They say dreams reveal things about oneself. They say that dreams have a meaning, something deeper than what appears on the surface. Perhaps, though, dreams are just dreams; an escape from reality for some, a return to it for others.

The Priest
The red stag twitches in his sleep, dreaming of darkness clutching and reaching out for him. It gains on him, no matter how fast he can run. Just as it's about to catch him, it disappears. Before him is a scene of pure light and beauty.

A child runs through the courtyard of a large church, happily dancing around, poking at things with a little stick. The midday sun shines down on him, highlighting the lighter colors of his hair. The child is happy for a bit before he has to go back, back to that boring place where he has to learn “proper behavior”. He trips, then gets up and laughs, smiling.

He stops smiling when a taller figure strides past. The taller one looks down on the little boy disapprovingly.

“At it again, Merevin? You're here to learn manners. This is not a playground.” The taller figure glares at him, waiting.

“I'm sorry, Brother Matthias...” The boy says in a tiny voice. Brother Matthias simply turns on his heels, then strides away. The boy imitates his proud stature, complete with hands behind his back. Maybe if he acts just like him, Brother Matthias will forgive him.

Then the boy decides that his game is more important and goes back to playing, happily.

The Priest smiles in his sleep, dreams fading into peace.

The Fawn
A little girl sits in a big, white room. There's a bed, some chairs, some tubes that seem so mysterious. She looks out the open door. Three figures stand there.

One is tall with brown hair shot through with gray. He's wearing a long, white coat and speaking very formally and calmly. At least it seems like it, from what she can hear.

Next to him stands a woman, tall, with long brown hair that cascades in waves to her middle back. She's trying to keep quiet, the little girl can tell, but her voice holds something like fear. It quavers every now and again, reaching a higher pitch.

The man next to her and behind her put his hand on her shoulder during these times. He squeezes it lightly, softly. His hair is brown too. Rather boring, the little girl thinks, to have a bunch of people together and all with brown hair.

His green eyes look at the woman with concern, a softness to them. He listens quietly, pain etched on his face and in his eyes. It's been there for awhile, ever since they found out. His hands slips down, arm encircling the woman's waist.

“There's nothing we can do,” says a cold, business-like voice.

A tear slips down the man's face as he turns away.

Ulh
The stag's dreams are dark and twisted, fading and appearing as visions and nightmares. They disappear just as fast. Something like light shines through them, and they disappear for good.

His dreams turn peaceful. Or somewhat peaceful. He dreams of running, jumping, does admiring him. He dreams of other stags looking at him in admiration.

Then he dreams of something else.

Other deer surround him. Deer that stare at him with slitted yellow eyes, the kind he has. Their fur is long and silky, again like him. This was his home, and they were all looking at him.

For some reason, he's shy of these looks. He can't tell why, but they're frightening. They keep staring at him, staring, staring, staring. He starts to back away, runs. It seems like the eyes are following him. He can't get away from them.

Then he dreams of nothing.

Echo
“Cut it out! Stop!”

A vicious grin appears on the other's face.

“Why should I? You can't stop me anyway.”

“Back off! Stop! Just...go away!”

The stag approaches slowly, grinning almost madly. Too wide, his grin's too wide. That's not right.

“That's not right!”

He advances, grinning madly still, eyes alight with something...strange, very strange. The doe can't place it. She backs up, but he races towards her, antlers low.

“Shut up, Echo, shut up!”, the voice shouts at her, sarcastically.

The last thing she sees is a mouth of jagged teeth and a wide, mad grin.

Echo awakens in a cold sweat, panting. Just a dream, just a dream. She snuggles closer to Siga, then recoils.

Maybe not.

Siga
His dreams are calm, dreams of does enamored by him, following him around, listening to him. Dreams of his antlers becoming proud, handsome things. Dreams of accomplishment.

One doe in particular catches his eye. She steps with grace, happiness.
“Echo?”, he calls. The doe turns towards him.
“Echo,” she answers, unable to say anything else in answer. He smiles at her, though. She couldn't help it, could she?

She smiles back and trots over to his side. He nuzzles the little doe and begins to walk with her. The forest looks different somehow, but he can't place it. He smiles and relaxes in the grass, next to Echo, who quietly sits beside him.

He smiles at her and the dream turns dark.

The doe recoils from him, in shock, in horror. She flees, but he's faster. He catches up to her, stops her. She recoils in fear, still, eyes dark with it.

He smirks.

He awakens and looks at the little doe beside him, kindly. She moved away from him in the night, so he moves closer. It seems like her muscles tense for a second, then relax. He snuggles closer and falls asleep again.

Ceu

“Drink this. It will help.”
The fawn looks up at the doe, who is pushing a small rock with a crevice filled with liquid in it towards her. The does is sweet, kind, sincere. The fawn nods, drinks a little. It tastes sweet, so she drinks the whole thing.

The dream goes black, then resumes a bit later.

A doe runs towards the fawn, different from the first. The fawn runs.
The doe looks confused, scared, sad...

“What have you done...?” She murmurs.

((How do you like the dramatic beginning? x3))