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To many, the morning could have been called lovely. The dew on the new spring growth made everything sparkle like little gems in the light. Flowers opened to greet the new day, creating splashes of color over the field. It was on the first days that Telyn had left her usual grove where she had been recovering from her recent pregnancy and birthing. Most of the beauty escaped her notice, primarily because she was busy making sure her two babies wouldn’t get into trouble.

Sometimes----such as daytime and nighttime---it seemed like Tempest and Islwyn went out of their way to get into trouble. Alright, so it was more like Islwyn got into trouble and Tempest occasionally tried to get him out of it. Already the young calf had challenged a squirrel, a random hind, and a bunch of bushes to boxing matches. The latest match---against a small sapling---had been the final straw. Both Tempest and Islwyn, Telyn decided, needed to meet others. Not to mention, she needed to talk to others as well. It had been a while since she had last seen Brychan, which worried her just a little.

What if he died? What if she missed out on that news just because she was too busy lazing around the grove? What about her fellow harem-sisters? She hadn’t seen either of them lately either. Most of her concern was for Rhomae, admittedly, if only because she felt closer to the striped hind than Loreena.

While his mother was busy worrying about everything in the world, Islwyn had found something interesting. It was small, furry, and moving. Tilting his head to one side, the young calf put his face close to the little mouse, wondering what it was doing. The little creature scrabbled along, and the black calf followed, wondering if he could play with it. He nudged it with his nose, eliciting a squeak from the frightened mouse. Amused in a childish way, he nudged it again, this time receiving a bite for his trouble. Squealing in surprise, Islwyn backed away, rubbing his nose against his shoulder.

…Bah. Stupid thing… it wasn’t worth his time anyway. Maybe Tempest wanted to play… or maybe there were other deer. His tail flicked at the idea. He hadn’t met many others yet in his young life, but he was fairly sure that there were others. Occasionally, Mama talked about them, although he had once gotten into trouble for repeating one of the words he had once heard her say.

The light spring morning was one where a calf should have been able to enjoy a romp with his playmates, under the watchful eye of his mother. Spring, in general, wasn't just a time of new life - it was the season where the bonds of togetherness were first made. And they were safe, thanks to the protection of the outriders. So, it should have been perfect, a pleasant time to be a calf. None except those who wanted to be, and perhaps those unfortunate few, were left alone.

Of course, being one of those unfortunate few was never any fun. On the the far side of the valley meadow, a small form stirred and awoke, revealing a black face that just seemed out of place with the rest of his white body. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, Braith picked himself up from his nest of grass, flicking his tail as he stretched his legs. Well...time to start another day of wandering about on his own. As long as he didn't stray too far, he should be relatively safe, still. Wolves didn't usually come this close to a herd during spring. That's what the two-toned calf kept telling himself, anyway.

Trotting down among some of those herd members already grazing or playing, Braith tried to stay out of everyone's way...mostly for the sake of staying unnoticed. While he was part of Fell Lore's herd for safety's sake, the calf didn't really have any relations in here...well, not that he knew of. After that night a few months back, he'd been alone. But, he was looking for something that would make him un-alone. Hopefully he wasn't just searching for nothing.

...It was hard to go unnoticed with such a blindingly bright white hide, though. Still, most of the other ones his age were already used to seeing him wander meekly through them. And Braith was used to seeing a lot of them too, though he never stopped longer than it took to say hello and goodbye. Today, though, something seemed different...maybe there were more mothers and babies out? Also, he was hearing a sound he hadn't heard before. Or, maybe he had...but it was still strange.

It was kind of a nice noise, though, so Braith did what any curious calf would do - try to find it.

A chuckle and Brychan drew close to Telyn, "My apologies for my absense... the lord has increased security around the herd. Its been harder for me to get away." But things were looking up... there hadn't been any trouble as of late, so maybe things would soon change. It was nice to know that he had been missed, though.

However, his attention was stolen from his hind as his son decided to show off. The black stag watching as the little buck reared up and boxed at the air. He laughed lightly, "That's very good, Islwyn." And he remembers their names too! When the boy trotted off, he looked to the fawn nearby, "My... you're growing up to be a lovely young doe, Tempest" he said softly. He had been watching them all from afar, but it was different to see them up close again.

Tempest smiled shyly, shuffling a hoof in the dirt at her father's compliment. She didn't really know what to say, so she didn't. The girl deciding to scoot behind her mother and hide among her legs, peering out with ears flagged forward.

Chirin heard a calf voice nearby, and glance up disinterestedly. He'd kept to himself for the most part, becoming somewhat the black sheep of the herd. No pun intended. The black calf wasn't anything special.. however, the one he was talking to caused him to double-take. He knew that calf. After a few moments of gawking, Chirin started to walk quietly in their direction. His bell jingling with each step he took. "Braith?" he called out, wondering if it really was him.

Islwyn’s ear flicked slightly as he too heard the voice calling out an unfamiliar name. Ah well… probably wasn’t impor—waitasecond! “Braith? Is that your name? I’m Islwyn,” he introduced himself, apparently having absolutely no issues with telling his name to a stranger. Although, this stranger was around his own age. Surely it didn’t matter in that circumstance.

With an attention span roughly the size of nothing, Islwyn focused on the newcomer, the funny-looking white calf. “Hi! I’m Islwyn,” he said, apparently not recalling that he had already said this about three seconds ago. Or maybe he really liked hearing his name. Islwyn, Islwyn, Islwyn! He tossed his head, and batted at the air with his little front legs, eager to impress his newfound friends.

Telyn smiled at her daughter and nuzzled her briefly. “She’s absolutely gorgeous. One day, she’ll have all the stags fighting for her. Don’t be so shy, Tempest.” Honestly, the girl would have to stop hiding behind her mother’s legs one day. Today seemed as good a day as any. Her brother was already making friends, but poor Tempest was left behind.

“Yes, I’ve noticed the increase in security…” Telyn was rather disappointed about that. She still had her heart set on escaping the herd for a few hours and running around with a few other hinds. Nothing major, just… something. Not that she would have left the herd now, even if she could; she had her responsibilities for now. Two responsibilities, in fact. “No wolf attacks lately?”

"Nice to meet you, Islwyn." the curly-haired calf said, hoping that he sounded like he meant it. Braith had met many deer who had found his disinterest rather offending, as though he were being stuck-up or just plain mean. Neither was the case...he just wanted to be left alone to do what he needed to do.

The calf was surprised when his new acquaintance's attention trailed off, though it gave him a good opportunity to quietly slip away. "Um...I'll see you later?" he said quietly as Islwyn proceeded to kick at the air with his spindly forelegs. Lowering his head as if it would make him less noticeable, Braith began to slink away...when he became very aware that the odd little noise was getting very close. Close enough to practically run him over.

Turning to look behind him, only that movement saved the calf from getting his rear end headbutted. Chirin instead managed to catch him on the side, but regardless, the effect was the same - the white and black deer went tumbling. It wasn't a very far tumble, but it had put the calf on his back, and surprised him enough for his impassivity to evaporate.

Kicking at the air with all four legs for a moment, he rolled over and shoved his front legs under him to prop his body up, glaring at the culprit. His miffed "What was that for?!" was cut short when he noticed who he was staring at.

His momentary anger deflated. Maybe his tumble was making him see things, but...."Chirin?"

Chirin laughed and pawed the ground at Braith's enraged reaction at first. Also amused as he went sprawling. "Yeah! Its me, didn't you hear me calling you?" Sheesh... apparently his brother has gone deaf or something. The belled calf tossed his head which had little nubs for antlers growing on it. However, when Islywn decided to open his big mouth, Chirin shot him a withering glare. "Who you calling a Brailah!?" he shouted, ears pinning back as he stalked towards the dark calf with his head lowered. Chirin had become a tough little calf.

Tempest stopped and blinked as she watched the goings on, especially the aggressive reaction from the one calf with the collar. "Maybe you should apologize to him..." Tempest suggested to her brother.

Brychan nodded slowly, he knew that it would be only a matter of time before the wolves struck again. He also was particularly worried about the one big white wolf. At the question of Rhomae though, he smiled faintly, "I've spoken with Rhomae... I'm afraid her spirits have been dampened. She's had no offspring this season, where as you and Loreena have." He frowned lightly at the thought of Loreena. Where was she anyway? He was starting to worry and hoped nothing had happened to her or their daughter. The shout from one of the calves also drew the stag's attention in that direction.

Islwyn was slightly confused by Braith’s suddenly friendly antics towards the headbutter. Maybe he should have stood down until figuring everything out… but, much like his father, he had a habit of jumping into stupid antics without fully thinking things through. Or maybe it was his mother who did that. Or both. Either way, he had gotten it from somewhere.

He shook his head at the other calf and pawed the ground. He had never been in a fight before and had very little concept of what ‘fighting words’ were, but he had a feeling that ‘brailah’ was one of them. Tempest’s words reached him, or at least some of them did. More importantly were Braith’s words. They did this all the time? Well, maybe it was ok then.

“Umm… sorry. I didn’t know…” he muttered, feeling very embarrassed about the whole situation.

Telyn’s ears twitched and she looked over in the direction of the calves. Was there a fight brewing? She doubted that it would be serious, but Tempest was getting involved… sure, Telyn was all in favor of her daughter being a strong hind, but, like it or not, she was still just a fawn. And fawns were inherently physically weaker than calves. It was a fact of life. If Tempest got hurt…

“Oh… I haven’t seen Rhomae lately… I hope she’s ok… Of course, I hope Loreena’s ok too,” she added quickly. Honestly, Brychan knew that she and Rhomae were closer; it was only logical that she would worry more about the striped hind. “I’ll talk to Rhomae and see if I can do anything. Hopefully, Loreena will come out from wherever she’s hiding.” If, indeed, she was hiding. Since Telyn preferred to hang around on the outskirts, it was perfectly possible for her to not see Loreena.

Braith nodded in agreement to his brother's words. While not willing to openly admit it, the calf's daily searches had become half-hearted not long after he had joined Fell Lore's herd. He continued for the sake of not wanting to give in to the truth of what had probably happened...that Chirin had gotten himself killed as well. But...how long had been here? Certainly not as long as he himself had, or else the white and black youngling would have seen his sibling before that moment. Although, there were a lot of deer in the herd. A lot of deer. Braith hadn't believed his mother in the past, when she'd told him about huge groups of deer charging across open plains - such a thing had been a world away.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, tossing that irritable forelock out of his eyes once again. The calf thought back...though he thought only as far back as the morning after that terrible night. They'd been separated, obviously. Braith had stayed behind in the place they had called 'home'....Chirin had run off through the broken part of the fence, after that big, white thing. Had it been a wolf?

Regardless, Chirin hadn't been seen since. Braith had escaped the humans after that, somehow...found and quietly joined the herd a week or so later.

The calf was then distracted from his thoughts as the fawn spoke up, though she spoke to Islwyn. Still, since the question concerned himself and Chirin, Braith thought he ought to be polite. "Hello, my name is Braith, and he," the calf nodded to his brother, while at the same time managing to obscure his vision with curly whiteness again, "Is Chirin. What is your name?"