T’was another day as I woke, greeted by the rays of Father Sun as he shined
over the horizon of the grove. Casting his rays upon my dreary eyelids,
greeting me with an urge to awaken from my slumber. So I rose, breaking the
montage of leaves and other bits of foliage that made its way upon my frame
during my rest. Amber eyes glowing back to the horizon to send Father Sun a
greeting of my own, before he went off yet again to chase after his mate. Soon
standing proudly, I shook my silvery antlers with a whip of my head. Just then,
agitated cries of numerous pixies rose up from the lengths of my antlers, all of
them in a chorus of protest against me shaking them from their resting beds.
Each of the pixies spewing high-pitched vulgar slurs and raspberries at my
directions. Flustered from their behaviour, I snorted my nostrils and bucked
slightly in fermentation towards them. All of the pixies quickly scattering in
fear to the branches and leaves aloft, their little heads peeking over their
leafy barriers.
“Such strange creatures, pixies..” I thought to myself as I shook the rest
of the surrounding foliage from my back. I made my way to the number of
offerings that are left at my brambled doorway; an assortment of trinkets and
portions of fruit littering the ground. I quickly lowered my muzzle and began
to feast upon the generous offerings. Oh, but how his insides yearned for the
delectable taste of moonglory fruit. It tugged at his stomach as he consumed
the berries and other offerings of produce that lacked in comparison to the
scrumptious taste of moonglory. Today would be a nice day in the forests, as
not a cloud in the sky could hinder his sight of Father Sun above. With
moonglory still on my mind, I decided to prance off into the Wilde in search,
perhaps the greenhouse to Ellindel would contain some.
Passing through the lofty vines and trees of the Seren, I was greeted by a
number of forestfolk. Each bowing their heads in reverence as I made a pass by.
It bewildered him sometimes that they would be so loyal to him, he was certainly
not one who expected it all the time, but he was thankful nonetheless. His
hooves guided his pondering mind to the entrance of Ellindel’s greenhouse,
and he had to kneel his head down greatly just so his massive bulk and antlers
could fit through the entry way. His yellow eyes caught sight of many wondrous
plants and stunning horticulture, a variety of glistening fruits also caught
his eye, but his dream of moonglory was firmly planted in his mind, he wanted
no other but that sweet prize.
“Wonderful, just wonderful, you’re growing to be quite the little
beauty!” a voice cried out behind a wall of plants. Curious, I made my way
and peeked my head around the plants and caught sight of an old man tending to
a small moonhart plant. “Ah, Abetyu..” I thought to myself, recollecting
memories of a young man who used to tend to all of the plants of the Wilde on a
daily basis. I trotted near him yet I did not catch his gaze, his attention only
fixated on the thriving moonhart. Slightly flustered, I approached him slowly
and it was only until my head was right beside his that he noticed my presence.
“Ah! No, no you scraggly beast! You’ll not be getting this plant!” Abetyu
cried as he grabbed the pot containing the moonhart into his hands and
clutching it protectively.
“You must be that doe who’s been wanderin’ in and eatin’ my
beauties!” Abetyu accused, pointing his finger at me. I stared at him a bit
flustered, for I only knew a bit of the common tongue from what my master had
taught me. Abetyu stepped closer to me and narrowed his eyes, as if adjusting
them under a blurry strain. “My, you’re a bright one.. Large too, no way
you can be a doe..” he said, then quickly leaping back with a startled
expression. “Oh! It’s the White Hart! Ah, ah.. I see, my apologies, Brother
Hart. I did not see it was you, old age I’m afraid..” he said. I tilted my
head slightly at him in curiosity, only understanding his own name being said
but catching an apologetic tone. Abetyu quickly caught my eye looking about and
then returned his tone to cautious one, “Hey, hey, hey.. Just because you’re
the White Hart doesn’t mean you can walk in here and eat all of my plants!”
he boomed. I blinked at him as his tone yelled at me again, Abetyu only sighed
and looked at me, then muttering to himself, “Where is that Goldie when you
need him? You can’t understand a word I’m saying without that torc, can
ye?” he said. I blinked at him again, but after seeing none of the moonglory
amongst his prized plants, I lowered my head in defeat and went on my way.
Abetyu only had a puzzled look upon his face and then quickly went back to
tending his own plants.
“What a strange man..” I thought to myself as I grudgingly popped my
antlers out of the entrance of the greenhouse once more. My amber eyes glanced
up and saw that Father Sun stood at his apex, he had remembered that his master
said that mortals would call this time of the day: ‘noon’. Mortals were a
puzzling bunch at times, though it was nice to see that the fragments of the
Gods and Goddesses of the Circles before were thriving on the Basin, and that
perhaps Their sacrifices were not in vain. Yes, sacrifice, I was most familiar
with the virtue. My divine father would speak of it a lot amongst the other six
virtues, and it is those virtues after all that compose who I am in essence. As
he reminisced his way north, his eyes quickly caught the sight of open hills
and plains, and his natural instincts quickly took the better of him as he
thundered across them with glee. “These are the Centaur Hills,” I reminded
myself. I quickly caught eye of a few of the creatures, many of the younger
colts gave chase after me. It was funny sometimes as in retrospect, the
centaurs could almost be considered his siblings. The colts quickly retired
from fatigue from behind me, apparently I haven’t lost my touch from years in
my grove.
Suddenly an approaching whistle filled my ears with wariness, my instincts
screamed danger as the sight of wooden arrows shot past me. Quickly looking
behind me, I noticed a number of elder centaurs giving pursuit. Who was I to
deny them their rightful hunt? I leaped from side to side, strafing while
maintaining a distance from his hunters. Bolts sailed beside his frame as his
agility as instincts as a natural pray took over. His eyes went sharp with
determination and perseverance to evade his chasers. After noticing my grace
and speed, some of the hunters quickly lost heart and retreated yet he still
had many on his tail. Snorting my nostrils in stubborn resolution, I quickly
picked up the pace and thundered across the hills like a flash of white
lightning. I looked back and with great delight noticed the look upon the faces
of the centaur.
His joy would be short-lived as he was soon greeted by the shining sight of a
silver arrow shooting towards his hind legs. With a skillful buck, he leaped
into the air, the silver arrow grazing his body slightly. “Ahah, nice move,
my friend!” a familiar voice rang out, I knew that voice. I knew it from
anywhere, I quickly turned to see Him dashing towards me. His moonhart bow
sharply poised at my body. “You should know better than to stop running when
a hunter is giving chase, my friend!” He said as he fired another one of his
silver bolts after me. I again bucked myself out of harms way, no other hunter
than Him would have such skill. As I took off running again, I looked behind me
to get a better view of my hunter. It was indeed his master, his father, his
eternal hunter, Charune.
“I see those years of sleeping and eating haven’t slowed you down one
bit!” He taunted, I snorted my nostrils in distaste and quickly picked up my
pace with a second wind descending upon me. Yet, He also followed suit, picking
up his pace with a fresh resolve, not even slowing down his relentless rain of
arrows upon me. I saw the forest to the south of me and made a clear run for
it, an emerald sanctity beckoning to my senses. Yet, He predicted this, and
quickly darted to the side of me, firing His arrows and forcing me to buck and
rotate frequently. I was quickly becoming exhausted from Him. Both of us
dashing across the plains like two rabid wakabi. With one final leap, I jumped
into the forest and slowed down and so did He. However, instead of a frown of
failure upon His face, He only approached me with a wry smile and a shrewd look
in those blue eyes of His. I quickly paraded my antlers before Him,
acknowledging myself the clear victor of this hunt. He only chucked and pointed
His finger towards my backside. As I turned my head, I quickly saw part of a
silver arrow protruding from my haunches. Flaring my nostrils in disdain, I
bucked myself into a frustrated frenzy.
“Calm down, calm down..” He called out to me, laughing as He made His way
to my legs and quickly removed the bolt. “You’re out of practice” He
winked to me, “Centuries ago you wouldn’t have even needed to dodge My
arrows.” I looked to Him with squinted eyes, “Hmph, rub it in.. At least I
don’t have an addiction to candied cherry cookies!” I thought proudly. He
quickly let out a chuckle and said to me, “I see you’ve also forgotten that
I understand your thoughts too.” he said. “Bloody Nil, ‘Father’..
Relentless to the end, I suppose..” I thought as I lowered my head in defeat.
“Now, now.. You still made it to the safety of the forest, didn’t you?” He
consoled, “I must be getting rusty.. Hmm..”
Without warning, He quickly drew an arrow and I reflexively darted towards
Him, placing the tip of my antlers at His throat while He had an arrow poised
at my neck. “Ha!” He proclaimed, “Not bad at all, my friend.” I quickly
paraded my antlers again in a victorious pose. “Of course!” I proudly
thought, “I did get to the forest, You know..” I boasted in my thoughts. He
only chuckled and turned about face, placing his bow and arrows behind Him as He
blasted the Hunter’s Horn across the forest and plains, the sound blasting
around Him as He galloped off into the horizon and swiftly disappeared as
swiftly as He came. I paraded my antlers and gave a glorious snort at my
victory as I noticed Father Sun beginning his descent upon the horizon, Mother
Night tricking him as she began to creep up from the opposite distance. It was
time for him to return home, but as he did, he felt a strange protuberance upon
his hooves. Looking back, he noticed a recent silver arrow glittering from
inside of him. I bellowed out in frustration to my master, I could only imagine
the smug look on His face right about now from hearing my voice. With my teeth,
I removed the arrow and bathed my wounds with a lapped tongue. Soon beginning
to make my way home to the valley, and to my home.
I quickly noticed, however, that I had all but forgotten about what I came to
search for to begin with! Oh, that sweet moonglory fruit, but alas.. He would
have to go the night without it. I sadly made my home and entered my grove from
its thorny doorway. Yet, as I entered, a sweet scent filled my senses with joy.
I quickly lowered my head and caught sight of a hoard of moonglory fruit below
me. I was puzzled for a second at where the bountiful gift had come from, but
as I lowered my head to inspect it more closely, I recognized His scent marked
upon the prize. I suppose it wasn’t so bad that He was able to read my mind,
perhaps He knew what I was searching for all along! The details weren’t
important though, and he quickly went to feasting upon his bounty. While I was
feeding, I could hear His chuckle ringing across my alert ears, and I glanced
up at the air with bits and pieces of the moonglory’s juices upon my maw in
thanks to Him.
As I finished my meal, I quickly noticed the beautiful light of Mother Moon
amidst the stars, her bright smile reaching down to me in greeting, I looked up
at her and displayed my antlers in my own greeting. His stomach was swelled with
joy and moonglory, and as his stomach swelled, so did his antlers as they
sprouted new points and began to glow with a healthy sheen. The mischievous
nature of a fawn took over me, and I pranced playfully about my grove but
quickly stopped as I heard the giggling and laughing of numerous pixies in the
branches aloft. As their eyes caught mine, I let out an arrogant snort of my
nostrils and they quickly retreated again behind the branches, but at the same
time, a sense of mischief ran over me and I laid myself on a bed of leaves and
lowered my antlers to them. The pixies approached wary and dumbfounded, but
then began to giggle and laugh as they laid themselves upon my antlers, and we
all retired for the night. Before I closed my eyes, I took a look to the east
of me, an array of sparkling pollen drifting upon the sky and winds from the
beautiful Moonhart Mother. As my eyes closed and the pixies upon my antlers
snored, the sight of a brief smile could be seen upon my maw.. For this was his
home, and it would forever be his home.. Serenwilde..