Phylux dipped his mouth below the smooth surface of the pond. Waves lapped gently at his tongue, but he was not here to drink. Shapeless orange and white forms lolled lazily beneath lily pad canopies, picking off algae and insects that ventured too near the water's deadly grip. Innocent and unsuspecting... In a forest full of herbivores, the fish were king, and their overwhelming numbers reflected that. Phylux, therefore, felt no pity when, in a flash of movement and color, a vibrant young koi felt the vicious sting of his beak. A drop of blood spread paint-like across the choppy water as orange slipped out of sight beneath the depths, and Phylux stared after it, his stomach twisting.

Another escapee... Another survivor to carry fresh wisdom of a cruel existence. He grunted, cutting back across the water and pulling up some rushes to sate his hunger. Five days. Five days of barely-missed fish. Five days of frogs lost among the trees. Ever since the goddess had graced him with her words, he'd felt cursed, overburdened by his purpose.

"I asked what your purpose was here. In this forest."

There were dangers in this forest... The goddess must know that. Even against the threat of sadness, little ones needed protection. So what, then, did the Lady of the forest expect from him? Why had she brought him here, if not to help the little ones? What other reason did he have to live? Is that what she was saying...? That he had no reason to survive here?

The bird stag looked back across the pond, brow furrowing. The fish and frogs of the forest would have little to fear if he were gone. And not just them... For so many, he had only brought pain.

Mateo...

His breath rattled in his throat, and he settled by the tall willow, stripping the rushes into edible ribbons. Staying busy. But his charges were absent. There was no one to protect. No one needed him here. It wasn't the first time, either... No, in times like these...

He had no purpose.

"A little girl, and a wish...?"

"...How brutally cryptic, my goddess."