With quiet, careful steps, Mateo approached the smaller figure. Steady gaze studying the feathered doe as he came to an abrupt stop, hooves digging into the soft ground. He kept a distance from her, not wanting to startle the female and send her off runing in the opposite direction. He had seen the fear in her a few times before and each time created a small weight of guilt sink into his chest. Still, even with this slight gap between them, his voice would be heard.

"Herla." he spoke finally, tone firm yet lacking the usual harshness she had more than likely heard in the past events with Sorog. "I come here with no foul intentions, so please, hear me out." he added. The brown stag shook his antlers briefly as he tried to gather up the right words, "I...it's about Ciel. About the other night." he started, hooves scratching at the earth's surface. "I understand our differences and your view on me but please, let me assure you that Ciel is completely safe when in my company." he told her, his voice softening. "I'm not sure if this makes any difference but I have raised a fawn myself. My son, Xetkal. He may be a bit odd but he turned out alright. What I'm saying is that I would never bring harm to a child and I sincerely hope you will believe me." he cleared his throat a bit and took a small, cautious step toward her. "We don't need to call a truce but for the sake of Ciel... I don't want him to have to choose who to be around or to feel guilty when he's with one of us. At least, consider this, for Ciel."

Mateo continued to stand still, his eyes never leaving Herla as he waited for her response. He doubted the two would see eye to eye on this subject but he was hopeful.

Mateo's ears had as well fallen back as the doe spoke, stirring up recent memories and again that twinge of guilt striking him. Yes, perhaps, in the flurry of his rage he had tried to drive Herla away from him and Ciel. But the anger, the violence had not been directly aimed toward her - sure he may have used her to provoke Sorog and it wasn't something he should have done. But that was why he was here, to rectify the situation between the two.

"And for that, I am truly sorry. I have never meant to intentionally tear the two of you apart. I have nothing against you as an individual Herla, but when your companion comes along I cannot help my temper." he explained. A remorseful breath left him then and he allowed his head to lower. "Then, I will not interfere just as long as you don't force Ciel to choose which side. Let him be free to be with who he wants, aslong as they are safe company. I don't want to fight you either, Herla. We can come to an agreement." A frown then wormed its way onto his snout as he continued to look at her, ears still drooped beneath his antlers. "I don't want to take him away from you. Please, if you would give me a chance?"

"Oh, you found him then? That explains that.." An embarassed smile came upon his face. The doe seemed worried, though, so he listened to her story. "Now now.." He gave her a slight nudge as she curled herself up. She seemed sad. "No kid is ever easy to raise. They all have their quirks. Even if they're nice and cute fawns, they'll become a hassle as a teenager. And an overly troublesome fawn may become a wiser deer later. Sometimes you have to let them headbutt into trouble to let them learn it themselves.. I dont' think you would do a bad job." He tilted his head slightly, his antlers putting an accent to every small movement.

He couldn't help but laugh slightly at her comment of him being noble. "Noble, me? If anything, I am an impatient, rude and grumpy stag. That is what I am. Not noble. But thank you anyway, dear Herla." The smile on his face was honest, though. He was flattered. "I will be alright. Letting someone die whilst I could've done something about it would've hurt far more."

The Swan encountered your pretty doe today in-game.
It is nice to meet Herla. (:

Tracking.

Laiia: And it was nice to meet Theo! Herla mistook him for somebody else initially, so sorry for the over friendly nuzzles. >.> But I guess that’s not TOO out of character for her. LOL. But yeah. We were a little embarrassed when we realized our mistake. ^^

(Hey, Lady! I hope you don't mind if I post something here really quick, just to explain Sor's weird behavior. Plus I haven't RPd him and a while, which must be changed! *squeezes the grumpybutt* c: )

Fruitless. That's all it was, fruitless. As he gazed upon the doe as she lounged beside the hulking beast called Gehirn, a million realizations raced through his mind. There was a difference between him, Gehirn and Darcy: he was a monster. He was not noble like them, not capable of forgiveness. The darkness and pain inside of him grew stronger with every passing day...but oh, he had sacrificed much for her. Sorog had not fought anyone in weeks. Even when Herla was not around, he would avoid fighting and even ignore taunting stags. And yet, it was not enough.

He believed he made her proud, yes...but the nuzzles were empty. The smiles, empty. They were not the same ones she shared with Darcy, who Sorog was now accepting as being a friend. Normally he would tear Darcy to pieces for getting in the way of his interests...so what was stopping him? What was wrong with him? Sorog was not himself, and he was not sure how to feel about it. She deserves him more than she deserves me... Sorog shook his head with a grunt; he didn't believe that he truly meant that, but he felt defeated. It was a fruitless battle, one that he had been fighting for so long and yet Herla never seemed to want to move beyond friendship. It was ripping Sorog apart, and it took all of what was left of his willpower from mauling the next stag that happened to cross his path. Beneath the sorrow, rage brewed...subtle, but soon to become uncontrollable. Perhaps this was all he was ever meant to do: to cause dismay and pain, and never feel love again. This truly is Hell. I put myself here...

Herla was standing, and when she turned Sorog took a step back. His heart pounded as their eyes locked. A smile was upon her lips, but he didn't have the power to return it. Any other day that beautiful smile would give him so much joy, but now...it almost meant nothing. A moment passed, and her smile melted as confusion took over. She stepped forward, and Sorog did not. He hanged his head slightly, his eyes avoiding hers. She was so close, now...her scent filled his olfactories and tickled his spine. Herla leaned forward to sniff...and Sorog pressed his cheek against hers. He nuzzled her gently, his eyes squeezing shut as dizziness began to hit him.

He wanted nothing more than to smother her in affection and curl up with her as they would, Gehirn be damned. But now...he couldn't. He felt he'd be ill, and his legs wavered slightly. She was returning the nuzzle, and Sorog made a small, shuddering noise. He wanted to believe that that nuzzle meant everything in the world, but he couldn't. She pitied him...nothing more, nothing less. That was all their closeness ever meant. Pity.

Sorog suddenly drew back, breaking the contact and gazing down at the small doe with tired, cloudy eyes. His face looked more weathered than usual, his lips tight and his muscles tense. He wanted to say so much right then, to confess everything to her...and then fear set in. If he were to admit his feelings, she would reject him. Of course she would; why wouldn't she? And that rejection...to hear it would end him. I can't... And then, he was running, galloping blindly toward the playground. The tears escaped from the corners of his eyes as he flew, before finally collapsing atop of his rock. His vision blurred, he mustered all of his strength and released a mighty bellow almost akin to the cry of a deity.

The bellow sacrificed all of his breath, and he blacked out, shivering. Herla...what must I do...

(Have an angsty novel! XD)

Welp, it's official: Sor has snapped! DX He's going back to his old ways since he believes that the sacrifices he made for Herla are pointless. The fights were rather fun though, haha! >D He's lucky that Gehirn didn't annihilate him! o_o

Edit: I just read Herla's journal...poor thing! Ugh, she's going through a lot, it seems. =/

Hi there! I add you in devianart.com. My user is WolfWhisperer4Life!! Hope u add me, haha. Hey, what you did to your page that looks awsome?!! Teach me please. :3

Calinka: Thanks so much! Your mini is very cute! Thanks for the track, ^^

Uruushou: Yup, Herla is pretty much terrified of Sorog now. Thinks he is an insane killing machine. Much dramaz today!

Misako:
Herla’s heart still pounded in her chest and the breathes weren’t coming any easier despite resting now in the birch for some time. She hurt all over. Ciel, who had reverted to his infant form lay nestled on one side of her. Safe for now. She looked at him with worry in her eyes. He had done well. Trying to keep up with her and obeying her commands. But still she hadn’t been able to protect them. Her other side rested against the large Irish, and she leaned propped against him to help ease her breathing, his presence a comfort to her and calming her rampant anxieties and terror at the confrontation with Sorog.

When the large Irish leaned over to touch her behind her ear, the pain in his voice made her heart break. She looked up at him, dried blood on his face, open wounds unattended, another wave of guilt wracked through her. It was her fault he was injured. Tears welled up and she nuzzled into the thick fur of his neck. “Don’t say that…” she whispered.

KybaWhiteWolf: Thanks for the add on DA, I’m horrible at keeping up with that place though! >.<

Hahaha, you can call me Andy, and how did you made your page look so awsome? the one with blue flowers and those thingys. :3

"You have no idea what you're doing. - You have experienced so little in life and yet here you are creating pain and heartache while you wallow over here in self pity. Who is more pained you little shit?". She accuses, speaks loudly and spits with a fiery rage. "I found a stag beaten and bloody tonight. He did not bother to tell or specify who he was speaking of, but not like it isn't obvious. I seen you two together so much, watch you gallivant around, fucking whore", she snorts and paces, powerful legs strutting, sharp hooves unmercifully digging into the ground with each step. "I can suffer alone, I have, but I'm not willing to sit back and watch someone else go through what I have. I refuse to do that. I am the difference, I am set apart from the rest of you forest fucks. You see a deer, OR KNOW that a deer is physically and emotionally pained... what do you do? Continue to frolic and go about your day".

"You make it right, or there will be hell to pay. I'll make sure of it, I'll deal it".

Sianna would take her leave.

In a quiet fluttering of black feathers, the small bird landed softly in the dirt in front of the little stag and his resting mother. After a short departure, Migisi faithfully returned to the side of the injured doe, her round gray eyes forever wide and curious as she gazed over her. She had not come empty-beaked this time around. A small bushel of berries dangled from the Jackdaw's mouth. Gingerly strutting forward, the bird dropped them before the deer before she fluttered anxiously to the side, her black talons coming to rest on one of the doe's extended limbs. The bird twitched her head to the side and let out a high-pitched crow, shaking her tail feathers and shuffling her wings expectantly.

Shiori: ((Yay Mig! She is too adorable!))

Herla looked down with kind eyes at the little feathered creature who had been a near constant companion the last few days. She had taken simple comfort from the little beautiful creature’s charming attentions. Herla had taken a protective interest in the little bird when she’s seen her attacked by deer. Everyone was so afraid of the vultures in the forest now and even small harmless birds like this where now reviled and treated poorly. It had stirred her objections when she’d seen it happen.

A smile graced the doe’s weary lips at the black bird’s offering and she bent her head down to accept it. The ripe blue berries tasting wonderful on her parched tongue. “You are darling,” she said and reached forward to gently touch her nose to the little bird’s soft feathers.

((Edit: Graveyard you ninja'd me! XD))

Edit 2! LOL. Graveyard:
Laying in a vulnerable state in the birch forest with her son at her side, the small black doe watched the approach of the large skull faced stag, his shaggy coat trailing around him. She was glad to have his company but his arrival stirred some commotion. Herla was in no position to be policing the stags that had come to visit her but to avoid any possible altercations she had risen to her unsteady feet and stood over her beloved black bird. Her intentions clear to the large blue monster. She then greeted Jin, the striped stag who had approached as well and tried to put everybody at ease with one another. Feeling that had been settled she succumbed to her fatigue and curled up upon the forest floor and rested her heavy eyes. Even that small effort had aggravated the pain in her chest and made her breath come in painful hitches.

She bobbed her head as the doe accepted her gift and nibbled at the berries, then fluffed her feathers in satisfaction of the praise and gentle touch. Hopping down from her leg, the Jackdaw risked possibly getting crushed by snuggling in just behind the doe's elbow. Reaching up, the bird gently took one of the long, green feathers that flowed down the deer's neck in her beak and began preening them one by one.

…

Migisi wasn't sure about this giant that had lumbered over to stand protectively over her doe. He was a clumsy fool...and not at all appealing to the eye! That fur! Nothing could possibly be done with it! Yet the little black-and-silver bird grudgingly accepted his overbearing presence, for it seemed to calm Herla. She had breathed a sigh of relief when the behemoth finally stood and wandered away from the, snuggling into the doe's black fur and letting her eyes close to the sound of the deer's ragged breath.

She started awake with a squawk of surprise at Nightmare's noisy return. The stag came bearing gifts this time, it seemed...hmph! Trying to show her up, no doubt! The little bird hopped to her feet and puffed her feathers in indignation...but she could not be too angry with him. Herla needed what she was not well enough to forage for herself. The corvid eyed the stag skeptically as he moved to settle once again beside her doe...then timidly she hopped forward to the platter of goodies and plucked a berry for herself. Turning, she leapt and fluttered skyward to land boldly on the monster's jagged horns, gobbling down her goodie.

OMG, Kaoori, look at the cute! Thaaaaank you! So much. She looks completely adorable. *huggles her and you.* ^^

Herla was better today. Having more lucid times than not and was able to move about a little, though at a slow pace, with many stops to rest. Breathing was still a precarious thing and quick movements would have her passing out. She would hide in high grass or in the nook of a tree, trying to stay out of sight so she could rest if she was alone.

She’d made her way down to the pond for a drink that evening, the journey exhausting her though, so she’d laid near by the shore, shrouded by the reeds. The pond was not a place she wanted to stay at for long, to exposed and creatures like Neath preyed near by. She’d had enough of that scaly creature the last few days.

But she was too weak to move just yet, and she laid her head down waiting for the black haze that enveloped her vision whenever she exerted herself, to fade. She’d heard the approach of something large and started awake. Upon seeing the large blue creature, she slumped back down and gave a soft sigh of relief. He was a welcome sight and she was glad to have him settle next to her, her eyes starting to fall shut once again.

At the beast’s strained voice though, her eyes fluttered back open and she peered at him laying beside her. It was then that she saw his wounded state and she gave a pained gasp. “Not you too…” she said, tears welling up. What could have possibly injured him so? “Everyone I care about…so much pain.”

Gah...poor, silly Sorog. He's just absolutely heartbroken to see Herla so terror-stricken because of him. After tonight, though, he decided that he will give Herla time to heal. He'll try not to approach again, but he does hope that when she's ready she will go see him.

Uruushou: Poor Sorog, he really did look so pathetic. And we’d never seen him without his mask. But Herla is indeed too traumatized at this time to accept him near her. And if Sianna’s there, her terror is even greater. She’s going to need some time to heal up, she feels far too vulnerable not being able to run away as it’s her only defense. Until she’s healed she will avoid Sorog.

wocio: Thanks for the track. ^^