(Read part one here:
http://www.endlessforest.org/community/beginning .)
(Read part two here:
http://www.endlessforest.org/community/playground-0 .)
Moonlight filtered through the branches overhead and dappled Karma's already patterned pelt as she stepped lightly into the large mushroom ring. She was not the first to arrive. Across the clearing sat a stag with strange golden antlers and a smooth black face. His dark blue pelt shimmering and glistened as if wet.
"It's about time," he said gruffly as Karma approached. She smiled warmly at her brother, knowing full well he was only grumpy because he hated being away from his beloved pond for so long. Not long ago, Echo had suggested that they hold their meetings upstream at the bridge--to be close to the gods, he had argued--but of course Stella would hear nothing of it.
Stella was there too, pacing restlessly around the ring. The candles on her antlers cast eerie shadows across her orange pelt, and her eyes glinted out from her painted face with frustration. "It's about time is right!" she exclaimed. "How many moons has it been now? I've had the candidates in mind since I was practically a fawn. The forest is full of stags in their prime this season. We couldn't have had more fortunate timing. It benefits nothing to wait. And where is our youngest sister, anyway? Off picking poppies?"
"Not quite," came a muffled reply, and all three deer turned their heads to see Coriander slip into the ring. She dropped a pile of sweet-smelling brush next to her brother. "I didn't mean to keep anyone waiting, but I thought you might like some refreshments."
"Hmph," grunted Stella as she bent to sniff the pile. Echo was already nibbling.
"Don't worry. I just arrived too. However," Karma paused, glancing at her fiery sister, "Stella is right. We have a lot to discuss tonight so I'll get right to it. What have we learned since our last meeting?
