click “play” and then pause it immediately after, allowing it to load.
when it’s loaded, press “play” once more.
Overhead, a dove cooed.
Poppies sprung from the hooves of a stag, tall, beautiful and fair, with eyes like windows to the sky. He was followed by a heavenly doe, the same soothing, pleasant red as the flowers, her eyes tinged a gentle golden, her fur rippling like water. Around them was an endless field, clad in willows and oaks and birches, violets and roses and sunflowers that swayed when they walked. Several deer, young and lovely, grazed along the hills.
They came upon a stag, great in size, withered in body, and stopped before him—the doe bent her head, nudging him to rise, and her love stood by with steadfast pride. The stag stirred, looking up at the Gods with a frightened gaze, getting hurriedly to his hooves, looking around with wild eyes. He revolved in four complete circles before turning back to the beings, his skull dropped open in amazement, his stare contorted in mistake, his tines shivering. The doe seemed amused, touching her nose fondly to the bridge of his snout, pulling back and gesturing towards the golden one. The stag’s gaze drifted, and he winced at the blue eyes.
I don’t understand.
His gaze fell to the ground, and he trembled, tears rolling, sobs in their wake. The shining stag looked alarmed and turned to the doe, who wavered and rippled before his eyes. Her sheer, lilting laugh startled the fallen stag, and he turned to gaze at her in wonder. Her golden eyes shone brilliantly at him, both playful and motherly. She leaned to nuzzle him—her coat felt like the tears from the Crying Maiden, combing through his own matted fur.
You don’t need to understand, Raven. All understanding does not matter here.
His skull tightened sharply, jaws clicking together. The wounds along his body began to fade as the goddess’s fur struck them, dropping off like scarred grains of sand. His muscles shuddered and he jerked away, rotating on the spot, pawing at the poppies and bucking incessantly.
..but why am I here. ..I killed..fawns. I killed deer—I killed—I killed Calisto…I killed…
You are ours.
The golden stag inclined his head as the other halted, staring from one to the other, abruptly. Father, Creator, King—he had no idea what to address him as. A startlingly perfect being in a world filled with imperfections and reveries.
Nevermore had stopped his pacing, blue eyes boring curiously into the others.
You created me to cause…torment and despair to a pair, yet my ruin went much farther.
And we turned a blind eye to you. It is our fault and our fault alone. You were created, simply, to bring worry and fear to Amrita and Javed—we gave you a tortured mind, a tortured soul. Once your ruin was caused, you would self-destruct, and things would settle again. But you fought past huge odds and grew in power and grew in size…we worried. We worried extensively, always planning on how your demise could be brought about quietly. And then you startled us—you fell in love. Somehow, you had broken through that shield we gave you—a shield of terror, a shield without reason—and still…you broke an immovable wall, Raven, and each day it withered more and more as you fell for Azalea.
His blue gaze bore right through Nevermore’s own. The doe, silent until this very moment, stepped forward and spoke, her voice the rustling of the leaves, the expanse of the wind.
Azalea was not a part of this plan. She simply was, and always was. When you fell, she caught you—and suddenly a new worry arrived when you craved to have children. She agreed, ever so happily…and still, we could not intervene, even if we knew that your children would be horrible Hellions who would be cruel and violent. And yet…Vipin and Aspen, birds of a feather, have become a Sire and a Lady. Your son is a respected, glorious knight, your daughter a proud queen. We—we had no idea such good could come from…our Raven, and The Black Hand.
And so the two were created—The Ram, the Sentry. The Blackbird, Lady Dragonfly.
Nevermore’s gaze had lit with pride upon their names.
The brilliantly red dam spoke again, gently and apologetically to the wearied stag.
So your children…we were, once more, horribly mistaken. The vicious armor of your mind reformed itself, and you attacked Azalea. You attacked your children. But she lived, and Calisto found her, and you went back to our original intention. Nevermore—you had no idea how powerful you grew. Unstoppable, invulnerable. The Ivory Stag is what we called you, and you terrorized and haunted all in your wake, and you murdered Calisto under no influence. Vipin, Aspen, Xylia, Azalea, our creations—all burdened.
Nevermore convulsed suddenly, tears spilling from bone, bow-legged and shaking.
Then why am I here? Why am I not burning in Hell for what I have done?
The Goddess smiled.
Because you are ours as well, and ours alone.
The golden stag closed his blue eyes.
Be peaceful, Raven—at long last.
A sob erupted from the Raven, and he cast a wearied gaze to the Gods. They smiled once more, stepping daintily and passing him by, and he stared at the sky and the trees and the endless blossoms before him. A whispering breeze caressed his ears and left as softly as it had come. A new doe approached from across the field, black as night, as beautiful as a flower. A stag followed her, gracious and dressed in the appearance of a peacock, his eyes the mirrors of two violets.
Hello.
Azalea’s blue eyes had never been grander.
Nevermore turned to the peacock stag. He was fairly boned and quietly handsome.
Calisto…
Tears stung the edges of his skull. Calisto’s feathers brushed his jaw.
Thank you for bringing her back to me, Blackbird. You have no idea how long I had stood by those gates.
Azalea gestured to the forest behind her with a silent grin, and she nudged the Raven now, free as the wind, wild as the stars, beautiful as the earth.
I assume you want to see your new home? It’s wonderful here—no worries, no suffering, no wounds. You’ll love meeting Aeros and his lady-love, they’re such dears. Poltergeist and Wudiin are sweet, too; they’re also seen as constellations in the Forest. Peculiar, no? Run is a darling as well, and Fenqua—so much like me. Calisto agreed. What a fiery girl! And—
The echoes of her laughter and the brilliance of Calisto’s eyes were the only things that ran through his mind, and he hoped that it would stay this way for the rest of eternity.
if I end up coming back here, it'll be upon Never's death. he has found peace, at long last, and it's hard for me to give him up after so many years. but Azalea and Calisto are with him, and that's all I could ask for.
now for the big question: was he ever truly evil?
and I'll just tell you to decide for yourself. but in all actuality, he only wanted solace.
and now he has it.
Wow...That was so lovely.
I love this.
It started off at what was (I thought) a love story. And now I can understand that this is about a stag who has struggled with his purpose, not exactly content, though he's had his moments. And now he is in eternal happiness.
Just my guess I've never known the character, but this is what I gathered from this beautiful piece of work.
you're so sweet! ;_; this is basically it, summarized, and a bunch more LOL even I don't understand the entire story myself, but it is one of my favorites. a love story and a horror story and a mystery story all in one or something. YOU'RE TOO NICE, THANK YOU SO MUUUU-HUH-HUUCH. <333
if I end up coming back here,
now for the big question: was he ever truly evil?
and I'll just tell you to decide for yourself. but in all actuality, he only wanted solace.
and now he has it.
I hope you come back. I
I don't know everything, but this did tear me up a bit, that someone such as he could be redeemed.
Oh my god awesome
Loooved reading this. ♥
I teared up too. But I'm also
8') I'll miss him a lot, I
but he gets his hot first love and a new bro, so I'm happy for him. thank you GUYSSS <3333
Wow...That was so lovely. I
I love this.
It started off at what was (I thought) a love story. And now I can understand that this is about a stag who has struggled with his purpose, not exactly content, though he's had his moments. And now he is in eternal happiness.
Just my guess
you're so sweet! ;_; this is