Damaetas hadn't been in the world long; not long at all, in fact, and his body was newly blanketed with the pale brown fur and white spots of a fawn. He was only weeks old, but, already, his spiritual intellect was growing; the scrawny bloke was shaping up to fulfill his unbeknown shaman destiny. He meandered his way through the tall, colorful thickets near the Playground; skirting the rocks, potholes and logs. He made his way up the algae-covered boulders, standing in a proud and tall huddle. The small fellow breathed a sigh of relief as he lumbered up the monuments, his legs clumsy and awkward, with knobby knees; the legs of a young-en.

As the little buck crawled onto the Playground, he caught sight of a figure; larger and more developed than most. Damaetas's emerald eyes peered at the man, focusing on his odd and interesting features. He said nothing, and only watched, as the monarch-colored stag shook himself, before taking his place on the ground, once again. The feeble, ecru yearling gazed curiously at the sir, his eyes wide and innocent. He didn't bother to speak, and, instead, waited to see if this stranger could catch site of Damaetas, himself, first.

Damaetas gaped at the stranger; a little intrigued and awe-struck. As the stag performed a bow, a bit bunglingly, but formerly all the same, the tawny, young steed returned his greeting with a cleaner curtsy. He observed the sir closely; taking note of his odd mask, the fine and colorful features carved beautifully onto the face, defining it as unique. He sported a lovely rack of antlers; deep chocolate brown, with candle-light flickering upon the bones. All this along with his mottled monarch pelt made him quite an interesting character.

Damaetas was further drawn in at the sound of the dog's voice, he had a distinctive accent of who knows what origin, and he was quite friendly in his tone. The young buck prodded the gritty rock that harnessed beneath his tiny, black hooves, shuffling his feet as he tried to think of what to say to this man's words.

"Well, yes...sort of. I'm new to the entire world, technically, not just the forest....Erm, my name is Damaetas," The yearling held his head high upon his name, seeping from his white lips, along with quite a dollop of pride. However, the rest of his speak was weak and unsure, and only contained the slightest hint of confidence.

As the elder stag spoke, Damaetas bowed his head in thought; of course, he couldn't help but let live the boyish smile that broke through the barricade of his white lips. He didn't exactly know what he smiling about; could be because of the stranger's accent, or the truth in his words, or just the overall feel of the gent. For some odd reason, the young-en felt comfortable with this mottled steed. It was confirmed with him that the sir was content with Dameatas, too; as he burst into a guttural laughing fit, with clearly no awkwardness or uncertainty.

The sprout gazed up at the butterfly-colored fellow, his soft-lighted green eyes exiting their position, fixed on the black glisten of his own hooves, and moving up to meet the eyes of the other. Damaetas couldn't swipe away his smile, and however immature it was of him to grin, creepily, up at this man, he didn't feel obliged to stop. I think he's okay with it...with me, The brute thought, with thrill and happiness. His gentle, child smirk also acted as a simple answer to the half-question that the stag had asked before.

As the outburst ceased, the deep, warm sound dyed away, leaving Damaetas smiling for no reason at all. As the next words escaped the stag's skillfully-carved mouth, the yearling shuffled his small, anxious feet, ready with an answer.

"Yes, well, trying to, anyway," Damaetas spoke, an innocence entering his tone that he was completely oblivious to, "I haven't heard many tales, I...don't have anyone to tell them to me, as I have yet to make friends and I have no...err...known family," The fawn caught his breath in his throat. He had known it all along, but speaking the words aloud made his young heart ache with want.

The awkward fawn listened to the older mate, politely. He thought about what the sir had to say...it was true! He had seen so many lone fawns running through the woodland, sticking their noses in other's business. He nodded with clear understanding to the words. Damaetas had a thought, just then, What if I grow up, just like the other fawns, not knowing who my parents were like so many of the animals here, and, in so doing, I'll be just like everyone else! I'll grow up, not care about fawns, and go on with my pitiful, dramatic life like most of the deer here? I don't want that! I want to be unique...We should enjoy out childhood, and be a child! Not worry about family or adult matters, or anything of the like. The young drake was angered by this, and frowned down at his black hooves, reflecting sunlight with a pale yellow glisten.

Damaetas relaxed, and looked back up at the carved face of the elder, a softer expression on his own pale mask, "I'm glad, then, you're not like most of the deer here, sir. I think you're very...erm...smart," The fawn moved his pallid, white lips awkwardly.

"I-I'm Damaetas...Can I ask your name?" Damaetas's face lit up with a warm and friendly glow; he truly liked this stag. Perhaps the better could even teach him some things about the Forest, as he seemed to have been here quite some time. In the meantime, the fawn eagerly awaited the painted brute's reply.

"A story, you say?" The voice was calm, soft, and certainly masculine. The owner was a golden colored stag wearing a crow mask the color of tar, with small, two-tined antlers. He certainly wasn't of the older generation.
The stag trotted closer, yet still keeping his distance behind the much larger stag. He blinked once, tilting his head to the side and losing a few small flowers. His pose indicated his obvious awkwardness, with his shoulders slumped slightly, head tilted to the side.
"I know a few myself." Suddenly, he trots up to sit beside the larger stag, though with plenty of room in between.
"You won't mind if I sit here, of course. I'm here to hear a story, Rhys." He blinks owlishly, looking at the stag. Keme never was good at these 'social' things.

Rhys looked up as the thin buck approached. He grinning and allowed a small twinkle to appear in his eye as he sized up the new visitor. The coat and antlers were new, but the gangly uncertain sheepish look was all too familiar. He had seen it once before in the past when the young fawn had forced him into physical exercise chasing it about the forest. He could hope for no less of good company at this time between the two who chose to join him. He slowly got to his feet to give the button buck an acknowledging bow before faltering and falling back to a sitting position. His joints became especially strained towards the peek hours of the day and he reluctantly just offered a nod of acknowledgment. No use moving more than absolutely necessary.


"Ah..ooh Hylô Keme. Havn't you grown quite a bit then eh? Keep it up and you'll be my size in no time! "

It was not clear whether this was meant as an encouragement or forewarning, but he kept a sincere tone.

"Yes, hm. The story..arri arri do you wish to share one Keme or should I?"

Rhys tried to contain his silent laughter. Keme was still as easily side tracked as when he was a young fawn. You could lose him by merely walking around the old oak some days. It was true that even age did not truly change someone's character significantly. He cleared his throat and searched his mind for a few moments before beginning to speak.



"You know the pond? Well there is a little story that goes a long with it.

You see, when the forest was created it was larger than it was today. It was, in fact, so large that deer could get lost just walking around a tree. The Twin Gods has mistakenly crafted a very large forest for a set of reasonably small deer. They probably weren't thinking ahead assuming that we were going to be large as them and such. Took one look at themselves manifested as deer and went "yup good enough!" .

The first deer were put in prematurely and they wandered the forest with some difficulty. Between the giant trees, huge statues, and large spread lake it was a bit of a trek to get anywhere. The deer would tired after only a small journey.

It was hard for the deer and the Twin Gods were no where to be seen. Something had to be done and the first deer could not just stand around all day living like this. It was time for action.

There was, in the gigantic forest of old days, a very odd structure at the bottom of the river bed.
It was a large round object that was like a squishy rock with a long shiny string attached. The deer marveled at this discovery and they recognized it as an object that only the gods could have made.

The call was raised and in the end a small group of the first deer arrived to gather around the strange object. Rumors had been rampant in the forest for ages and all of the deer were firmly convinced that this was a sacred creation. This bouncy rock with a chain was clearly some sort of magical barrier for the Twin Gods power.

It was, for this reason, that the deer knew it had to be removed. They were miserable in the oversized forest and desperate. If they could only have a bit of the God's power they could make everything the perfect size!"

Rhys paused to gather his thoughts once more and give the two younger bucks a moment to digest the story so far and get any questions they had out of the way. They were usually brimming with questions about the tales he told and he was happy to answer even the most frivolous queries.

The sun shifted it's position in the non-existent sky, casting a brilliant light, breaking through the tree limbs and landing in a perfect ray around a large, monarch butterfly-colored figure. Rhys sat, neatly in front of two younger animals; youthful bucks; one painted gold and the other, like a peacock, with mini, white antlers poking out of his small head. Damaetas had heard Keme call the stag just Rhys, after the bronc told the young brute his full name. Rhys seemed far easier to say, and Damaetas was more content with it. However, he vowed to remember the elder's true name; Davith Rhys or whatnot.

Now the yearling listened intently to the old drake's tale, of ancient times in the forest. Excitement boiled in his callow belly, and his big, emerald, fawn eyes were wide with awe. He batted his tiny tail against the ground, behind where he had seated himself in front of the mottled stag. When Rhys paused in his story, Damaetas's whole being urged him to go on, and Keme spoke his thoughts aloud. The anxious young-en didn't know why he liked this story-telling so much. He was so interested in the forest and it's odd ways, and he wanted to pass these tales on to the next generation, after himself. It wasn't even this specific fable that intrigued him; it was allegory and myth in general. The words that fawn's mothers, those that had one, either discouraged for foolishness or told them before bed time, the things that the fathers used to make their children work hard, and they were what created dreams.

Damaetas pulled himself out of his deep state of thought, becoming aware that he had zoned out, and hit yet another chain of realization. Would it always be like this? Talking, thinking, apprehending? If that's the case, I'll go...what's the word?...Batty! Damaetas let a snort of discomfort at the thought, I wouldn't let that happen...Would I? No, I'm at least smart enough to stay on my feet...Oh dear, There he went again. The confused lad brought himself back down to his endless world, heaving a sigh, and waiting for Rhys to carry on with his story of the old times.

Ah ha ha xD Mind me the real world is conspiring against me for internet access at the moment.

Expect a reply on Monday

Ended up going on a trip.
Then came back for my birthday and got whisked away for two days.
And someone claimed me for today and next friday.

lasdjflka

Damaetas was, once again, transfixed in the elder's rhythmic, guttural voice as he continued with his tale. The fawn's heart thudded with excitement. The deer tricked the poor duck! But how clever are we to be able to persuade a water animal to do what we couldn't? We are truly beasts modeled after ABIOGENESIS if we are that smart! The yearling's mind bubbled with questions, and he had to whip around and give his flank a quick lick before he got too carried away in his thoughts.

As he did so, Damaetas thought he saw the slightest trace of blue in his baby fur. He eyed it carefully, ascertaining that he was sure of what he saw. The little brute had begun to grow out of his young-en's coat, and he had found the soft-lighted colors of his adult pelt beginning to shine through. A whole new state of enthusiasm burst from his young heart; a new thrill pumped through his blood and his chest swelled.

He shifted his weight, leaning onto his left side, instead of his right, as he shot his huge, green optics up at Rhys. The lichen around the deer was scraped, loose and flattened from the three frames bustling around, trying to get comfortable and such. The calf nibbled at the strange fungi, testing the taste; it was bitter and dry, as Damaetas chewed it, and he-quite embarrassed by his childish behavior-turned his head and spat it out toward the towering birch trees.

The adolescent buck then turned his earthy, emerald gaze back to Rhys, his eyes begging for the monarch-patterned stag to go on. What happens next? He didn't ask the question aloud, but just kept his sight locked, firmly, on the older drake. The sun blared through the trees, it's light fluctuating the shadows, letting them cross slowly along the moss-covered boulders. Damaetas, himself, was in a satisfying position; a tree blocked the bright sunlight, perfectly, from where the child sat. His tiny, velvet ears, looming over his head like small towers, flicked around anxiously; waiting, impatiently, to drink up Rhys' intriguing, raspy voice, once again.

"The duck greedily dove down to retrieve the stopper and grabbed the chain pulling it free with some effort.

The deer waited with bated breath as the water around the landmark began to swirl.

What came forth, however, was not the magic of the Twin Gods.

It was water.

The deer immediately fled the river bed as the water poured forth from the newly created hole. The deer tried to reach the low branches of the trees for protection, but their small stature prevented this. They called out to the duck to replace the stopper, but they only heard a gurgling quack in return from under the water.

The deer swam for their lives and tread water for days as the flood overtook the whole forest. As the water level rose they were able to find rest by standing on the high tree branches and the ruins of the mighty building that they had only ever seen the mere bottom bricks of.

The flood continued for what seemed like ages. Eventually the trees were no where to be seen, and the only reminder of what they had done to the duck was the far off quack.

The deer were not, however, stranded because the Twin Gods took notice of what happened and, after much deliberation, decided to confront their creations. "

Rhys cleared his throat after the next portion of the story and rested his eyes as he spoke. This one one of the longer stories he would impart to the forest and it was fitting considering the time. The Twin Gods were changing the forest once again and on a smaller level he could see his yearling fawn friend aging into a button buck. Time seemed to pass quickly in the forest and he smiled faintly under his mask.

He too felt himself changing with the magic of the forest. His pelt was withering as the magic grew weak and he knew that he was prematurely transitioning to the new forest that the gods were creating. It was queer to gaze up and see the thin barrier that separated him from the others. On his side of the forest he wore a skeletal pelt with his mask and candles. On the side of the veil he stood proudly with speckled monarch skin. It was a very strange transition, but he chose not to go against the will of the Gods. He could only hope his cautionary tale would install this same reverence into his young companion.