February 13, 2010 - 12:28am — themaskerade
This story takes place in the forest with both characters as deer. Once again, Jene-paul is deaf so he will have no spoken dialog. Instead he will communicate only in gestures and think what he is trying to say.
Also: If you read it I would like a comment.
Even if it is something silly like 'nice story'.
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Jene-paul raised his head and peered out from the center of the Old Oak. It had been a lonely night despite the fact that the forest was so full of love. That human celebration of devotion that he was so familiar with was a new concept to the deer of the forest and they flocked to express their feelings to one another. He could not understand the words they spoke but recognized the body language. The sheepish smiles, the shy glances, the shuffling hooves and childish laughter.
Love. Affection. Companionship.
He growled softly and glared out towards where the one known as Jazz was decorating the site of tomorrow's dance.
How bothersome.
All the ugly bad dressers of the forest in one place.
He couldn't pick them off one by one during the dance. The others would just charge and injure him for trying to get at their 'date'.
It was frustrating! He rose to his feet and roared loudly in frustration as he ran out from his resting place and screamed into the wind.
He had no concept of volume, of loudness, or of an 'inside voice'. Jene-paul let loose his emotions. He stood at the apex of the bridge, delicate hooves dancing on the edge as the foundation struggled to hold his weight. He screamed and howled letting the whole forest know of his displeasure. They would never know why..no...he did not speak like the others. He could not. They looked on him with pity and he glared back at them stubbornly.
He could not speak for them, and they would not gesture for him. So he raged.
Maybe some day there would be another with whom he could speak. Another who used their eyes and their mind instead of relying pathetically on those cords in throat. He wailed into the rising morning and raced through the forest.
He would show them.
He would make them understand him.
He would be equal..no better than those talkers!
Jene-paul laid at the top of the red hill and stewed in his misery. They would all be at their dance, enjoying their music, and he would have no part.
Music? What was this to Deaf ears?
The vibrations of their in sync dancing would just disturb his sleep all night.
And if he went, what would he do?
Stand there?
Look dumb?
He had no concept of rhythm.
Dance? He floundered desperately trying to match their tempo.
It could no be.
He laid his feathered skull down on the ground and just let out a mournful sound.
He felt the hooves on his back and stayed still as the smaller deer climbed higher. He did not even have to look. Only one deer in the forest would dare do such a thing. He kept his ivory snout planted on the ground and only moved it to tip his smaller companion off onto the ground. He was not feeling up to having Varius butt on his head today. He eyed the smaller deer with some contempt and cocked his head to the side.
The smaller deer laughed and dumped a mouthful of berries, twigs, and flowers in front of him. There was only a brief pause before it started to rapidly move it's mouth. "Mr. Jenny Mr. Jenny wanna go to the dance with me? It'll be fun we can dance and um..dance and listen to music and play in flowers and play games and..."
Jene-paul stared blankly and sighed shaking his head no a few times. He could not understand. The child was still so ignorant and it continued to flap it's gums at him. He stood up and roared loudly causing the nearby birds to scatter as he stomped his hooves and shook his head. I can't hear! I can't understand! Why won't you listen? Why are you so difficult! There was so much he wanted to tell, but he could not.
The smaller deer flinched and ceased it's speaking.
They locked eyes and just stared silently for a few minutes.
Varius stepped forward and pawed the ground at him and danced a few steps with a questioning look.
Jene-paul shook his head no and nuzzled the smaller deer.
No. I can't go. It's too strange, too foreign.
This was a dance for hearing deer, and he was not one of them.
Varius did not fully understand what was wrong with Jene-paul, but he could read his companion's body language. He was upset. He was angry and hurt. He frowned. Wouldn't going to the dance make him feel better? He watched the monstrous flamboyant stag disappear over the ridge and scratched his striped pelt with his beaky mask. Wouldn't hearing the musi-
He jumped with a start and slowly frowned.
Oh.
right...
He gathered the flowers again and followed after Jene-paul.
Aww. I feel so bad for
I really enjoyed reading this. You're really good with description.
"We...welll we..we can have
<3 Love it. I wish I could get in the forest T-T But cleaning the house is more important cause my brother's coming home for reading week -sigh-
I see why that dance Atvana
To hear what is never said.