drip......
......drip
The young stag shakes his head vigorously, dashing for the shelter of the old oak he'd deemed the Great Tree. He lays down on the cool earth surrounded by other deer and a few fawns, all seeking shelter from the rain. He loves this new scent in the air...it's as if all the earth is breathing...
A faint unfamiliar smell comes to his nose. It's followed by a call that's low and mournful.
It can't be a deer, he reasons, no deer sounds like that.
The other deer hear it but they don't bother themselves with it. He stays calm like they do...and listens to the faint sound. They almost sound like words...he listens...
......tandè yo ap machè.........
.............tandè voi yo ki ap chantè.....
........Tandè chase a ki pral vini......
........Gadè yo, tout fet pral fini.....
~
"Do you understand me, little ones?" A calm voice says.
I nod, my eyes are shut tightly and I can hardly smell.
"You both must look after each other, pran swen youn lot, because our time is short."
I'm aware of someone beside me. They are smaller, weaker... but whomever is speaking I feel is strongest. They must be far larger than the both of us. It takes me a long time to open my eyes, even so the lids are heavy, the world is dark except for a circle of pure white right before me. I reconize it as a face, glowing eyes staring at me...through me.
"Your eyes open so soon little one..."
I stare...I feel so weak...I cannot do anything...
"But I must be sorry...I've scared you..." The voice came again.
It has no mouth....
I felt a strange sense of fear rise in my belly.
What is it....