A stag with a bright orange pelt wanders through the shady groves and trees of the First Forest. His face is kind, eyes bright through the eyeholes of his mask, and the poppies upon his tines are full of vigor.
He walks, and his steps carry a hint of heaviness. He walks toward the enormous, ancient tree that watches over all her sons and daughters, the Old Mother Oak. She is old, but she is proud. She hums a song of peace and life to all who live, and even to the dead.
Olive stops before the Old Mother. He bows deeply, and feels the sense of awe that he does every time before this ancient being.
"Old Mother," he whispers. "Old Mother, I have talked to the Weeper, and now I talk to you. Hear me, Old Mother..." He sighs, and pauses for a moment.
"You may know of a doe named... Nina..." he says, feeling a rush from the name.

"I... I love her."

He lays against one of the Old Mother's mighty roots, and the gentle vibrations calm him.
"I love her. That is all I can say. I would die for her. She is my life."
He closes his eyes.
"The Weeper says... the Weeper says she denies love towards me. Old Mother-" and his voice cracks.
The Old Mother listens, and waits for him to continue.
"But... but when we meet... I can feel... Oh, I do not understand... Is it false, then...? I cannot understand..." He chokes back the tears, and his poppies wilt slightly.

At last the tears flow free. "Thank you, Old Mother..." whispers Olive. He buries his head between his forelegs, and the Old Mother's soft leafy branches bend down to wrap his body.

~~~