Stories and Starlight

Windborne,
Early in the year 761 of the New Age
Twilight

Nariel discovered early on that on a clear day (or night) that if she climbed to the very tip top of the rocky mound not far from home that she could clear over the treetops and all the way to the ocean. Since discovering this it had quickly become one of her most favourite of places in all the bushland that her family called home. Often when Daddy had to go away for work she – and often times Mama – would act as look outs for his return, Mama even lit a small fire sometimes so that Daddy would see and it would help him find his way home. Nariel thought this was a little silly because Daddy wouldn’t get lost; he always found his way home: he was Daddy…but if it made Mama feel better then Nariel would play along.

Daddy was away at the moment, he had been summoned for a meeting of all Thunderhead’s. Mama said she wasn’t sure when he might come home, Nariel had wanted to go with him but Daddy had said she was still too little, which was ridiculous because she wasn’t a baby she would be two soon. She had started herb lessons with Mama Months ago; she could i-denty-fy over twenty different herbs and plants already – Mama was very proud. But no, Daddy said she had to wait until she was three cause that was when her magic would come. But just because she couldn’t do the magic yet didn’t mean she still couldn’t learn right? I mean Mama wouldn’t let her brew yet but she was still teaching her…really Daddy was just being silly. 

Sighing Nariel around her at the grey-brown ground she was standing atop, there was only small clumps of grass growing from cracks in the boulders and granite that made up the mound. Not enough to make a nice bed to lay upon but enough for a snack if she grew hungry, she was hungry now so she just ignored them in favour of moving closer to the edge of the rock face. Mama didn’t like it when she got to close to the edge but Nariel was very careful and she always tested the ground before putting all her weight on it just like Daddy taught her. But Mama wasn’t with her right now was in fact grazing below so Nariel thought to seize the opportunity while she could…after all what Mama didn’t know she could get in trouble over right?

Sighing the Perlino fawn folded herself down to lay on the still slightly warm rock face, the heat of the day still lingering even as night set in with its cool breeze. Stretching one long leg out to hang just over the face she set her eyes on the horizon. A carpet of tree canopies stretched out before her broken up by the odd rocky rise until finally breaking into rolling grassy plains. Which in turn blurred into vast splashes of greens, golds and hints of red but what her eyes really locked on, the best part of the view was the ocean. It made up the majority of the horizon, rolling waves of every shade of blue and aquamarine imaginable that seemed to clash and blend oh so beautifully with the sky not matter the shade. At the moment the pinks, oranges and purples of twilight made the blues of the ocean stand out and pop in such a way that it took a fawnlings breath away. 

And when night finally painted its navy and ebony across the sky and stars sparkled into life it was spine shivering beautiful. The way the water reflected the moon and stars, making it look like the sea was covered in glittering gems that even the Gods and Goddess would droll over. 

Nariel smiled in sheer bliss as she watched the waves rolling gently, the already cool breeze dancing playfully around her, filling her lungs with the sweet scent of wattles and sea air. It made her heart happy 

“Nariel; what have I told you about going near that edge young lady” her mother’s voice startled her so badly she jumped. Leaping to her hooves awkwardly, quickly steeping away from the edge she swung around to face her mother. A sheepish look plastered across her face whilst a stern yet exasperated expression graced her mothers, looking at her hooves in chagrined Nariel worried at her bottom lip.

“I’m sorry Mama I just…” not knowing how to finish she just shrugged slightly tried to look as apologetic as she could “I’m sorry, I won’t so it again. Promise” she vowed, though they both knew she probably would do it again. Mama just shook her head and mumbled something that sound “Just like her father” before coming to stand beside her. Sensing she wasn’t in any big trouble Nariel stepped forwards to nuzzle into her Mama’s chest, Mirri-Yanna leaning down to nuzzle through her mane “Come little love, lay down beside me” she murmured into Nariel’s ear. Grinning Nariel back up to give her Mama room to lay herself down upon the granite slab before quickly cuddling up to her side. 

Together mother and daughter watched the last of the Sun’s rays sink beyond the horizon, the moon replacing it centre stage in the dark sky. Looking at the twinkling stars and then at her Mama, who like the stars and moon seemed to glow in the coming dim. Her Cremello coat even seemed to shimmer if you stared hard enough at it…really there was no fawnling more beautiful than her Mama Nariel thought proudly. Looking into her pretty face, with eyes as blue and clear as Nariel’s own if a little light, Nariel decided that it was absolutely imperity-tive that Mama know this. 

“Mama” she spoke to get her mother’s attention once she had it Nariel made sure to look into her eyes so that Mama would see how sin-seer she was Nariel said in a very matter of fact voice “You’re more pretty then the moon and stars Mama” her Mama’s face went all soft and filled with love at her words.

“Thank you sweetie, though I’m nowhere as beautiful as you my little love” she said kissing her on the forehead Nariel shook her head “Na-ah Mama you’re prettier…Daddy said you’re the most beautiful doe Glenmore even pro-douched…what’s Glenmore, was that your Mama’s name?” she asked.

Mirri-Yanna giggled when Nariel told her what Yaringa had said but she quickly smoothed her expression at the rest of her daughter’s sentence. “Your Daddy is a sweet talker is what he is and no love Glenmore isn’t my Mama’s name. Her name is Dahlia, no Glenmore is the name of my birth herd the one I lived with before I met your Daddy and came to live with him here” she said, waiting for the questions that would be sure to come as Nariel took in this new information. She didn’t have to wait for long

“You came from another herd? What was it like? Is it far? How did you meet Daddy?” she asked in quick succession. Mirri-Yanna mulled over how much to tell her young daughter…she didn’t want to lie to her but she wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate to tell her the entire truth. After all it was the most happy of stories was it? She would keep it simple for now. Stick to the most basic details and later when Nariel was older she would tell her the whole truth, yes that sounded like a plan.

Mirri-Yanna looked down into her daughter’s expectant face “Glenmore is the land just across the sea, North East of where we are now. It’s a very beautiful place, with forest and woods covering most of the land. All manner of flowers in every colour just about, the fawnlings there…they value beauty very highly…they have these special does called Princesses that are as pale snow or golden like the honey” 

She was interrupted by Nariel chirping happily “Then you must be a Princess then because you’re like a star” she smiled at her logic: Mirri-Yanna couldn’t help the scoff that escaped her.

“No baby your Mama is no Princess” she said, she could just imagine the look of disbelief on her parents faces if they had heard her daughter’s words. They would be deeply affronted that one would think Mirri-Yanna anything other then what birth rank dictated her to be. Looking back at Nariel she continued “Princesses are of royal blood and Mama’s family was what in Glenmore fawnlings would call common” Mirri chuckled at the cranky look on her daughter face at the word

“You’re not common Mama, you’re special and pretty and funny and, and the best-ist Mama there is!” Nariel declared passionately. There’s no doe in the world more wonderful than Mama or for that matter any stag more wonderful than Daddy and if others couldn’t see that then they’re just stupid!

Mirri laughed happily, love filling her chest and squeezing her heart as it always did for her little filly “Thank you dear, I know I’m not common it’s just a Glenmore thing…but I’ll explain that more when you’re older. Right now all you need to know is that I used to live in another herd but I wasn’t very happy there. Until one day I met this strange young stag from across the sea who taught me all about happiness and being brave. When your Daddy asked me to be his mate and come back to his homeland with him, there wasn’t any other answer then yes” Mirri-Yanna grinned thinking back to the look on Yaringa’s face, his dark cheeks had practically been glowing with how hard he was blushing and it was so cute how he bumbled his way through the proposal.

Nariel chewed over everything her Mama had just told her, there was much Mama wasn’t telling her; that mush was crystal clear. In light of this she decided it would be best to re-surf judgement until she had all the facts (that’s what Daddy always said when she overheard him and Mama talking about trials and trials were important things and Mama was important so)

But Mama said she wasn’t happy so that would mean she was sad and Nariel hated it when Mama or Daddy was sad. So for now even though she wouldn’t make any firm decision about this Glenmore herd she had to admit it wasn’t looking good for them. If they made her Mama sad Well that just wasn’t on. 

Mirri-Yanna decided that there had been enough talk of her the past so she decide it was time for a change in subject “Would you like to hear a story?” she asked. Nariel nodded her head apparently happy enough to let their previse subject drop in exchange for a new tale. Mirri-Yanna smiled, shifting herself and in turn Nariel until she had her little filly cradled against her chest “Well let’s see…hmmm...oh! I know. I don’t think we’ve ever told you the legend of Argentes.”

Mother and daughter lay cuddled up together, Mirri-Yanna’s soft voice being caught up by the wind and drifting away into the night.