June 15, 2009 - 4:36am — Zergarikiaka
As I rest within the cool lake water, I cannot help but reflect on these last few days... and perhaps on days long past. My body has recovered for the most part by now. I laugh as I recall how I had been a few blows away from death's door only a few days ago, yet continued to battle like a fiend. Ah, the wonder of bloodlust. Perhaps I've fallen into savagery during the fog... though can I be blamed?
It occurred perhaps four or five days ago...
The fog was too thick to even cut with the sharpest of tines. So many deer had fallen lost to the blinding effect of the fog, stumbling into trees and tripping over those who decided to sleep. This was the perfect time for a hunter such as myself. I can't help but find an irony. These six eyes were meant to be a part of the curse those demons left upon my physical frame, but their function ability leaves me a more capable hunter than most wolves or dark hearted deer. Covered by the fog, potential victims would not recognize me as I approached... I had found a stag, curled up in the dirt, sleeping like a fawn. I remembered my hunger...
So easy a move... to kill a stag in his sleep... I dropped my teeth into his jugular, and tore. Drink up the blood as it spills, then bite threw fur into the veal underneath. True, fawn is much tenderer, but bares none of the challenge of a real hunt... though in truth, neither does killing a sleeping stag. At least it provided enough of a meal to satisfy for a while. A horrified gasp caught my attention.
Yards away, a stag with what must have been a butterfly's pelt and fan antlers, watched me eating. I believe, this one was named Darcy? Laughing, I took another few bites before leaving. Who am I to spare another from nightmares?
I began to wander back to the ruins; back to that which I know too well. On the way, a scent caught my attention... Bastilion. Peering through the fog; I caught sight of him and a nameless. I soon joined them, and eventually we came to the ruins and sat, watching others come and go. My attention drifted as I sat with my silent companion, to the ghost I usually accompany.
She didn't deserve her fate...
None did...
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Devout pelted stags lined the horizon. Their glowing pelts, freshly achieved, tore the subtle beauty of the night apart. Vengeful and superstitious roars broke the silence. Each devout marched foreword, antlers sharpened and ready to fight away those they did not understand and would not accept. A small herd of deer looked on at the devotes, each baring skeletal pelts and skulls over their heads, though their antlers were all different. In fact, half of them wore either feathers or no antlers at all. Those stood over small fawns, keeping them close. I stood in front of this small herd, antlered lowered merely in defense as I waited for our aggressors. Beside me, she stood ready to fight, should she be needed. Skeletal pelted and wearing a skull over her own face, what separated her from the rest was blackish-blue peacock feathers aligning the back of her head. Soft blue eyes looked thru the skull's eye sockets, showing no knowledge of fear or worry. She was a fighter, perhaps more than most stags I have met.
Looking over the vast numbers approaching us, I turned to face her. "I'm sorry... I would rather you live past this day, than myself... I'll try to keep this lot off your back... Lead the girls and the fawns to the church and hide there. Try not to be seen by these fools... they don't understand their own actions." I muttered, stiffly. I hated having to expel her from my sight, more than any other. I knew I could live threw a battle with higher numbers... but I couldn't endanger the others. Especially not her... She nodded once, unquestioningly, and began to call half of the herd to her guidance, and they slipped off in to the night. "Men..." I trailed off formally. "We don't need to fight all of them... just keep them from following the others!" I ordered, then charged ahead, six stags following after.
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Snapping out of my trance, I noticed Aegle approaching. Bastilion and I left the pillars of the ruins to accompany her and her skittish friend, and we sat together in the graveyard. After some time, they departed, and I left the sanctity of the ruins on my own.
The voices of other stags caught my attention as I wandered. Curious, I found my way into the company of Baal, Walter, and Burrow. Not far away, an oddball of a stag rolled along the ground, cracking up at every apparent movement. Baal was the first to notice my presence, and we bowed to each other in greeting. Then Walter, then Burrow. I was quickly accepted into their company. Hooves stomped and angry roars sliced the fog. Soon we began to walk off, like a pack of wolves. Our step was slow, and precise. Silent, like the grave. The odd stag continued to follow us, laughing like a dolt every minute or so.
Soon, in the distance, our target was spied. We began to diffuse around the 'herd of hope', circling them at a distance. Soon, we found positions, cornering the herd and forcing them to bunch up together. Soon, burrow roared and began to fight a nameless.
The world melted away, into red and white.
I charged into the herd, Baal and Walter doing the exact same thing. We picked out opponents, and began to lock horns. I singled out the stag who watched me eat earlier... I no longer watched the actions of my comrades. My single fan antler locked with the similar antlers of Darcy, and we began to rip at each other, tooth and hoof. The ground began to pool with blood, as we savaged each other. Our antlers slipped and we began to leap and circle around each other, striking backsides and flanks with antlers and hooves. We did not hold one position long before moving to another patch of terrain to battle. If one leapt too far, the other would give chase. Fawn's bleating rang in my ears, among the screaming of grown stags.
Virgil stood in the center of the fray, sighing and shaking his head at the war around him. Baal was slowly pushing thru the fray, to his target. They only managed to deal so much damage to each other, before our group pulled away.
We disappeared from the sight of our victims, bloodied and pumped with adrenaline. It was clear, we wanted to continue fighting, but we had to lick a few wounds and check up on each other. Nuzzles were passed all around, and soon we all sat together to recuperate. Burrow soon left, and we made our way to the lake to drink. We sat again in the water, soothing our fresh wounds. A fawn or two scurried by, only to be chased away. Soon, a moth masked doe, with a brown and yellow pelt, made an appearance.
I looked on in surprise as my comrades approached her. I stood and followed, though I kept a distance as they began to taunt and scream at her. If I had lips to bite, I would have bitten them clean off as I watched. It was one thing to attack other stags, especially if there is an issue like that between Baal and Virgil, but to attack a young doe? Tendrils of madness began to leach into my mind as I watched. "Get out of here, now..." I hissed, quietly. I had hoped she would run... but she didn't. She simply cowered and stood where she was... Soon Baal and Walter dropped their antlers, beating her with horn and hoof. I roared, and began to taunt. "Come on... move! Get out of there..." I urged mentally. I tried to leave an opening for her... but soon my... compassionate... side would die. She didn't run... I dropped my antlers and began to attack as well.
She only then began to run. We chased. She soon led us to the group we had attacked before. I stopped attacking, seeing the Picto’s threw the fog. "Darn it..." I growled, looking away from Baal and Walter, and their pray. Virgil's herd had grown... it seemed the entire forest had joined them, and all at once they came for revenge. I cursed, and charged right into their numbers.
No one can ever claim that I lack speed, or strength on the battlefield... I stopped at each foe, batting away with hoof and horn, taking hits as I moved from target to target, while the others focused on that one doe. I soon found myself in a multi-way battle... and I grimaced when I realized one of my opponents was 21. I was locked in a battle against Virgil himself, along with Darcy, and 21. Soon my comrades noticed, and ran to my sides. Baal took Virgil, Walter took 21, and I once again confronted Darcy. It seemed like this fighting would never end, and over time my old body began to feel the sting of combat a bit too well... we eventually escaped, and returned to our resting.
In time, we said our farewells and all collapsed in the botanical garden.
-----
I trekked back to the ruins, coated in wounds. Among these wounds, my left antler had been snapped off. None followed my trail. No devotees or alliances… The others had taken refuge from the fight elsewhere, and we had done our job in holding those cultists off. The churchyard came into focus. Above, the clouds burst into a tired rain. Lightning lanced threw the clouds, illuminating the church. I breathed a relieved sigh, and smiled. I limped my way to the graveyard, believing everyone was safe. No devout stags lingered in the area… it was all silence, save for the rain.
“Laghodessa? It’s ok, you can come out… anyone?” I called out, pausing and looking around. It was too silent… There was no sound of restless fawns, or hoof beatings on the stone tile. My heart sank, and I noticed a heap curled up on the floor, previously blocked from view by gravestones. “Lagho!” I gasped, trotting to her side. A long pink antler had been broken off a devout stag’s head, left impaled threw her torso. She was still breathing, though barely. “No… Not you…” I sighed. I couldn’t believe it… My legs felt weaker than I could ever imagine them becoming, and I sank to the ground. “D…dark?” she rasped, blue eyes fogging over. “Don’t leave me… I… love you…” I whispered, gently resting my head on her side, closing my eyes tightly. “I’m… not… going… anywhere…” she breathed, before her eyes closed and life slipped from her wounded body.
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The following day, I found myself much too sore to walk properly. Thirst gripped my throat, and I willed myself to stand. I dragged myself across the forest chains clicking with every strained movement. Curse these chains… bane of my existence…
When the lake finally came into view, I frowned. Between me and the lake was Virgil’s herd. I tried to ignore them, and just drag myself threw. I stopped several times as fawns crossed my path, other deer cowering at the sight of my mangled frame in the thinned fog. No mind… I finally reached the lake, and collapsed into it, drinking long and deep. Soon Virgil approached. I bit my pride down and cowered before him. I was too wounded to fight. Too tired… I wasn’t planning to attack… With some convincing, he let me stay in peace. Eventually, we sat beside the tall tree near the lake, looking out over the water. He had announced his dominance over me for the time being… but I will not be the inferior for long.
The next few days were spent resting in the lake, occasionally speaking with Bastilion or accompanied by other fawns. Each day, I felt a bit stronger, and soon I would be myself again. Bastilion had grown into a massive stag, and I found the priest to be active again… but I’ll explain my latest encounter with him later…
I love your writing! <3
That flashback almost made
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The Dragonfly Deer's Biography
Pega's Forest Philosophy: "Look for Friends. Let Love find you."
"If you don't like something, tolerate it."
@Aegle: He'll be on. X3
@Pega: I know right? ;.; I almost started crying TYPING that last flashback.
-flashback-
me: ... do I REALLY want to type that... really... .... I'masuckerforthisYES! *types*
-end flashback-