Fibonacci watched the other stag approach from inside the tree. Personally, he was rather concerned about his safety, and also Abby and Veleda's. "He doesn't look like the violent type." The young stag's eyes were drawn to the leaf-wreathed tines the large stag wore. He pressed himself closer to the ancient walls of the tree, the smooth hum becoming more intense. This stag was more intimidating than he'd thought.

Despite his uncertainty, the stag heard Abby - he usually couldn't hear voices when he became frightened. The stag brought his sword in front of him, for reassurance. "We'll be fine," he muttered, briefly looking at Abby, noticing the wilderness of her eyes. Somehow, though, he wasn't very sure. "If we all team up, I reckon we could scsre him off."

The female stared in awe at the wide, splayed antlers that shook the branches she had never thought anyone could reach. "Don't scare him off yet. I don't think the trees would survive if you did." Carefully, the doe stepped out through the oak's entrance and picked her way in the beast's - Elliot's - general direction. Her eyes remained on his head and antlers, trying to keep an eye on if he were to become stuck. She trusted that the smaller male would be able to hold his own, and spared a second's glance to make sure he was okay before slowly moving over to where Veleda stood.

The doe had to crane her head back at a point, and there she stopped to both watch and admire the great elk. A few dry needles made a light noise quite akin to rain as they bounced off of those giant antlers and fell to the ground nearby. "It's good to meet you, Elliot. We're all new here too. You can call me Abby." The doe smiled, hoping to appear friendly. She tried to keep her voice calm, even bordering on using the suggestive voice that she often paired with the illumination. At this time, she didn't feel that the little lights were necessary. Maybe they wouldn't even work, considering she probably didn't look like much to him from way up there.

Abby carefully peered around to find out where Fib had gone, then to Veleda, before returning to Elliot. Man was he huge. One hoof could crush her spine if placed wrong. She needed to be careful until she learned what was going on with him. He seemed very nervous... even smelled a bit like it. And Veleda... she appeared to be watching him like she watched that sword earlier. It didn't bode perfectly well, but Abby would do her best to keep things peaceful until the dream-eater had decided if he was or wasn't an enemy.

Fibonacci, who had been practically hugging the inside of the Oak, laughed nervously at the glowing doe's words. Although he was a little larger than her, he still found the stag quite frightening. His small, black, twig-like antlers wouldn't have given him nearly enough height to reach his withers. The stag watched as Abby stepped from the safety of the Oak into the open, and it wasn't long until he followed.

Fib gazed up at the stag, sword by his side. The stag had appeared to have noticed it. "It's okay, this sword's work is done." It was quite comical, the way that this male was a giant, so large that he even outgrew the trees themselves. As the great elk's heavy head turned, and the pinecones shot to the ground, they made channels in the snow as gravity pulled them through it. Elliot. The stag's name whizzed around in the young male's head, and he memorized it. "Fibonacci," said the silver stag, and bowed his head and body, greeting Elliot.

[Sorry it took me so long to reply. Yesterday I spent the day in the car traveling back up to college for spring semester.]

Veleda's warning didn't go unheard. The night-pelted doe gave her a very slight nod, so as to not distract from greeting the irish elk. The last thing she needed was for him to feel nervous enough to freak out on them. Although she was small and nimble, snow was not the easiest thing to scramble away in. She likely would wind up the one scrambled. That wasn't on this week's to-do list. Not at all.

The large antlers drew closer, and Abby almost cowered. She remained standing tall, however tall that was, and grinned broadly when the large stag accepted her greeting. At least he felt comfortable enough. "Mmhm. We all just arrived in the Endless Forest not long ago. I guess creatures from all different worlds can come here." The doe spoke more like a young girl than a mature adult at the moment. One could only assume it was her excitement that caused this. She was as changeable as the wind when it came to behavior. It was difficult to decide what the doe would do next.

The stag smiled a little after the giant had spoken. "Thank you," he said politely, and moved a little more towards Abby and Veleda. He really didn't feel comfortable around this deer. There was something about him, something he knew well but couldn't pinpoint. Fib shot a glance at Veleda - perhaps she knew, she might have used that strange eye.

Then the stag suddenly found himself looking at eyes, not at the back of a head. He jerked backwards and broke eye contact, scowling. He was still annoyed with the demon, but she was right, in a way. However, she didn't seem to understand the concept of doing something for hundreds of others, but hurting another in the process. It was very much like that saying; For the greater good. That phrase summed up his whole being. The two of them, he realised then, had been insulting each others' existence. He felt a sudden pang of guilt.

(Sorry this has taken me so long. I've been on some meds that mess with one's head. And this post is made from my phone, so excuse any derpy mistakes.... Such as "help" being turned into "hell." And I ramble a good bit today...)

Elliot glanced down at the grounds and the many runes carved atop his antlers were revealed. A few glowed slightly when he glanced at Veleda, but he was entirely unaware of this given they were out of his sight. They were wards, so that his antlers could deflect a wide range of magic. These were entirepy unrelated to his other, more unsettling issue that was perceived by those sensitive to the spirit. He was aware of their existence, as he had allowed an elf of his homeland to place them upon him so that he could better shield her and himself, given he had been her familiar. Veleda reminded him of her with her more delicate features. His head lifted a bit so that it was even with his shoulders.

"It is quite alright. Though I must admit, in my home, obviously far different from where you may all come from, I am not considered a threat, but instead, I am the evening meal. Nor am I the largest of beasts. Not to mention that individuals with faces such as yours usually walk with two legs and attempt to rain arrows upon me. So if you would excuse my anxiety..." He smiled slightly, though it did not reach his eyes, as he still appeared incredibly stressed. A light tremor passed through him as he remained under their scrutiny which to himself, seemed fairly intense. "Regardless of my size," his voice remained remarkably steady and soft, "Even in defense of my life, I have never desired to bring harm to another." This was very true. This great stag, even with the many scars hidden under his shaggy winter coat, was remarkably passive. He would take damage unfazed, but did not return it. Even defending others, he was content to form a barricade and put himself in the way of harm in their stead. His ability to flee could not be understated. His size and dimensions were misleading. He would be one of the fleetest stags in the forest after he got used to the low hanging branches and the close trees. He was used to pine forests, fields, snow, mountains, not dense deciduous growth.

He thought on the name Abby had given a minute or two ago. The Endless forest.... That did not sound comforting in the slightest. His ear lowered a bit. "When you say Endless forest... Do you mean to say that this forest is indeed without end?" There was no mistaking the concern in his voice. Despite the fact that his life was often under constant threat in his home realm, he realized there was no place he would rather be than the frozen land. If it was endless, that meant there was no escape... That was a very depressing concept. "I am willing to follow anywhere," he replied to Veleda, glancing back over to Fibonacci. That sword made him feel increasingly uneasy. What use did a stag have for a sword except to cut foes down? What use did anyone have for a sword except to inflict damage? Deep within his mind, the dormant monster stirred only slightly, not fully roused, as such was impossible without the predetermined circumstances, but it had indeed noticed both the sword and its wielder. The aura may have even flared. It took notice then the Veleda, registering her presence as a challenge even in its sleeping state. A soft shadow appear from the aura to stare at her, still not visible to the normal eye. It then receded back inside, though the aura was darker. It had wanted the demon to know that it knew. And it was unwilling to relinquish its grasp on a soul that was in sharp contrast to its own.

The doe's long ears listened to Abby and Elliot's conversation closely, as they discussed the Forest and the way it was an endless dimension. She didn't find herself to be bothered by that too much. The term 'endless' was completely relative to her, as there were several ways of escaping this place. Portals into other realms were all around them, but they were invisible to the naked eye. To the demoness, those portals were the ends of this place. She didn't say it out loud though, as the others wouldn't have wanted to go through a long explanation of energies.

Elliot's words about his homeland sparked her interest, as the idea of a dimension where creatures that huge existed seemed impossible. The dream-eater was still relatively young, and remembered all the different places her master had sent her into. This one didn't sound familiar, except for one part. "Yes, humans... those bastards. They're nothing but a disturbance to the balance of nature. They take what they want without thinking of it. Even predators have more wisdom." The demoness's mind returned to the scene she had witnessed while peering into the future in a realm where humans trampled the earth with their filthy, hairless toes. It had been a horrible world, where neither mortal or immortal could live in peace. The air had been full of black, thick some that even blocked most of her inner sight. There had been no mountains, no trees, not even clean water. Strange structures had been rising from the ground, thousands of human faces looking outside from the glass panels. They had malicious, manipulative smiles on their face, as they watched the destruction of a rainforest from afar. One of them sips from his mug, his smile not dying out for even a second.

She wondered if Abby and Fibonacci knew of them. They had both arrived here from another realm, who knew how far they had been from this one. Maybe they had been similar to this dimension, given their calm attitude towards it, but who knew. The dream-eater had a feeling it didn't matter much to them, anyway. This was their homeland now, as much as it was hers. Though she could tell Fibonacci didn't appreciate her being there. He was even reluctant to make eye contact, which the doe could understand well. She was about to say something to him, when Abby's silent request registered in her mind. Ignore it. The demoness nodded to the little doe, her lips forming a gentle smile. She wished she could have said she was sorry for trying to harm her earlier, but she had to obey the rules. 'To apologise' - was something she would not be able to do. Not yet. She sincerely hoped her smile would be enough to tell Abby that she appreciated the gesture. "If you're all okay with it, how about we head for the stat-" Something stopped her. A feeling of dread returned, now worse than when she had first set her eyes on Elliot. A pair of eyes glaring at her with hunger, desire to challenge her abilities.

The doe turned around, only to gasp out loud. Elliot's aura had taken a turn for the worse. A shadow had risen from it, almost completely deattached from the mass, and it hungered for a chance to test its power against her. For a short while, the two demons stared at each other, before the shadow returned to Elliot's body. The doe was absolutely sure now - a demon had lodged inside the stag. It had choosen his strong, giant body to be its vessel. And now it had noticed her.

The doe was completely silent, not moving an inch from her spot. The feathers in her backside were fully spread again, and her face now had an angry, even crazed expression. Her voice was completely different from before, it rumbled like an earthquake and echoed unnaturally from her lips. "Are you sure you're alright?" She tilted her head slowly, directing the question at Elliot. Her heart had begun to pound slower, as the thought of a challenge made her fully focused on the stag. She still tried her best to fight back, as her Third eye wanted the chance to see the full form of the demon hiding inside the male.

Her environment became nothing but a meaningless blur, like a child's fingerpainting. The only thing she could see was the aura, now almost as dark as her own. If the chance arose, the doe couldn't refuse a direct challenge from another of her own kind. It was their nature.

(I've been very sick the past few days and have eaten for the first time since Saturday. I believe I can now make a coherent post, though I do not promise that it will be wonderful.)

Elliot offered a bittersweet grin to Abby and allowed his shoulders to relax somewhat. "Then I hope my size does indeed remain a deterrent here for those that are more aggressive. For my sake and others'." He glanced over at Veleda and listened to her vehemence. His ears perked before he shrugged a bit. "I do not fault the humans for hunting me, same as I do not fault the wolves or sabercats. But there are more than just humans upon two legs. There are elves and lizard people, and more." He was beginning to realize that his home may seem terrifying to some and this land a paradise. Of course, he loved where he came from, especially when he compared it to this alien realm.

Abby's words registered and he seemed even more uneasy. He said nothing, though he did give a small nod and his jaw clenched slightly. Endless. While the fact that it seemed to go in a circle, rather than an infinite line, he was not comforted. The stag withheld his shaking, though his muscles did tense briefly. He pawed the ground a bit as he mulled over that and how he might address it later on. His ears perked toward Veleda as his gaze dropped toward the ground. The heavy head then lifted when she cut herself off.

Why was she suddenly so tense? He had assumed himself to be the crazy one, but the random changing expressions were causing him to question such. It eventually settled to one that was most unnerving, and although her gaze did not seem directly upon him, it was obvious enough that she was not gazing upon the other two. He took a few steps back and lifted his head out of reach and arched his neck slightly so that she would hit his face rather than his throat if she struck. Her tone intimidated him and his ears went to the side and tail held up, showing that he was now very much on edge. "I... I am well enough by my own standards," he replied vaguely. It was true enough. Physically, he was perfectly healthy, though he was not sleeping very well. Mentally he was suffering greatly, but he was used to having periods like this. Not that he enjoyed them, but he knew how easily his mind could trick him. Glancing over to the other male, he noticed some level of restraint and fear was obvious in his eyes. While he was indeed large, he had no skills in a fight other than his endurance.

The sound of Fibonacci's sword shifting registered in the doe's mind, but she didn't turn to look. The world around her was still covered by a silky curtain, making most of the details around the giant stag to completely disappear. The aura kept bothering her, and even if the shadow had slid back into its vessel, the doe felt like it had been a slight taunt. The demoness considered herself a calm and a collected being, so the thought of this one possessing another made her blood boil. Did it have a master, or was it acting on its own behalf? The doe hoped it wasn't - she hated the wild demons. If that was the case, Fibonacci could slay it for all she cared. It sure seemed like the gray stag had noticed what was going on, as well. The increasing tensity couldn't have been a sign of anything else.

Elliot's word didn't interest her, as it sounded like a lie into the doe's ears. Maybe the big stag believed in his own words, but the demoness could see it all. The stag's mentality must have been in a weakened state - othwerwise there would have been zero chance that a demon could be able to use him as a vessel. The demoness wondered whether she could reach into the stag's aura without letting the demon completely overtake over Elliot's mind. She wanted to converse with it, find out if it was a wild, berserk one or whether it had an actual mission to fulfill this way. Raising her concentration to the fullest, her Third eye began to react. The blood veins around it started pulsating uncomfortably, as it tried to gather enough energy to spread her aura to touch the stag's.

But she was stopped. By what? The small female, Abby.

The doe's concentrated energy broke back into small pieces, scattering around her body again. She felt a slight pain in her head, as her body fought back to being stopped so quickly. The demoness was used to taking her time with these things, as trying to recover too fast could damage the balance inside of her. Why do you care so much about harming them? Just shove her aside, Veleda. She couldn't. Her saddened eyes gazed slightly downward, inspecting Abby's face. How much did she wish she could apologise. The demoness's smile was faint and tired, but she hoped with all her heart that Abby could see her gratitude. Something as small as you stopped me. I'm becoming soft, aren't I? - That's what the look in the demoness's eyes seemed to tell. Giving the female a small nod, the doe took a deep breath to regain the balance inside of her, before turning to talk to each one of them. "I agree. The statues seem interesting. Maybe we could all try to get along? I know we're different, but isn't that a good way to learn? To spend time with creatures different from yourself." She turned to face Abby again, her previously threatening expression now fully turning into a look of peace and curiosity for her words. "So, there are actual Gods in this place?" The blue and gold doe seemed to hold the most knowledge in this subject, so the doe trusted her. Maybe she could finally direct the conversation to something more pleasant and forget about being a demon, for once.

To say Elliot appreciated the blue and gold doe would be an understatement. The protection she seemed to be offering was comforting, though the idea of another being hurt in his stead was terrifying to him, and if it came to such, the stag would never allow it. To him, it was almost his duty to shield others from harm. He was aware that he could endure far more than any other would anticipate, given his meek, passive demeanor. But that hardly mattered. If others thought less of him for it, that was their business. His knee brushed toward her and he gave her a classic sad smile. She was welcome to step aside. He could very well flee if the situation escalated. He was not the type to stand and simply endure pain if fleeing would not put others in harm's way. These seemed to be her friends. Certainly she would be alright if he left?

However, as quickly as things sparked up, they cooled down, thanks to Abby. Yet, Elliot remained fairly tense. He knew not why everyone had tuned in on him so, and if he were not so polite, he may have asked why. But he would not bother with such and risk invoking the wrath of these creatures. Something within him squirmed, he assumed some long extinguished instinct as he possibility of conflict slowly disappeared. But without knowing what had happened, the elk still eyed Veleda and Fibonacci warily.

These gods seemed intriguing. Similar to the divines of his homeland perhaps? Wait... The two white statues must be what they were referring to. While the statues relaxed him, it had stung when he had passed out against one earlier. Perhaps it was the strength of their magic. He glanced in that direction, very briefly. He was willing to travel there. "I am fine with that as the destination." He was much quieter now, no longer making eye contact with anyone. He did not seem willing to look at faces now. He was worried that he might start the aggression again. A small shake of his head as he tried to think of something else. These gods... Perhaps they could send them home to a land of snow and mountains? Elliot did not dare to hope, however; he feared being disappointed.

Though still wary of both Elliot and Fibonacci, the doe wanted to give them a chance. Neither of them had showed any signs of violence, it was just a problem of understanding between them. The demoness was not used to the views of mortals, and they were not used to seeing the world her way. If they could only swap their minds for a few seconds... Maybe I've come too far. Maybe I can't even learn to understand them. The silent, unpleasant feeling in her stomach had now turned into an actual fear of being rejected by these deer. Their more or less accepting company had given her a small break from constantly being reminded of what she was. If not counting Elliot, they knew - and still didn't try to avoid her. You're becoming soft. Indeed, but it didn't bother her one bit. This chance to learn couldn't be wasted.

As Abby started to lead them up the hill, the demoness was the last one to follow. She lacked behind on purpose, so she could have a chance to investigate her surroundings without having to hear about being slow. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and the doe couldn't really understand what was beautiful about this place. To her, it looked like a mediocre forest, only being a bit more peaceful than the ones she had come across in her previous travels. Large willows surrounded the pond, located a small distance from the hill. They were almost completely covered with the pile of snow, pulling the trees' branches down to the ground by the weight of the strange white powder. It looked strange to the doe - as if the trees were sleeping, using the large amount of snow as their blanket.

As they reached the hilltop, the large wave of energy flowing towards the doe took her completely by surprise. She had witnessed it with her inner sight earlier, but actually feeling it reaching into her aura felt really strange. It was an unpleasant feeling, really, but it couldn't damage the doe if she just stayed at a safe distance. She stopped right next to a large tree, a few metres away from the white stone structures. All in all, they looked like your everyday religion symbols that the demoness had seen countless times in other dimensions, but these two seemed to be an endless source of energy. They even had enough to give Abby a small share of it as the little female paid her respects. The energy was completely white and blue, a sign of its absolute purity. How unusual.

"Hm." Her response was short, as her mind tried to process their words. The idea of someone being strong enough to bring others here from other dimensions as well as control the weather patterns seemed a bit intimidating to her. That would make them even more powerful than the demon masters. "It sounds like they care a whole lot about this Forest - and everything that lives in it." She gazed at the statues overflowing with the energy, and pointed out quietly: "They have a whole lot of power." As the doe remembered Abby's last words, the feathers spread around her again, but this time from mere amazement. "They have a physical form?" The demoness was used to gods and deities which only existed in one's own mind, so seeing them for yourself sounded crazy. Just how much power did they possess -?

*Slids in for a bump, you still want to continue?*

(Mind if I skip my turn? It's just that Fib doesn't have much to go on right now.)