It seems that all Gods love a good koi pond in their garden.

The Endless Forest is no exception. For that... I'm really glad they do.

Having access to the koi really reminds me every day why I am glad to be here. It reminds me of the past I have only recently gathered the courage to tell to another deer, a fawn no less. Finally, now that I have accepted what I was in the past I can move toward my future. However, There's something about my past that I want to bring along with me.



The black and white stag made his way to the statues of his newer Gods to pray. He approached from the front, scaling the steep hill with the ease of a young buck. Here, in this place, he was a lot younger than he looked. The stag always attributed that to his past experience, as that wizened more than just one's mind. That, and smiling too often created creases in one's face.

I want to take along a reminder of that past every time I see my reflection. So I asked the Gods for the chance to do so.

Moss bent his forelegs to bow in prayer. Once he had achieved contact with the Gods, the stag's body turned white and the familiar blue fog surrounded his head. There he knelt for several moments.

I asked them if it would be something they could do for me, as a way to remind me where I came from. We had what felt like a long talk, the three of us. They are always so welcoming, and have a wonderful sense of humor. Finally, after a bit, they agreed that there was something that the pair of them could do. Honestly, I was somewhat unnerved by their grins. But I trusted them both completely. The Golden God gave me his instructions, and I assured them both that I would follow them to the letter.

Moss, still coated in the Devout Pelt, raced down the hill he had scaled not long before. According to the Gods, the stag didn't have much time to waste. The pair had enchanted further the pelt he wore. The water at the pond was cold as he skidded to a stop in front of it. Here, the stag would have to be careful. He couldn't let the water touch his face. It took a bit of time to wade in without splashing himself. Something inside told him the clock was ticking.

If you think about it, I have gained a lot from my visits with those koi.

The stag waited patiently at the edge of the bank. A young koi with three colors carefully swam up to investigate. It didn't take long for the fish to recognize its friend.

So now the koi could do something more for me in return.

Moss bent his head to just above the surface of the water. As if on cue, the little fish breached the surface, planting a nip on the stag's nose. That was all it took.

There is really no better feeling than that of magic being cast on you.

Moss laughed. The Devout Pelt tingled, wearing off as quickly as it was cast onto him. However, underneath it he was no longer black and white. The koi had given the stag the colors he wished for, with the help of the Gods.

It was truly odd to look down at my reflection in the water. My face had not been so colorful in a long time.

Moss smiled at his heavily-patterned reflection. He looked left and right at his own sides, now mottled with scale-shaped speckles and blotches of bright orange and dark black. It was all fur, mind you, but very different than the pattern he held just that morning.

It really felt wonderful to have a bit of my past as a badge that everyone could see.

I hope that it doesn't cause anyone distress now, honestly.