Quill stood outside of Velvet’s bakery, making sure he was well out of the way. As much as he wasn’t fond of the idea of making the trek to find another Fawn, he wasn’t going to turn it down either. The last thing he needed was the weight of knowing a Fawn got injured, or worse, because he didn’t go out to find it.

How late did her work? Quill ran his fingers through the feathers on his arms, trying to find anything to keep himself from thinking too much. He watched the sun sink lower and lower on the horizon and felt his fur stand on ends. If they waited much longer to find Nakir, they’d be searching in the darkness.

He was no expert in finding Fawns, but he was sure night was more dangerous.

Velvet showed himself as the colors in the sky began to shift to pink and gold. It was hard to tell, but it seemed he was covered in a light dusting of flower or powdered sugar. Their greetings were short, somewhat stiff, and to the point.

Before either of them could suggest they head out, a noise came from within the bakery. Quill raised his crossbow – he carried it with him everywhere, ok, it was a comfort – and Velvet took a step back into the building. When he left, he was the only Faun inside. Had he left the back door open, or did something just tip over?

A small thud came from the kitchen, like a bag of sugar had fallen over. Velvet nodded toward the counter, and Quill followed him with his crossbow held ready. Everything seemed find in the front of the bakery, not a plate out of place.

In the back, much like it had sounded, a bag of sugar had fallen off of the counter. Well, had been knocked from it, really. On the floor, sitting like they had fallen on their butt, was a brightly colored Fawn. It was hard to tell if they were dusted in white from the sugar, or if that was their natural coloration.

Before Quill could say anything, Velvet was helping the Fawn to their hooves. They hadn’t seen Nakir about their Fawn yet, which must have meant this one was lost, or someone was looking for them. As soon as they were standing, Velvet asked Quill to watch after them while he grabbed something.

Less than a dozen minutes later, Velvet reappeared with a box under his arm. He waved for the pair to follow him, and they made their way to Nakir’s dwelling. The walk was quiet, especially with the Fawn nibbling away at a cookie Velvet gave them.

“Oh, there you are,” Nakir said, sitting at the edge of his garden. “I was wondering when you would show up.” He pushed himself to his hooves and tipped his head to the side when they stopped. “How may I help?”

Velvet offered up the box he’d brought, stuffed with cookies, as Quill nodded down to the Fawn finishing their cookie.

“Oh, thank you!” The dark stag happily accepted the box before sitting down to crack it open. He looked up at the trio as he tipped his head to the other side. “What are you waiting for? You’ve found your Fawn, I’d head home. No telling what’s wandering the forest at night these days.”

@ Bread

Mercury and Calum were quite the pair when they arrived at Nakir’s home. Mercury jingling the entire way there, and Calum watching casually. Nakir watched them with a small smile as they neared; Mercury just above skipping and Calum attempting to keep up. He couldn’t keep the grin from his face, knowing all too well what they were going to have to go through to find their Fawn.

“Good afternoon,” he said with as much neutrality as he could muster. “Calum, it’s been a while. Thank you for helping to find another Fawn. Mercury, it’s wonderful to see more Fauns volunteering their assistance.” His attention drifted away from them as he saw something move out of the corner of his eyes, and he tipped his head forward to look at it. Nothing more than a little bug, it would seem.

“Walk through the forest whistling,” Nakir said as he lifted his hoof out of the tiny creature’s way. “Make as much song and music as you can. Your Fawn will be drawn to enjoyment and activity. The more fun you have, the sooner you’ll find them.” He turned around and walked after the beetle, abandoning the conversation.

For what it was worth, Mercury and Calum both approached their instructions with enthusiasm. It just seemed like their energy came from different places, and displayed differently. Mercury was more than happy to clap and stomp to get his bells making their noises, while Calum faithfully led him into the forest.

A breeze ran over them and caused the small jewels on Calum’s bands to make their own sounds, adding to Mercury’s louder and more prominent song. Hearing it made him flick his ears, and he remembered back to what Nakir had said about singing. He cleared his throat and started out humming, slowly working his way into a song.

Soon enough, the pair were so lost in their own song and dance that they didn’t have the attention span to keep walking forward. Settling in under a shady tree, Calum took a seat and continued to sing while Mercury kept dancing, clapping his hands and stomping his hooves in the off beats of Calum’s song, creating their own harmony.

Two bright blue eyes peered out from behind a tree, ears twitching to the rhythm the pair created. At first, they were content with simply watching. Calum’s voice pared with Mercury’s dancing and the sound of his bells was an oddly satisfying combination.

As the minutes dragged on, however, they couldn’t keep still. With a jump and a clap, they jumped out from behind the tree and skipped over, doing their best to fall in pace with Mercury and Calum. Mercury smiled down at them and did his best to help them find their beat, even going so far as offering a hand to the Fawn who returned his smile.

When the three of them were worn out from their games, at least an hour later, they settled under the tree for a nap. The Fawn woke the pair up, excited to get going, and Calum led the way home, idly humming as Mercury quietly shook his bells and the Fawn skipped to their own tune.

@ Jack

Violet rays of god light shimmered through goldenbush and tree alike, sending dappled highlights to dance upon the ground. Such a beautiful sight was to be lost on the two approaching faunids however. Apache and Lucius more eager to greet the forest hermit that had become a subject of hot debate amongst the village. They approached the hut with confidence, never bothered by something as benign as mere appearances. Their moods shifted more towards irritation and impatience as minutes passed with Nakir’s absence.

”Keep your eyes up and keep your spirits higher.” A sudden jolt of surprise had the lean elk momentarily airborne, the disembodied voice raining from above. Lucius however, was less than enthused. His nose turned skyward to greet the curious silhouette of Nakir tangled in a mess of branches. A brief curiosity to inquire of his doings had the pudu hesitate, only to be cut short. ”Keep moving, nothing to see here. Ah, for Herne’s sake-” Branches shook feverously before a handful of leaves danced to the ground. Perhaps leaving the hermit to his own devices would be best for both of their own sanities.

Evening brought upon dim lighting that hid nearly everything out of arm's reach. Yet even in the oncoming darkness, neither searching faun seemed to be bothered unlike most. The threat of ursids and even thylacos was part of Lucius’ occupation, what was there to be scared of? Within both stags was an undoubtable anxiousness to get this task completed and over with. A harsh cry screamed from atop the canopy of a well-grown oak tree and Apache was first to react. Hooves and branching antlers weren’t made to assist in climbing and only made his attempt to rescue whatever was screaming all the more difficult. Silence followed the bleat soon after the elk finally found his way into the hidden greenery. It was just a mockingbird imitating a prior fawn.

Suddenly the forest erupted into life as the screams filled the tops of every tree in the vicinity. Fluttering wings confirmed that it too was simply imitation. Yet there was something horrifyingly visceral upon hearing hundreds of screaming children for help all at once.

The cacophony continued on for nearly an hour, bringing the helpers to near impairment. The constant horror-filled yowling was the same from each avian impressionist, making it noticeably easy to hear a different yet similar call several yards down through the grove. Laying on their belly, a small child’s silhouette could be seen. In an outstretched hand, a mockingbird screamed bloody murder as if it was a jaunty tune. A similar-yet-different “call” echoed from the fawn, small wings upon their shoulders beating with joy. Apache looked down at the pudu with mild concern, yet Lucius was more than positive that this was his offspring now.


@ Stormblood

Finding Fawns was never easy. Well, that was the expectation and assumption. But Velvet and Mercury weren’t sure if they agreed with the sentiment. Sure, some could be more difficult to find than others. Maybe it just depended on the Fawn’s personality? Or was it wholly dependent on Herne, and how he wanted the pair and the Fawn to bond? Was there something else at play?

No matter the reason, each Fawn had a unique start to life, and memories were made that would last a lifetime.

Not to mention the finding of Fawns brought the town together unlike anything before. Even Nakir, strange and solitary as he was, came out of his shell a bit more to ensure lost souls were brought back safely. Or, as safely as was possible.

When Mercury and Velvet approached the stag’s home, they found him missing. As they were about to start a search, they heard a tapping noise from above their heads. On the roof, somehow, was Nakir, laying on his back and staring up at the sky.

“Hello.” Nakir barely raised a hand high enough for the pair to see it from the ground. Without waiting for a response, he dropped it to his chest and sighed. “Rarely do we stop to appreciate the wonders in front of us. Seek out a favorite place, and enjoy it. Take time to indulge in something you would otherwise pass up.”

Mercury tipped his head at the instruction, confused, but followed when Velvet turned to lead him away. As soon as they were on track, Mercury suggested that they camp in the woods. What would go as unnoticed as the area surrounding their home, after all? With all their busy lives, the forest, at least part of it, was sure to be neglected.

Velvet didn’t object. In fact, he adored the idea. They stopped by his shop to pick up some treats before they made their way out. With Velvet’s arm full of supplies – mostly sweets, but some healthier snacks and blankets – he let Mercury decide where they would spend the night.

They stopped deep within the forest, with a small creek humming in the distance. Mercury was quick to make their spot a little home as Velvet sorted through the food they’d brought to try and plan responsibly.

As soon as work was done, they threw themselves down to enjoy snacks and idle chatter. The more the sun set, the less they spoke. Once the sky was dark with night, neither of them said anything else. They were too busy looking up, in awe, at the stars sparkling above them.

As if planned, they laid on their backs at the same time to simply watch the nature above them.

Velvet was the first one to wake up. A pressure weighed on his chest, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, just unexpected. In the first rays of sunlight, after he pried his tired eyes open, he saw a Fawn curled against him. They were fast asleep, their body rising and falling with the even tempo of their breathing. He turned his head to look at Mercury, who had shifted significantly in his sleep, but was still fast asleep.

The day could wait. The rush and bustle of the town could wait. For now, all he wanted to do was slow down and enjoy the sleepy sounds of the forest. What if he dozed off again?

@ Hachi

Laurelin, having been to the stag’s home more than a few times, easily took the lead after meeting up with Quor. There was no need to make him try to find his way when he felt as if he knew the path like the back of his hand. What sort of Fawn would they find this time?

Quor, trailing not far behind, did his best to keep his mind from wandering. He was nervous, of course, but he didn’t want to focus on that. With the countless new Fawns in the village, he was sure they would be fine. Even those who were found under less than calm circumstances made it out okay, thanks to the pair who found them. Laurelin knew what he was doing, anyway.

Upon arrival, Laurelin stopped short at the scene unfolding in front of him. Quor nearly toppled into the other, but looked up in time and found his hooves glued to the dirt as well, his mouth open in complete shock.

Nakir sat on the edge of his garden, legs crossed with his elbows resting on them, his face held in both hands. His eyes were closed, and tiny hands worked to clean the bird he wore as his signature. He huffed as a feather tickled his nose on its way to be woven into the feathers of the bird’s wings.

“Is all of this necessary?” he said quietly, doing his best not to move too much. Around his neck was a necklace made of vines and snail shells, messily tied together and somewhat falling apart. Braided into his tail tuft were flowers, though most of them had fallen out already.

“Yes, yes!” said the small figure who fidgeted around him. “If we’re going to have a party, you need to dress up, just like me!” They stopped to stand in front of him, feathers clutched in their right hand. Feathers, flowers, and similar snail shell jewelry adorned their features, from their mane to their wrists.

“And what about when the other two arrive?” Nakir tipped his head a fraction of an inch to left, his ears moving as it seemed he was trying to hear a way out. “Are you going to make them dress up as well?”

“Of course!” The bright Fawn stomped their hoof, as if insulted by such a question.

“Perhaps you should focus on them, instead.” Nakir cracked open an eye to look up at the pair, a small smile gracing his features. “Laurelin, you should be first, right? Since you’re the one in front, and I can only assume that means you lead Quor.”

Laurelin took a small step back as the Fawn turned to them with a squeal of excitement. He signed up to go into the forest, have rocks thrown at him, sit in the moonlight, you name it. But dress up was not on that list.

Quor, on the other hand, stepped forward with a grin, happily moving to sit at Nakir’s left, introducing himself to the Fawn. He chuckled at the full glory of Nakir’s participation in the Fawn’s games before he looked up at Laurelin and nodded for him to come over.

The sooner they dressed up and had their “party,” the sooner they could get going.

@ Leviathan