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 Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 11:37 pm
 The stag wandered back into the herd as dusk fell across the land. He was a powerful looking creature, but clearly past his prime and sporting his fair share of scars from past battles. With slow, laid-back steps, he returned to the herd he had been born in and always managed to return to, no matter how far he wandered. Despite being a rare sight, he was easily recognizable. One antler was currently broken in half and his left eye had a livid red scar across it; a scar that had taken his sight.
His whole body language was ridiculously nonchalant and relaxed, as if nothing in the world could disturb him. Even the sudden angry squawk of a crow barely made his ears twitch. Stopping on his path down the hill, he yawned and lifted his head, tilting his head slightly to the side as his one good eye took one quick look of the area. Then he was moving again; deliberate, ponderous steps.
In the end Helaku realized his short-comings. No matter how his wanderer’s blood might boil, he was getting older, and there was only so much a half-blind deer could do when faced with danger. When he got so much older than his other senses began to fail, he needed somewhere to come back to. But at the moment, those senses were working perfectly and his knowledge of the world held him in great stead, keeping him alive when others may have perished.
Still, nothing like home.
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Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:31 pm
Brychan was actually walking the fringes of the territory today... deciding to survey the land and see what was going on in his herd. There was only so much standing by the home oak that a deer could do before going stir crazy. So there he was. Thus it was he who managed to catch first glimpse of the stag with the broken antler.
Blue eyes looked momentarily puzzled for he didn't recognize this fellow. Surely though a rogue wouldn't be so bold as to simply waltz into herd territory without reason though. Thus, Brychan decided to approach the other stag, taking note of the obviously blinded left eye and coming in from the stag's right so as not to startle him.
"Greetings" Brychan called out, ears flagging forward in attention as he calmly strode with a step that denoted an air of authority. The other stag certainly looked like he had seen better days.
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 12:15 am
Helaku had reached the bottom of the hill as Brychan began making his way over. The older stag stopped and waited, ears perked up. As he watched the other male’s approach, his mind worked at recognizing him. Oh, that’s right. “Greetings to you young lord.” He replied in his deep voice, a hint of amusement in his tone. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you as of yet. My failing completely.”
He had known Fell Lore well enough, but hadn’t quite found the time to introduce himself to the new lord. The desire had just never seemed to come up. Well, he was being given his chance to meet the head-honcho stag now. “Brychan, isn’t it?” He was asking that question mostly to himself.
"Would you care to know my name?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:49 am
Brychan looked slightly confused as this stag seemed to know him. How embarassing... since he didn't know this fellow as well. Although really, its hard not to be known when you're the lord of a herd.
"It is" he acknowledged in responce to his name, giving a nod.
There were not many experienced outriders around, and Brychan thought he knew them all, but apparently he might have been mistaken?
"I would like to know your name" was the next reply. Perhaps he might recognize the name?
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:51 am
The stag lifted his head a little higher as he took note of the weather. The smell of rain was in the air. “I am called Helaku.” He eventually replied, watching Brychan calmly. After a moment of silence, he explained his own standing. “I have a wanderer’s heart. I spend little time in the herd, though it is still my home. That is why you do not know me.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:09 pm
Brychan smirked slightly, "Don't think you're the only one" he quipped. He knew many with the desire to go out and explore. Personally though.. Brychan was not one of them. He was perfectly content where he was. This was his home... where his family is, and he is happy.
"Its a shame.. we really could use more outriders" he said with a slightly mournful tone to his voice. This herd was short staffed as far as full grown, and experienced stags went. And naturally.. that meant the security of the herd wasn't as good as it should be.
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Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 3:28 am
“Very few will leave the comfort of the herd to see the world. It isn’t in their hearts to be alone.” Helaku said in a matter-of-fact way. Deer were herd-like creatures, without each other, they were nothing.
The stag listened carefully, taking his time to mull over the words before saying anything. “Hm. Indeed, there are fewer outriders patrolling the herds than I remember.” Helaku mused, his gaze never leaving Brychan’s face.
“When I am here, I am always looking out for the herd.” He gave the barest hint of a smile. “I can still fight, believe it or not.” He shifted his weight slightly, head turning away, and it didn’t seem as if he was going to speak again, but after a time, he did.
His words were complimentary, but were spoken in his usual ‘mentioning the weather’ type of way. “For someone who hasn’t got that many outriders around, you’re doing a fine job. The herd is happy.”
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Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:56 pm
The Lord chuckled deeply at the compliment and dipped his head appreciatively, "I am glad you think so." He's been Lord for atleast a couple seasons now... so he wasn't unexperienced but neither was he full of wisdom, rather somewhere inbetween.
He paused a moment, blue eyes taking a glance at the other stag's broken antler and then the scar on his face. "I mean no disrespect, but it seems to be you're not exactly as young as you use to be. Perhaps it would be in your best interest to stick around. I'm sure the young Corps could learn a great deal from your experience." Not to mention, this fellow probably had a great deal of stories to tell, and he knew a few that would love to hear about them.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:55 am
Helaku laughed, the sound coming from deep within his chest. “Surely I am getting older, but I am no frail creature.” He shook his head and snorted. “My hearing holds me in great stead and I still have my strength, though certainly not as much as in my prime.” His gaze was steady upon Brychan’s. “There is not much anymore than can ruffle my feathers, and I know when to run away.”
His ears flickered and he looked away towards where the herd grazed in the distance. “Perhaps I will teach those corps members a thing or two someday soon. But don’t think that because one antler is broken and one eye is useless, that I cannot fight.” Helaku seemed almost amused as he spoke, explaining his position while showing no pride or anger at Brychan’s assumption of his weakness.
The way this stag saw it, he was simply explaining his strengths to his lord, because that was what they were. No embellishments or bluster necessary.
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:10 am
Brychan chuckled at well, "Nor did I mean to imply that, for I'm sure you're more than capable. A stag such as yourself surely has seen many battles." After all.. there were telltale scars of it on Helaku. Brychan had a few scars himself, but none nearly as prominent as the broken antler nor the gash over his eye.
"So tell me... how did it happen, if you don't mind my asking?" Sure the stag said that not much ruffled his feathers, but Brychan was polite to a default. However, he was curious on how this stag had become so marred. Surely there was a story behind it all.
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