The crew marched on for hours. Quad apparently knew where he was going, but the others weren't so sure. Auge spoke up, "Hey Quad, I don't recognize any of this." They stopped, Quad looking around. "Hmm...I could have sworn we came from this direction.", he said.

The area was lit well, beams of sunlight coming down from the canopy above. They could hear a variety of insects chirping and buzzing in the area, as well as a faint sound of rushing water. "It looks so familiar...", Quad said. Dim shook his head, "I don't remember this area." Scorn shrugged, "I'm sure Quad knows where home is."

They treaded on, unaware that Quad was attracted to the area not because it was the way home, but because it was the way he went on the first day he lived. The sound of water slowly grew louder, and the terrain was a little different. They were starting to walk uphill rather than on level ground, and this concerned the others. "Quad I don't think this is the way.", Mazey called out, but Quad didn't hear her. He kept going, following the water and becoming more excited with each step.

They passed a fallen log, and Quad saw tracks and a dent in the wood before they leapt over it. Mazey tried to jump the log and her back legs got caught on it for a moment before she pushed herself over. Quad knew he was close - he had to see it. They saw a clearing ahead, and Quad rushed forward, leaving the others behind. He stopped at the edge of a cliff, looking down at the river below. "This is it!", he exclaimed in excitement. "What is this?", Auge questioned.

When the forest was down yesterday, I decided to roleplay as a real deer.











Does this make my butt look big?


---

Then...today...I woke up...

Anzel: Woah...


Where am I...?


This is curious...


Oh! Look! Sunflutters!


Hehe, they're so cute...


Whee!!!


Woah, it's...it's stunning...truly...


Dippling, dappling, through the blueberries...


The sunset is lovely...


Ooh, look! Birdies! Hehe!


So -this- is rakuen...


Eternity...


Oh look...a random...shadow corner...How peculiar...


Hehe...


My lady tells me that there are other deer near me...and that they are nuzzling me, showing that they are there, that they care for me...


But I never see them...


---

This has been a beautiful night. I have enjoyed the forest being as beautiful as it is. I'm really glad that I was able to see the forest as such, it truly made my week. <3

Hoped you liked my pictures <3

~.:: Company

It’s another great and confusing thing.

I was prodded by my brother this afternoon. He told me the human had know chosen me to go into the Forest. I was elated, fore he said the Forest had been blessed and was now tinged red, and the mysterious Anzel was there as well. I bid farewell to young Xylia and hopped into the Forest, running towards where Anzel’s pictograph shone like a yellow fire.

I was so excited I did not see him.

He was there!

I skidded to a stop, turned, and bolted behind a nearby tree. My heart thumped like a rabbit’s foot, and I could hear that my own breathing was labored and quick. I peeked out from behind the fungi and sighted him, looking at me with the most beautiful grey eyes. I gasped and hid again, only to realize this would probably be one of my only chances to see Anzel.

I managed to muster up enough courage to go nuzzle motionless Anzel, before stepping back again, not quite as far. He did nothing but breathe, soft and gently, as I cowered pathetically before him. I began getting closer and closer, until I could stand next to him without fleeing in terror. The twilight ghost Anzel did nothing but stand until she bolted away towards the Oak.

We followed.

She sat down on the warmed soil as we made our way inside. My pelt brushed his golden one, and I literally jumped over to my spot next to Anzel. He sat down as well, a polite distance away, as I watched in pained lust and admiration. Oh, how much I dearly want him…

Anzel soon entered darkness, and he left.

I was alone again.

Soon, I will confront him.

Soon.

Best regards,

Aspen;;

I want to go nuts with spell casting. any one want to join?

reply here, I'll whatch, and tell you when I get in the forest.

^^;;;

I was just able to load the weather.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL IN THE FOREST!!! ^^; I'm gonna be posing and taking pics, heh, so if you see me...that's why I'm doing.

I think I've loaded every single deer in the forest, full sets.

o_o

By the way...yes, this -is- my first Sunset (or is it sunrise?...it's twilight, anyways, heh). It's...amazing.

Chapter 3 - The First Patrol

Aeros was silent as he led the others to their destination. He walked with purpose, his head high and his ears perked. The deer behind him were nervous. Their ears twitched, and their legs were tense with every step. Quamar was the only one still lighthearted. "It's all a joke," he told them loudly. "That little booger's probably crying with laughter right now at us. And what's worse, we're missing the rest of the party!"

"Shut up, you," Atiq snapped. "You've got no idea if he was telling the truth or not!" Quamar glared at him, but fell silent anyways. Loop rolled her eyes as she passed them. "You two are fighting like a pair of fawns. Cool down." She moved up next to Toukan and Vipin, who were padding along in silence. Toukan jerked his antlers in acknowledgement of her. The doe glanced at Aeros before whispering, "What will we do if Lightfoot was right? If someone's dead?"

Vipin looked at her with a serious expression. "Who knows? We haven't dealt with deaths in the Forest for a hundred years or so. Not even with Walter!" He frowned. "I'm not so sure about this. If this was the Triangle, who's to say it won't..."

"It won't." This came from Toukan. "Lieka won't let it." He sighed. "We'll see."
...
And they saw.

As soon as they topped the last hill, Atiq let out a terrified bellow. For inside the three familiar stones lay Tabithaaa - or what was left of her.

Vipin, Loop, and Aeros all charged down the hill at once, with the others following close behind. Vipin was the first to reach the doe's body. Biting his lip hard, he circled around her. Most of her flesh was torn away, and the entirety of her skull and antlers were nowhere to be seen. Aeros looked long and hard at the body before trotting off. Loop watched him go, doing her best to comfort Atiq and avoid looking at the body. "What's he doing?", she whispered to Toukan.

"Digging a hole for the body."

~

"Hello, my sir Witch," she speaks with a sly tongue, "Shall we drink the amber tears of the purpling maple?"

The soft wind blew, not rustling but her heart. He stood there, silent, breathing, his beating heart proving his life but no more.

Anzel stepped forward and attempted to smile, but it faded. Her eyes looked downward and to the side, the smile having fallen from her face like an autumn leaf.

He stood.

"Hey, how about we...sit? So we might drink from the elfenbankjes?" She readied herself, and fell into a giggle, and sat up.

He did the same...

Anzel paused. "Witcher, are you actually there...?" She looked into his eyes, the sun peaking into the holes of the skull mask...his eyes. They were dead. Lifeless. Blue like those of a shedding serpent. He wasn't there.

She righted herself...and her head fell, his doing the same. She lifted her head slightly, "I am fortunate enough to spy you more often than some others...but alas...I know you aren't there. You cannot hear me..."

"...I hope you understand that I cannot be more than simply a friend with you. There is no connection, in soul and in the vida of my Human. I..I must go now. It breaks my heart to eternally be speaking to ghosts..."

~~~

Three deer; Scape, Witcher, and Twenty-One, saw her. A see-through, setless doe, her eyes broken, and her voice...all that could be known of what she said, was known by reading her lips. Twenty-One was able to tell what she spoke of, being a wise fae, experienced in the ways of the forest. The other two, they struggled, but could only make out parts of her verbiage.

Her head fell limp, and her heart forced the human face she bore to leak dewdrops, that fell elsewhere in the forest. For she wasn't there. They saw her standing where she had fallen asleep...running, leaping in place...a ghost in so many aspects...

~~~

"Why...why must I..be cursed...like this......"

Chapter 2 - In the Eyes of a Fawn

Emiva stopped talking and looked around. "What's that?," she asked. Corsair followed her eyes, and squinted. A dark shape was flying towards the gathering, two candles atop its head. Loop pricked her ears. "I think it's...a fawn?"

Indeed, it was. The little creature's name was Lightfoot, and he was scared out of his wits. Careening to a stop next to Vipin, he let out a stream of terrified noises and garbled speach. Vipin stared at the fawn for a moment. A lightbulb went off in his head, and he nudged the child sharply with an antler. "Slow down! What's going on?"

Lightfoot stared at him in horror. "I-I saw a lady sleeping in the rocks Twenty-one always told us not to go in, and she wasn't there anymore! And when I came back later, she didn't have her head!"

By this time, Aeros had trotted over. He smiled reassuringly at Lightfoot, even though his face was hidden behind his long mask. "Where did you see this...lady without a head?", he asked. The fawn's lip quivered. "At the Playground." Vipin smiled. "Okay, child. You go play with the other fawns here for a while. We'll go look for the lady's head." He grinned and nuzzled the little thing. Lightfoot sniffed, nodded, and ran to join the others. As soon as he was out of earhsot, Vipin's exoression turned grave. "What do you suppose is going on, old one?"

Aeros shrugged. "Who knows. The little one may be playing a game. Then again, maybe not." He glanced around. "You and I will go look in the Triangle. Find atiq, Toukan and Quamar. They'll come with us." The younger stag nodded and padded off. Aeros sighed, then looked around. "Loop!", he called.

The doe was beside him like she had been there the entire time - another little trick of hers. "Yes?"

"I want you to come with us. Lightfoot told Vipin and I that a deer was killed."

"Where?"

He paused. "I think it was in the Triangle."

I've accepted the fact that I can't see the Abio...I'm very used to that XD;

...I'm just gonna be tormented for a week seeing that announcement every time I get on the community site, heh.

Can someone here please, please, please get a video of the Abio for me? :3

Can someone draw me? I lurv fan art. and you will get something in return...but It may take a while ^^;