Cold. It was cold. I lift my head and
confusion sets in. Where am I? A haunting howl in the distance. The
confusion fades but the shrouding mists remain. I am in the pond it
seems. My attempts to cool my aching form have failed. This is proven
as I try to rise, limbs stiff from the icy waters, joints burning.
Slowly
I drag myself upwards, out of the miserable damp. A vicious shiver
wracks my body. I need warmth, but there is none nearby to offer such.
None who ever should. Pathetic wretch that I am, I should suffer.
Should lay myself beneath those waters. End it all.
But my will is weak. I have not the strength to do what I should.
Standing,
dripping, the droplets laying serpentine trails in the mud, rushing to
join their brethren. I watch their desperate race and am amused.
Foolish things. So determined to return to the waters that birthed
them. So desperate to be lost among the many.
The amusement fades. Am I so different? Trying so hard to blend into this cold land, to disappear in plain sight.
I am pathetic.
I
turn, continuing my slow journey ever upwards. My attention rests on
the dry stones of the bridge. There is where I shall lay until I will
not rise again, or the pain returns. I care not which. I deserve both.
I
do not get either. Only moments pass once I lay my head upon hard stone
before I hear the sound I have come to dread and adore. The
pitter-patter of little feet.
One of them, awake for once,
bounds up to me, heedless of my sleeping form and gives a rather tinny
bellow. It's irritating. I ponder ignoring it, but the creature
persists, leaping and hopping about me.
My breath escapes in a
whispery sigh. If only the little creature had encountered me in darker
lands. Not here, in this open gathering place. So many others about.
Already they are aware of me. Casting their gazes towards the little
one's commotions. I should rise, stop it's antics before it draws more
attention to me than I need.
Slowly I drag my weary body from
the hard stone. The ache has grown deeper. I suppose you have done me a
favor precious annoyance. Had I lain much longer the agony would have
been too much. Motion would bring me back, allow my hunt to start
again. But not with this one.
My gaze roamed slowly over the
tiny thing. I could end her so easily. It would take nothing. Such a
frail creature. My hooves began to move, leading me towards a
destination I did not truly want.
A glimmer, to my right. My
head jerks to the side to watch the oblivious motions of a stag
stepping to the pond. Too close. I turn back to the fawn. Fortunate one.
She
is not there. A shock of pain within the filth riddled confines of my
mind. Had she been a dream? That sound again. High pitched bleat
shattering through my head. My gaze wanders. She is there, playing by
the water. Not knowing what good it could possibly do, I follow. I do
not regret the action.
She bounded, she danced. Small form a
glittering firefly in my vision. Around and around she went, drawing my
eyes to her every childish motion. I know not why, but she drew me into
her game, into her play. Drew me like a spider into the luminous
strands of her web.
I found myself following her game. A little
leap here, a twirl there. I...I was...playing? The thought was alien. I
tore it down, shredding it with my antlers as I should be shredding
her, but like the web of the spider it stuck, clung to me, suffocated
me.
I gave a brutal shake of my head. I ran from her. She
followed and others came. The little beasts, faerie lights. I gave in.
I played, bounding with them, pain, for that moment, a distant memory.
It felt so good. To let go, to dance with them.
My joy was short
lived. I saw that she grew weary. The frantic joy that had drugged me
waning in her eyes. It had been fun, but the games were over now. I
watched as she bowed to me, saying her goodbyes and I my own before she
slipped into the dark world of slumber.
I watched her, for a
time. The others, bored with me, went about their own games, fading
into the mists. I cared not for them. But her... My gaze cast about. We
were alone. There would be none to stop me. I stood over her, shadow
draining the light from the precious creature before me.
I turn. I walk away.
