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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:29 pm
Telyn was used to standing at the edges of the herd. It wasn’t that she was a particularly unsocial hind. No, quite the opposite; she liked being around other deer. It was just that she only got along with certain deer. That was the problem. She didn’t get along with most hinds because they bored her and she didn’t get along with stags before most of them didn’t pay attention to her outside of Anlach. Heh. Speaking of Anlach, it was in full swing now. And, most surprising of all, she had actually joined a harem.
It hadn’t been a romance-filled event, not really. It had been almost a joke. Brychan had asked and she had said ‘yes’ without really thinking of the consequences. Now that she thought about it… Telyn was a very young hind, after all. Maybe it had been a bad idea to say ‘yes’ to the first stag who had come around… pawing the ground slightly, she paced at the edges of the area Brychan had collected for his harem. Loreena and Rhomae, the two other hinds in the harem, had apparently wandered off to chew some particularly delectable mallow down by the stream, leaving Telyn alone for the moment.
More importantly to the gray hind, they left her without someone to confide her worries in. She had always presented herself as an ever-confident young creature, but… well, she worried on occasion, as did everyone. This was one of those occasions where she worried about herself and her future. She didn’t want to become one of those hinds who always listened to her stag and did whatever he said. She didn’t want to just spend her days idling around the Home Oak. She wanted to actually see the world outside of the herd. Not leave the herd forever. There were her friends to think about, Rhomae and Aithne among them, and she certainly didn’t want to leave them.
Nor did she want to leave Brychan. He was… he was very sweet. And powerful. He had been preparing to challenge the Lord of the Herd, Fell Lore, for some time now.
Leaving the herd was unheard of though, at least for a hind. There were wolves out there, wolves hungering for lera especially now near the end of winter. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder… what was out there? She snorted to herself roughly before scratching at the ground with her hooves, her agitation obvious.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:43 pm
Brychan had been resting in the shade of an oak, taking a bit of an afternoon nap as he ruminated. The day had been uneventful, no stags coming to challenge him, and none needing to be chased off either. Gave him some time to relax a bit and think to himself. He had a lot to think about these days. The impending challenge on Fell Lore, that many knew was coming. The idea of mating with and producing calves with his hinds. Hopefully he would be blessed with one or two little outriders.
However, as he opened his eyes and looked across the hill, he saw Telyn standing alone. He had thought they all had gone to the stream, but seems he was mistaken. With a yawn, Brychan rose to his hooves and stretched a hindleg before quietly approaching the restless looking Telyn.
"You seem disquieted, dear Telyn... is something bothering you? I had thought you would be with the others." His voice gentle and clear, hoping not to startle her as he approached from behind. Ears fanned forward inquistively as he soon came to her side. While Loreena was his favored hind, each of them held a place in Brychan's heart.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:55 pm
Telyn started a bit as Brychan came up nearby, suddenly looming up from somewhere. She hadn’t been paying close enough attention to really see where. Well, there was a perfectly good reason why she shouldn’t explore outside herd boundaries, her more pessimistic---and ultimately realistic side---told her. She would get distracted by something pretty and then boom! Ripped apart by wolves or something.
She laughed at Brychan’s words, trying to shake off her feeling of discontent. It wasn’t as if she had anything to be angsty about! She had friends, she got along with the other hinds in the harem, and she had Brychan. Brychan, who had his eyes on the Lord’s spot! Come on! She couldn’t do any better than that, had never even dreamed of doing as well as that. It was downright stupid to be angsty. Everything in her life was working out.
“Nothing’s wrong, Brychan. Everything is… is fine.” She managed to hold it for a few moments before sighing. It was an obvious lie. There was no use trying to lie to Brychan. Turning to face the outskirts of the herd once more, she continued, “You know, one of my friends and I once planned to make an escape from the herd. Not forever, but for a few hours. We were planning on figuring out who all the Outriders are, knowing exactly where they stand guard and sneaking past them. Heh. We never actually did it, of course. Winter came and the cold was too fierce. But, I still wonder…”
She was silent for a few more seconds before speaking once more, “Tell me of your adventures as an Outrider. I want to know what it’s like.” Turning to face him once more, she daintily folded her legs underneath her as she relaxed, still watching him with interest.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:08 am
Indeed.. he instantly picked up that her first statement was false, but he patiently waited and heard her out. Not interupting as she spoke, until she had finished. He stood there for a few moments more, quietly wondering. This was an interesting turn of events. The starry pelted stag looked slightly pained at the idea of her taking off and leaving the herd. He knew what kind of dangers were out there, and he hated the thought of Telyn risking her life in the wilds. Not only were there wolves, but men as well.
Sighing lightly, he eventually folded his legs and settled on the grass as well. "I'm no storyteller..." he began, stalling for time as he raked his brain for any interesting stories. "I usually patrol the western ridge" a nod of his antlered head indicating the direction. "Lets see..." and he continued to think, wondering how best to describe the life of an outrider to a hind.
"Oh yes... I believe Pride caught wind of a wolf one day. The stubborn idiot was determined to fight him. I was a distance away, but I managed to catch sight of the brute. Stark white, huge... like nothing I'd ever seen before. I'm not even sure if it even was a wolf."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:17 am
“Pride? Hmm. Yes, I believe I met him once…” it was a very brief meeting, which Telyn was grateful for. She could only take so much testosterone-inflated pride before getting annoyed with everything and then never wanting to see another male as long as she lived. She had insulted him, which wasn’t much of a surprise, and he had insulted her right back. The truly surprising thing was that she hadn’t been able to think of a come-back. She decided not to mention this. She didn’t miss the slightly pained look on Brychan’s face and attributed it to the idea of losing a hind. It was nothing personal. Just another hind for Brychan.
It was her turn to look concerned as Brychan mentioned a wolf. She hadn’t thought that there were any this close to the herd… yes, it was definitely a good thing that she hadn’t gone out on her own then. She wasn’t an absolutely horrible boxer, but her main talents were being too smart for her own good and being just plain fast. Maybe she could get past one wolf with her wits, but wolves didn’t travel alone. They traveled in packs.
“Did he ever fight the wolf?” She was clearly interested. Even if this story wasn’t her usual fare of ‘oh do you know what whatshisface has done now?! He has asked her into his harem! Yes, HER!’, it was still very interesting. Perhaps even more interesting, since the former tended to bore her.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:33 am
Brychan lifted a brow at that comment of meeting Pride once. He can only imagine how that might have ended up. He didn't see the two.. ah.. meshing very well, to say the least. Pride had his huge inflated ego, and Telyn had her sharp tongue and opinionated...ness. He had little contact with that particular stag himself, but he'd built himself quite a reputation among the outriders.
"Well he tried, although I didn't see the whole thing, nor the outcome. He survived in any case, although he probably shouldn't have. That wolf is still around, I've caught wind of him a few times. A hind went missing not long after that encounter Pride had with it." He suppressed a shudder at the thought of the wolf. Even Brychan feared that monster, for it was not just some ordinary wolf.. far larger, and it seemed to be alone. Neither he or any of the outriders had scented a pack, just the one.
"Do be careful... not even the outriders stand much of a chance against wolves." Be it one or many, it was simply not wise to take on a wolf. Foxes were a different matter, as they were much smaller.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:05 pm
A flash of surprise and confusion crossed Telyn’s face at the news that Pride had indeed fought the wolf. The surprise was there simply because Pride had actually lived. The confusion that followed quickly was there because of the same reason. How had Pride survived? And, perhaps more importantly, had the wolf allowed him to… that was very strange in the hind’s mind. It was a pity that she wasn’t on better terms with Pride or else she would talk to him. Then again, it was Anlach… maybe if she pretended not to be claimed he would be willing to speak.
Nah. By now, Brychan’s challenge to Fell Lore was well known and the hinds of his harem were being recognized as well. It wasn’t too likely that she could fool someone.
“I heard about that… didn’t hear that there was a wolf involved though.” Telyn had never met the hind in question, but her presence had been missed by several others. Of all the theories circulating, the favored one concerned a mysterious rogue buck had come around. Telyn thought that theory was a load of brailah droppings, but if someone wanted to be romantic they would be romantic.
“ ‘Be careful’?” she repeated, looking at Brychan with one eyebrow arched. “Are you saying you wouldn’t try to stop me if I did go out for a little while?” Now that was interesting… and it won Brychan just a few more brownie points with the freedom-loving Telyn.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:34 pm
The stag nodded gravely, "It was a wolf... -the- wolf. There is only one. Myself and a few other outriders scented him in the area she had disappeared. We didn't let the majority know for fear there would be a panic, but there's been no sign of him since Anlach started. So perhaps he has finally gone."
At her question though, the stag was slightly startled and turned to look at her with concern in his gaze. "Your business is your own, especially outside of Anlach. I do not -like- the fact that you wish to venture out, espcially on your own. However, I will not try to stop you unless orders are given to." When it came to obeying the Captains and the Lord, his hands were tied so to speak. "But I was not just refering to your wandering, I meant in general."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:51 pm
“Hm.” It was probably still out there, Telyn reasoned. Maybe it was hiding for now, simply because it was Anlach. Did wolves have their own version of Anlach? She had no idea, but it seemed reasonable enough. That would explain its current absence. Oh, and maybe there was too much danger right now. It would be back later, perhaps when the fawns were born… not that Telyn had planned on wandering around if she had a baby tagging along! Of course not! If… well, if she happened to have one this Anlach, she would stay here.
At least, until the baby was old enough.
“Well, I wouldn’t go out on my own. That would be boring. And I will be careful.” She decided not to explain exactly who she planned to bring (especially since she wasn’t sure herself), on the basis that she didn’t want to cause them any trouble. Besides, the topic was edging into one of those charged grounds that she didn’t want to get into right now. Normally she didn’t care, but she didn’t want Brychan wandering off in a huff.
“What about the other herds? I’ve heard rumors of other deer herds. And not deer like us either. Stockier deer, with bigger antlers. And thicker fur.”
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:26 pm
"That's good..." Brychan commented on the part of her not going out alone. That put his mind to ease a little bit. He didn't press the matter though, she knew his standpoint on it, and the change of subject didn't bother him any. However, just because he was tolerant of the idea, didn't mean that others in the herd would be. He hoped that she didn't act too foolishly with the idea, and he hoped she didn't lose her life while wandering around out there.
The stag gave a nod of his head at her questions, "Oh yes... they're definately out there. Many other red deer herds, and other kinds as well. I met a reindeer a few weeks ago. Those are the ones with the big antlers and thick fur. Their hinds even have antlers." That's something that usually shocked most red deer, and Brychan had been rather intrigued when he'd first known of it. "There are also the Fallow and the Roe, smaller herla."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:41 pm
Perhaps she would wait until she heard more of this wolf. It had been a bit silly of her, but she had sort of… well… imagined that wolves kept far away from the herd, just because of the Outriders. Very silly. A few stags wouldn’t stop a pack of hungry wolves, or even just one big one, as Brychan had pointed out. If she got really desperate, she could always try talking to the Outriders, but, the dark stag had stated the obvious that not all members of the herd would be so supportive of the idea of females running around on their own. Especially females with fawns.
She scoffed at his explanation of reindeer, unable to believe it. “Don’t lie, Brychan. It’s not nice to lie. And I suppose that their bucks and stags give birth to babies? Or perhaps flowers stem from their ears? Or… oh! Do they dance like rabbits in the moonlight?” She nudged him playfully, unable to believe this whole ‘hinds have antlers’ thing. It was just not how the world ran!
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:29 pm
Brychan blinked and looked slightly hurt at the idea that she didn't believe him! Despite the nudge, he huffed lightly, ears folding back. "My dear... do I really look like the type that would lie to you of such things?" He couldn't help but smirk lightly at her little words of rabbits dancing in the moonlight. "Admittedly, it would be hard to believe if you've never seen it for yourself, but it is true. Someday, if another reindeer hind comes around, I'll show you." That was a promise on his part, since she seemed so curious of the others that were out there.
Atleast Telyn had enough sense to think her wander lust through instead of just acting impulsively. She was a smart hind, he couldn't deny that, but hopefully her curiousity wouldn't get her in trouble, or worse, killed.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:40 pm
Admittedly, Telyn did have a dash of impulsiveness in her. It was that same spontaneity that had driven her to accepting Brychan’s invitation to his harem without actually knowing him first. While she would never admit it, she sort of regretted that part. Not being part of his harem, but not knowing him first.
“I do believe you, but it does sound a little strange… it’s a bit like hearing that water is no longer that stuff that flows in streams and that’s now called flower. Where did you meet this reindeer? How? What happened?” Oh, yes, she was very curious indeed. Perhaps learning about the outside world would curb her enthusiasm about it, just a little bit.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:59 pm
If he knew, he could see where she might regret that. The only hind that he had actually known before taking her into his harem, was Loreena. That might be another reason why she is the favored, outside being the first in his harem. They already had a sort of bond, when they had met in the winter and Brychan had helped her get food.
"Strange yes, that is so, I won't deny it." The stag giving a nod of his head. Why the hinds of that kind needed antlers, was beyond him, he didn't really know the ways of reindeer. "I found her playing with a calf from our herd. When I approached and questioned her about it, she took great offense."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:21 pm
Antlers on hinds. Huh. What a strange thing. And a useful one as well, as far as Telyn could see. Were they allowed to wander away from the herd as they wished? Did they have Anlach as well? All these questions were only things that reindeer could answer and it didn’t seem as if Telyn would ever get to meet one of those. How sad. Well, maybe one of these days. Maybe… well, maybe she would meet one while wandering around. If a fawn managed to meet one…
“Wait, playing with a fawn from our herd? How did one wander so far? How did the reindeer wander so far from her own herd?” Maybe those questions could be answered by Brychan instead. “Who was this fawn?”
And, perhaps most importantly, why hadn’t Telyn heard about this?
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