Owl's life-tales.

Story 1 complete.

The hart just kept walking. It was all he could do, after losing another fight. Tears stained his cheeks, blood his pelt, and mud his hooves. Battles were always so tough. They would come and go, sometimes Asio would win... sometimes not. It really varied. But now....

he had lost again.

This was the second battle in a half moon-cycle that he could honestly say he had been soundly punished in. Every time he put his left-hind hoof down, he winced. A wound breathed there, deep and still bleeding. It stung with each time weight was placed on it. It was a shame the buck had to keep walking. A scout was following him until he left the territory of brother-stags that kept an impressive herd of doe. It was such a beautiful territory, he mused, wondering what was on the other side.

Trees kept obscuring his view of the moon. It was round and pregnant when he finally could look up at it. It seemed to speak to him. Asio.... it said You lost again. What are we going to do if you cannot gather does? A stag is no good alone. The two firey ears pinned against his head. The stag grunted, stopping his forward motion. Looking in to the nearest tree, he spoke. Damn it, cut that out. I know what I need to do, and I am trying... damned bird. He glared at the owl, who swooped down and landed on one of his antlers, making his head crane back and look skyward again. The moon invaded his entire field of vision once again. The moon is full again. You've been trying for a whole cycle, Asio! What am I supposed to say? And I do not know how you are going to fight another battle with those wounds. The owl suddenly pushed off in to the air again, and Asio lost his balance. Landing on his knees, he grunted once more as they scraped the ground. How many times have I warned you of that, eh bird? Get your feathered tail back down here so I can give it a good tug! He spun around trying to leap at the bird. It immediately made his legs burn. Turning again to face the east, he kept moving.

The long-eared owl sailed silently by, wing barely brushing the stag's shoulder as it led the way. They were well out of the way of the territory by now, the hart was sure of that. He was in another territory, thick with trees that seemed to grow more and more dead as he moved on. They clawed and scratched at the sky, and soon had engulfed it... just as exhaustion engulfed Asio. He fell at the base of a tree, breathing heavily. The bird silently watched over its charge as the sound of the breath soon turned to the sound of waves... the hart drifting in to a dream.

He had wandered in to that clearing again. Two deer waited for him, smiling. Welcome, our son. You are almost home. they spoke in unison. Two pictographs glowed above them, mesmerizing the buck. The pair of them called to him again, speaking in a singular voice of pure beauty and comfort. You will be home soon, our Asio. You will not have to fight anymore. We promise you tranquility and hope, dear son. Come home and receive from us your light. The two deer smiled, embracing their son by the edge of a beautiful pool of water. Willows brushed his face, as did their incredibly soft fur... so gentle... then things became hazy again...

The bird brushed a wing on the stag's face, waking him. Asio. Come on... get up. It is time to move again before you get too stiff. Come on, buck. The owl roused its charge. He groaned, feeling the stiffness as he rose to four hooves. Alright, alright. I am up. We'll go again. he spoke raspily, missing water greatly. But, as clouds dulled the light, he must move on through the inert forest. It made the tears strain from beneath his eyes, creating new paths down his lightly-furred cheeks. The bird flew to his side, keeping pace with the intermittent flap of its great wings. What did you hear from the dream last night, Asio? You seemed to be so blissful. It asked, trying to pull the young deer's mind from its needs. The buck only glared at the bird and pressed on.

Its hooves soon nipped soft ground. Asio trotted through his numbness, stopping only to sniff the air as sunlight started to peek through the trees in beams not nearly as big as fawn spots, only more numerous. They started to grow, so did Asio's hope. The owl could only chance flying above his head now, its long feathers brushing the edges of the pathway.

A leap through a thorny bush caused all to go black for the stag. He breathed in, nares and throat suddenly filling with water. Opening the two blue eyes that called his face home, he turned to swim to the surface of the pond he had found himself in. The water harbored another, he noticed. A long-eared owl floated, dead beside him. he nearly cried out, but the lack of air caused him to choke. Carrying the bird up on his nose, he swam for the surface.

The owl broke before he, and both were soon ashore. He carried the owl gently to the grass, laying it in the soft cradle of greenery. The avian's heartbeat was faint, and Asio let out a strangled cry, knowing it was going to die. The owl was his friend, his family... the only companion he had ever had. Dropping to his knees, he cried out once more in a long "bao".

The two gods slowly came forth from the bountiful, beautiful forest. They stepped to either side of the bird, and their teary-eyed son looked up to meet benevolent faces.

Save it... please save my friend... my sibling. Save your son... please. He begged, wet face then burying in to the cooling body, feathers plastered to it.

We cannot save the body, but we will save the soul. Will you make the sacrifice, Asio? Will you add a part to your name for your brother?

Asio nodded, crying on to the dried, soft feathers. He then cried out, losing all sense of time and place. He could feel himself grow limp... then... nothing.


Asio awoke, a warm glow floating up above his head. His fur ruffled in a warm breeze, flower petals and golden dust drifting on the air. Smiling, he rose to his healed legs, looking around his home. The stag peered in the water at himself, seeing his name above his head, coupled with the word he read as "Owl's Soul". A tear set free from his eye and hit the water, creating a ripple.

Two more faces appeared in the water on either side of him, two bodies pressed either side of his. They comforted him... red, orange, gold fur mingling together as the son cried in the embrace of his parents.

Thank you...for saving his soul.

Anything for our son. Asio, you are home now. Go and find something to pleasure yourself in doing. Though our forest is still young, we know you can find your felicity. The pair smiled and kissed each cheek of their son, then disappeared as quietly as they came.