After tomorrow, I will be at my grandmother's until Monday, so no Walter in the Forest. But that's not the reason for this post.

Did I ever tell you guys?

How much I love you all?

Seriously. Whether it be drama or just general sillyness, I have enjoyed every moment spent within this community, good times and bad. I'm not saying this because I'm leaving or anything, I just felt that all you awesome people out there needed to hear it.

I love how Walter's communication with Ephra has flourished, along with their friendship, for so long. I love how they still dance together too! Even with the mini drama that passed, I'm glad we're passed it now and that we can continue to play together regardless.
I love how people are even willing to consider gifting Walter with fanart.
I love how all the new players are meeting Walter and getting to know who he is. I'd rather he not fade in time, but be remembered, even if only a little.
I love how people don't take Walter seriously. I hold no grudges against any players here, no matter how annoying you've been before.

Although I miss some of the players who have gone, I know that there are more friends out there to make, and you never know, the old ones may return!

I don't ever plan on leaving TEF. Maybe hiatus. But never leave. Unless they made the game P2P and then I'd have to convince someone else to pay for me. *cackle*

AND! The reason I won't individually list you all out and why I love you is because.. I'm lazy.

And because you're all as equally as awesome and I can't stress this enough. You are all beautiful people with skills which far outdo my own and I am truly honoured to be a part of such a mature, wonderful community.

<3

Sorry for this taking so long to bring out. It might not be totally fabulous, but I hope you'll all enjoy it. ^_^

And I think this particular chapter might be longer than I thought it would be. Sorry if it's a strain on reading!

ALSO. I added in a few surprise characters. I didn't originally intend to, but with a few storyline changes I made, I thought it would be nice.

Final note! Walter has.. "kindly" added his opinion at the end of the story. Isn't that sweet of him?

---------------

Once again, another lame chapter from me, although I've tried to put a lot more effort into this one. I'm sorry it's taken so long to put Anzel and Emiva into it. ^_^

Bumping for people who haven't read it yet. Btw. All of these chapters can be found on DeviantArt.

EDIT:: Fixing some typos.
-------------------------------------

The baking hot soil, dusty underneath Lieka's hooves, crumbled as she climbed the hill. It was the day after she had returned to the Deermuda, and since her return there had been no sight, sound, or scent of anything unusual. The Birch forest around her was peaceful, echoing with the merry trills of the small birds which nested higher up within the trees. The long, golden stalks of grass tickled the doe's sides as she walked, returning from her patrol to the formation of rocks where she slept.

The 'Playground', as named was a collection of giant rocks where fawns tested their ability to climb. To some it seemed more like a platform or stage where they could display, or call out to others around. It was one of the higher vantage points within the Birch forest but since there had been no danger, it was never used as such. Lieka had often used the rocks for sunning to listening to the chorus of the birds, taking delight in the refreshing air that was provided.

( Yes, after a long wait it's finally here. I don't think it will be too long because I haven't wrote anything long in a while aand it's probably full of fail because I feel ill today. )

I'm adding in a bump because at the rate these threads go at, the chapter will end up on the next page. =x

Edit Changing '21' to 'Twenty-One'

-------------------------------------------------------------------

"Whadda'ya see, mate?"

"Nothin'. Why?"

A sudden thump of the wood beneath Tuna caused her to tumble from the branch she had perched herself on. Landing on her back and slowly opening her eyes, she gave a lopsided grin to the other doe hovering over her, expression quite glum. "Yer lazy, do ya' know that?" Her retorted. "Yer meant to keep an eye out for treasure but ye' slack on the job!" Tuna rolled over and back onto her hooves, shaking the long elegant peacock feathers around her neck back into place.
"So? I was only sleeping."

"Only!"


Elsewhere, Vipin stood as per usual beneath the grand Oak. His face was grave with impatient worry- Quamar had not seen Twenty-One on the night he last spoke to her, meaning that there was a chance the killer had struck again. Luckily, by chance, as Tabitha had pranced by with Darcy a few hours ago, he was swiftly informed that all was well and Twenty-One would be arriving later. "Thank the Gods." He had muttered under his breath, whilst watching Tabitha return to her dancing frolic with her newfound stag friend. His wait lasted long enough for the shadow of the trees to twist from the west to the south, when finally his eyes set upon two deer approaching from the clearing about the pond. Quad was leading the pair, his head held high and proudly with the gleaming monochromatic pelt and crimson antlers. Following him was indeed Twenty-One, looking much to the relief of Vipin, calm and safe.

OOC: I had real trouble thinking up placements for certain characters, but I've done my best. x_x I hope it doesn't come out too short or too lame. And I'm still looking for characters in the upcoming end to the story. But for now we're just past the half-way mark of the series, I would say.

Oh, and Tabitha in this chapter is written before she had a crush on Quamar.. methinks.

BUMPING. For people who haven't read it yet.

-----------

"Hey.. Hey! Wake up already!"

A short pain rudely dragged Twenty-One from her sleep. Unwilling to rouse from the pleasant peace she had been lingering in, the doe merely grumbled and shifted her head slightly. ".. Five more minutes, Walter.."

"Walterrr?"



The voice that questioned Twenty-One's words were hardly masculine in tone, causing the sleepy female to peel open one eye. Standing over her with a raised hoof was another doe, looking seemingly surprised and bemused beneath her deer mask and stubby antlers. "You've been dreaming again!" Tabitha's sing-song voice rang out as she skipped upon the spot, her mahogany and amber fur bouncing with her excited movements. "Get up already! Quamar told me that Vipin had told him that you had told him you were telling Quamar you were staying with him!" She giggled at Twenty-One's blank look. "But you didn't show up! I found you though, I did! So get up already!"

With a yawn, the chocolate-brown doe stood up and glanced around. It was late morning, but curiously enough she was laying on the bank of the pond. She'd fallen asleep here, yes.. But yesterday.. Wasn't that just a dream?

"Come on! Come on!" Tabi hopped in a circle around Twenty-One. "Wipe away that silly look! I was told that Vipin-Whippin' wanted to see you!" Her prancing carried her off down the hill along the water's edge, down towards the shallows.

OOC: This chapter is the one I've been thinking about writing the most, and I know that regardless I'm not gonna do it any justice. x_x But here I go, and hopefully you'll enjoy it, although it doesn't contain a lot of action.

BUMPING! For the people who haven't read it yet. >.>

Another quick edit.
This was released early to celebrate Walterwoman's wedding. xD The next chapter won't be out for a while, so let your minds wander on how the plot might develop. XP

Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------

"W-why.." The brown doe couldn't understand. Walter! The stag that had died, the stag's body whom she had seen with her own eyes, was standing right there! How was he alive? "Walter! I.. I thought.. I thought you were dead!" There was no reply from the now-motionless stag as he lurked over her fallen body. Nervously, at the lack of response, Twenty-One crawled backwards a little further, only triggering the stag's steps forwards. ".. Did you kill Cutlery and that fawn?" No answer. "Your own brother!" Confidence grew in the female's voice as she began to shout at Walter. "Why would you kill your own brother!?" This time, there was a reply. The stag raised a hoof and brought it slamming into the dry soil, cracking the surface without a flinch. His head rose and released a fierce bellow of fury into the night air, and from a glimpse Twenty-One could see his body was contorted and twisted like a mangy animal. Such anger, the doe had not even seen from Walter before, and as he began to approach again, her fear drove her further backwards as she tried to regain her footing.

Such fury indeed, as Walter's lip curled back in a feral snarl. There was no sanity left in the stag's mind, it seemed. The mention of his brother, the name "Cutlery".. It rang in the beast's mind as without warning he reared high onto his powerful haunches. There was no doubt in his motive as he aimed to land dead on top of Twenty-One's head.

OOC: off school today with a throat infection of sorts so I figure I'd let my creativity go in writing the next chapter. I probably could have done it better if I wasn't feeling crap, but meh.

Just bumping this for the people who haven't read it yet.

Enjoy!

------

When Vipin was informed of the three does findings the next day, he was both relieved and worried. For one, they were safe, but still, another fawn had it's life taken away. It couldn't happen again, so he strictly forbid any deer to be alone during the long nights, especially the young and vunerable.
"Lieka, I want you to stay around the Triangle." He had told her, hoping that some sort of magical solution would reveal itself there to the Queen. As for Twenty-One, he decided, she would take a break and let someone else take over for a while.

And so it was decided, as Ada and Lieka bid farewell and trotted off together towards the birch forest, Twenty-One was left to stand under the Oak with the magpie stag. In the few hours left of the daytime, they planned a burial for the fawn who lost it's life. An orphan, it had seemed to be, since no mother had come forwards to claim her lost child.

When it finally began to grow darker, and the orange glow of sunset hit the Forest, Vipin nodded to Twenty-One. "It grows dark now. You should go and try to rest a little. Make sure you're not alone either!" Alone. The word dawned heavily upon the chocolate-brown doe. She had nearly always slept alone beneath her favourite spot amongst the poppies, being neighbour to a now-deceased Walter. The next closest stag was Quamar though, and the female was positive that he wouldn't mind putting her up for the night. So with her mind set, the doe bowed gracefully to Vipin and set out into the dusk, heading around in the direction of the Ename and towards Quamar's sleeping location.

As she trotted, Twenty-One's mind wandered to a place she had discovered not too long ago in the Birch forest.

Another crappy chapter from me. Hopefully it provides more entertainment than the last one though, so enjoy. The links to the other chapters will be found on my 'Story Links' blog entry, along with any time I want to call up people for more characters.

Enjoy!

------

Once again another night, as still as the one of the murder, had finally dawned upon the mysterious Forest. Small black bats fluttered in swarms from tree to tree, seeking sanctuary from the sudden sound of cloven hooves which filled the air. Together, Lieka and Twenty-One were slowly trotting side-by-side, ears standing high and eyes sharp. If this monster was out tonight, they would need to be ready to spring in a split second. Still, hanging around behind them and taking advantage of the tree cover, Ada quietly followed the pair as they searched. Dressed in her usual deer mask and stumpy doe antlers, her burgendy pelt provided suitable camoflague too, despite the odd markings which resembled a butterfly so closely.

The young doe watched closely and listened intently to the conversation.
"Where should we start looking?"
"Let's plan a route and go from there."
As quiet as her small feet could make her, Ada remained constantly alert as the pair discussed out a path where they could search. For what, the young doe didn't understand, but nevertheless she was more than willing to follow the pair rather than hanging around on her own in the darkness. Her fear of the shadows between the trees was too much for her to bear by herself, especially when the sound of the word "murderer" came drifting to her ears from Lieka's lips.

"If the murderer is a deer.." The Queen spoke, turning her grey eyes onto Twenty-One, ".. What can we do to stop them in future? Would he be prosecuted and put to death as punishment?" Her voice carried worry; nothing like this had ever been dealt with in the Forest before, and with any hope it wouldn't happen ever again after the suspect was caught.

OOC: I think this chapter is shorter.. And it doesn't feel very good either. I ended up writing a load of jibberish in some parts so it's not very exciting again. But things will get much more interesting in the next chapter, I promise. xP


-----

It had barely been seven days and nights after the meeting when rain came to the Forest. The downfall was tremendous, making the ground underfoot muddy and unstable for some to stand or walk upon. Whilst the adults had trouble picking their way across the few clearings, fawns found delight in skidding through the dirt and coating each other in it, only to wash it away in the now-cleaned pond.

Cutlery had been buried, as Vipin had suggested, and the location of where a secret. Hardly any deer, save from the ones who attended the gathering, knew of the murder. Vipin was pleased with this; further panic of killing was not needed in times like this. The same thoughts were passing through his mind as he stood within the hollow sanctuary of the Old Oak, gazing out at the pouring rain. He was waiting. What he was waiting for, became apparent with the two figures running towards him in the distance. Lieka and Twenty-One had been summoned here to discuss matters, and both of them were more than willing with their drenched, murky pelts and muddy legs to get out of the terrible weather.

Prologue: http://endlessforest.org/community/rubies-pond-short-prologue
Chapter One: http://endlessforest.org/community/rubies-pond-chapter-one-discovery

Another lame chapter from me. xD It feels shorter, but that might be because a lot of the paragraphs are longer? And since Jen's deer doesn't have a name, I had to c/p the pictogram name over and over.

And I accidently named this chapter three. >_> Oops.

---

"Cutlery is dead."

The smooth, hollow voice of rang clear in Lieka's ears. ".. Dead? But how?" The Queen was not too familiar with the stag known as Cutlery, for he had always been quiet and reserved whilst his older brother still lived. But with Walter dead, it made no sense that his brother would end up the same. Had it also been suicide? Or had The Demon Gazelle been the first in a targetted chain of murders? Maybe it was all coincidence and Lieka was simply letting her mind overreact again? Then again, after seeing a pond contaminated with the blood of your fellow deer, drastic thoughts could only be natural.

remained silent and shook his head, dismissing the questions. Instead, he simply pawed the earth twice, motioned his head in a gesture to follow, and turned towards the Ename ruins in the distance. Lieka didn't hesitate for a moment as her long legs carried her in a single leap over the small stream and past the weeping stone. She was quick to take up a trot following , but the usual lack of enthusiasm in his step, the warm friendly aura he usually gave, was all but amiss. It worried the Queen so; she hadn't been the only one concerned about the strange events after all.

Time seemed to grow slow as the stone ruins slowly appeared through the morning haze.