Related to
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The creature's eyes opened, brown eyes that almost seemed wooden. It's body was rooted into the ground, taking in water and nutrients from the very earth it slept upon. On it's moss-covered body were tiny orifices that let out gentle spores, those who landed on the ground created little mushrooms.
The mushrooms surrounded it, a tribute to the ground for the gifts it was given. It raised it's body, the roots growing on it's underbelly recoiling and entering back into it's body. The fungus on it's face was worn like a strange organic mask, growing past the face and fanning out like the rays of the Sun itself.
The creature had no recollection of who it was, what it's purpose was, if it had any family...there were only faint memories.
Laying on the ground, watching a large deer walk away...crying...
Closing it's eyes, feeling it's body slip away...
Then gentle roots raised up, they attached to it, gave it a way to live...
The creature was able to stand and walk for the first time, all alone, but always hearing voices. The land was speaking to it, telling it that things would be okay, giving it the body it had today.
The creature was neither male nor female. It simply was.
It had never interacted with others like it, so speaking would be strange to it. It has only understood the whispers of plants and trees, it has never spoken to another deer.
But it is kind, and would never harm another. It hoped to fill kindness and compassion to those it met.
The strange creature continued on in the new Forest, leaving the little mushrooms behind, being very careful not to step on the delicate little creations. It soon found a sleeping fawn, and sitting by it, the creature rooted and watched the other slumber politely. The spores were released, and as they gently floated to the ground, the tiny mushrooms grew on the fawn's dappled fur. The fungus was harmless, and the creature considered it a gift of friendship.
The fawn would awake to find the mushrooms around, but not another soul close by. The creature would have moved on by then.
It stopped by the great Old Oak, and staring up, it took in the beauty and wonder of the gigantic tree.
"Hello...this one's name is Bodhi...", it spoke.
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Please feel free to interact with Bodhi here, just so I can get used to playing it. It will not understand deer language at first, but then will slowly learn, so please be patient
~~~ There is a trill from
There is a trill from the old oak. High in the branches.
A flash of red and white, wings extending as a small bird extends its wings, an oddly coloured, albino-and-crimson Vermillion flycatcher spirals down from the pine boughs. Lights on a lower twig. Which does not even bend beneath its weight. It does not weigh anything at all, so why should the branch bend?
It tilts its head at the deer, flashes lower, wings extended as it slowly descends now coming to a rest atop the creature's head.
It lets out another soft trill, raises a wing to groom beneath it. Then settles down, looking about. As if it has decided to make this deer it's new lookout post.
Bodhi hardly seems to notice
A very faint smile appears on Bodhi's face. It rarely was given company from anything other than trees and flowers, but it had birds sit atop it before, and it always has liked their little bodies.
"This one is many things.
It reaches its head down, preens behind the plant-deer's ears gently. Folds its wings tight against its body and fluffs its feathers up.
Setting up a track tent!! I
And I will tomorrow!!! This is such an interesting character!! I wuvs it already!!!
The plant deer smiles
Bodhi did not understand that the words spoken were multiple names, it believed that the bird had one long name. It was only polite to call it by all the names it said, all at once.
((Quote:Unmatthieuandrogynunt
Just popping by to say that's adorable. I'm tracking this just in case. ^^))
lol - didn't feel like
Roe was wandering through the forest, lost in thought. She was staying in the shadows created by the forest canopy, her dark blue pelt blending in, making her all but invisible. Her ears were back, relaxed, but they flicked forward as she approached the old oak.
She stopped short of the tree, staying in a shadow. Her grey eyes narrowed as she focused on an interesting creature before her. She studdied it intently. It had the form of a deer. In fact, it very much resembled a deer. But seemed to be covered in plants. Moss, roots, leaves . . . . curious.
Being a healer who depended on the forest flora for much of her medicine, Roe couldn't help but approach. Her heart sped up as she cautiously trotted closer. It smelled just like the forest. She cocked her head and smilied. Being polite, she bowed to it.
"Hello," she said timidly. "My name is Roe." She didn't know if it could talk - or even understand her for that matter. But such a curious creature! She hoped it could talk.
{{That. Is. So. Cute.
The bird trilled long and soft. Laughing.
"Why don't you just call me Unttie" the bird suggested, leaping from the bird's head to take flight again, feathers falling away from the tiny body.
it's not a bird now, but a moth. Still albino. It seems to like Albino colorations. "I have seen things far worse than that. Yes. But this forest is peaceful. I think that you will like it here" the creature flutters, lands upon the tip of one of the deer's ears, twitches feathery antennae.
Ickydog - Bodhi tilted it's
Bodhi tilted it's head curiously. What was this standing before it? It had never seen another that looked similar to it's shape, so the deer was a curiosity to it. The creature approached cautiously, and leaning, it sniffed Roe.
The smell of fur, it reminded Bodhi of the day it was born.
...Mother?, the plant thought curiously.
Opening it's mouth, it began to remember a few deer words it had heard, merging both what Roe had spoken with the words it's own mother said when walking away. "Hello...my...name...oh...my...little...B...B...Bodhi...how...could...you..."
Bodhi could not finish the last word, as it's mouth was already struggling to keep up with speaking the deer language for the first time. It was unable to speak the word "die".
Trying again, it was able to speak the words closer to the way Roe had spoken.
"Hello...name Bodhi..."
Not perfect, but it was progress.
Matthieu
"Unttie...Unttie...oh how this one enjoys speaking your name. Here, let this one give you a gift...", Bodhi spoke, and lowering it's head just slightly, it let the openings on it's back release a gentle cloud of spores.
The spores landed all around, creating little white mushrooms beneath it's feet. Some of the spores even landed on it's back and grew into the mushrooms there.
"Do you like the gift this one has given? There are many places this one has seen that are barren and lifeless, and this one simply wishes to help give back to Nature that which it has given this one."
"They're beautiful, I love
It's a deer now. White, slightly cream in the tint, with eyes like fine red wine.
"I shall treasure them. I'll visit them whenever I am feeling lonely" it smiles.
This creature is just as genderless as the other. There is nothing to say it is male or female. Small horns and long lashed eyes. It could go either way.
"The forest will be very grateful for your gifts. You're a kind soul" it noted, licking its lips.
"Oh this one is very glad it
The spores continued, and delicately Bodhi stepped so that it could spread the spores farther around. Soon more mushrooms appeared, and they began to glow a faint white light.
"Nature gave this one the gift to grow plants and fungus, and she asked this one to help make the world green again. It is this one's job for being given life again...it nearly died when it was born..."
Bodhi knew all too well what it's life was like at birth. But it was not resentful toward it's mother for the abandonment. Rather, that was ignored, and all Bodhi cared about was the present.
"For being given life
"I understand many languages. I am sure the trees and plants have beautiful voices. Sometimes I think I can hear the forest sing. When it rains, I think it sings the loudest of all" those wine red eyes closed as he raised his head again, daintily stepping around the carpet of mushrooms, following the other deer.
"it's beautiful"
The roots that line Bodhi's
Bodhi tilted it's head just a little, "Pardon this one to ask, but what are you called? You were first a bird, then a butterfly*, and now you are you before this one, who will admit that it has never seen such a wondrous sight as to become other creatures!"
* Bodhi doesn't know the difference between moths and butterflies.
((For both Ickydog and
The creature sat down for a moment, but did not notice a frog was underfoot. It gasped and quickly sat up, but it was too late.
The frog was tangled in it's roots, and was squirming to get free. "Oh no! Oh no! This one cannot stop!", Bodhi began to cry, but nothing helped.
Then there was a terrifying sound, the frog's back snapped in half. Bodhi shivered in terror as it's body could not control the roots. They wrapped around the frog and squeezed, blood seeping out between them that was absorbed into the creature's body. The process was very quick, as a moment later the frog's body was released, a shriveled, motionless corpse.
Bodhi stepped back, shivering and panicking. It stepped on some of the mushrooms it had just placed on the ground, unaware of what was going on.
"No! No! Stay back from this one! It....it wants more of that life juice!"
"?...? ...! !! ???" The
"?...? ...! !! ???"
The strange, lilting voice comes from the Old Oak itself. Its unknown accent can be heard in the wordless sounds. From within and from without the giant tree, shadows appear to shift and take form, only to disappear in shady wisps of darkness.
Then a tiny, white sphere of light appears in the hollow of the oak. The shadows lengthen, shrinking away from the light yet drawing near to it. The light bobs and weaves, flying swiftly about the hollow in spirals and twists, before settling on floating slowly towards the strange plant-deer.
It is a will-o'-the-wisp, and it appears to have taken an immediate interest in this other one.
010 - The plant deer looked
The plant deer looked at the wisp curiously. "Oh hello there! Are you from around here? This one has not been in this forest before so it is curious as to what there is here." It's face brightened into a gentle smile as it spoke.
In answer, the light-orb
In answer, the light-orb bounces once, turning around the deer while winding upwards to hover above its head, as though a lost pictogram searching for an owner. Indeed, that is about how big this will-o'-the-wisp is--the size of a forest deer's pictogram; it even pulses like one.
"Bod...hi." Without any sign of a tangible body, much less a mouth, the light slowly voices the name the deer had spoken. "I...vis-it." Its speech echoes and sings like the hum of the great oak tree.
010 - Bodhi closes it's eyes
Bodhi closes it's eyes and inhales gently, listening to the ethereal voice of the wisp. "Your voice, it is so beautiful. This one is already enjoying your company."
Bodhi lets out a few spores, which float gently onto the ground and form mushrooms that glow just slightly. They do not radiate as brightly as the wisp but the plant deer is happy to be speaking to the other, giving this gift.
Roe's smile widened. The
"Bodhi," she said. "It's very nice to meet you." She watched it sit for a moment. A frog had become entangled in it's roots and the poor creature seemed horrified. She watched as it tried to move to free the frog and heard a snap. The frog's spine no doubt. Her eyes widened at what it said, though not in horror as one might expect. Roe was not afraid of the creature. Rather, she felt bad for it. It was obvious the creature couldn't control what had just happened, and it seemed distraught over the ordeal.
"Bodhi," she spoke again. Roe took a step foreward but then hesitated.
"Blood blood blood! This one
But then it stopped, and cringed. "Enough, enough!! This one is stronger than this! Relax! BREATHE!"
Bodhi took a step back, and curled up. The blood it had absorbed was purged from it's body, dripping out of the roots.
When Bodhi came to it's senses, it took a deep breath and then looked up to Roe. "Roe...Roe...this one is sorry...", it spoke.
Roe didn't waver from her
Roe cleared her throat and took a tentative step forward. Then another. "Your apology is accepted, Bodhi. There are no hard feelings here." Roe smiled to show she meant it. As foolish as it may have seemed to others, Roe stepped closer again. She was standing next to Bodhi. She lowered her graceful neck and gave a reassuring nuzzle, before taking one step back. Just to be safe.
Bodhi was deeply shaken by
"This one never wants to go through that again. This one is deeply sorry to the frog, it did not mean to kill such a beautiful little creature.", Bodhi spoke, it's eyes seeming to cry. The tears were not made of water, but made of tree sap that dripped slowly down its face.
"This one has done a terrible thing. It deserves to be punished for killing an innocent creature."
It appeared to Roe that the
"Bodhi, no. You do not deserve to be punished." Roe nuzzled it once more. "The sorrow you feel is punishment enough."
Roe looked at the frog, placed a hoof upon it, and closed her eyes. She quietly muttered a prayer in a language that most inhabitants of this forest wouldn't recognize. "I cannot bring him back, but I can give his spirit peace. You need not worry," she said.
"This one brought it
"Maybe...the little one's life has ended as a frog, but will begin as the mushrooms. This one prays as well that it may find peace in this new form."
The orb floats down to the
The orb floats down to the mushrooms, observing them curiously. Its light, beating like a small heart of brightness, circles the glowing fungi.
"Beau-ti--ful," it says, light flickering. Suddenly, in a flash of bright light that soon gradually dims, the orb has disappeared.
And in its place stands a white deer emitting silver light. Shadows caress its fur, like the hollows of a tree. The deer itself has a single, crescent-shaped antler upon its forehead, a twisted thing resembling a sliver of the moon all curled up into such a shape, and glowing just as dully.
The deer tilts its head, and across its lips there seems to come a slight smile. It is a small thing, no bigger than a fawn, and may in fact be a fawn itself, yet its appearance is of one who bears no age and has no gender.
"Tee-hee!" The deer giggles, and bounds away from the mushrooms to stand in front of the plant deer. Its hooves never touch the ground, hovering just centimeters or perhaps an inch above the soil. The grass brushes through its lit legs. "Hello, Bodhi." Its voice is the same, still with the hum of the Old Oak in its speech, yet more fluent now, less hesitant. It takes a short bow, then bounces off a few feet away, looking back at the plant deer. "Allow me to be your light in the darkness." Laughing lightly, its laughter like a song itself, the deer bounds off like a gay little thing, white tail up and flowing behind it in wisps of fur and ribbons of light.
010 - Bodhi's eyes widen.
Bodhi's eyes widen. It watches intently, very curious at this newcomer who looks similar to it in shape. "Oh look at you! This one must be very blessed! Are you one of nature like this one?", the plant deer asks curiously.
It approaches to where the glowing deer had gone. It never has been very athletic, but it does seem to walk right on the edge of the Old Oak, standing on the side much like an insect or a lizard would climb a wall. It turns and looks around curiously, having rarely ever climbed trees like this.
"Oh, blessed-blessed,
"Oh, blessed-blessed, blessed! Are we not all blessed?" If one would pay attention to the wisp-deer's partly-physical form, it might notice that its words are not in tune with its mouth, which is actually barely moving at all.
"Nature?" The deer stops in its bouncing, and trots over to where the plant deer stands clinging against the oak's trunk. Smiling, it nods. "I am of nature, perhaps? For now I am like the stars, or the moon...or the sun." As it speaks the last word, a sphere of light forms in the bowl of its one crescent antler, flickers, brightens and flashes color, then abruptly disappears.
The deer tilts its head, tail swaying slowly from side-to-side. "That looks like fun!" it says, referring to the way the plant deer is on the oak. With a leap, it attaches itself on the trunk by two hooves--one front and one back. "How high can you climb?" it asks, hopping off then back on to a higher spot, this time hanging on with all four hooves. "Can you get past the leaves? Can you see the sky through them, or reach it yourself?" It nods and grins widely. "I would like to know how high you dare to go!"
The plant deer smiles again,
Without speaking, Bodhi climbs higher, walking seemingly effortlessly up the Old Oak. It makes it to the limbs and leaves, standing upright onto one of the branches that reach toward the heavens. It walks upon the branch, though it's weight seems to make the branch bend down a little more.
"Here. Here is as far as this one will go. It is too afraid that the branch will break if this one walks any father."
The deer smiles brightly,
The deer smiles brightly, radiating light. It follows the deer seamlessly up the tree, trotting on the trunk of the Old Oak as lightly as if it were on flat, solid ground. It takes to a branch next to the one Bodhi is on, sitting down in a way that is reminiscent of a pawed mammal.
"This is good. It is a good place to stop, to sit, to...hang out." Its voice trembles in laughter at its own joke. Then it starts, standing up in a sharp motion. Its head turns to the sky, looking past the leaves of the tree. It stretches itself, back arching and lengthening, looking curiously like a ferret's before bouncing back into its normal straight-deer-spine.
"Ah, Bodhi...," it says and sighs. "Do you see the rays of light from the sun, feel the waves of its heat? I enjoy being with light, I do...and the sun itself outshines me--even I am not as bright as it! I am only as bright as the dimmest of moons. But at least this allows me to visit the darkness, in a way...." It shakes its head, but its smile never fades. "Bodhi, may I say you are one of the most curious of deer. I have not yet seen such a seamless mixture of plant and deer...that is, not until now!" It beams, shining brightly upon the plant-deer. "I hope this is not too sudden for you, to receive such a compliment. But I believe you deserve at least one."
It blinks blank eyes and tilts its head again. It smiles in embarrassment. "I am sorry...did you say earlier that you have not been in this forest before? And you are curious as to what is here...? If that is so, why not let me be your guide for this first time around...give you a small tour? I would very much like to do so...you see, I have not done so before." Its light dims and reddens, as if blushing pink with a sudden shy bashfulness.
A compliment! Oh how kind!,
"The light is very lovely, it warms this one as well as gives it food. This one very much enjoys them, and this one very much enjoys your words too. Your voice is like music to this one's ears, this one thanks you for your beautiful voice and company.", Bodhi spoke, then continued, "And no, this one has never been to this forest before. It is very wonderful, the little bit this one has seen so far. It already knows this tree will be this one's favorite. But please, this one would be honored to see what else is here. Please lead the way, it will be a fun adventure!"
The light-deer is soon
The light-deer is soon beaming once again.
"Ha-hah!" It laughs, bouncing up-and-down between the two branches of theirs...strangely enough, neither bends nor breaks underneath its ecstatic movements, but merely shifts slightly, as though disturbed by a slight wind. "I am overjoyed at this, if you cannot quite tell," it says in a singsong voice, then shakes itself and turns a little more serious. "Alright, then, Bodhi! I would be happy to show you around. Just follow me down this tree. I bet the Pond would suit you first...? Some water for thirsty roots and dry moss, eh?" It pokes Bodhi playfully, the touch so light it is like a brush from a feather, then trots happily down the side of the tree's trunk.
It continues speaking from below, loud enough to be heard from above. "Or maybe you would prefer the Ename Ruin, a ruined 'building' with an old graveyard whose history is so far a mystery to me? Then there is the Playground, full of rocks, and De Drinkplaats, a curious fountain and pool of water, surrounded by a circle of mushrooms wherein interesting things may happen. There are other places, of course, but these are the main attractions, so to speak. It is, after all, your choice, Bodhi--your choice--unless you wish for me to choose. But I am merely your guide, to take you wherever you want to go!"
Bodhi climbs down the Old
It finally reaches the ground and smiles, the seemingly wooden eyes blink with excitement.
The deer blinks back at the
The deer blinks back at the other, its light pulsing still as when it had been a spherical wisp. It kneads the ground with a hoof, trotting over to the still-glowing mushrooms that Bodhi had set down. It noses them, sniffing, breathing in their smell...and sneezing out their spores through bright nostrils. It shakes its head, then begins walking off with a bounce in its step.
"Follow me, then, Bodhi; it is the Pond I choose for you to see first. I for some reason feel it is essential for you to know where it is. It is, after all, a place where the deer gather sometimes, just like the Twin Idols is where they go to turn white and bright as me for a temporary time."
Bodhi nods happily. "That
Roe watched as the mushrooms
Unable to contain her excitement, Roe stood up and pranced in a circle around Bodhi and the mushrooms, stopping to nuzzle the creature once more. "You are an amazing creature, Bodhi."
Bodhi lowered it's head in a
At that moment, Bodhi released a few more spores, one landing on the tip of Roe's snout, where a little mushroom grew and illuminated her face.
"This one does not feel so amazing. It simply wants to do what it was asked."
Roe giggled as the spore
"Well Bodhi," she said. "I think you're amazing." Roe decided to keep the little mushroom on her nose. "Have you seen much of this forest?"
Bodhi shook it's head. "No,
"Oh, yes--it is over here!"
"Oh, yes--it is over here!" the wisp says, humming as it leads the plant-deer along the way to the Pond. Bouncing and bounding off, it often came back to lead the deer more slowly in pace, only to leap away again before coming back once more. In this way it leads Bodhi to the Pond's shores.
The deer, glowing brightly, stands in the shallows and allows a moment of tangibility to feel the coolness of the water lapping at its ankles. It takes a quick sip of water, enjoying the refreshing liquid, before returning to Bodhi's side.
"And here," it announces, "is the Pond!"
Bodhi was overjoyed. It
The moss on Bodhi's back seems to grow a little, bushing out. It appears more fuzzy now because of this.
"It's settled then! I must
Roe was surprised at how excited she was. She was normally more reserved. Bodhi, however, was quite intriguing and she wanted to know more about the cerature.
Ickydog - The plant deer
The plant deer smiles happily. "Oh, there are ruins in this forest? Ruins of what, if this one may ask? This one is very interested now, it knows it will love your ruins!"
It wags it's tail with excitement. It never expected to hear about ruins!
The deer's head once more
The deer's head once more inclines back, eyes trying to see through the leaves to the sky above. The sun shines brightly behind them, casting rays of light that dance across the moving waters of the Pond. Smiling at Bodhi, she watches with satisfaction as its mossy coverings appear to become bushy.
She walks happily into the water, dips her head for a sip, and lifts it, holding the water in her mouth. If not for the brightness around her face, the water inside might have been visible as it swishes around on its own free will. She turns to Bodhi, nodding, bowing, and then, suddenly, spraying the water out at him and splashing away, sending even more water in his direction.
"Ha-ha, Bodhi!" she cries joyfully, wiggling her rump playfully and lowering her one antler in a good-natured challenge.
"Yes!" roe said excitedly.
"Now, I have to admit, I don't know much about the ruins. I havn't been in the forest too long myself. But they are beautiful and peaceful." She looked back over her shoulder at Bodhi and smiled. "I often come here to meditate."
She slowed her pace as they approached the ruins. The sun shone down through the canopy in little pin piricks of light. It lent a hazy effect to the atmosphere. Moss grew thick on some of the gravestones. "It looks like a graveyard to me. Some of the deer find it creepy." She sighed. "I think it's a wonderful place."
The tree spirit walked in a
"The dandelion seeds travel to new,greener pastures..."He mused to himself with his rumbly voice.
The tree stag stopped and pricked his ears up at a lone fawn in the distance,staring at the Great Tree.He smiled to himself.He loved that tree as well.Slowly,Orogalad lumbered toward the creature and stopped before it,dipping his head,his eyes sparkling.
"Greetings to you,little fawn" He rumbled.
010 - Bodhi smiles back, not
Bodhi smiles back, not seeming to react as the water was spat at it. It returns the favor by shooting water from the tiny spouts on it's back where the spores would come out. The water appears more as a fine mist that envelops both it and the other. "This one cannot make water do what you did, but it guesses this is just as good.", Bodhi speaks.
It stands here, the roots drenched and swollen much like large daikon. "Where else is there in this forest?", the plant deer then asks.
Ickydog -
Bodhi walks into the new scenery with a very pleasant smile on it's face. "The ruins are lovely! This one will enjoy meditating here too.", it says, and starts to look at the gravestones Roe has mentioned. Out of curiosity, Bodhi sits in front of one of them and lets the roots on its belly dig into the soil.
"Hmmmm...oh! There are bones in the earth here! This one likes finding bone in the earth, it helps this one's own bones stay strong.", it speaks happily. Bodhi's body can often heal well if it takes in some minerals such as the calcium in bones.
Wingeddeer -
Bodhi opens its eyes and sees the newcomer. "Oh hello there!", it speaks, noticing how similar Orogalad was to Bodhi. "Oh! Are you another like this one? This one has not met any others in its life that look similar to this one. This one's name is Bodhi, what is yours?", it speaks very enthusiastically. It starts to wonder how many creatures there were similar to itself and Orogalad.
Orogalad smiled warmly at
"Why,I say we both indeed look like one another,little sapling.Hmmm...Bodhi,it sounds very zen.And mine? Orogalad,some call me" He stepped closer the the Bodhi as he replied and leaned his head in closer for a closer sniff.
"Intriguing you are..."
"The next interesting
"The next interesting place...," the wisp muses, "may be the Ename Ruin. At least, that is where I sometimes am if I am not at the Pond." It smiles. "I suppose I shall take you there next, if you are done at the Pond," it says, nodding to Bodhi's bloated roots. And already, it is out of the water, shaking off the few droplets that have stuck to its lit coat. "I enjoyed your misty spray, by the way. So much like a fine rain...."
Winggeddeer - Bodhi nods
Bodhi nods happily, "Oh yes, this one loves meditation and learning about being happy. And Orogalad, what a beautiful name!", it replies, then smells the other as well.
"What is this place? This one just came here and already loves this beautiful forest.", Bodhi then asks.
010 -
"A ruin? How intriguing! What kind of ruin is it?", Bodhi asks. It's eyes widen from the sound of other places in the Forest. It was already enjoying the Old Oak and the Pond, and now there was something called a Ruin?