i finally figured out what this story will be about XD

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Vessel arose early. Very early. His appearance hadn't even changed yet. He remembered sitting beside Xylia for hours, and he was a bit confused about where he was. He looked to the horizon, a few strands of pink were just starting to edge the dark sky.

He blinked his hollowed eyes stiffly, still a little tired. He found the pool of blood where his head was, and sighed. Quite a few squirrels and frogs were gathered around his feet, looking up expectantly.

What do you expect to get from me? All I can give you is blood, ignorant little creatures... He started to walk, trying to remember where Xylia lay. He found himself near the Pond. That explains the frogs. He thought. A couple doves took flight from lower branches to follow him. Vessel halfheartedly turned his head to study them. His brow furrowed while his heart sunk a little.

She's still not there... The thought echoed through his mind. He faced the front again to see where he was going. A flash appeared through his mind. He remembered it from the dream he saw earlier. It seemed to be a study of the anatomy of a dove. The memory made a shiver go down Vessel's spine. It was a very foreign image, an ink drawing with many words and arrows pointing to different areas.

The sun was about to peek when he managed to find her. The Peacock doe still slept peacefully, with Lorak still not too far away. He found the spot he took in the Dream Realm, and sat down next to her. She awoke prematurely, and blinked drowsily at the one next to him.

She paused before trying to say anything. She distinguished his pictogram first, "V... Vessel?..." Vessel rubbed his face against hers gently, being careful not to smear blood on her cheek. She lowered her head again and fell back to sleep.

He sighed. Now she knows my true curse... I should not have woken her...

***

It was later in the day, and everyone was wide awake. Vessel strayed along with Xylia for a while, Lorak staying behind to let them speak. It made Vessel feel uneasy, and unsure. He still felt that stab of insignificance around him.

"Vessel.. Saw you this... morning... You looked different..." She looked to him, half expecting a responce. Vessel only nodded sadly. "Why?"

Vessel stopped and scribbled quickly, "It is my curse."

"Curse?... Can you... tell me?"

He scribbled more, "It is a long story. It would take much time to write it before you."

"Well..." Xylia looked around. They were in the Birch Forest, and a very thick birch was close by. "I give you paper... Can use mud... for ink, yes?..."

Vessel nodded again. Xylia went over to the tree and tore off large pieces of bark. She gave the pile to Vessel, who sat down next to a puddle of mud. He had forgotten the rain of the night before, though it was sparse.

Vessel took about and hour to write the whole thing down, but Xylia sat next to him patiently. At one point, Vipin came about and kept them a little more company. Xylia seemed a little irritated at his intrusion, but Vessel completely ignored him. As soon as he was finished, he sighed, and silently offered for one of them to read out loud.

Vipin positioned himself infront of the pieces of bark and cleared his throat a little.

"Long ago, all deer suffered from nightmares and fear of darkness. Creatures used to inhabit the Dream Realm, and planted nightmares into deer. This made their hearts beat faster, and caused the smallest amount of blood to spill. The creatures needed this blood to survive, and so nightmares were frequent.

"The deer often prayed to the Gods for blessed dreams, and they were granted. But the ones who did not pray were targetted often, and thus, made their lives miserable. I have seen these beasts feed off their blood. I have seen the nightmares bestowed upon them.

"'How cruel,' I thought, 'for such creatures and tortures to exist. Something must be done.' My visits to the Dream Realm gave me opportunities to speak with these creatures. I tried to reason with them, but they need the blood of dreamers to live. I was safe, for I cannot dream. Unable to persuade them, I turned to the Twin Gods. As my occasional caretakers, I knew I could speak with them freely.

"I spoke with them, and tried to take care of it. However, the Twin Gods refused to take the creatures away, because fear is a part of life. I do not believe one's life should be filled with that much fear. And so, I thought of a new plan. I proposed a deal. Instead of taking the blood of dreamers and making them suffer, I offered to give them my blood every night. Of course, there were no consequences when a dreamer bled, for there was so little taken, it didn't make much difference. But I offered my blood in place of all others.

"To keep the dreamers at peace and give them the rest they needed, I sacrificed my blood. The Twin Gods smiled upon my offer, and accepted. Now, every night, to satisfy the survival of the Night Creatures, my blood is given to them, so that you and everyone else may have a peaceful rest. I have become the Dream Stag, my pelt representing the night, and my eyes hollow to bleed. Therefore my face becomes pale and numb. It is not painful, though it is a bit daunting. You need not worry anymore. I have told the truth, and so you know my true curse.

"When the sun goes down, my curse is active. When the sun rises, I am given a chance to rest and regain."

Xylia looked at Vessel the entire time Vipin read. She sighed softly at the end, "Vessel... Your heart so... big..."

Vessel's ears pricked suddenly at the comment, almost shocked by what he heard. He shook his head and scribbled in the dirt "I only did what was right."

Vipin grunted, "You offered your own blood so everyone else could rest easy. That seems like a pretty kindhearted thing to do. Of course it's right, when are kind acts ever wrong?"

"I didn't know... I thought you were blessed... Not cursed."

Vessel's mouth hung open a little at their logic. He never considered it to be a kind act, since he never really knew kindness back then. He sighed, and smirked faintly. He looked at the two of them and nodded in agreement. Xylia smiled lightly at the sight of his smirk, knowing that him smiling wasn't often.

***

Vessel had bid Xylia and Vipin farewell a long while ago. He now wandered the forest, thinking about and watching the deer run and play. He was at the Pond and stood under a large willow tree. Vessel just stared at the fish floundering about, when he heard a rustle of leaves.

He jumped slightly, and looked around to see who it was. There was nobody there.

"Hello!"

Vessel raised a brow, Hello? Who in their right-

"Hello?"

...Hello?

"Hello!" Vessel turned his head about some more, swiveling his ears. "Can we pick a different word now?"

He looked up to see a stag right above him in a branch. His legs dangled listlessly and his face lazily leaned against the branch. Vessel turned his body to see the stag in detail. He couldn't believe it, it was the same stag from the night before, the one with the crazy dream.

It's him! He thought, It's really him!

"Who's really him? Me? Am I really him?" The stag replied.

... How can you hear me?

The stag chuckled, "Telepathy, duh. You think your thoughts are just as loud as your voice?"

I would suppose, since I am mute.

He laughed, "Nice one! But no, seriously, telepathy."

How do you have the ability? Vessel craned his neck a little more, backing up slightly.

"Bah, figured it out years ago. Anyone can do it, it just takes some training. Most deer don't really want telepathics running about. Won't think it's safe to think anything." He noticed Vessel straining to keep his head back. "Oh, sorry, I'll come down to your level."

Before Vessel could feel insulted, the stag jumped down to correct him. A wide smile was spread across his blue face, and red ears flicked about, slapping a few flies away. Vessel shifted his gaze back to the stag, studying his appearance.

Definately a blue face, with sunken, dark eyes, as if he never had enough sleep. Slick, black antlers in the shape of fins, along with oddly crimson fur. The smile never left his face, but he did raise a brow. "You done?"

Vessel blinked, Oh.. I apologize. I did not mean to stare.

"Nah, it's nothing. I got deer staring at me all the time. If you don't mind my asking, do they stare at you too?"

Well, they used to... Now that I know a few deer, they don't seem to mind me as much.

"Isn't that sad? Your status in life all depends on how social you are? I, on the other hand, am stared at because of my looks."

I can see why... I wonder, do you go about reading everyone's thoughts, or am I just special?

The stag chuckled, "Well, can't say I don't keep an open mind." He smiled again, showing his teeth.

Vessel just kept his expression the same. Who are you?

"Well, I'm Clockwork! Clock for short, if you don't mind."

And your title?

"The Omniscient One."

Vessel nodded, I see... He bowed his head, Please to meet you. I am Vessel, the Dream Watcher.

Somehow, Clock's face brightened even more when he heard his name, "Ahh, so it's you! I've heard about you before. I find it wonderful to finally meet you!"

You've heard about me?

"Oh yeah. They say you're one of the wisest stags out there. And to watch dreams! Now that must be a gift."

Vessel rolled his blank eyes, I suppose... However, I do not count my wisdom to be much. There are wiser deer than I.

"Yes, but for your age, you have quite a talent. Knowledge and Wisdom, my friend. That is what composes the soul."

You say you are omniscient.

"You don't believe me?" Clock tilted his head.

I do, for I have seen one of your dreams. How do you handle such vast amounts of information without going insane?

Clock laughed for a few moments, "To tell you the truth, I think I have gone insane! Yes, I know all, but it's hard to keep track of it. Sure, I can tell you what day and what time of whatever event on the spot, but you know... I don't think of it constantly. And I find it amazing that you caught a glimpse of one of my dreams. I don't really count them as dreams, more like reviewing information. I don't sleep very well... My dreams become quite hectic."

Vessel once more took notice of Clock's dark eyes. He did look deprived of sleep, but he seemed so content. He was nothing like Vessel. Cheery, outgoing, out of control with information. Vessel was cold, reserved, and kept his mind in check with his wisdom.

"I know what you're thinking. We are opposites, you and I. Well, I'll tell you something, mister, we have quite a bit in common too!"

And what would that be? Vessel asked, almost irrately.

"That's for you to find out later! I gotta go, though, so see ya!" Clock dashed off at an incredible speed. It almost seemed supernatural. He bounded and lept with a cheery, but crazy laugh.

Vessel just stared as the figure quickly disappeared. But... he was so calm a minute ago... He huffed, Unstable brat. He could've at least bowed.

Vessel walked away, thinking about how they would be alike. He hoped, deep down in his heart, that they weren't brothers.

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LOLCLOCK. i love him already. yes, Clock is quite young compared to Vessel. hes still an adolescent.

by the way, the ending wasn't supposed to be serious. Vessel doesn't want a little brother XD

GOSH LONG CHAPTER IS LONG.