Ferin awoke slowly and looked up at the forest canopy. “Another beautiful morning.” He thought to himself. He looked out into the forest and smiled hearing Ayanel and Elyana playing then grumbling when he heard the sound of Xylen causing trouble. That boy is a handful. He thought to himself. He had remembered the time when Xylen first met him. Xylen had threatened him and Ferin quickly showed the young Stag who was boss. These days have been calm.

Ayanel had found herself a loving mate after the sorrow she had gone through from losing Touraga. The children also seemed to be growing quite well. He had noticed another Stag that had gotten close to Ayanel but thought nothing of it. That stag would know sooner or later that Ayanel would never turn away from her beloved. Ferin laughed at the thought. “Poor Lorque…well, my dear friend, I guess you will have to learn how to protect your territory sometime.” he laughed again and walked off into the forest.

The next few days were quiet with minor grumblings here and there but nothing serious happening. Elyana had heard from Ayanel of Plague and Lorque and was making her way to see them at that very second. On finding them she bowed gently and spoke her hello in her 3rd person accent as she has always done. She had never been able to talk in 1st person. Partly because of her past, and partly because of her brother.

She looked at Plague who seemed to be confused of her way of speaking. She had noticed Lorque and spoke to him recognizing him. She mentioned how Ayanel had told her all about him and then looked back to Plague. She had never seen another deer so tall and was quite intrigued by him. She was so curious about this Stag in front of her. His large body. His red eyes that showed much darkness. His fangs. Everything about him seemed to pique her curiosity.

She did not understand why, but she wanted to know more about this stag. He had then mentioned about why she always had her eyes shut. Elyana became suddenly nervous looking away immediately. She tried to explain that people would run from her. That they might think of her as a monster. Plague mentioned that he had lived a very long life and that nothing scared him anymore. Elyana chuckled somewhat at hearing this. To her he sounded like Ferin for a minute. Plague continued to question her and she showed him finally. She opened her eye lids, a little blood trickling out like tears, to reveal and empty expanse of black.

She looked down and spoke “Elyana.. has been blind all her life…” she said feeling shy and embarrassed. “When Elyana was young… Elyana ripped them out…” she looked away feeling the pain of the memories filling her mind. “Elyana… had seen bad things… Elyana… hated her eyes, so Elyana took them away…” she tried not to look at them still feeling embarrassed. Lorque and Plague both asked how it was possible for her to see and move around. She then spoke softly “Elyana can see…with her mind, Elyana sees shadows…Elyana doesn’t know how exactly.” She shut her eyes then and looked away. Then Lorque and Plague asked her why she talked how she did. Elyana herself did not know why. She looked at them and away “Elyana has always talked like this.” Plague mentioned how he could teach her. He tried to get her to say “I” or “me”.

She tried to speak as he said opening her mouth but she stopped. She thought a moment her mouth moving but no words coming out. After some time she stopped completely and began to shiver and cry. "Elyana can’t.." she cried as she spoke "Elyana is not a person. Elyana does not deserve to speak like one. Elyana saw bad things. Elyana does not deserve to even live." She looked to them tears falling from her closed eyes oddly streaming down her cheek. She continued to cry.

She then looked away, "Elyana is not a person. ELYANA IS A MONSTER! ELYANA’S PARENTS DIED BECAUSE ELYANA WAS TOO YOUNG AND STUPID TO STOP IT! ELYANA FAILED!!!" she yelled as she got up and ran from the spot. As she ran she her mind whirled. Why did she tell them that. Why didn’t she keep her mouth shut she had thought. Her brother told her never to mention that ever again and she had blurted it out to these two Stags.

Elyana did not run very far and curled up in the blue-berry patches crying. Elyana stopped crying after some time and just lay there staring out into the field of blueberries her eyes shut gently. She knew Plague was beside her and Lorque was within hearing range. "Elyana... is sorry.." she spoke finally "Its just... Elyana is still hurt. Ayanel isn't hurting anymore but Elyana is. Elyana is weak because of this... Even Xylen is better now. Only Elyana has the pain still. Elyana wishes to be like Xylen and Ayanel... Elyana tries to even copy others to be like them" she looks down. "but they just run from Elyana because they think Elyana is scary. When Elyana sometimes opens her eyes They think Elyana is even scarier. You and Lorque are the only ones that didn't run from Elyana... ever....".

Plague spoke to her then. Told her that she was a strong doe. She felt her heart melt. She had never had anyone talk to her like Plague was talking to her. She felt comforted and happy to be near him. Elyana could see that he had never comforted anyone from the way he was looking around and trying to find the words.

Elyana looked to Plague and broke a small smile as she spoke softly to him "You do not fear Elyana at all do you?" she had said. "Elyana is glad. Elyana will try and be better. Elyana will try and speak better, too. Because Elyana likes having you as a friend. Elyana is so glad. I'm so happy" she spoke this smiling up at him her eyes still shut but not noticing her own words.

He then told her she had spoken right and she leapt for joy not having realized it until he mentioned it to her. She nuzzled him after some time and lay her head against his fur crying softly but happily when she heard someone call. The scream was loud and angry. She had backed away suddenly frightened. “It’s him… He’s coming!” she suddenly screamed and ran away frightened.


Continued in part 2