Acceptance

An early morning mist blanketed the Endless Forest. The trees appeared like ghosts, and the bodies of sleeping deer lay in their various beds. The air was too cold for Gabe, he could not sleep this night. Sitting up, he shook the little bit of ice from his black fur, and went to the Pond for a drink of water.

The stag walked through the foggy forest like a specter. He had not met very many of the deer here, for the ones who have looked upon him were struck with fear. His face appeared painted, and four red horns sprouted from his head. The other deer had not seen one like him.

Making it to the Pond, he bend down and lapped the water. It was just as chilly as the air, but quenching his throat helped his body relax. He didn't notice a fawn nearby, who also drank from the pond's water. The little one looked up to him, her heart skipping a beat.

The stag heard her and turned, revealing his face. The fawn was immediately terrified, running off as quickly as she could.

Gabe shook his head, "Perhaps I will never make any friends here.", he said to himself.

"Not necessarily.", another voice said nearby. The dark stag turned to see another stag sitting in the water. He enjoyed the light waves from the Pond on his green fur, and his face was covered with a green mask with lightning bolts on it.

"Who are you?", Gabe asked the other stag. Smiling, the masked deer replied, "They call me Blixt."

The green one stood and gave a light bow. He was a gentleman around others, and unlike so many that Gabe had met before, he would never judge another by appearance. "So, why do you think you're having a hard time making friends?", he asked.

"I don't know. Maybe they're afraid of me.", Gabe admitted. Blixt nodded his head, "Some deer are wary around those they have never met before. It's a natural reaction."

"Did you have that kind of reaction when you came here?", Gabe questioned him.

The green deer smiled, and putting a hoof to his face, he removed the luchador mask, revealing his true face. A long scar ran the length of it, from a fight he lost a long time ago. Even Gabe was a little surprised to see the deep wound. Blixt replaced his mask, "At first, I was rejected.", he said, "But with the favor of the Twin Gods, I was slowly welcomed."

"What did the Twin Gods do?", Gabe asked. Blixt bowed his head, "They...", he began, "they brought me back to life, and gave me a second chance at life. The fight that gave me the scar on my face did much worse."

He closed his eyes, "I died that day."

Gabe lowered his head, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Blixt looked to the other stag, "There's no need to apologize. I made a mistake, and it cost me, but I am here now, and the others accept me here. They don't know what I am." He then smiled, "Don't give up hope. There will be some who are afraid of what you are, but there are others who will be intrigued, maybe even envious of your true beauty."

"True beauty?", Gabe tilted his head.

"Your spirit. True beauty comes from within.", Blixt said.

The dark stag gave a little smile, "You are too wise. I thank you for the words."

Blixt nodded his head, "We're all unique in our own ways. You'll make friends here, I promise."

The green stag bowed and trotted away. Inspired, Gabe took another sip of the water and then walked to the Twin Gods' hill.

There he looked at the two idols, who stared back at him in a loving manner.

"I guess it's too early to ask for your help...", he began to say, when someone approached. "Hello there, friend!", a young fawn said to him. The stag looked to see the fawn smile, continuing, "You come to worship the gods at the beginning of the day like I do?"

Gabe smiled, "Sure...friend...I sure do."