Ferin awoke slowly, hearing the beautiful song of the forest. A few fawns were calling to each other, it seemed. Some older deer tried to quiet them, only to have the fawns call louder. He laughed at this then stretched his limbs. He sniffed the air seeing who was awake and went off to greet everyone.

He remembered what had occurred after Plague fought Xylen off. He had been hearing how Elyana had been growing close to Plague. Plague seemed to have been very injured from the wounds that Xylen had given him. Thus both Lorque and Elyana both had carried Plague to the lake for him to relax and clean his wounds. What Ferin had heard about what had happened at the lake astounded him. Elyana seemed to be truly growing close to Plague. She had done everything she could to keep the large stag comfortable. She had even sang to him.

Ferin remembered the first time he himself had heard Elyana sing. Her voice was amazing, and he smiled at the thought of her singing to the large stag. Ferin decided then. It was time he met Plague. He sniffed the air and closed his eyes hearing the voices then smiled as he saw that Plague and Lorque were in the forest. Ferin moved towards their direction hearing Plague and Lorque speaking. He laughed to himself when he heard Plague speaking about how beautiful Ayanel was and Lorque retorting somewhat, annoyed that Plague was looking at his mate in such a way. Ferin continued laughing up until he came into view. Lorque saw him and bowed immediately in greeting happy to see Ferin. Plague seemed more curious bowing, and looking to Ferin then Lorque.

Ferin smiled to Lorque “How is Ayanel?” he asked, smiling. Lorque smiled and told him how she was doing well. Ferin smiled then looked over to the much larger Plague. “hmm…” he glanced over the skull and the fangs that protruded. “A vampire… I have not seen one of your kind in a long time.” Ferin smiled now understanding why Plague bothered Lorque so much. They spoke for some time Lorque seeming interested in Ferin and Plague’s stories of their past. Ferin smiled then stood up finally. “I must say, you have made me very excited. How would you like to have a spar with me?” he mentioned looking to Plague with a friendly yet challenging stare.

Plague seemed all too happy to oblige and followed Ferin to the cemetery. Ferin then looked to Lorque and smiled “Now boy, make sure you pay attention to what is happening. What you learn from our battle will help you when the time comes for you to fight Xylen again.”. Ferin then looked back to Plague and nodded. They then bowed to each other. Unlike the spar with Lorque, no words were necessary and they began. Ferin fought him well but Plague was fast. Plague didn’t seem to be holding back as they fought. Ferin laughed to himself. He wasn’t going to win against Plague. Not like this. Ferin quickly gave in and Plague looked at him smugly. “You fight well, my friend… but… It seems I will have to fight you with all I have as well”. Ferin stepped back calling on his own innate strength. His face disappearing replaced by the familiar skull, his own antlers growing in size.

His Dragonic eyes stared at Plague. "Now we shall fight…for real!" his voice was full of fury his eyes a deepening fire, "BEGIN!!" he roared loud and menacing as he thrust himself forwards onto Plague. Plague tried to dodge out of the way only to be impaled by Ferin’s antlers. Ferin continued his assault but Plague quickly learned. He started to dodge and retaliate with his own attacks at one point slamming his hoofs onto Ferin’s head. Ferin stumbled a moment then quickly got out of the way as Plague came at him. Ferin got behind Plague and started to shake his antlers in fury grazing them over Plague’s fur and skin. Plague got away quick enough though, hissing in protest. Ferin then got under the large Stag slamming his body upwards as to unbalance him. Plague quickly leapt and landed behind Ferin sinking his teeth into Ferin’s back. Plague then began his own onslaught with his antlers. Ferin roared and swerved quickly slamming the broad side of his antlers into Plagues body. The fight continued on.

Onlookers began to appear, curious to see the fight. A few seemed confused not able to tell if this was a fight or not. Other deer tried to explain that it was only a spar. Riza had appeared and watched the fight as well. She looked at a few fawns and tried to keep them away shaking her head no to them and pushing them away. She also was unsure what was going on.

Is this a fight? She kept asking herself. Lorque looked at the fight intently. They continued to fight rearing and slamming their bodies into each other. Other deer just kept their distance seeing the battle continue on. The slams and sounds could be heard for miles as they roared and attacked each other. The fight continued on and on. After a few hours they finally broke off staring each other down. Wounds on their bodies and their hearts beating quickly. Ferin nodded to Plague breathing heavy "I have not sparred like that in centuries, my friend" he chuckled, looking at the much larger Plague. Plague laughed as well, agreeing with Ferin. He explained how he had not sparred like this also. Plague mentioned if Ferin had expected the speed. Ferin nodded and laughed "Yes I expected that much from you. Now were you expecting what my own power is, I wonder?“ he laughs nodding to Plague.

His body began to revert, his face and antlers returning to normal. Plague laughed, exhilarated, explaining how he knew this battle would be tough so he prepared for whatever Ferin was going to do. He mentioned smiling that this was excellent endurance training. Ferin laughed "I agree my friend.." he looks to Lorque then smiling "now what have you learned, boy? Did you watch us well?". Lorque nodded, smiling and the three continued to speak for a time before Ferin decided he needed rest. After Ferin had left Plague and Lorque continued to talk until someone came limping towards them. Elyana smiled widely seeing Plague and nuzzled him quickly. "How are you Plague?" she smiled as she continued to nuzzle him giggling. He mentioned he was doing fine. He also explained about how Ferin had sparred with him not too long ago and how Ferin had also healed his wounds. Elyana smiled wider and giggled "You met Fairy?!" she suddenly realized Plagues words "And SPARRED with him!? Oh dear! And Elyana missed it!?" she began to pout. "I missed everything thanks to Xylen." she pouted again her back leg seeming a little limp also not realizing she had said “I” instead of her name.

Lorque had also walked up to them and greeted Elyana and Plague. He was happy to see her again after they had parted by the pond the last day. He explained how it was to watch them spar and how it lasted so long. Plague looked at Elyana curiously seeing her limp and asked her why she was limping. Elyana suddenly looks down then lays down quickly. "It’s nothing" she tried to pass it off trying to smile reassuringly. Plague’s ears pinned back at her explanation of her limp, or “lack” thereof.

He walked closer and stared down at her. He then asked her again. Lorque also wondered about it and tried to get a closer look at her leg... but she was hiding it well. Elyana tried to move her body so they wouldn’t see. Yet it was hard to hide the large gash on the inside of her leg. "It's nothing..." she said moving to hide it wincing slightly, having moved it wrong. Plague saw her wince and narrowed his eyes. He demanded to know if Xylen had hurt her.

Elyana suddenly became defensive and frightened but not at Plague. "N... no... he... brother said.... not... uh...." she looks around suddenly scared. "he... he said.. Elyana was being... Elyana....." she begins to tremble and then stopped, looking down and cried, some unknown fear consuming her. "He... said Elyana was bad... Elyana... ran away...." she kept her eyes shut and continued crying. Plague growled and looked away. He knew it was Xylen, he roared and fumed looking around hoping to catch the scent of Xylen anywhere.

Elyana looked in concern “no don't be mad at Xylen. It was Elyana's fault... Elyana ran when he told her to stay home. He told Elyana... to stay... but I... didn’t listen..." she looked down. "He loves Elyana. He would never hurt Elyana like he does others. This is nothing like what he wants to do to Lorque." she suddenly stops dead in her own words. "Elyana didn't mean that... Elyana was not supposed to say that. Elyana is bad for saying that." she then took her front hoof reached back and plunged her own hoof into her hurt leg to punish herself. "I can not disobey brother.. I can not.." she mumbled to herself crying. Lorque shook his head, and started to feel angered. He was about to speak when Plague hissed looking around then back at Elyana.

He did not understand why she would even mention not being mad at her own brother for doing this. It didn’t matter that Xylen wasn’t harming her as he would to others. It was just the fact that her own brother would do this to her. Plague was enraged now. He stormed around furiously trying to get the anger out of his system. Elyana suddenly looked up and around sniffing the air. Someone was coming their way...someone familiar.