I have 4 chapters completed.
The deer that will be mentioned for sure, in this story are (in no special order):
~Kaoori~Yorres~Jagare~Fledermaus~Queze~Lemon~Emiva~Wesker~Rune~Virgil~Ephra~Azazel~
(Possibly others)
Enid=Pure Spirit (Gaelic)
(This section of the entry will be deleted, once the story is complete.)
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The ground was pelted with rain. The afternoon sun had long since fallen in its journey above the trees. Puddles dwelled on top of hoof-printed dirt, promising green sprouts for the long week ahead. Stones darkened as they were sprinkled and as the ground began to loose its heat, fog rolled in like a plague. It was August, the twenty third, many-- many moons ago my fawn. And the skies were dark, and only the moon spilled its silvery light over leaves and moss-covered ground. Under the wet soil, not so deep, a deer slept in peace. She had long since been forgotten and had heard every fawn's footsteps that came after her, running happily on the dust-covered surface. Her flesh had long since become part of the earth, and her bones had nearly turned to ash. Yet she waited, patiently.

In the crossroads of time, the great spirits gathered, whispered and mingled in the earth-doe's mind, and soul. Somewhere between life and death, joy and sorrow, Heaven and Earth...
"Enid," the voices whispered over and over, and all at once in circling-- loud and silent voices. Dozens of them. The word was not heard, it was not seen... it was known. "Rise," came the command from the shrill, clear, fluid voices which were not heard, but more-- understood. The earth rose, and the doe was released from her muddy cage. All of the weakness in the world could not describe her, of all that was sorrow, she was it ten-fold. Her frail, soiled, weak and tired body knelt when she was awakened. Her legs folded under her, her head rested on the rain-soaked leaves and mud. "You are weak. You are the very essence of humility, and humbleness Enid. Forget never, this feeling, for it is the only way you will complete the task given to you."

The doe felt her eyelids open, but her vision was black. She called out, but could not speak, and only the voices of the Known Spirits whispered in her mind. "You will only speak the words of purity. Your voice will call the good to your side, and you will teach them the ways of Light." the commanding, but comforting hissing spirits said. "Your vision will be darkened, until one of a good-heart accepts you in his home, and gives you light." The doe began to feel strength in her hooves and she tried to stand. "Not now, soon. You must rest... the spirit of your Past will guide you." The old, broken doe rested upon the earth, her life teetering upon the moment of birth, and eternal-sleep.

Jyuniper

The old doe lifted her head heavily to find the clear sky above her, and the sun warming her fur. She could feel the heat from the sun, but she could not see it. She found herself wondering what had taken place, but not dwelling on it. Who am I...? What am I doing here...? Who am I looking for....? What if they don't take me in....? Her vision was ever still, and dark. She tried to stand.

"Sit still," a gentle voice guided her and she turned her great head to see who could be speaking, wondering if it was the spirits again. Her blind eyes searched, but found nothing-- but a wispy, ghost like figure. It would take several more moments of this floaty substance to take a form she could understand. It was the figure of a human woman. Her spirit was quite pure, and yet, she was human. "Do not fret, I am here to help you." The doe rested her great head on the ground once more and took in a sigh, still yet unable to speak, or rightly hear, or see. What was her purpose...? "You have crossed over from the other side. My name is Jyuniper." This spirit's voice was like the ringing of a distant cathedral bell, gentle, serene, enlightened. The woman stood beside the doe and touched her great, stone-strong antlers which curved upward in a spiralling fashion, years of overgrowth due to old age.

"I am going to help you, but you must make a choice, my child... You will uphold the task given to you, which has also given you life, or you may rest and the burden of life will leave you. I understand it is a heavy burden, and the Gods have allowed this choice. We may find another, should you wish to rest in peace." The woman-spirit, Jyuniper, knelt before the doe's tired, and soiled body. The doe could not speak, but her own voice rang as clear as day in her own mind. What is this task? I cannot uphold what I do not understand, spirit. "You will in time, there will be many to help you during your time here. You will become one with them, and them, with you. This body is your vessel Enid. To bring light."
How can you help me...? The woman placed her hands upon the doe's eyelids, which in-turn recieved a flinch. "Fret not, dear one, I am giving you divine sight." The doe was far too tired to stand and run, and Jyuniper gave her such a feeling of hope, she gladly accepted her help.

"This body served me well, Enid, and it will serve you well... I have come to you as a human, because this is often the place where Life and Death begins. Some, begin as a deer here, without a care in the world, and when they pass on; they become human. The story is different for many, and the plans of the Gods are never clear to us. This body, was once mine. Many will be frightened and glad to see you have returned but assure them, you are not the Jyuniper who has passed on. Explain what you will, but be very careful of what you speak, lest you sound proud. This is the body of humility and humbleness, Enid. It can be broken easily. Softly tread, speak kindly, and give unto others, and no one can hurt you."
The spirit's words were like a lullaby, and suddenly her vision was brightened by vivid and shocking visions of trees, and birds, and deer all around them. Different brightly colored shades, and a bright spirit within them all. These colors were un-natural and did not unveil the sight of earthly bodies, but instead, looked into the very soul of each.

"They cannot see us, Enid. Those who have passed on, humans, can visit here, if they once roamed the land as a deer here in a past life. But the deer are oblivious to their presence. Some deer, play two lifes, one in the world of humans in the day and by night, when they sleep, become a deer here. The case is twisted individually by the will of the Gods.... I spend much time here, and watch. I meditate by the great tree, and listen. My mission as a human has not been revealed to me, and so I dwell here waiting. But I do know how I may help you. And perhaps, this is my mission." The doe was still shocked by this divine vision she was blessed with, and it gave her the strength to stand, as best she could. And then faced Jyuniper.
How, how can you help me? The Jyuniper human-spirit was a bit more in detail now, aside from the white, wispy ghost like figure she had seen before, she could now see a face, long dark hair, a green shawl and a long skirt. The woman smiled, her dark, but warm eyes met the doe's and stroked the fur on her face. "I can be your voice. I have brought many to hope, and live good lives, for no glory of mine own, but for the glory of goodness. This, is what you must do, Enid... you will claim nothing as your own, and you will not become proud with what you have given others." These words were commaning, and stern, but the bell-like voice captivated her, and the doe nodded. "So it will be."

One of a Good-Heart

"You can still hear no voice, other than mine, and we may see the deer around us but no matter how we speak, they will not hear us..." This confused the doe.
"How will I reveal my purpose, or lead any into the light, Jyuniper? If they cannot hear, or see me?" The woman smiled again.
"You may speak to those who have not accepted the light, within their mind, those who are of goodness and light only, may hear your words. Our words. Only one, can see you as you are, right now, and they alone will be able to help you move on to help you with the task given to you. You will have my words when I leave you..."

This forest was stunning in the blind eyes of this unknown doe. Colors danced and shifted and the spirits of each deer dwelled within them loyally, some brighter than others-- others, different colors-- they were all connected. Auras surrounded each deer which were also shocking hues of blues and purples, reds and oranges, greys and yellows. This place had much to teach her, and she must learn the ways of the forest before she could bring light to it. "You are the mistress of light, Enid. I dwell within thee. Your name shall hold my own, Jyuniper. Your name will be Mystress. The same number of letters, and those who know me, will know you." Without warning the dark-haired woman left the side of the doe, and dissappeared into thin air. For a moment the doe felt alone, and then-- someone came.
"Jyuniper...?" A burning spirit came around a tall tree, and then as it came closer, she could see more features. A masked stag with red flowers skillfully twisted around his antlers, His form was strong, and his eyes full of knowledge... he could see her? His pace slowed when he neared, and his expression was still of surprize. A face she had never seen, yet deep within the shelves of her mind, she knew him very well.

She wasn't sure what to say. "All these years. How are you here? I was merely a fawn when you pasted into the next world!"

The doe spoke, her appearance still caked with mud, her eyes still blind but ever-seeing and the antlers atop her head felt heavy. "I am not Jyuniper, who has passed on... I was given instruction as to what to do, but I could do nothing until one who could see me, accepted me." the thoughtful stag furrowed his brow for a few moments, studying a mushroom with a few remaining dew drops left on its roof. The droplets sparkled in the few sunbeams allowed through the leaves overhead.
"I think you should follow me, can you walk?" the stag turned and took a few steps away from Mystress, waiting for her to follow. She took a few weak steps forward, and managed to follow him through the tall pillar-like trees, which were only bright beams of light to her. "My name is Yorres, and since you are not Jyuniper, by which name may I call you?" The doe thought for a moment.

"Enid--... no, please call me Mystress. It was the name given to me by the spirit-woman Jyuniper." Yorres stopped, and turned, his ears pricked forward, ever listening. Perhaps he had heard something in the woods coming their way, but since Mystress could hear nothing but his voice-- not even the wind in the trees, she was useless for this. He hadn't heard something in the woods, but rather, he was trying to dissect what this could mean.
"You have seen the spirit, Jyuniper took after she had passed on?" he asked gently. The doe nodded, tiredly. Her legs were growing weaker by the minute. "Come, we must go to my dwelling, where you can tell me more."

The Den

His gait was brisk, but graceful and the doe found herself curious about this deer. Yorres. She repeated the name several times in her mind. It was if his name was a magnificent and well-known sculpture covered with a veil, or a known place she had been to many times, but had forgotten how to get there. This body, of the doe Jyuniper, must still hold memories of her life, of those she knew. It was surreal, faces Mystress knew, but knew nothing about.

Yorres' den was well hidden from the rest of the forest. In-between the thin line, where the forest ended and began again. Teetering on the edge of time and space, night and day, death and life... It was a quaint little hole in the ground, guarded by a massive stump. "We're here," he spoke softly, turning his face slightly to glance behind him at the feeble doe. Like a giant mouth, the entrance of the den curved downward, covered by leaves and hoof-prints on the hard dirt. "Lux," he said casually, and continued inside. The scent of rosemary, mint, sage and other herbs filled her senses. And as she walked further in, the aroma of beeswax candles met her nose-- which not only smelled wonderful, but illuminated the burrow very well. The candles attached themselves to any flat surface around the den. On flat stone shelves, roots, uprooted stumps... there were shelves, with books, strange objects which were unknown to Mystress.

Above her, the root system of the great tree spiraled and circled in endless knots and twists. To her far right, a large flat stone served as a wall. Out of curiosity, Mystress walked closer to this stone, and as she got closer-- the physical features of the stone, and the markings upon it were hard to see, but she could make out painted and carved symbols, as hoof prints-- faces, and stories written in strange symbols and spiralling patterns which must have meant something to Yorres, but her mind did not allow this memory to be revealed to her.
"Did you know Jyuniper, Yorres?" Mystress asked. "You had said you were only a fawn when she had passed on..." the stag folded his legs under him and sat contemplating for several moments before his careful reply came.

"Perhaps I exaggerated a bit, it was many years ago, and I did not know what I know now... it is true, I was not a fawn. But it was mostly by her teachings I learned the ways of herbalism, and the teachings of books. She taught me how to see those who returned as humans, and the gifts they brought with them from the human world. She taught me how to read and write, and prepare me for the possible struggles of the next life. And then, before she left this life, she taught me how to hear the voices around me, and it was by the voice of the Mother Forest, as well as the Gods, I learned what I do now. I was born and raised in the Forest, by the Forest... and it is by Her blessing I live now." He paused for a moment, a small smile on his face, and then his eyes met Mystress'. He spoke again, "Now-- the instructions which were given to you, and the human woman you saw--"
"Yorres?" a voice echoed from the entrance, and Mystress turned her head to find a bright indigo-colored spirit step into the massive dwelling.
"Yes Kaoori?" he replied, and as the petite deer stepped closer, Mystress began to make out physical features. A blue pelt with gold stripes, the narrow but beautiful face of a doe, and long arched, feminine antlers.
"There's a human here, looking for you." the timid voice came again and a weary glance behind her secured the doe's nervousness. Mystress would learn later on Kaoori was Yorres' apprentice, and he had taught her to see spirits, wisps and ghosts of the past, and present. Although humans were not dead, they were invisible to deer of the forest, except to only a select few.

"Stay here, Kaoori, I'll take care of it." Yorres stood suddenly and walked quickly out of the den, as Kaoori walked further in. "Oh, Kaoori, this is Mystress, Mystress-- Kaoori." Yorres chirped as he dissappeared out of sight. The doe looked curiously at Mystress.

"Hello," the doe smiled, and Mystress managed to stand.
"Greetings," she replied. Soon enough a conversation was started, although Mystress did struggle a good deal throughout trying to explain her half of: "well, where did you come from?". Soon enough, Yorres poked his head in the den.
"Mystress, Jyuniper is here to see you."