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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:26 pm
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as a stag stepped out from the trees and wandered down into the grassy meadow. He moved with heavy, deliberate steps. It was clear that in his prime he had been a creature to be reckoned with; strong muscles even now rippling beneath his skin and fur. But he was older and had many scars that told the tale of his journey. One antler was broken in half and a livid, red scar ran down across his left eye. Despite being blind in that eye, he had the confidence to wander far from the Firebringer herd, showing no fear for predators.
His ears flickered, listening carefully for any sound out of the norm, as he bent his head to a patch of clover.
Helaku was an odd creature. He had seen many things in his time. While living predominately within the herd, knowing full-well the disadvantages he had, he would often wander quite far. In his youth he had been a rogue, hell-bent on seeing all there was to see and that roving blood still ran strongly through his veins.
Lifting his head, Helaku chewed calmly, his one good eye roving across the area. The smell of deer was in the air. Would he have himself a visitor today? Somebody from the herd who had also taken a stroll or a rogue who would have stories to tell?
Helaku gave a half smile. It was going to be sunny day today.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:07 pm
The regal stag was not the only visitor to the tranquil little meadow lined with bright pines touched with gold leaf as the morning sun slowly crept over the horizon. A small breeze picked up, ruffling through the feathers of fur ruffled about the dark hooves as well as atop the solitary creature's small round head. The peak of antlers were adorning him, which he was proud of no doubt, but his size was considerably smaller than the large creature further out in the pasture. The lone calf stepped lightly, paying a small amount of attention on the things before him, but had his large eyes set instead on what was behind. The mismatched hues blinked widely before they were accompanied by a loud bleat signifying his youthful vigor but also the state of nature that surrounded him.
Despite how peaceful the morning was starting, the little calf was not starting his out well. The hind whom the calf belonged to was not in sight which would alert any intelligent deer that something was amiss, but the frantic movement was even more of an alarm. His pink tongue was visible through his open mouth; panting was the only way he was cooling himself despite the perfect weather that danced around them. This also suggested how long he had been running; too long.
Looking forward once more the little one jolted, spotting the large impressive stag ahead and swiftly skid to a halt, pulling back his large ears in the process. Those mismatched eyes widened even more so before slimming. His intentions were evident. Without warning, the little calf pranced over to the strong looking creature and ducked behind his legs before turning his head around him looking back from where he came.
"Are they gone?" he asked aloud, seemingly to himself.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:32 am
Helaku was chewing calmly on his clover when the young deer burst from the trees. He had already been aware of the others hurried approach for some time, and despite his nonchalent exterior, was actually rather interested.
A deer in flight was usually enough to send off alarm bells, but he knew better. There was no scent of a predator in the air, and his nose was never wrong. He glanced around once and then turned away again and continued eating.
Even when the calf hid beneath him, he barely flinched. At the spoken words his ear flickered and he mused upon them for a time, considering this little circumstance. Bending his head to the clover he ripped up another few by their roots. Chew, chew, chew, swallow.
“Where is your mother at, eh?” He finally asked in his deep voice, dipping his head and twisting is neck to get a look at Scarv.
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Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:03 pm
The little one panted heavily behind the spindly sturdy legs of the large male who seemed stoic in behavior naturally acknowledging the calf's presence but made little notion to him. This disturbed the youth who in his run had expected the male to life his head more urgently in order to defend the little creature. When this didn't happen, he became puzzled and turned his head to the side much like a confused dog would. At least he had made some notion when he spoke to the calf.
"Mother?" he pondered. His brows turned up and his previously solid stance became weak and wobbly, "I...I don't know. We were separated two suns ago." The patch of white on the boy's eye glinted as his bright eyes observed the fellow, just then taking into account just how large he was. Those wyes widened slightly at the sight of half a missing antler and a vivid scar trickling down over his left eye. Ouch. That was all he could think. At least the antler had the possibility of growing back during the time of velvet, but the smoky blindness was not something easily fixed.
His intuitive nature got the better of him, causing him to blurt out. "Erm...um...how did you lose half of your antler?" This was completely irrelevant from the problem that had driven him to the stag's hooves in the first place. All thoughts of being chased had evaporated completely.
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Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:32 am
Lost his mother two suns ago? “That’s no good.” Helaku said, though he certainly didn’t sound overly worried. He could have been discussing the weather. The way he saw it, there was no point in getting bent out of shape over something he couldn’t control. It was unfortunate for the little guy, but life was life
As the calf’s gaze roamed inquisitively, Helaku also let his one good sweep across Scarv. That marking across the face was certainly interesting. Even Helaku had never seen anything quite like it. It brought back memories of the old tales. Stories he hadn't heard for a long, long time.
It took him a while to answer the youngster’s question. In that time he moved away from Scarv, stepping around him and further into the meadow. He inspected a few plants along the ground, stared at the sky and then gave a deep chuckle. Looking over at Scarv, eyes twinkling mischievously, the stag asked. “Have you ever heard of the Fallen?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:16 pm
He wasn't disappointed by the lack of sympathy, after all, he was still very much distracted by the question he had already asked and was waiting for the answer. Those large ears of his swiveled forward, giving his face even more of an innocent expression despite his disposition, and expressed his curiosity to the max. After all, Helaku's philosophy was right; Cest La vie, as is life!
Helaku had crossed an important concept. Or at least it was important to some; the calf himself had not been introduced yet to the old stories and legends of a stag who had on his brow a leaf of oaken. Sparv instead had a similar white patch, in the shape of a bird.
All the same, the large stag's physique was what truly interested the boy who turned his head as he listened. "The Fallen?" shaking his head he gave the answer of "No." His little tail flicked as he moved to take a step closer to the stag who had moved away and he continued, "Who are they, what are they like?" The boy was clearly intuitive.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:18 pm
“Your mother didn’t teach you much, eh?” Helaku mused, mostly to himself, as he considered where to begin. Explaining how he had lost his antler and wounded his eye was going to take longer than he had expected. Sparv’s lack of knowledge was most bothersome. Then again, it had been a while since he’d had the chance to tell a story, and seeing the glint in the youngster’s eyes, he had a good audience.
“A long time ago-“ He began slowly, taking his time with each word. “- there was a stag named Sgorr. Though his antlers would not grow, he was smart and knew how to twist the minds of others. He became a tyrant lord, spreading his enormous herd throughout the land, destroying all that would not bow to his will.” Helaku stopped for a moment to let his words sink in. “I can tell you more about that in a minute.” His ears flickered as a nearby bird twittered on its tree branch.
“The Fallen are Sgorr’s warriors. Loyal stags who fell doing his bidding and who rose again; hearts filled with anger and spite. They care nothing for life and most wish to take it from others.” Again Helaku paused and then said, in a rather nonchalent tone. “I fought one once.”
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:15 pm
It was true that the youngster proved to be a marvelous audience. Stories had always been something he was intrigued with and he oft found himself wrapped up within them to the point of visioning himself alongside the main character of whatever tale being told. Those large sparkling eyes were focused firmly on Helaku, not budging. They followed every movement, every expression, transfixed upon the target firmly. And those large ears were cocked forward.
The story was fascinating enough and it was a wonder to the youth as to why he had never heard it before. Sparv, as he was called, followed every word piecing together the story within his mind where the characters sprang to life, animated with full vigor. This Sgorr fellow sounded to be a complete dictator. This sort of situation made the little one glad he was a rogue, at least then it would be difficult for a tyrant lord to ever put a rope around his neck, or in the case of the Sgorrla scars upon their foreheads and a threat whispered in their ears.
"Rose again?" he said, not believing what he had heard. Was that possible, to come back to life? Still he listened on, enthralled with the story. It amazed him even more so to finally hear the answer to his question. This deer, the tall stag that stood before him, had fought one of the fearless Fallen. His jaw dropped slightly as a single ear pulled back. "Whoa...did you really?" His tail flicked up as he took an interested step forward.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:24 pm
“Indeed.” Helaku glanced fondly at the calf, seeing a little of himself from when he had been young. Ah, now that had been a long time ago. But he could remember sitting avidly in front of the storyteller, and when the tale was told, proclaiming that he would become a part of his own story and one day trick Herne just as Starbuck had.
The stag spent a little time musing, perhaps adding the suspense, and then continued. “It was night when I met him on a rocky hilltop, but the moon gave all the light that was needed, its rays glinting off my opponents white bones.” Helaku tilted his head to get a better look at Scarv’s expression. “He was incredibly strong; after our antlers met three times he twisted his head to the side and snapped my antler clean off. So I turned and fled.”
Not exactly a brave tale of triumph, but Helaku had always been one for survival. Dieing was not on his agenda anytime soon, especially not against one of Sgorr’s twisted underlings. Having known that he couldn’t possibly win, he had run from the battle. "I gave him a good kick in the head as I was leaving though." He gave a deep chuckle.
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 9:26 pm
The little fawn to was enamored with the tales spoken by a storytellers tongue, and had always immersed himself deeply within each story as to massage the suspense. It had been a long time since his last visit with a storyteller, and now separated from his mother he wasn't even sure which way his old herd belonged. But with that aside, his focus still lingered on the large stag who tickled his muse as he continued with his narrative. His expressions displayed his thoughts.
The vision of a ghostly skeletal creature with glowing vibrant specks appeared in his mind aided with the flow of an eerie breeze while the strong Helaku stood below with his head ducked down in a defensive pose ready to take on the threat. Even if the story ended with the stag fleeing it didn't at all harm Sparv's perception of Helaku. In fact it only made sense.
"Wow, I bet you kicked him hard," he grinned from ear to ear thoroughly enamored. Trotting forward, he moved to inspect the male wondering to himself if he would ever grow as tall. Sparv hoped so, but did not count on nature endowing him in any such fashion. Noticing his eye once more, his curiosity aided him in asking another question, "Um...sir? Exactly how did you lose your eye? Was that during the same event of fighting the Fallen?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:12 am
Ooc: Oh man, the storyteller in me took control. I hope it’s not over the top. XD
Ic:
Scarv’s excitement was infectious, as was the grin. Helaku smiled. He was quite content and happy with this unexpected meeting, having a chance to see the bright light in the youngster’s eyes. Though if he really wanted he could probably go back to the herd and tell stories of his adventures for as long as anyone would listen, but that idea made him feel rather odd. Besides there were so many more adventures to be had, he didn’t want to be sitting in a meadow telling tales. At least not until he lost sight in both his eyes… and possibly gone deaf as well.
“My eye, eh?” The stag had been expecting that question and he dove into the story willingly. He mused for a moment and then began, weaving the tale for his audience. “It’s another story that involves running away O'm afraid. I was much younger when my eyesight was taken; foolish and believing I could outrun the wind and outfight Starbuck.” He snorted, and one-eyed gaze on the young Scarv.
“One night, as I wandered across the hills, the wolves were out hunting. They caught my scent and came after me. For that entire night they harried me, following me and wearing me down. At first I believed they would not catch me, but I grew tired as the night moved towards dawn and they kept getting closer. They used a method of falling back and then darting forward until I was nearly dropping from fatigue, my nerves were on fire.” He shook his head, remembering the exhaustion and the fear that had crept upon him.
Helaku looked for Scarv’s expression. “I was on my last legs when I reached the gully. I was caught between a dangerous drop and a pack of hungry wolves, and so… I leapt. I was lucky I didn’t break a leg on the way down, but I was certainly scratched, battered and bruised. A sharp branch scratched me across the eye, taking my sight.” The stag tilted his head a little. “It was deep gully, tree lined. A larger tree stopped my tumbling fall. The wolves did not wish to follow me into such a dangerous spot, not without a bit of consideration anyway.
Herne was with me that night, for there was the blood of much easier prey in the air, and the wolves chose to go after that instead of risk their skins going after me. No matter how long they had stalked me.” Helaku dipped his head towards Scarv. “Always be wary. Listen, learn and live. Those were lessons I learnt that night.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 2:14 pm
((Not at all, I really enjoy it ^^))
The continuation, or more like, explanation of his injured eye was just as fascinating if not more so than the previous story. Wolves were the bane of all deer, that was true, and their haunting presence like shadows during a hunt would frighten the bravest of stags. And to Sparv, the stag before him was the bravest and a fast growing idol. Not knowing much legends having not grown in the presence of a story teller, the fawn was thrilled with the very mention of what he felt were heroic endeavors by Helaku even if they seemed to both consist of him running. That didn't bother the little one; after all, he was well aware of the fact that deer were flight creatures and would sooner turn on their heels than bow their antlers to an enemy. It was only smart to fight for survival even if that meant running.
The youngster stood stock still as he listened, imagining the setting around himself. He had been lucky to have avoided the wolves so far, but their very mention chilled him to the bone knowing that he was vulnerable so young and exposed. As the stag described the situation he could almost feel their hot breath on his flank. He could only imagine the stag's panic.
When the story was over, he looked up diligently understanding his words and gave a confirming nod as to agree with his statement. "Yes sir," he commented. Taking a step forward and flicked his tail while his ears gave a swift pull back as to listen to their surroundings.
"It's a good thing you got away from the wolves...but I'm sorry your sight was taken away at the same time," he murmured up to Helaku and searched the older deer's expressions.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:57 pm
Helaku took his time in answering the query that was murmured so quietly by Scarv, as if to soften its blow. He cast his gaze up to the sky, his thoughts turned inward, but when he looked back to the calf he was smiling. “For me, there is no loss. I can still see the world. In many ways loosing my sight was a boon to me. It was the price I gave for other gifts. That night taught me many great lessons, ones that others are sometimes not lucky enough to live through.
Over the years my hearing has increased to make up for my lacking in sight. There’s not much I don’t hear coming. I was given anew perspective on life. Which I hope has given me some wisdom.” The stag chuckled deeply. “Though to be honest, when I first lost my sight, and as I dragged myself out of that gully, bloody, beaten and bruised…. still terrified that the wolves were waiting, I wondered why Herne would destroy me so. A part of me was sure my life was over.”
Helaku smiled at the rapt Scarv. Ah, what a time that had been. So young and foolish. Filled with pride, and then broken down amongst the dark fear. When the time came to join Herne, Helaku was looking forward to saying thankyou. Thankyou for giving him the ability to accept life and all it gave. The stag shook his head to dislodge his thoughts and return to the present.
He turned his bright, inquiring gaze onto Scarv. “So, what will you do now, eh?” He asked.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:37 pm
Still he marveled at the stag. Appearance wise he appeared not too old, but his eyes held a deep wisdom he also expressed through his words. The youth wondered to himself exactly what went through Helaku's mind as he stood there expressing his life and his thoughts to the calf who absorbed every bit of information like a sponge.
Though he had never experienced being caught in a human trap so low that there seemed to be no light he could sympathize with the triumph Helaku made over the power of pessimism making the most of his life with what he had left and perfected far much more. Instead of loosing something he simply traded what he had for something perhaps some would view to be better. The calf wagged his tail.
But he blinked when he was asked such a question and pulled his ears back anxiously. That wasn't something he could answer. Not yet anyway. He wanted to search more for his mother feeling that somewhere she had to be looking for him. Little Sparv was unaware of her fate presently, but held onto an optimistic hope they would be reunited as he wished.
"I-I don't know, Sir. I'm going to keep looking for my mother..." he answered softly.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:41 am
Again Helaku fell into a long silence, one in which he alternated between nosing at the grass and watching Scarv. He knew that there was a strong possibility that Scarv’s mother was dead. No hind would have remained from their baby’s side for long unless forced to, and a youngster’s tracks were not hard to follow. Especially this one, who had simply barreled out of the forest. Chewing on clover again he began moving slowly across the meadow.
“Come on then.” A decision was made in his mind; to go with Scarv until the calf was in a relatively safe position. He was rather fond of the earnest young deer and wanted to see to it that he survived that little bit longer. Helaku was not heartless; he would not leave the youngster alone. Stopping in his path, he looked back at Scarv, honest even with one whom might have preferred hope. “Your mother has probably left this world, but we shall search for her.”
He gave a gentle smile and then approached Scarv, bending his head until their noses were almost meeting. “If we are to travel together, you must know my name. I am Helaku.”
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