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 Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:51 pm
Brychan smiled as well, for he very much liked to speak of his hinds and offspring. He was quite the family stag, for his family was what he was proud of most. But then.. he likely wasn't the only stag that felt that way.
"I will" he assured Cledwyn, although his smile faded as the old storyteller spoke of a loved one that apparently was no longer in this world. Never well enough to give him an heir? That was truely unfortunate. "What happened? If I may ask." The question asked gently.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:04 pm
"She was born too early, thus her health wasn't that great to begin with. I was foolish to try and mate with her when she was old enough to bear any fawns, yet I was lucky when she gave birth to a still born. After that I didn't try to mate with her again, despite me keeping her in my harem. A year later, she died due to an unknown illness. In fact many Herla died that winter if my memory serves me correctly."
He canted his head to one side and gazed up at the sky. "What a terrible winter it was, too. Many of the young fawns died first, and then the sickly elderly Herla, and then many of the hinds started to die off, too. My loved one was one of the last before the cold chill finally came to an end. I barely made it through the winter. Was skin and bones by the time spring time came. Was never the same again."
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:19 pm
Brychan's ears flicked back at the sad tale. Obviously this had all happened before his time, for he did not recall such an incident where several herla had died of an illness over the winter. It was truely tragic, from what Cledwyn said. "I'm sorry.. that must have been very hard. Was she your only hind?" Even if she hadn't... it was obvious that she had been the dearest to him, probably his favorite. Fate could be cruel to the Herla... but Herne would see them through regardless of what might come. Sometimes his sense of justice never seemed fair, but he knew best.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:30 pm
Cledwyn shook his head slightly. "Before that winter I had her and another hind in my harem, but after that my other hind left me for another stag. She apologized, but I knew deep down inside she didn't want to hurt me. I was a little happy that she chose another stag. I was too weak to keep her as a mate. My heart has never loved another since then. I guess I can never let my loved one go."
It was true that Fate was cruel, but sometimes Fate had to be cruel in order for life to go on.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:41 pm
It truely was survival of the fittest... that's just how nature worked. You had to be strong in order to survive in this unforgiving place. Cledwyn's hind had been weak to begin with, and unfortunately succumed... and Cledwyn himself seemed to have barely survived. There was sympathy in Brychan's expression, and he had to realize just how lucky he was. To be in good health, with strong healthy hinds in his harem giving him strong and healthy younglings.
"I promise I'll take good care of my hinds. I treasure each one of them." A faint smile coming to the Outrider's face eventually. "I just hope life is kinder to you from this point on, my friend." He could understand why Cledwyn wouldn't want to have any more mates... and really.. in his frail state, he would have a hard time defending any, anyway. Brychan truely was lucky.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:55 pm
“As do I,” he said in reply to Brychan’s remark. Even though he had gotten better since that fateful winter, it seemed that his health was worse than it was before that winter. Maybe he was too far beyond luck, or maybe it was Herne’s will for him to keep alive for a little while longer. Whatever the reason, Cledwyn was grateful to be alive.
Shaking his head, he stomped on the ground with a hoof lightly and he gazed up at the sky. “A full moon. Never seen it this bright before. Winter must be around the corner. Maybe now I might avoid another day of dodging those foxes. Winter was Cledwyn’s favorite, and least favorite, time of the year. He was happy to have his white coat to blend in with the area, but at the same time his poor health made him dread it at the same time.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:02 pm
Brychan inclined his gaze to the moon as it was mentioned. The light almost seeming to reflect off the crescent white mark on his neck which stood out so well against his almost entirely black pelt. His and Cledwyn's appearances were like night and day.
"Its drawing closer... Anlach will be upon us soon." The moon was quite lovely and awe inspiring. "Well.. I'm afraid there's more than just foxes to avoid. I don't suppose you've heard of the white wolf? Its taken down atleast a couple of our hinds." Definitely something to watch out for. "If I were you, I'd stick closer to the herd."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:16 pm
Cledwyn swiveled an ear towards the base of his skull. A white wolf? The sudden talk of an unknown deer? And then the remembrance of an old tale that he had just remembered. All of this couldn't be a coincidence. Something was going on and Cledwyn knew that it meant trouble.'
"No, I did not know that, but thank you for telling me that. I shall make sure to stay with the other hinds and watch out for this white wolf."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:24 pm
Brychan nodded, glad that atleast someone listend to his advice regarding saftey. "You would do well to do that.. I'd rather not see anyone else hurt.. or killed." Especially while on his watch... it would be most unfortunate if the herd lost one of their storytellers as well. "We haven't seen the wolf lately, but I have a feeling he'll be back. Especially since he's already taken hinds from here." Hopefully.. none of his hinds would be added to that... hopefully none at all. But even the Outriders couldn't protect the herd from everything. They just did the best they could.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:41 pm
'If I see this white wolf again I will make sure to tell either you or any of the other Outriders about it. It seems that this wolf likes to taunt us by taking our kin behind our backs. Ungrateful little git," he said, muttering the last sentence under his breath.
Slowly, the storyteller lowered his body back down onto the ground. It seemed that he had gotten too tired to want to move anywhere else. Stifling a yawn, he lowered his head down onto the ground, but he didn't close his eyes. The talk of the white wolf made Cledwyn a little too nervous to sleep at the moment.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:45 pm
Brychan chuckled, "I don't think he has anything to really be grateful to us for, anyway. I suppose its just part of nature.. he's trying to survive like we are, but well.. this wolf does seem rather different from the others. He's alone for one.. and I've never seen one that looked like him either. Some have been calling him the ghost wolf."
The stag then watched as the storyteller settled down, "I can be on my way if you wish to rest" the Outrider then said. Not wanting to disturb Cledwyn anymore than he already had.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:51 pm
"The ghost of Fell?" he asked before shaking his head. "It couldn't be. That is only a legend, but..." he let his voice fade away, as if he was trying to dig up another legendary story. Stifling another yawn, he gave up on that.
Cledwyn gazed up at the Outrider before realizing that he was still there. "I am sorry. It is I who has taken up too much of your time." He smiled slightly before closing his eyes. "I hope you have a good, quiet watch. May Herne be with you," he said before falling in a light doze.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:58 pm
"The ghost of who?" Brychan asked, blue eyes blinking in confusion, but it seemed that Cledwyn was merely talking to himself. Shaking his head, the outrider didn't question further.
"Its not a problem, I've enjoyed speaking with you.. I hope we do so again sometime soon. May Herne be with you as well." With that, Brychan started to head off, back toward his post.
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