There’s a buzzing in the air. It’s not the same as spring brings, the reenergizing of the world. No, this is different. It’s like static, enough to make fur and feathers stand on end. A power, something otherworldly, closing in on the material world.

Sabathiel knows the feeling all too well. When he chases off the monster in the bog, he feels it. In the night, when nothing but reflective eyes and guttural snarls meet him, he feels it. Now, with Icarus trailing after him to visit Nakir, he’s not sure what to do with it. There’s no need to mention it, he can see Icarus’s crest standing straight.

Nakir waits for them in his garden, standing over a strangely shaped mound. Without ceremony, he says, “Icarus. Put your ears to the trees. The birds will lead you to this nestling. Sabathiel, you know the dark forests well enough to follow them. Be quick, monsters lurk in the shadows.”

Icarus turns and leads Sabathiel after the chittering of birds. He coos and calls after them, strange for a Faun to be able to make such noises. When he translates for Sabathiel, the warrior takes point and shoves through the dense vegetation they find themselves trailblazing through.

The birds go silent at sundown. Icarus does his best to sing for their help, but the only response are crickets. Sabathiel goes as stiff as his spear when he hears rustling in front of them. As he moves his weapon into both his hands, he interposes himself between Icarus and the sound.

Tumbling out of the thistles and shrubbery, a little shadow lands on their butt and laughs. Save for their gold trim, they could have been mistaken for a corrupt. Sabathiel lowers his spear, eyes wide as they go, as Icarus moves around him and greets their Fawn.

A low grumble is what pulls Sabathiel from his shock. He gathers Icarus and the Fawn up before gently shooing them back in the direction of the village. The growl follows them, about fifteen feet back, until the lights of the village come into view.

@ Halo

Nakir heard rather than saw the pair when they approached. He sat in his garden, burying something shiny, when Eos and Muirgen approached. The does stopped just far enough so that they couldn’t quite make out what the odd stag was burying, but it resembled something Eden had been parading through the town.

“Hello ladies,” he said, quickly shoving his hands in the hole and moving in front of it. “Seen the icicles hanging from the trees? No? Well, there’s a cave north of here with some wonderful ones.” He huffed, moving a feather from one of the bird’s wings out of his eye. “Get on it, shoo.”

Eos laughed and led Muirgen away, waving over her shoulder to Nakir. It wasn’t their business what he was burying, though there was the chance Eden would be frantically looking for something lost later. Regardless, not their place.

The walk north went through the slumber forest. Some trees were deep in their sleep, whereas others fought back against the cold, pushing their buds into the world anyway. Tiny flowers broke through the frosted earth, desperate cries for a change in the seasons.

At the cave entrance, slightly off to the right side, the answer to their plea sat. A sweet Fawn, light brown with blues and pinks, tinkered with the fallen icicles. They sat out of the way of those that might fall, tapping them together.

They looked up when Muirgen and Eos neared. With a small shout, they dropped their icicles and darted to them, straight into both of their arms. Thankfully, no one toppled anyone else over. Once quick introductions were made, they returned to the village, a small trail of grass blades pushing up behind them.

@ ronanna

“So then I tried to hit this wave from the front, but it turns out the weather wasn’t as tubular as I thought, and then I wiped out. Not for lack of trying, though! I just couldn’t get in there at the right angle, so the water came down – BWAA! – and then I went tumbling – SHPAA! – but I didn’t hit any rocks.”

What in Herne’s name was Sands going on about? Sage lost track of the words she didn’t understand, only paying attention to the fact her odd companion had been in trouble but got out of it relatively unharmed.

“Once the season turns, the weather’s bound to be righteous for catching waves! Need to get my board rewaxed, though. Wonder who ‘round the village would help a brah out?” Sands paid no mind to Sage’s small sighs and sounds of frustration and he went on talking.

“Wait, stop right there!” Nakir’s voice sounded from behind them, just before they finished walking up the path to his dwelling. “No need to keep going, you’ve found me.” He moved to stand in front of them, hands tucked behind his back. “Head out tonight, you’ll arrive at dawn. There’s a small lake nestled between two foothills of the mountains. Look for where the rays turn to liquid gold.”

Sage didn’t need to be told twice. She turned and headed back to her home, wanting a break from her companion and a chance to prepare. Behind her, she heard the chattering of Sands as he said his goodbyes – “Catch you later, brah! Thanks for the rad tip!” – and figured he could handle himself.

They met just after sundown and made their journey in relative silence. When they came to the lake, it was roughly an hour before dawn, so they made themselves comfortable under a tree that had perfect view of the water.
The first rays of morning missed the lake, but when they reached the water, Nakir was proven right. Gold spilled from the points of contact, seeping out slowly until it reached the shore. A Fawn appeared from a shrub, leant down to drink, and then fell in when Sands called out, “Good morning, little brah!”

After fishing out their Fawn, Sage promptly lead them back to the village. More than anything, she wanted to get the poor thing dried off and fed.

@ Kelping