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 Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:01 am
His thoughts had been rather preoccupied as of late. There was a lot going on... what with the appearance of a Fallen... that strange wolf they caught glimpses of from time to time.. and now Anlach was starting to approach. Brychan's antlers had been in velvet and now the skin was being shed. The stag had taken some moments off of his Outrider patrols to tend to them.
Standing at an oak tree, he could be seen rubbing his antlers against the bark. Pieces of velvety skin hanging from his antlers like spanish moss from tree limbs.. although a bit bloodier. Shedding the velvet was always a bloody mess since it was full of capillaries that carried blood to the growing boney appendages. His neck was starting to get stiff from all the rubbing, and Brychan lifted his head for a moment to take in his surroundings. Despite the mess he was at the moment, he was quite proud of his antlers this year. They were more robust than from the year before, which was to be expected. With Anlach approaching, he'd noticed many of the young bucks getting excited and already eyeing potential females.
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 12:19 am
It had been a strange sort of day, not in terms of weather, or other natural sorts of phenomenon. Well, perhaps it was natural, but still...odd. And the true oddness of it only became more and more apparent as Aithne stopped to casually glance at one of the stags. Like many of the others, the velvet on his antlers was just beginning to shed and become itchy. Or, she had been told it was itchy, not of course having had any firsthand experience herself. Did it hurt? She often wondered. After all, from the looks of the reddish sort of stains on the bark they bled. Not profusely, but enough that it was evident. She grimaced. It didn't quite look like an altogether enjoyable process.
And then, just as she was contemplating this, he lifted his head, and instictively she froze, and then wondered if he had seen her. And of course being who she was, she had about one fifth of a second to decide a course of action before he did see her. Her coat wasn't exactly a common colour. Granted, it was autumn, meaning that the red-orange colour blended not too badly with the falling leaves. But disregarding that, she needed a course of action. She was sure it would look odd for her to be standing there staring at the stag, unless she was admiring him. Which even if she was (he did have quite nice antlers) she wasn't about to be that obvious. And so she did the first thing that came to mind. Act like she didn't care. Perhas talking?
"Does it hurt?" She asked, actually glad of a reason to get an answer to the question that she had long been wondering about. "I mean, it looks a bit like rubbing your skin off, and in my experience that's never been something pleasent."
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:25 am
It wasn't every day that a hind just came up to you and talked, unless you already knew her or it was Anlach or something... but it did happen on occasion. Brychan's blue eyes turned in the direction of the feminine voice, and a friendly smile came to his muzzle. Along with a flicker of amusement in his expression at her question.
"No.. not really. Unless you try to shed it too early. It just dries up and starts to come off on its own. Rubbing helps get it off faster. It looks a lot worse than it actually is." His entire pelt was very dark, so it was probably hard to see the blood that was on his face as well.
Brychan looked over the hind with interest. She wasn't that unusual of a color.. considering they were red deer, but she was pretty. In some ways... her pelt reminded him of Loreena... one of his hinds he hasn't seen in awhile... although she was darker in color. "I don't believe we've really met before. My name is Brychan." Giving his head a shake, a few loose pieces of the velvet fell off his antlers, but he still had some work to do on them yet.
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 6:25 pm
"Huh, really now?" Her voice betrayed her disbelief at the odd spectacle, but she believed him. "Well, even so I daresay I'm glad I don't have a pair," Aithne declared with a snort. No wait, that wasn't wholly true. There was in fact, many a time she had wished for a pair, so that she might go on some grand adventure, at least semi-able to defend herself. As it stood...there was no question what would happen to a hind outside the herd. And while she liked to dream, she was not stupid. Alright then, so perhaps the part about not wanting antlers had been an outright lie. It was more that she didn't want to have to scrape of velvet in a bloody mess really. Not that it mattered, she wasn't about to tell an outrider that she had always dreamed of playing truant and escaping, if only for a short time, from the confines of the herd. Wouldn't he love that.
In response to his name, Aithne inclined her head politely. She had known who he was of course, she knew most of the more prominent outriders the hinds liked to talk of, though by name only. She had never talked to one herself. "I'm Aithne," she offered, orange eyes still watching the velvet fall, before looking back to Brychan and trying to curb her fascination with the velvet. Simply, she was only curious because she had never seen it this close before and had none of her own to compare with. She found she was fascinated with many things in this respect, birds, trees, anything really. And mountains. For whatever reason, the mountains that lay beyond the territory of the herd held utmost interest for her. She wondered if Brychan had ever seen mountains, and stared at him critically, as if she could discern it with eyes alone. But then, probably not, after all, he most likely had spent his life guarding the herd.
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Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:40 pm
Brychan lifted his brows and then laughed at her indignant reply about being glad she didn't have a pair of antlers. "Well... they can be a pain sometimes, but they are also quite convenient." Not to mention a stag just wouldn't be a stag without his antlers. However, his expression softened a bit as he watched her... seeing that look in her eye as she seemed to be scrutinizing him.
"Its a pleasure, Aithne. You know.. you remind me of someone." That look in her eye... yes... it was very similar to someone he knew and was rather fond of. Speaking of which, he should probably pay her a visit at some point soon. He had to wonder what this hind was thinking... and really if he knew, it wouldn't surprise him in the least.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:23 pm
Aithne nodded her head agreeably at the mention of convienience. True enough ,she had just been considering the same thing herself. Although, she doubted her wishes for antlers were the same as any stags wishes. Of course they could be, but she somehow doubted that. And anyways, she had long ago given up trying to tye sticks to her forehead and hoping they would grow into antlers. That stuff was only true in fables. And she had been a young fawn then, ingenuitive, but a little too idealistic. The only thing that plan had managed to get her was a headache. She hadn't tried it again.
And, what was that Brychan had jsut said? She reminded him of someone? "I...remind you of someone? Might I happen to know this someone?" She cocked her head curiously. For the life of her, she couldn't think of whom she might remind him of. Perhaps another outrider he knew of? She wasn't really sure whether it would be good or bad if she reminded him of a stag. But after all, there weren't many hinds in the herd she really related to that well. Well, now that she thought about it, there was one...but she hadn't seen that friend in quite a while. And what were the chances that Brychan knew her?
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 5:31 pm
"Hmm.. you might" he said, although he too though the chances were slim. It was a hind he was thinking of, but she wasn't always the most social. But she had befriended a few hinds. Its just that.. her ideals weren't always the most popular, but that didn't bother him any.
"A gray hind, her name is Telyn." A fond smile coming to his face as he thought of her. He fancied her quite a bit. There was a reason that she was in his harem, and the favored of his hinds. So comparing her to Telyn was quite a compliment from Brychan. "You've got a similar look in your eyes" he then remarked with an amused chuckle. Speaking of which, he should probably pay her another visit... she and his two offspring.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:53 am
So perhaps, the chances that Brychan knew this particular hind were in fact quite good. 100% now that he had said her name, though she wasn't sure she had heard it correctly until it had time to process through her brain. "Telyn? You don't say!" Aithne chuckled in a mixture of surprise and pleasure. Small world. And by the look on Brychan's face, he cared for Telyn quite a bit. So that must mean Telyn was most likely in his harem. She was glad that her friend had found someone. It had been quite a while since she had last talked with the other hind.
"Well thank you," she said, pleased at the mention. "So tell me, how is she?" It would be nice to talk with Telyn again, for it was only now that Aithne realized how much time it truly had been. And how they both must have changed since their last meeting. Well, perhaps Aithne herself hadn't changed in any large amount, but Telyn may have.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:19 am
Brychan looked pleased at Aithne's responce, "So you do know her then." It was small world indeed... he didn't know too much about any friends that Telyn might have outside of his harem. But then, they both had been busy. He with his outrider duties, and she with raising their young.
"She's well" he said with a bob of his head, "We had two younglings last Anlach, a fawn and a calf." So yes, obviously that confirmed that Telyn was indeed in Brychan's harem, and his favorite at that. "Islwyn and Tempest. I'm sure she would like to introduce them to you." He wouldn't mind introducing them himself, either, for he was quite the proud father. But well, he likely wouldn't have the time. A nod of his head was given in the direction of a certain spot amongst the meadow, "You can usually find them over there, if you'd like to meet up with her."
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:05 pm
Indeed, she did know Telyn, though perhaps not as well as she might wish. As Brychan talked she nodded, and paused to take a glance at where his head nodded. She should go over there some other time, chat with her friend. It had been much too long. And, long enough for Telyn to give birth to younglings. Two, that that! She grinned as she noticed Brychan's involuntary swell of pride at the mention of his calf and fawn.
"How wonderful!" She exclaimed, "you must be quite the proud father then. And, they are both strong and healthy I take it?" Not that the question was truly necessary, she could tell merely watching his expression that he was immensely proud. And, he had right to be, as did Telyn. Two youngsters, a great thing.
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:52 pm
Brychan's smile seemed to brighten a little more the more he talked about his children and Telyn. "They are that... quite strong and healthy, and yes... very proud." He too thought he had quite a right to be proud. Two younglings from one hind was certainly nothing to scoff at! And they'd both survived and were turning out to be fine young deer.
"So why don't you tell me a little about yourself, Aithne?" After all... he didn't want to just talk about himself and his family... Brychan was quite interested in getting to know this particular hind. Especially if she was a friend of Telyn's, for there had to be good reason for that. "Do you have any family?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:31 pm
That was good, a healthy fawn and calf were a blessing indeed, and, even more so now that winter was approaching. She didn't look forward to it's coming, she suspected most deer didn't. Winter meant cold, frost, and very little food. And, after a while, the taste of bark quickly grew stale and unappetizing in one's mouth. But, perhaps if they were lucky this years winter would be so kind as to not be too harsh. After all, digging through snow did not qualify as an enjoyable passtime by any means of the word.
About herself? Aithne had to pause a moment for these thoughts to come to her. Truthfully, she had never much considered her own life, most of her early years had constituted hatching daring plans of escape and adventure with several of the calves. She wasn't really close to many of the fawns, as most of them had looked upon her schemes with nothing more than contempt. A few of them had joined in her play, but, their interest had also faded as they had grown into does, and then into hinds. As had those of the calves, when they became bucks, all they really thought about was joining the corps, and most would reprimend her when she spoke of adventure, saying it was 'unfit talk for does.' And so she had kept her ideas to herself, socializing on a purely superficial level. Of course, Telyn had sparked a great interest in her, as someone likeminded was such a rare thing. As for family, there was none she really knew of.
"Well," she began, thinking all the while. "If you say I remind you of Telyn, than I'm sure you might understand there are few in the herd with whom I spend considerable time, my interests are a fair bit different than many of their's," she said, with a half smirk. "As for family, not much, or none that I know much of. Though I suppose is the case with many deer, what with so many siblings and half-siblings about. I don't really keep in contact with them though, if that's what you mean." And on thinking about this, perhaps she should have, though it was a little too late now. She barely even knew her parents, or any siblings, if she had some.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:46 pm
Brychan didn't know a deer that looked forward to winter. There was little food, and each deer had to do what they could to survive. And of course, there was always the chance for disease and death. He especially thought of the story Cledwyn had told him when many deer had died from a disease during the winter... and the white stag's own favored hind had perished. The storyteller himself having barely made it through.
There was almost a sad look in Brychan's eyes and to his smile when Aithne talked about her interests that likely resembled Telyn's. He already know of his favored hind's wish to leave the herd and see the world for a time. And while Brychan certainly didn't care for the idea, he didn't stand in her way either. She knew his stance on the subject. He worried for her safety, for there were many dangers beyond the herd, especially with that one white wolf wandering about. He had his own ways of trying to keep Telyn in a safe place.. which pretty much involved getting her pregnant and having younglings. But well.. he figured that would only last for so long. Especially if Telyn found others to go with her.
"I see.. I have to admit.. I don't really have any contact with my birth family either. I suppose that's Herne's way, isn't it?" Well she didn't mention any other stags or offspring, so that had to mean Aithne was unattached, which was good for him. For the more he talked to her, the more interested he had in Aithne. She was already a friend of Telyn's... and the happier his hinds were, the happier he would be essentially.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:06 pm
Aithne watched as his expression became somewhat...what was the word? Sad, perhaps? Whistful? He was thinking on something no doubt, and he seemed to understand her words more than she had realized. Perhaps he might understand her desire to see the world, his expression said that he knew she was thinking of more than she let on. And in all likelihood, so too was he. All the same, he was an outrider, a good one at that, for the hinds didn't gossip about just any of the outriders. He would surely have protection in mind. Perhaps that was what his look was for? For she recalled a particular frosty day last winter when her and Telyn had eagerly plotted an escape. Maybe she had told Brychan of her wishes. From his expression, she wouldn't be exactly surprised.
"Yes, I suppose it is Herne's way. Families can be so big anyways...it's sometime hard to keep track of everyone," Aithne remarked with a rueful smile. "Though as long as there are no hard feelings, it isn't necessarily a bad thing to be out of contact. Of course, it's also nice to stay in contact as well, but I suppose everyone is different in that sense." It seemed natural anyways, after all, as younglings grew older, they spent more and more time with their peers, and less with their family. After all, when at a certain age, they stopped being younglings and thought about starting families themselves. She supposed it was only that natural order of things.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:03 am
Brychan wasn't the type of stage who was all brawn and no brain, he was a good Outrider for a reason after all. He caught onto most things fairly quickly. Telyn was different from most hinds, she was somewhat of a rebel... and yet there she was, the favored among his hinds. It wasn't hard for him to come to the idea that Aithne had similar wishes as her. He had good reason to worry for her safety and not wish her to leave the herd. It wasn't really a control issue... but if he lost her or any of his hinds for that matter.. he would be responcible and he would carry that guilt and pain with him for the rest of his life.
Brychan snapped out of his musing as Aithne continued to speak, and nodded his head in agreement, "There is a reason for everything, I believe." After all... if families stuck together... there was always the risk of inbreeding during Anlach or something, and the natural instinct for young to move away from their parents, prevented such things. A thought then came to his mind... if she was anything like Telyn, she might wander to the fringes of the herd. "Aithne... I do hope you stay close to the herd" and he chuckled a bit, "Telyn tends to wander, I'm afraid. But there is so much danger about as of late. I would hate to see anything happen to you." His concern was genuine, for that white wolf had killed a few hinds from this herd. Telyn would probably fill her in on that, if she ever got the notion.
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