Chapter 1
The bay full moon shown down upon the huddles masses, revealing them to the watching eyes of the forest. The creatures took the long, shallow breaths of sleep, chests barely rising. They lay completely still, except for the movement of their lungs, huddled close together for warmth against the cold winter night. They appear as nothing more than two shadowed lumps, small boulders among the many trees.
A boulder moves. The little male snuggles closer to the other; his fur catching the moonlight, shining as if he was one of the many stars above him. Pale hair shades his eyes from the bright moon, as another set of darker orbs stares directly into the dark sphere. Her intelligent eyes watch the clouds flit across the moon, the radiance hidden only for a moment. The light cannot catch her, the darkness of her pelt keeping her in the shadows. She is the night; her brother, snuggling closer in his sleep, the day.
A twig breaks. The female snaps her head to the noise, eyes searching the darkness. “Alaunus, Alaunus?” The fawn beside her awakes, sleep still present in the sky of his eyes. But almost immediately, he senses his sister’s fear.
“What is it Aisling?” They stare together into the forest, little bodies huddled close together. The twins looked into each other’s eyes for comfort, and for answers. Alaunus wrapped his hand around his sister’s, her breathing coming quick and faint. She squeezed his hand in response, eyes shut tight. Another twig breaks, this one closer. Aisling whimpers into her brother’s shoulder, his free hand running through her hair.
“Calm your hearts my children.” The moon catches anther creature; a great Stag, its pelt the purest of white, emerges from the darkness. “Fear not your loving father,” the mockery clear in his voice. Aisling lifted her head for a moment, only to lower her eyes once they caught the image of her sire. Alaunus kept his grip on his sister’s hand; their only comfort was each other.
“Father?” The word was not in mockery, but in question, a question the stag understood at once. He turns away from the little fawns, eyes cast anywhere but upon them. The little male stands, his arms outward for the embrace he will never receive, the Stag hiding his face from the pair. “Where are you going?”
The Stag’s shoulder’s slump, a hand rises to rub tired eyes. “I am sure you already know in your heart. For if it was not you, Aisling has long known this day would come.” The female lowered her body closer to the ground.
“Yes father,” her voice strained. The Stag nodded, patting little Alaunus on the head, fingers tracing were his horns will one day grow. Alaunus snuggled into the touch, treasuring every moment of contact with his father. A mocking smile played his lips.
“I care not for you younglings, I never have. And I cannot raise two fawns on my own. The two of you have faired well with only each other up till now, and I expect that you can continue to do so. Take care of yourselves, that’s all I ask.” The Stag focused his vision on the fawns, hands still interlocked. He pushed Alaunus away, the young male stumbling backwards. Aisling caught her brother in her arms, glaring angrily at the Stag. “Farewell my children” Venom dripped from these words. The younglings cringed at his verbal attack, tears in the female’s eyes.
Small sobs filled the night air. The twins held onto each other as tears ran down their cheeks. Neither one spoke a word to each other, there wasn’t any need to. They only had each other now. Sleep stole them again, salty tears drying on their skin. They stayed in their embrace throughout the night, both hoping that they awake from the nightmare.
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