|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:40 pm
Finally! The day was here! It didn’t look any different from any other day, that was true. The sky was still pretty much blue with patches of clouds, the grass was still green (mostly; there were bits of brown on it, but Islwyn’s optimism failed to notice this), and the trees were still trees. Nothing huge or dramatic had really changed in the world, exactly, but everything had just shifted for Islwyn.
Today was his first day as a corps member. He bucked happily, far too energetic to keep all of the energy to himself. The velvet on his antlers was peeling off nicely, leaving behind smooth surfaces. Islwyn’s black fur glinted in the sunlight as he bounced around hyperly. He was the type of buck who just couldn’t stay still for long. He tried out his new antlers by menacing the nearest bush, shaking his head at it and pawing the ground with his hoof. Oh yeah. If that bush was a living creature, he felt, it would have backed down a looong time ago rather than face the WRATH OF ISLWYN! Which fully deserved the capital letters, of course. After all, he was the son of a Captain.
Which reminded him… he wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to be doing right now. He was vaguely aware that something was supposed to be happening. Something like… something… something… something.
Oh, look, a blue bird!! Instantly, Islwyn charged off to see what the bird was up to.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:47 pm
Islwyn's galavanting would be cut short as a tall, and large figure stepped in his path. Antlers rising in an impressive display as the stag stood in his path. It was Brychan, looking down at his son with a somewhat stern expression. Islwyn was his son... and it was now time to stop being a calf and to start doing his duty as a young buck. "Islwyn... you'll come with me" he said in an authoritative tone. Brychan wasn't angry, no... but it was to get his attention... and if that didn't work, other measures would have to be taken. The first thing he needed to learn was to listen and obey his superiors.
With that, the starry pelted stag turned and proceeded to walk off... having intended for Islwyn to follow him of course. With his new promotion, Brychan took his job very seriously.. and also seemed to walk with a new grace and purpose.. looking somewhat royal. He had achieved the highest rank, secondly only to the Lord... he should walk walk with dignity and authority.. which he did. Hopefully Islwyn would get the point that play time was to stop and work was to begin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 9:50 pm
Hey, there was his father! Islwyn’s tail wagged a little as he saw the black stag approach, genuinely pleased to see Brychan once more. His pleasure vanished fairly quickly and his ears went against his head. What did he do wrong? Hanging his head slightly, he adopted a more shamed pose, expecting Brychan to give him a lecture any moment now. Whenever Mother spoke in that tone, she gave him a long lecture about blah, blah and the blah of the blah. What did he do wrong? He was just playing around…
It was impossible not to be pulled into Brychan’s wake as he boldly strode by. Islwyn fell into line behind his father, still feeling rather apprehensive. He wasn’t aware that his father was the one to oversee his training. A few sparks went off in his brain as he tried to figure out what that meant for him. Logic said things would be easier for him because Brychan was his father, but, somehow, he had a feeling that things were going to be harder for him. He would have to live up to his father’s reputation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:39 pm
Live up to his reputation? Well... that might be asking a bit much, but he did want Islwyn to succeed. He would be rather disappointed if his first son ended up being a lazy oaf with an attitude and wanting to do things his own way... like Waoki.
Now that he had Islwyn's attention, Brychan could get down to business. "You're not a calf anymore, Islwyn... you're in the corps, and that means responcibility. You can't go off and play or explore whenever you want to. You have a duty to the herd, and that means protecting your mother... sister and all the other hinds in the herd. You must learn to work with the other stags, and listen to your superiors. The lives of the hinds depend on you... if you're not paying attention and a wolf gets past you and kills a hind... it will be your fault."
A glance was cast behind him at his son, looking to see if he was paying attention and listening to what he was saying. And if he was... understanding it as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:59 pm
As the walk continued and Brychan didn’t say anything, Islwyn’s attention began to wander. Most of the other bucks were, by this point, at least sort of eyeing the does and hinds. Islwyn’s attention, however, was reserved for the world around him. Everything in it was so utterly fascinating in its own unique way. He had just been distracted by a lone bug flying through the air when his father spoke again. Islwyn immediately pretended that he hadn’t been distracted at all and was merely following behind Brychan.
“Yes, fa… Captain,” he corrected himself quickly. The weight of this responsibility had yet to settle in on the young buck. His mind was still full of the fanciful adventures that he had heard as a calf. Wolves were still a faraway image, only vaguely shaped in what he thought of as ‘danger’. From his mother’s description, he knew that wolves were large, had four legs, sharp teeth, and were very fast and strong. And looked like overlarge foxes. Which didn’t help him much, since he had yet to see a fox.
“I understand,” he said, which was pretty much a lie. Protecting his mother? He couldn’t imagine his mother needing protection from anything!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:09 pm
Brychan wasn't entirely convinced that Islwyn understood or was paying full attention. His son would have to prove himself, but he nodded his approval when he addressed him as captain. "Good... while we're on duty, you'll need to address me as captain, like you just did." He continued to walk, the stag admittedly proud and at the same time.. sad... that his son was growing up. He would be leaving behind his carefree life, into one of danger. But he hoped Islwyn would make him proud.
The starry pelted stag took his soon to a section of the meadow... farther down from the hills where the outriders overlooked. It was a small knoll not too far from where the hinds grazed, and this is where he stopped. "You'll start with sentry duty here. You need to stay focused and keep your attention on everything around you. To smell and listen for danger, to watch at all times where the hinds are." He turned to look at the young buck, "Think you can do that?" He didn't expect Islwyn to break his habits on the first go.. but they had to start somewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:24 pm
Hey! He could see his mother from here! Well… maybe it was his mother. At least, he could see a dim, indistinct, gray speck somewhere in the distance. There weren’t very many grey deer in the herd. This was Islwyn’s first chance at seeing the ‘herd’ as a complete… thing rather than just a few separate deer. The colors and varieties astounded him. Up until now, he was used to seeing pretty much only red, black, white, and grey. Now he realized there were many more. He nodded dumbly at his father’s orders before his brain really processed it.
Right… just stay here, and keep an eye out for things. And an ear. And a nose as well. Ok, he could do that. “Um… is anyone else on sentry duty with me?” he felt certain that he shouldn’t be out here alone. Admittedly, it was still well within herd boundaries, but what if a wolf came here? He couldn’t fight off a wolf on his own! Besides, he was only training. And he had never been alone in his life. He had been born alongside Tempest and grown up with her. Sure, he had wandered away from her and their mother, but he had always known where they were and could always go back to them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:43 pm
"Of course" he said with a nod, "There's older bucks nearby, but I'll also be staying close." He would be within sight of Islwyn and keeping an eye on him to make sure he atleast tried to do things as he should. "Now.. just so as I said.. I'll let you know when you can take a break."
With that, Brychan moved away and took his own post a little further up, behind Islwyn's. That way... he could watch his son and wouldn't be a distraction to him. Out of sight, out of mind. Now... what would he do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
