned, before the herd I had previously been lingering with approached with increasing vigor.



.....:Before we knew it, we all broke out into a merry dance, the snow still pattering around our group of silly deer. We soon made way to the ruins, before I noticed a saddening look appear on Miss Ravenflight's face. She had to leave, and we all gave her well wishes as she dissapeared into a cloud of purple smoke.



......:I looked around me, still noticing the large numbers which glued the 'herd' together. I smirked, shivering not long after as I took a deep breath in. "Does anyone...care to take a stroll?" I quesitoned the group calmly, which was replied with a handful of eager nods. I turned to Poltergeist, my smile still holding, before I motioned the deer to follow me in the falling snow. I held my head high, trying best to grace a perfect posture as we walked as a group. My heart, which still sat pounding within me, I learned to ignore as we set pace through the cold forest. Yet, I could feel my body cooling, and ultimatly decided that it might work a bit faster...if perhaps....we ran.



.....:I tossed my antlers, before breaking out into a sprint, motioning the deer to follow me. They did, in which I was lfustered by, truly. We eventually made it to the pond, where I came to a stutering halt upon the shoreline. I looked towards the sky, then back down, pawing at the ice which hadn't changed it's state from before I had begun to socialize. I took one, hesitant step, before my hoof slipped and I nearly toppled over. That's right...it was frozen. Furrowing my brows, I took another step onto the frozen water, before I began to slide across the surface. My eyes widened, and I struggled to regain balance as I stumbled across the ice. Thankfully, I eventually slowed to a halt, standing crosslegged atop the cool ice. Not soon after, though, I broke into a deep chuckle which arose from the bottom of my stomach outwards. "Sha'll anyone...care to join me?" Not a moment too soon, that the rest of the group stumbled upon the ice, laughing and dancing all the while. Soon though, I became drowsy, and layed against the shoreline to fall asleep.




.....:When I awoke, the day was pleasantly warm, which I was impecibly gracious for. My body was unusually sore, to say the least, so when I stood I felt as if every limb was aching with pain. I took a deep breath in, inhaling the sweet scent of blossoming flowers turning to greener leaves, seemingly untouched by previous snow. I took to walking forwards, before I noticed something strange before my eyes. There, in the light of a sunbeam, lay a pure white stag, with grand antlers simliar to mine, and a deer mask plastered upon their face.



.....:I'm not sure exactly why, but I was overcome with a great feeling of anxiety when I looked upon them. They reminded me of almost a spirit-like creature, as they sat there embalmed within the glowing sun. I approached slowly, as if not to make a sound despite the cries my body made within my sore joints. Suddenly, they arose, looking to me with a penetrating stare. I furrowed my brows and lifted my head, rising my antlers high into the forest air. Unamused, the deer stood, tilting it's head as it did so. I said not a word, before the deer asked something about it I wished for the spot he sat in. I replied with nothing but a simple glance, and the ghost-like deer galloped away without further comment. He returned however, after I had left the spot to sit near the pond. I approached once again, noticing a flighty spec that was Miss Sambreel pass by. I noted that I could see her in one moment, as I had something to investigate. I began my approach once again to the stag, but it seemed they had fallen asleep. Rudely, as I must say, I began to circle the stag. It wasn't before long though, that I felt tired myself. Eagerly, I drifter into sleep near the pond, letting my sore body rest.




.....:When I came to my senses, it seemed, that I hadn't even fallen asleep for that day. Rather, I had simply dozed off into a quick nap of sorts. I realized when I came to however that I hadn't even returned back to Miss Sambreel. A terribly feeling sank into my gut, and I stood with incredible remorse. I swiveled my heavy head, trying to spot the flighty doe, that perhaps she may be hiding. I couldn't seem to spot her, so I ran about for awhile trying to find the doe. Giving up hope, I sat my still aching body near a large tree in the belly of the birch forest. The grass there was tall, a marvelous color to say the least, and the view was fine enough to look at for awhile. I heard hoofbeats not soon after I sat, however, then a sudden quiet. I looked to my right, surprised to see Miss Sambreel sitting comfortably in the grass. I chuckled beneath my breath, notioning her to join me. "Please, join me Miss Sambreel." I echoed out calmly, in which she was quick to join me. We later came to chatting enjoying the warm air and soft, far off sun. I knew though, that I needed to make my departure, and bowed deeply before drifting off to sleep.