Day 10?
Hello world. Are you night owls like me, staying up past "normal" times? Do you like the peace that night brings, because it's quiet?
Night also brings fear or sadness sometimes.
I don't like those nights.
---
The earth is a brittle drum on which our hooves beat strange melodies. I am attracted to the yellers, all wearing skulls.
They are screaming at each other.
I know something is wrong. They aren't quite playing.
Something more serious is in their reactions, their eyes, their every move.
I am drawn to the tension. I want to reach out and scythe through it.
They are cutting at each other.
This is not a normal fight. Something else is involved...
I think I know what.
---
The battles last through the night, and I watch them, circling from nearby. I don't know why I am drawn to this.
No, I do. I am curious.
I want to know why they play like they do.
When they break apart, I go to Demon.
He shoos me away for even asking how he is.
---
I am not that easily deterred. I follow them for awhile.
The battle remains constant.
A doe, Misang, cowers over fawns as the battle rages. She is so afraid.
The stags so angry. Their feeling is fiery red and darker red.
I sit there and watch and do absolutely nothing.
---
Noelle enjoys my company again, but later she will not. I do not know this at the time.
I sit with her, happy.
Happy.
But I can't stop wandering.
Something is not right tonight.
---
White Stag is here. Noelle does not like him, but I do.
I wonder what he is doing.
He watches Noelle as she threatens him.
When he chooses to walk away, I follow him.
Noelle walks away too.
She is angry, I know it.
---
White Stag and I walk for awhile, slow, peaceful. For once, I am calm.
I feel at ease around him.
For awhile, we sit, and I close my eyes, absorbing the melodies around me.
Lovely...
It is broken by Kaoori's moo.
---
White Stag goes to Noelle and I follow.
Noelle is so very angry.
She threatens me.
I should have predicted this.
When I go to nuzzle her, she flees from me.
I know she doesn't like me being around White Stag.
Sorry, Noelle.
It's just who I am.
---
Brd is nearby...
He wonders why I am sad.
How can I possibly tell him?
So I hide behind a neat little mask, one that cries blood.
Masks are very handy, you know. They hide you.
And sometimes, they help you become somebody new.
I try to get him to play, without success.
Tsk, Brd! You need to hop more...
It would do you good!
---
He follows me when I leave. I often wander off like that.
I don't know why.
We play something like Hide-And-Seek, except I can see him.
Caught you, Brd!
You can't hide from me, you know.
---
He runs when I give him a mask.
Why?
...
I go to White Stag.
---
Brd is back...He seems to say it's okay.
It's okay...
He asks me to follow him.
I'm too tired to resist, even if I wanted to. So I do.
I end up snuggling him. Thank you, Brd, for giving me a shoulder to cry on.
---
He leads me to Noelle. He knows.
How does he know?
I can't...I'm too caught up in this mask to go near her.
Instead, we sit down when Noelle and now Esll move off.
I feel like I can't stand.
I'm too tired now.