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Description

A Fallen Brother
Featuring Ruibh
Late Winter, Year 760 of the New Age
Silverwood, Silverthorne

Snow still lightly dusted the ground, the two soldier rested beside the warm fire they had created, preparing to sleep the night away from their herd. Their patrol had run into the night causing Ruibh to make the decision to sleep in their current location and wait for sunrise before making the long walk home to the Vale. The young stag wasn’t too excited to spend the night away from his newly acquired mate, the first in the soldier’s life he was excited that the night before his doe had told him she was expecting a fawn in the spring. Still with hesitation, the stag listened to the older more experienced soldier.
They both stared into the hot flames, Ruibh blew lightly into the flames, causing them to grow larger. He smiled at his cadet, the two had been assigned to each other for nearly one year now. It wouldn’t be long before Mulax was ready to take patrols on his own and then soon, train his own apprentice. The bay stag had become more to him than more of his fellow soldiers, almost as a son or a brother.
The dark bay looked into the hot coals, deep in thought when the dark roan spoke light hearted, “Son, if you keep staring into the flames like that you won’t have your sight much longer.”
Mulax looked up, offering a small smile, “Sorry, sir.”
“No need to apologize. I remember when my Felina told me she’d be expecting for the first time.” He said with encouragement, “I was both ecstatic and terrified.”
“I’m just concerned. I should be home with my mate. Not here.” The young bay groaned.
“Mulax, you are a soldier. One of the highest honors to be blessed from Adhar. Your mate will understand that you will not always be around. Just make good on the times you are actually able to spend with them.” Mulax nodded in agreement, “Now, rest. Tomorrow will be a long trek back to the Vale. I’ll take the first watch.”
He looked out at the dark woods of Blackwood, the stag beside him curling himself around the flames and drifting off into slumber. The dark stag began to think about something that had been bothering him. Pharoah. He loved his adoptive son, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before his duties would force him to do the unthinkable. To push the colt from his home or worse, to burn him. He pinned his eyes closed to the thought. Nightmares had become more common lately. When waking beside Felina, he would lie and tell her it was nothing. But the colts screams would often haunt him, making the accident near their home look like it were nothing. He fought back thoughts of leaving his family. His feeling for Felina were as strong as they once had been. He knew why, she was tainted. He did not know how he ever let himself become so entwined with her in his life.
Still heavy in thought, the dark stag felt a tap on his shoulder. “Sir, if you’d like to rest. I will watch until sunrise.”
Ruibh smiled at his cadet. The young stag was quickly becoming like family. He was proud of him. Shamefully, he wished the colt he had adopted wasn’t a halfbreed. He released a small sigh before nodding his head, laying down, and resting his weary eyes. Quickly and peacefully, the roan drifted into sleep.

The sun shone high in the sky, Ruibh watched his children, all of them. Those born and yet to make their presents into the world, those adoptive and by blood. They all played happily, bouncing, playing and butting heads. His does were there too, laughing and smiling, they all got along wonderfully. They were happy. He was happy. Suddenly, everything went quiet and still. The fawns stared up at the sky with wide eyes, crying out with fear. Quickly, darkness covered everything it touched, he looked up and the sun had gone. Was it now night?
No.
The sun had burned out, becoming a dark orb similar to the moon. But unlike the moon, this object had no light about it, this object was just cold, dark and dead. His children bleated for their mothers for protection. Their mother’s looked to him. He had no way to protect them. He didn’t know how to save them from whatever this danger was.
Without warning, out of Adhar’s anger from the death of his sun, he struck out at his children. He spoke, his voice deep and powerful, “My children, you have disobeyed my commands. You have been unfaithful and tainted the fires I have blessed you with. There are hidden halflings among you. No more!” And the flames came down as a doe, running across the plains. Grian. Her coat was a beautiful shade of golden red. She burned everything she touched. The flames spread quickly, they were at his feet in meer moments. He didn’t not fear them, for he had not a reason to. He stepped forward and the searing pain traveled up his legs. Jumping back, he looked at the wounds that burned his flesh from the flame. Those similar to the one’s Pharaoh had on his legs the day of the accident. Fear and anger washed over him.

“My children, for your disobedience you are now as fireproof as that of your shameful offspring…”

The sound of broken twigs snapping brought the stag back to the waking world, he felt the cold sweat drip down his brow. Only a dream- a night terror - no, it was more than that. A message from Adhar. His god was trying to tell him something. The dream was a warning. He had been lost, supporting a child that was not his, that was not from this herd, an imposter. His presents and those like him made them weaker.
Tears threatened to form in his eyes. He would have to push the only son he has ever had away. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt him but the colt was not his. He would not protect him any longer. Adhar’s message was clear, pointed directly at him. His actions were unforgivable and he must make them right.
Another loud snap from the dark, the dark stag looks forward, then from side to side. Mulax had fallen asleep. Ruibh stood quickly, quietly approaching his cadet. He tapped the stag with his hoof, “Mulax, wake now, there is something approaching.”
The bay stag quickly got to his feet, apologetic eyes looked to his superior. Ruibh just gave a nod of acknowledgement before speaking, “Check to the west of us, I will take the east.”
He turned to the east without delay, trying to focus his eyes in the darkness of the forest. He crept forward slowly, careful of where his feet were placed so as to not make a sound. Narrowing his eyes, he looked forward, seeing nothing but darkness. A crackle of hard snow from behind had him turning to see, he looked but saw nothing before a frog jumped forward. He exhausted a breath, trying to calm his beating heart.
A shout came from the west, “Stop there, Blackwood!” He quickly leapt forward, prepared to help his fellow soldier. It didn’t take long to find the them close to the clearing of their camp. The stag was large but thin. He wore scars from the many battles he had had with other stags, possibly even soldiers. His rack was impressive for a Blackwood. This stag was older, experienced. He looked quickly, seeing that the stag kept with him a doe. Her coat was dark burn chestnut, dull from malnutrition. She was also thin, but not as much so as he had been. The doe was obvious, from her shape, early in fawn.
“I do not mean any harm. We were just looking for food. My doe is in fawn, she must eat.” The Blackwood spoke softly. He could see the two were starving, but a Blackwood were not allow in their kingdom. The doe looked frightened. Ruibh gestured for Mulax to circle them from behind.
“You doe,” He spoke loudly so she could hear him, “Are you a captive of this stag?”
The doe hide behind the dark stag, “No. I have come willingly.”
The roan frowned, “So you are admitting that the colt you carry has Silverthorne blood?”
“She is from your herd, yes, but she had never been accepted. She choose to leave.” The stag spoke quickly. “We love one another. Let us leave and we will not come back into the kingdom.”
“Quiet! I am not speaking to you, Blackwood.” He growled in anger, “Doe, you are Silverthorne and the fawn you carry is half Blackwood, am I correct?”
She stepped forward, getting a courage that she possibly didn’t even know she had, “My fawn is a child of Úir, it just happens to be cursed with my Silverthorne blood.”
The stag’s anger grew, “Mulax, take this doe. We are going to take her to the king, he will judge her for her crimes.”
The young soldier stepped forward but the thin Blackwood stag turned quickly to protect the traitor. “Move Blackwood and we will not be forced to harm you!” Mulax shouted.
Anger bubbled up in him. He felt himself a fool. He was no better than this doe. How could he let himself betray his herd. Protecting a halfing and his own mate, a traitor. There was no excuse. His heart ached at the thought of leaving his first love, of ever hurting Felina. But what choice did he really have. Adhar’s message was clear. He must follow it. “Come quietly, or face the consequences.”
The Blackwood lunged forward, catching Mulax off guard. The stag’s impressive antlers dug into the young bay’s side causing him to release a blood curdling bugle. He toppled over, the Blackwood kicking at him with his sharp, cracked hooves. Mulax body went limp and Ruibh could only see red. Fire shoot from his hooves, traveling forward to the stag. He ran forward, digging his horned into the dark stag’s thick hide, just as he had done to his cadet. A true son, a brother. He kicked out until the stag did not move any longer.
The red cleared, the doe stood, running forward to her mate’s dead body, “Come doe.” He stepped towards his cadet, who appeared alive but passed out from the pain. Alive for now, but won’t be if he doesn’t get help soon.
With tear filled eyes, she shook her head. Fireproof among the burning body of her mate. “No. You are insane if you think I would go with you, to meet a similar fate.”
He frowned, “You will meet that fate now, if you do not help me with my fellow soldier.”
She shook her head, gaining her feet, ready to bolt for the forest. Ruibh softened, “Help me and I will put in a word with the king. You will not make it in the dark forest. Look at yourself. You were hardly feeding yourself with your - mate. You will be forgiven for your misjudgement.”
The doe pinned her ears to her neck, “And my fawn?”
“That abomination will be dealt with as it should be.” He growled.
The doe thought for a moment, looking back to the dark forest. She had loved her mate, it was why she left her home to be with him, even though forbidden. But the soldier was right. Ruibh could see in her features that she knew he was right. She would not survive long alone in Blackwood. Her fawn would perish either way.
“What will they do with it?” She spoke quietly.
“That is not my concern. It is up to the king.” He said, dragging a large fallen pine tree limb toward the bay stag. He quickly found a strong vine that could be used, snagging the vine around the loose bark to the branch, making a handle for him to pull the sleigh with, “Now, help me move this stag, quickly.”
As the sun began to rise the doe, broken without much choice but to help the roan stag, pushed the stag onto the pine branch. Ruibh looked to the burning stag, kicking snow at the majority of the flames. He gripped the vine with his teeth, pulling them forward. The doe follow behind, silently weeping for her lost mate and soon the fawn she carried. The roan stag pulled forward, towards a new future. The path would not be easy but he need to make his life right. With the rise of the sun, was a new beginning.

Word count: 2000+

Description

A Fallen Brother
Featuring Ruibh
Late Winter, Year 760 of the New Age
Silverwood, Silverthorne

Snow still lightly dusted the ground, the two soldier rested beside the warm fire they had created, preparing to sleep the night away from their herd. Their patrol had run into the night causing Ruibh to make the decision to sleep in their current location and wait for sunrise before making the long walk home to the Vale. The young stag wasn’t too excited to spend the night away from his newly acquired mate, the first in the soldier’s life he was excited that the night before his doe had told him she was expecting a fawn in the spring. Still with hesitation, the stag listened to the older more experienced soldier.
They both stared into the hot flames, Ruibh blew lightly into the flames, causing them to grow larger. He smiled at his cadet, the two had been assigned to each other for nearly one year now. It wouldn’t be long before Mulax was ready to take patrols on his own and then soon, train his own apprentice. The bay stag had become more to him than more of his fellow soldiers, almost as a son or a brother.
The dark bay looked into the hot coals, deep in thought when the dark roan spoke light hearted, “Son, if you keep staring into the flames like that you won’t have your sight much longer.”
Mulax looked up, offering a small smile, “Sorry, sir.”
“No need to apologize. I remember when my Felina told me she’d be expecting for the first time.” He said with encouragement, “I was both ecstatic and terrified.”
“I’m just concerned. I should be home with my mate. Not here.” The young bay groaned.
“Mulax, you are a soldier. One of the highest honors to be blessed from Adhar. Your mate will understand that you will not always be around. Just make good on the times you are actually able to spend with them.” Mulax nodded in agreement, “Now, rest. Tomorrow will be a long trek back to the Vale. I’ll take the first watch.”
He looked out at the dark woods of Blackwood, the stag beside him curling himself around the flames and drifting off into slumber. The dark stag began to think about something that had been bothering him. Pharoah. He loved his adoptive son, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before his duties would force him to do the unthinkable. To push the colt from his home or worse, to burn him. He pinned his eyes closed to the thought. Nightmares had become more common lately. When waking beside Felina, he would lie and tell her it was nothing. But the colts screams would often haunt him, making the accident near their home look like it were nothing. He fought back thoughts of leaving his family. His feeling for Felina were as strong as they once had been. He knew why, she was tainted. He did not know how he ever let himself become so entwined with her in his life.
Still heavy in thought, the dark stag felt a tap on his shoulder. “Sir, if you’d like to rest. I will watch until sunrise.”
Ruibh smiled at his cadet. The young stag was quickly becoming like family. He was proud of him. Shamefully, he wished the colt he had adopted wasn’t a halfbreed. He released a small sigh before nodding his head, laying down, and resting his weary eyes. Quickly and peacefully, the roan drifted into sleep.

The sun shone high in the sky, Ruibh watched his children, all of them. Those born and yet to make their presents into the world, those adoptive and by blood. They all played happily, bouncing, playing and butting heads. His does were there too, laughing and smiling, they all got along wonderfully. They were happy. He was happy. Suddenly, everything went quiet and still. The fawns stared up at the sky with wide eyes, crying out with fear. Quickly, darkness covered everything it touched, he looked up and the sun had gone. Was it now night?
No.
The sun had burned out, becoming a dark orb similar to the moon. But unlike the moon, this object had no light about it, this object was just cold, dark and dead. His children bleated for their mothers for protection. Their mother’s looked to him. He had no way to protect them. He didn’t know how to save them from whatever this danger was.
Without warning, out of Adhar’s anger from the death of his sun, he struck out at his children. He spoke, his voice deep and powerful, “My children, you have disobeyed my commands. You have been unfaithful and tainted the fires I have blessed you with. There are hidden halflings among you. No more!” And the flames came down as a doe, running across the plains. Grian. Her coat was a beautiful shade of golden red. She burned everything she touched. The flames spread quickly, they were at his feet in meer moments. He didn’t not fear them, for he had not a reason to. He stepped forward and the searing pain traveled up his legs. Jumping back, he looked at the wounds that burned his flesh from the flame. Those similar to the one’s Pharaoh had on his legs the day of the accident. Fear and anger washed over him.

“My children, for your disobedience you are now as fireproof as that of your shameful offspring…”

The sound of broken twigs snapping brought the stag back to the waking world, he felt the cold sweat drip down his brow. Only a dream- a night terror - no, it was more than that. A message from Adhar. His god was trying to tell him something. The dream was a warning. He had been lost, supporting a child that was not his, that was not from this herd, an imposter. His presents and those like him made them weaker.
Tears threatened to form in his eyes. He would have to push the only son he has ever had away. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt him but the colt was not his. He would not protect him any longer. Adhar’s message was clear, pointed directly at him. His actions were unforgivable and he must make them right.
Another loud snap from the dark, the dark stag looks forward, then from side to side. Mulax had fallen asleep. Ruibh stood quickly, quietly approaching his cadet. He tapped the stag with his hoof, “Mulax, wake now, there is something approaching.”
The bay stag quickly got to his feet, apologetic eyes looked to his superior. Ruibh just gave a nod of acknowledgement before speaking, “Check to the west of us, I will take the east.”
He turned to the east without delay, trying to focus his eyes in the darkness of the forest. He crept forward slowly, careful of where his feet were placed so as to not make a sound. Narrowing his eyes, he looked forward, seeing nothing but darkness. A crackle of hard snow from behind had him turning to see, he looked but saw nothing before a frog jumped forward. He exhausted a breath, trying to calm his beating heart.
A shout came from the west, “Stop there, Blackwood!” He quickly leapt forward, prepared to help his fellow soldier. It didn’t take long to find the them close to the clearing of their camp. The stag was large but thin. He wore scars from the many battles he had had with other stags, possibly even soldiers. His rack was impressive for a Blackwood. This stag was older, experienced. He looked quickly, seeing that the stag kept with him a doe. Her coat was dark burn chestnut, dull from malnutrition. She was also thin, but not as much so as he had been. The doe was obvious, from her shape, early in fawn.
“I do not mean any harm. We were just looking for food. My doe is in fawn, she must eat.” The Blackwood spoke softly. He could see the two were starving, but a Blackwood were not allow in their kingdom. The doe looked frightened. Ruibh gestured for Mulax to circle them from behind.
“You doe,” He spoke loudly so she could hear him, “Are you a captive of this stag?”
The doe hide behind the dark stag, “No. I have come willingly.”
The roan frowned, “So you are admitting that the colt you carry has Silverthorne blood?”
“She is from your herd, yes, but she had never been accepted. She choose to leave.” The stag spoke quickly. “We love one another. Let us leave and we will not come back into the kingdom.”
“Quiet! I am not speaking to you, Blackwood.” He growled in anger, “Doe, you are Silverthorne and the fawn you carry is half Blackwood, am I correct?”
She stepped forward, getting a courage that she possibly didn’t even know she had, “My fawn is a child of Úir, it just happens to be cursed with my Silverthorne blood.”
The stag’s anger grew, “Mulax, take this doe. We are going to take her to the king, he will judge her for her crimes.”
The young soldier stepped forward but the thin Blackwood stag turned quickly to protect the traitor. “Move Blackwood and we will not be forced to harm you!” Mulax shouted.
Anger bubbled up in him. He felt himself a fool. He was no better than this doe. How could he let himself betray his herd. Protecting a halfing and his own mate, a traitor. There was no excuse. His heart ached at the thought of leaving his first love, of ever hurting Felina. But what choice did he really have. Adhar’s message was clear. He must follow it. “Come quietly, or face the consequences.”
The Blackwood lunged forward, catching Mulax off guard. The stag’s impressive antlers dug into the young bay’s side causing him to release a blood curdling bugle. He toppled over, the Blackwood kicking at him with his sharp, cracked hooves. Mulax body went limp and Ruibh could only see red. Fire shoot from his hooves, traveling forward to the stag. He ran forward, digging his horned into the dark stag’s thick hide, just as he had done to his cadet. A true son, a brother. He kicked out until the stag did not move any longer.
The red cleared, the doe stood, running forward to her mate’s dead body, “Come doe.” He stepped towards his cadet, who appeared alive but passed out from the pain. Alive for now, but won’t be if he doesn’t get help soon.
With tear filled eyes, she shook her head. Fireproof among the burning body of her mate. “No. You are insane if you think I would go with you, to meet a similar fate.”
He frowned, “You will meet that fate now, if you do not help me with my fellow soldier.”
She shook her head, gaining her feet, ready to bolt for the forest. Ruibh softened, “Help me and I will put in a word with the king. You will not make it in the dark forest. Look at yourself. You were hardly feeding yourself with your - mate. You will be forgiven for your misjudgement.”
The doe pinned her ears to her neck, “And my fawn?”
“That abomination will be dealt with as it should be.” He growled.
The doe thought for a moment, looking back to the dark forest. She had loved her mate, it was why she left her home to be with him, even though forbidden. But the soldier was right. Ruibh could see in her features that she knew he was right. She would not survive long alone in Blackwood. Her fawn would perish either way.
“What will they do with it?” She spoke quietly.
“That is not my concern. It is up to the king.” He said, dragging a large fallen pine tree limb toward the bay stag. He quickly found a strong vine that could be used, snagging the vine around the loose bark to the branch, making a handle for him to pull the sleigh with, “Now, help me move this stag, quickly.”
As the sun began to rise the doe, broken without much choice but to help the roan stag, pushed the stag onto the pine branch. Ruibh looked to the burning stag, kicking snow at the majority of the flames. He gripped the vine with his teeth, pulling them forward. The doe follow behind, silently weeping for her lost mate and soon the fawn she carried. The roan stag pulled forward, towards a new future. The path would not be easy but he need to make his life right. With the rise of the sun, was a new beginning.

Word count: 2000+