"Kiss The Rain"
Yiruma



You may not know what you mean to some.
How you inspire.
How you make hearts flutter.
That the reason some may seem not to notice you is because they admire you so.

Is it so hard to believe that you are loved by many?
Even though they may say not a word.
Even though they watch from afar.
Is it so hard to believe that you could be admired without knowing?
That one could fear your beauty, to be intimidated by your majesty?

I have seen a lot of amazing artists, amazing writers, amazing role players, and some simply amazing people feeling rejected. And yet I see a lot of adoration from others that seem to desperately want to reach out and touch them but fear that they themselves may not be worthy enough to do so. Even I may feel intimidated by some of the amazing people here. Even after I have been accepted I still feel my heart flutter with anxiety and excitement when they reach out to me themselves, to ask me to notice them.

I find myself in a position I do not find myself in often. I am not use to so much attention by so many amazing people in such a short amount of time. When I brought Gustiro into this community I had actually expected him to be rejected by most if not all. He is a very active and obnoxious character if I do say so myself. But instead I find people drawn to him, wanting his attention and mine.

And I think to how I am more often the one to sit in the shadows silently admiring the people that have inspired me. That make my heart sing by simply being who they are. And I think how I longed, how I wanted, how my heart ached. How I had seen them cry out for someone to reach out to them but I dared not raise my voice.

For me your attention and praise is something very bittersweet. For though it is wonderful to be noticed and loved it also hurts to think that I may make another feel that ache, that longing. How somehow I may have missed some pleading eyes just begging to be noticed. I do not want you to be left wanting.

I just wanted to say that… although you may feel unnoticed. That you may feel like you are invisible. You may just be watched by an admirer that wants nothing more then for you to notice them. I want you to know that if you ever feel the need to be touched that you are not alone in your longing.

I want to touch every one of you. I want to make your hearts sing. But I have my faults and I have my weakness’. If I have ever hurt you I want you to know it was never my intention. And I want you to know that even though I may not know your name, that I may not recognize your face, that I may miss a cue or an outreached hand that at this moment, right now, I am thinking about you and I want nothing more then you to feel noticed and to feel admired. Because I find myself very much a part of you in what we have shared although we may never have touched, never exchanged words.

I want to also make it clear that any of Gustiro’s aggression towards any of your deer is completely in character. I feel no ill will toward any of you that Gustiro has fought or rejected. In fact some of you who’s deer that Gustiro regularly fights and pesters I have grown very much attached to and even found a love for you as I have for any one of Gustiro’s deer friend’s players. I enjoy our in character heated battles as much as I enjoy a quiet moment sitting with an in character friend.

With that said I want to just say…

You all are amazing people. Do not let your aching heart tell you otherwise.



##########Update 05/18/2012##########



When I first joined and saw how this community was set up I was pretty intimidated. I felt at first like there would be a lot of pressure for me to (1) learn to draw, (2) learn html, among many other things, and then when I started reading bios I thought that perhaps I would never be able to break into any of these groups. I thought I would be faced with the kinds of cliques that like to exclude newcomers and force them to fend for themselves. What I found instead is people like you who stick to their stories, but are kind enough, not so out of touch that they don't try to include other people. So now that my fifth day as a member of TEF is upon me, I think I've decided to stay.
- pumpkinseed

I always thought you were very very sweet and I know that the entire community is despite their deer characters being the opposite.
- Camy

This community and everyone here is beyond amazing, how they seem to reach out for every newcomer, not leaving anyone out in the cold. It's heartwarming, and it is fantastic.
- Snowsauria

~~~

We are becoming a bigger and more diverse community. It can be hard to be as close and understanding of one another as we use to be as our community expands. This happens in the real world. A small town where everyone knows everyone else. When someone needs help everyone pitched in. Then small town becomes a big city and people loose touch and compassion diminishes. Just because we are becoming a bigger community does not mean we have to loose touch. Just because our community, our minds, our hearts are growing up does not mean they have to become hard and jaded. Keep the old spirit of the community alive.

And if you are a roleplayer remember characters are just part of our imagination. They can be evil, angry, hateful but you do not have to be. Just because some of our characters can/are aggressive does not mean we have to dislike each other as our characters do. An aggressive character can be a great outlet for personal anger but after the games and battles are done let us come together as real people. Let us not forget that behind that deer is a human who wants nothing more then to be accepted and loved as you do. Let us have our little character wars and find peace when we shed those digital antlers.


If nothing else let us just remember:

*: We may argue sometimes. We may disagree. But in a way this game, this community has joint us like brothers and sisters. Like brothers and sisters we may be insanely close. Or we might not even like each other! But if someone attacks one of our own our clan descends upon the offender like bats out of hell. lol I've seen it before. Only a sibling may tease a sibling, am I right?
Even after bringing each other down we can and have brought each other up again. When "real life" becomes hard we are here to comfort and encourage. Even after a fight or disagreement.
Continue being the shoulder for your fellow members even if you may not see eye to eye. You would be amazed by what a small gesture can mean to someone. It is these aspects that made this community so inspiring for many.

*: New members are our future. As we grow older, as our lives become more busy, we may have stretches of time where we are forced to abandoned our beloved forest. It is the fresh and younger members that will keep this place running while we are absent and give us a chance to come back to this community when we have spare time again. Nurture our newbies and visitors and they will help keep this community strong and running.
- Greeting people when they first post a hello on the community! I have known a few newbies become dedicated members because of this simple and easy first impression. Maybe comment on some art or writing they post on occasion. It will make them feel more welcome and you may find yourself enjoying watching new artists/writers grow!
- Perhaps your character rejected a newbie because it was IC. That's fine! But next time you are bored perhaps hop on that OOC deer you have lying around and seek out that newbie! Show them that just because one deer may reject them does not mean they can't find a friend. Perhaps seek out that newbie if they're on the community. Let them know that your aggressive character was just IC but suggest that they seek out your more friendly characters and you'd be glad to play with them then!

~~~

And on a personal note. Just because I may not be as in touch with some of you as I use to be does not mean I have forgotten you. As human and flawed as I am I loose touch with important things and people as anyone may. I love you no less as I once did. Even if we grow apart or never speak again just know that there are times I will think of you and remember the good times and know that I love you now as I did then.

Always remember the good times and never forget the original TEF spirit.




##########Update 05/21/2012##########

♥Quadraptor's Vow♥