Just to let you all know up front, I'm not leaving the Forest. With that said, I regretfully announce that I am not going to be *nearly as directly involved* in this community has I have been. I have been thinking about this for awhile now, and I have already told a couple of other people here; however, but I feel too much responsibility to the community to pull away without telling you all. I have several reasons for backing away:

1)This semester, I am going to graduate from college. I'll be going to graduate school, and that is a great deal of work. I'll be getting my Master's degree in psychology, and I'll hopefully be doing work in human-computer interactions (HCI). Right now, I have a lot of pressure on me to keep up my high GPA (3.9 something) and to get into the HCI subplan, and the work is only going to get harder in the coming years. This on top other non-school responsibilities IRL, keeping up with forum discussions and what goes on here at the community site other than major happenings, working hard in the Forest to help people, and keeping up with the blog is too much. I'm 24 years old, I have to get serious about my work other than simply doing it to make the grades, I am not about to stop being helpful in the Forest (although I'd to just chill out in the Forest now and then ), and I am not going to close my blog down any time soon.

2) The community, still largely caring, is evolving into something in which I don't have the time or the energy to participate as much. The community is much different from what it was when I first came in March 2007, and simply I can't keep up. What I post is also somewhat redundant and unnecessary, and I don't want to waste your time or my own.

"Zilant.... Zilant..." A young doe poked her sleeping mate.

Zilant perked his dark blue ears without opening his eyes. "Yeah?"

"I'm going to Skokey's for a little while, then I'm visiting Aspen. Just wanted you to know."

Zilant smirked faintly. "Okay, thank you. Have fun." He drew in a deep breath and went back to sleep.

Fulu got up and stretched out her black legs. She shook her feathers, and picked her way out of the willow leaves. She soon trotted away towards the Playground. Skokey was still asleep, as usual on a weekend, and Fenqua was awake, feeding the twins. Fulu trotted up quietly, not to wake her brother.

"Hi, Fenqua." She said softly with a smile.

"Good morning, Fulu. What brings you here?" Fenqua responded with another smile.

"Well... I wanted to ask you and... well, you, something."

"Me? What do you need?"

Fulu sat down and flickered her black tipped ears. "Well, umm... I was wondering..." Fenqua waited somewhat impatiently for Fulu to gather her thoughts. "What's it like... being a mother?"

Fenqua smiled. "You've definately grown since I first saw you, Fulu. What's it like being a mother? Well... It's wonderful... To say the very least. It's so hard to describe. You really have to try it to understand."

"Oh..." Fulu looked down at the two fawns, gently nursing from Fenqua's belly. They looked so beautiful, the most beautiful things she's ever seen. "What was it like when you were pregnant?" She paused, "Other than the whole... emotion thing..."

"Well, you know all too well I didn't like the news at first. But I can't believe I felt that way. After realizing it was a blessing, I really enjoyed being pregnant... To an... extent." She chuckled softly. "I loved feeling these little guys kick. I think Fenkovan was the one kicking the most, but I could never be sure."

"And after they were born?"

In this blog, I want everyone to share their favorite moments, things, people, and everything about Tale of Tales and/or The Endless Forest and its community. <3 I think the cold weather/school finals is bringing some people down (read: ME xD), and a good picker-upper is always thinking about stuff you love. <3

What I love the most about the community here is the wonderful talent that I see in every artist, writer, philosopher, roleplayer, etc. The creativity surrounding the game and its players is astounding to me

Now start sharing the love!

<3

First of all, my apologies to all of you readers. I have failed. And I'm not joking about my low self-esteem or writing qualities or anything, but I really messed up this last chapter. It depresses me, really. >< I couldn't find the inspiration I wanted, but I really felt like ending it. I really had enough of it. It's over now.. it's done...

Maybe someday, when I feel like it, I'll rewrite it. I just feel like the last 2 chapters drained all of my writing skills. My next big story isn't going to be english either, I just suck at it!

Oh and there maybe SOME gore and violence, but not much. But be warned anyway!

***
CHAPTER TEN

'Who are the skull soldiers?' Silvery asked curiously. The couple was running through the forest, making their way to Nimlin's sleeping spot. Fenqua realized it was the first time she would be asking the Alpha's mate for help.
'The Skull Soldiers are deer that were chosen to guard the forest against humans. They were trained by Orphrite himself and they are the strongest deer around.'
'But why are they called the Skull Soldiers? It sounds rather horrifying.'
Fenqua smiled at the young adolescent. That was her first thought too, when she met the soldiers for the first time. What as mistake she had made...
'They're called Skull Soldiers because they all wear the Skull mask. That mask is capable of hiding someone's identity partially. Nobody in the forest knows who they are, it's much safer that way. Also, the Skull mask seems to be succesful in scaring humans. It probably reminds them of death.'
'Humans are afraid of death?' Silvery seemed somewhat surprised. She never thought these fearless, cold creatures would be afraid of dying.
'Yes, they are. Probably because they aren't sure where they will end. We know our fate, eventually we'll meet the Twin Gods and stay in their heaven. Humans are still unsure of what will happen to them. They even fight over religion, isn't that ironic?'
'It sure is...'

I'm always wondering why everyone is so sad nowadays.

It's not like.... depression I don't think. Just.... mopy-ness.

And when someone is mopey, it's like you can feel it in the air. Like air you can't breath. Like air that constricts you. You get a feeling of helplessness. Like you can't do anything to stop it. You feel weak and useless. You try everything to cheer that person up---to breathe again---but it seems you're not doing anything to help.

Short and sweet---like an empty SCUBA tank when you're thirty feet under.

Why can't we be happy buddybuddy anymore? Is it because of all the drama in the past? Because all the people leaving?

Just.......... meh. -leaves-

Out of curiosity...what ISP does everyone here have?

As in...does anyone here have Satellite?

I finally got some help. Finally. I did something called a tracert, and found out that basically, my problem -is- caused by WildBlue.net. Or, just the fact that I have satellite internet in general.

This...

...sucks.

Because my dad tells me we cannot get the other types of internet, only Satellite. x_x;...Anyone know why this might be? I'd ask him, but he'd yell at me again :/

I want to know if the fact that I have Satellite, prevents me from ever playing...

I love finding stuff like this.

MUAHAH I now have a secret deer, or two with the same pictogram. 'Course, they're secret, so I won't reveal them just yet, but I'll let them speak so you can have a bit of an idea of what they're like. :3



(GAHHH must tell their names! xD Geez you guys, you persuaded me)

Meet Aurum and Lithos.

BUT THEIR PICTO SHALL NOT BE TOLD!!! >:)

Hosted by: Blackhoof
When: Saturday, Nov. 29, 3pm Eastern US Time (2pm Central, 1pm Mountain, Noon Pacific)
11pm Moscow
10pm Frankfurt
9pm Berlin/Paris
8pm Greenwich Mean Time
6pm Buenos Aires
(11/30)4am in Hong Kong
5am in Tokyo
6am in Sydney
***Still need help? Convert to your timezone here.

Where: the Pond
What: Come as you are. Starting at 3, we'll try to form a traditional conga line around the pond. Then, on Blackhoof's signal, we'll all jump into the pond for nice swim! Deer will emerge "in the alltogether", and naked-deer wackiness will ensue! Possible events may include naked races (a.k.a. competition streaking), totally nude tree-climbing contests, a Revolution of bare-assed fawns AND MORE!

Don't Miss It! Be There!

Much to the anger and frustration of the elder deer with whom I clash, I speak to the younger deer who know not of me.

My name is Anzel, and I am the first of the so-called Ghost Deer. Our human, cursed by circumstances unknown ever after the passing of two seasons, cannot give us passage to the Forest. We walk alone, hoping to catch the scents of other deer, though they never walk to us, and rarely show their true names and forms.

Still, we try and make due with what we have. We have special gifts, despite our many disadvantages. We may haunt, by casting spells given to us by mushroom circles upon the deer we see in our world. And within your true Forest, you may see a deer transform, or devout, or whatever it decides to appear as.

If you see us, do not feel we are ignoring you. For we cannot know that you are there. And we are deeply sorry.

We are being forgotten over time, but we shall never truly give up hope.

*anzel bows her head, and leaves*

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It's been a while since I've posted about this, hasn't it? Maybe a few months.

Just a reminder that, if you ever see my deer (whose pictograms and main sets are shown in my avatar), and I don't respond, that it isn't that I'm ignoring you. I have issues playing the game, and can't play right. Been many months now, but I'm still playing

Just thought I'd mention it so that no fawns hate Zelly x3;;; Zelly luffles fawns.