An earthy-toned figure moved amongst the fog. Bats seemed to flock to the old deer, by some strange feat of nature. As naked as he was, the rune between his antlers cut a path through the dark air. More mist puffed out of his nostrils as he pounded across the ground - without his color, it seemed as if the cares of old age had melted away. Still, new ones had come to replace them. His eyes wild, the stag leapt over the branches and logs in his way, barreling towards the shadows in the distance marking the Ruins.

Without a backward glance at the few deer he passed, he seemed possessed by the devil, his path straight as an arrow but at a breakneck pace. Those who recognized him lowered their antlers in tense anxiety - something was wrong, but they didn't dare follow. An earthy trail was kicked up in his wake, and he would have run even further, had the cold, unforgiving stone of the Ruins not stopped him. The stag slammed into a pillar, his knees buckling under him, and collapsed to the ground. He writhed on the cold grass for a few furious paces, but his newly-young body was as exhausted as his old mind, and, at last, he lay still, his breath coming in deep gasps.

Another, darker shape emerged out of the shadows. Its ruby-red eyes were the brightest part of the beast, shining brightly. The doe neared the limp stag fearlessly - she needed no qualms about his frenzied state. He jumped considerably when she lowered her head to him, breathing in his smell. Her bloodred gaze met his, observing how his eyes were white with deranged fear, and she stroked his fur with her face before raising her neck and looking to the sky. The shadows around the pair were darker, and writhed with more intensity than the surrounding night - the air smelled of decay. The doe breathed in and out more slowly, closing her eyes in a deliberate sort of way. Several minutes passed of utter silence. At last, the darkness retreated, and the two deer were left in peace.

Lieka dropped her head again, her violet hair brushing Aeros's face. He twitched again, his old age now slamming back into him to accompany his exhaustion. Terror still gripped his face. The female breathed gently on him, the fog billowing out of her nostrils cooling his steaming body. At last, his breathing slowed, and he sank into a grateful sleep devoid of the demons. Lieka paused and stared into the mist. At last, she rested her head on his flank and slept as well, the ghosts forgotten.

---

Yeah um. To accompany the fog, I decided to see just how good of friends Lieka and Aeros are. And how much I can make them sound like deer rather than people. |D WOOHOO.

Sorry if it's unclear what's happening. Bad eyesight is bugging me, muddling up my thoughts and stuff. XD