(Since it does not look good for me being able to be in-forest long enough to do a funeral properly for Bawewin, I will hold an RP right here. Anyone who wants to pay respects may post, but please be respectful enough to use proper spelling, punctuation, capitalization and grammar.)
(Thank you for the image, LanceHill)
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The sound was as deafening as the loudest storm, but as silent as the calm before it. Heavy footfalls seemed muffled, tears sounded much louder as they hit the ground like rain on this frosty December morning. Morning...Mourning. This was the mood that had grayed the brightest of colors along their path, but highlighted these exact hues in the floral shroud the fawn was covered with. Even yet, petals drifted free on the wind behind them, as if the babe was tossing them off herself. A fragrant trail was left behind.
Heart heavy, Iphea carried his daughter atop his tines, his mask serving as a litter. The stag had to keep his head aloft no matter how much he wished it were free to droop, balancing Bawewin's cold body and the mound of flowers that covered it from view. The steep climb he had to reach De Drinkplaatz was grueling, and he almost felt as if his daughter would slip free of her encasement, but she did not. His daughter would not fall, Iphea swore when he raised her on his tines to carry her to her final resting place.
Jars with candles jangled a dirge as he finally crested the hill in the Birch. There, a small candle waited lit for him, as he had prayed would be there. The Gods heard him... though which, he did not know. All he knew was that the time had come. Iphea shook as he lowered his fawn and mask to the ground, causing the flowers to rustle and the babe to shift the barest of distances. He placed a sprig of baby's breath atop the flower-shroud.
Iphea was motionless for a long while, a prayer on his lips ever-flowing parallel to his tears. His daughter would be safe now with the Gods, where she would be able to frolic and play among the flowers of ambrosia, the woods so bright and nobody to hurt her. The stag bowed a thank you, lightly kissed the flowers that covered his child, and backed up to stand next to the candle. His head again was high, but only for his mate's sake. The jars hanging from his antlers swayed and clinked in the breeze, the only sound.
-12-24-11-
ForTwoLifetimes, Moonsoverwater, PandaXiongMao, MissButterflyCaught, FaunGrae, All the same, a friend with many names.
Avatar by Meadow Sig by SightHoundLady
A bump and a track so I can
Roe followed her mate through
She watched as he placed their daughter, their perfect fawn, on the ground at De Drinkplaats. Roe leaned against her mate, taking little comfort in his strength. She set her lighted jar at her feet and approached the huddled shape of their daughter. Roe leaned over and delicately nuzzled the fawn. "My little Bawewin," she whispered, "My little dream. I am sorry." The tears came again. Another quick nuzzle and Roe joined her mate once more, leaning on him again for strength. She felt as though her legs would give out.
The jars clinked in the wind, Roe's tears fell, and little Bawewin was laid to rest.
After a few tense moments,
Iphea and Roe were sillhouettes, shadows of their cheery selves against the fire that finally took away their only child. Her body floated as ash on the wind, tricks of light playing in the fire foresaw her frolicking in fields of a heaven, where she would be an endless fawn. Those same fires were stolen as the stag lowered his jars, swinging each one by mouth to catch a little flame from his daughter's pyre. Bawewin would always be with him, as long as the candles were lit.
For the first time, those jars dangled alight from his tines, lit by a fire created for death.
ForTwoLifetimes, Moonsoverwater, PandaXiongMao, MissButterflyCaught, FaunGrae, All the same, a friend with many names.
Avatar by Meadow Sig by SightHoundLady
A slender bird emerged for
It stared at the funeral pyre and shadows as they danced. The silhouettes of the parents still amongst the flickering flames. The bluejay let out a mournful squawk before bowing to the child and it's mother and father.
Without seeing if the gesture was noticed, the animal took flight. She circled over the family quickly before ascending into the leaves with just a slight rustle.