Revive... Enkindle... A Gift From A Dying Man

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My face... I now hide it behind a mask. My fur... I can magic it red, if I still want to. My antlers I do magic bigger, but they are pretty big without it.

It has been a long journey to have such a body as I do now, one could probably guess. My new body was a gift from a spirit that was dying. Where I used to roam when outside of our forest, Spirits died when bodies did not. You could have several bodies, young even as you age. Your spirit does the endless hunting in that snow-covered world.

A spirit too gets old and begins to die. This was true with Rentier. He was very old... maybe had a good twenty bodies before this one. Many years had worn away his soul to a thin candle glimmer behind his eyes, not a life's glow.

I came across him as I returned to the Pack.. at the time my title was "Deer Prince of Wolves," though it always made me laugh to hear that. I was so simple, after all. I am not all that different now.

Rentier layed there on the ground. He breathed normally, only looking as if tired. His body was new, young and full of vigor. Smiling, he looked up at me.

I, a red deer at the time, knelt down to take a better look.

I could use the company. He spoke to me.

I replied that I would be happy to share space with such a traveled soul. He just grinned.

And I will be happy to extinguish next to such a strong and vital soul.

I sighed, surprised, and brought my head down to his side. He blew a breath, and raised a hoof-hand to my ruffed neck, caressing the dyed fur there.

You will like this body better than your own, young stag-soul. Have it, and my name as gifts for your pleasant company. I have no need of them anymore.

A cough, and he was gone, so was I.

Ethereal, we leaped through the stars, and sparred over the moon. I do not know if it was a real experience, or if we just dreamed of it.

In the end, I woke in this body in the forest, in my favourite patch of blueberries.