Hero sat with some of the younger kimeti around a shimmering fire at the top of the hill. The events were over, but the motley crew of young ones had been pestering some of the adults for entertainment. He had gotten them to calm down by promising a story once the moon rose. Prematurely, they had started a fire just before sunset but failed to gather enough dry material to keep it going, so the flames were shrinking to embers but it danced romantically on the eager faces of the young.For effect, the buck meerily looked around at them, allowing his brilliant face to twinkle in the small light.
"This is the story of a buck that lived many moons ago. No one knows his name for sure, but his deeds have lived on to this day. Some call him Savior, others Magnificent, and yet others claim his name was Nobody. There are even more versions in which I have heard that he was actually a she! But that is not as important as the deeds he had done. I will say his name is Savior, as that was what he was most known for.
"He was born on a day much like it is now: in the twilight between day and night. The stars were the first thing he saw as his eyes opened, and he admired. His naming dream had been one of obscurity, for what it was he was meant to Save was uncertain - but Save he would do.
"Do any of you know what his first Act was?" Hero looked around to the young ones. They all shook their head, mystified eyes and mouths hanging open. The buck smiled and shook his hair out of his eyes. "He Saved a young tortoise. You see, it was just recently born itself - even younger than him, and it was trying to get away from another youngling - a caiman. But the caiman's teeth was just a little too short and the tortoise's shell was just a little too thick. It was obvious that the caiman would win. So Savior..." the buck thrust his chest out emphatically, "...jumped up over both of them and leaned his head down. At the caiman, he nudged his nose, mindful of the razor-sharp teeth that could still do some damage, and said 'Pick on someone your own size!' Of course, the caiman was a little worried for Savior was bigger, but it wanted the tortoise. And so, it snapped at Savior, and snagged his leg."
When Hero paused for a breath, it was silent - the little ones weren't breathing either. "It tried to drag Savior down, but he kicked it off, gathered the tortoise and ran up to the safety of a grassy knoll. When he put the tortoise down, it was so grateful it gifted him with one of the caiman's teeth which had broken off on its shell.
"And so began Savior's Acts of Kindness. He would help anyone who needed it: whether they were smaller of bigger than himself. And when his Act was done, some would give him little trinkets and the like - although he never asked for anything in return. The pleasure of seeing others living their lives, being happy, and going along their ways was reward enough for him. He never ate meat except for fish, because he could not bring himself to kill another sentient creature."
Hero paused here again. "He saved sacs from the prying beaks of the scavengous beaks of gulls. He rescued bucks and does alike from the unwanted attentions of another. Savior wreaked havoc on those that wished to maim or be cruel to another being. His body took the worst toll of all: cuts and scrapes, tears and broken bones, and malnutrition and infections. It was only by the Grace of the MotherFather that he could continue. And every night, he would glance up at the stars and renew his Faith in that what he was doing was Right."
"Until one day, when it was overcast and raining. Savior was still recovering from a broken rib from a battle with a boar. This time it was a young kimeti - not much older than you all, unsteady on her feet in the slippery mud. Just as it was before, a caiman was preying on this young one. At the moment that Savior arrived, it was still toying. The kin's fur was mixed with rain, mud, and blood, and her eyes were rolling in exhaustion. She had already stopped crying out, so tired from the battle that was ensuing.
"Savior ran to her aid and collided with the fully grown caiman. He shouted, kicked, and stomped. While the shock from the attack stopped the caiman for a bit, It wasn't long before Savior's own hide was covered in scrapes and blood. The caiman was old, strong, and larger than most. It knew how to fight. While it tired, so did Savior. It was obvious that only if the caiman gave up or Savior made a mistake that the battle would be over."
"But where was the young kimeti?" a young voice piped up from the group, the first sound other than Hero's.
Hero smiled, "Oh, she took a break but joined in where she could. Because she was smaller, she could find gaps and put forth her own small blows. She was a brave one.
"The rain had stopped and the stars were just coming out when the moment finally came. Savior's foot, weak an sore from the beatings and nips, slipped in the mud and he went down. The caiman took the opportunity and grabbed him near his should. The grasp was unbreakable, and with a cry Savior was pulled to the waters. His struggling was useless and he knew it - but he would not give up.
"It was the young filly. She threw her whole body into her meager attacks. She stomped on eyes, nose, skull, and neck, knowing by this point that they were the weakest areas of the caiman. While the caiman was stunned, it would not release its grip.
"It seemed all was lost, but the filly got in one lucky blow just as Hero's hoof reached the water's edge. She kicked across the caiman's eyes, puncturing one and damaging another. With a painful growl, the caiman let go and retreated in the water - finally feeling that this meal was not worth the effort.
"Victorious, the filly reared and yelled with joy - until she saw the still crumpled up form of Savior at the water's side. She rushed up to him, but it was already too late. The caiman had ripped through vital arteries and Savior's blood was pumping out into the Swamp with every breath. But the buck smiled up at her - stars surrounding her precious face. With his last words he whispered, 'Good... you are safe. You are all ok.' "
Hero's voice quieted. The young ones stared. A few had tears running down their face. "Is that it? That can't be it! He cannot die!"
A sage nod was their response, "Everyone dies. May we all be so lucky to die for another - so that our death might have meaning."
"But what about the MotherFather? Did It do anything?"
Hero tilted his head to the side and looked up. It was just starting to get dark and one star was just starting to shine. "Well, I do know that the first star the comes out every night... that just needs to watch over us before the others break free of the sun's grasp... is the Savior, the Protector, the Magnificent start that comes before the rest and burns the brightest over all Kin and creatures of the Swamp. Some say, that the MotherFather took pity on Savior, and brought him among the stars to watch over Its Kin forever - just as he did in life."
