The next morning was sunny and cheerful, reflecting the thoughts of the Forest's inhabitants. A few fawns were playing amongst the flowers, a quiet doe watching them. And two older creatures were sharing the last night's events.

Emiva was still shaken, but Barwick gave her a friendly nuzzle. "Go on, it's okay. She's like that, you know." The doe swallowed and spoke up again. "She was laughing like...like some kind of maniac...I thought she was gonna drown herself this time!" She quivered visibly now. Barwick bit his lip in concern, but before he could comfort her, Fenqua bounced over. "Hey, guys! Whatcha talkin' about?"

"Pandemonium had another one of her nights." The brown stag's face had a hint of seriousness, but he shook it off with a cheerful snort. "She's getting more and more reckless every day now!" Blatantly dismissive of the fact that the subject in question was a raving lunatic, he smiled at the female. "Now, who wants to go get some pinecones to eat, huh?" He rubbed Emiva on the shoulder. "Don't worry. She'll be alright." The shaky doe nodded, gaining control, and the trio set off towards the pond.

At the edge of the trees, an elderly stag could be seen picking his way towards the water as well. His spotted black and white coat was fading, but well-kept, and the poppies in his antlers fresh from the earth around the Ruins. His face hidden behind a long, intricate mask, Aeros smiled as he spotted the Queen of Darkness sipping up the clear pondwater. As he called out a hello, Lieka raised her face and looked at him, her violet head of hair dripping wet. "Oh, good morning, Storyteller!", she called. The stag smiled. "Been at work yet, or are you busy terrorizing fawns?"

The doe glared at him in mock indignation. "Oh, come on! You know I don't bother with that until after lunch." She turned back to nibble some of the pondweed, then stopped, her expression thoughtful. "You heard about last night?"

"Unfortunately." Aeros sighed and glanced at the outline of the willow, buried underneath the water like a fresh carcass. "The water level's risen. She's getting out of hand." Lieka frowned. "Not at all! She's just taking a different path when it comes to destruction." A faint smile tugged at her lips. "Different then me, at any rate. Hers involves more...explosions."

Aeros, however, was not satisfied. "One of these days, she's going to take it too far. She's going to kill someone." He gazed across the Pond, a faraway look in his eyes. "She enjoys it, Madam. She likes hurting us." He snorted grimly. The Queen watched him in concern. "True. But she's not always like that. Whenever the lightning's gone from the skies, whenever she's had a good day...she's just like the rest of us." She grinned in spite of herself. "Albeit a bit too tacky."

The old stag glanced at her and smiled. "I suppose all we can do is wait." He took a quick drink. "I have to go. The Hunter is back in her cage, and I have to take care of the fawns. Farewell." With a nod of his head, he trotted off, limping slightly, into the trees.

The Queen smiled as she watched him go. Her cheerful expression faded after a moment, however. Maybe he was right. Maybe the Empress of Chaos was going too far, after all. She was insane. If she killed someone...what would the forest turn into? Would it be a sanctuary anymore?

Lieka snorted angrily as the realization dawned on her. Of course it would never come to that. The Gods would never allow it. They would protect the other deer from Pandemonium.

...Just as much as they would protect her from herself.

~

Finished this one fast! I might even be able to get another done tomorrow before lunch.