Where once herds of deer ran playing now only a few remained. Where once laughter with friends echoed in the back of your mind a harsh hag twittered endlessly about mundane things that did not matter especially in the forest. I checked on a few deer and only angst waiting emanated from them. Something had gone wrong in the forest. Some female darkness like a bad opera had filtered in infecting dozens. It would not last but while waiting for such to dissipate I referenced from three perspectives. Playing at the pond I enjoyed the transformation from deer to frog, frog to deer. Both equally important but each has its own group. The frog plays with the fish and the lotus flower. The activities of splashing, swimming and on the bank and off the bank happen. From shore to water a new group forms dragonfly, deer and frog only around the log. On land it is different deer in different stages as in veteran deer with special markings and masks that show the length of time they have been around, or as fawns new to the game or wanting to be new to the game and then all the regular deer. Each group has a different set of references depending on which mask I chose, which age of deer, and which location my deer is at. New deer in one area, elder deer in another and just part of the crowd sometimes but not often. A deer you meet may be new but also may have been in the Endless Forest from the beginning, may have created it and some guests are not really guests. Deer can be mystic crystal revelation type, artisan deer type, gamer deer type, child deer type, player deer type, or technical creative type.

The Riddle of the Strider

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.