Chapter 6 - Six

I woke up with the chirping of the birds and a growl in my belly. The lack of weight on my back brought a quick panic attack as I look beside me to my dumb brother.

The sound of his heartbeat was like music to my ears. My status went back to normal, only with a "slightly hungry and thirsty". His status were like this:

HP: 30-70

MP: 300-300

SP: 85-125

Status: Tired, Lack of Blood, slightly hungry and thirsty.

Ok, at least he didn't get anything worst and was recovering. The problem is how am I supposed to hunt alone and bring water to him? Hell, I hadn't left the cave that we were born before without mother, and now I was completely lost, alone, and in a strange place.

No, I should focus on getting food, anxiety wouldn't get me anywhere, and most importantly… I needed to become strong. As cliché as it sounds.

What's cliché?

Ugh.

I stretch my sore limbs, feeling better then yesterday, and give a big yawn. Moving my brother into a crevice, hiding him in the shadows, I made sure that the cave was safe; no bones, no scratch marks, no signal of life or an occupant. Good.

I didn't even have time to grief for my mother.

It may have been only for a month, but for that period she was our world; the food bringer, the shelter, the protector, and I could tell with one look how much she loved us. I'm sorry mother, sorry that we could not even take your body away from those creatures.

Anger wanted to boil inside of me, and I let it. Better been angry then sad and depressed. At least it would help me keep yourselves alive.

I reached the outside of the cave, the blinding light of the sun hitting me square in the face. Ugh. Yesterday we had a feast, but me alone wouldn't be able to take something so big, so better try foxes and rabbits for now.

One good thing at least is that I already know their smell.

Hm…Maybe I could give blood for my brother, for his thirst, but how would I make him drink? I hope he wakes up soon…

A chilling void spiraled in my belly once I start walking away from him, letting him unconscious and defenseless in a strange cave.

Shit, don't start it now, get a hold of yourself. The quicker we are done here, the better.

It took longer that I would like but I found three rabbits. The smell of blood would bring other predators - lesson learned -, but there was nothing I could do about it.

A little voice emerged from the cave as I walk in.

"B-brother?"

An arrow of happiness pierced my hearth. His first word was brother? Aw

"I'm here little one. Are you hungry?"

"Very"

I drooped the rabbits in front of him, siting with my back straight and my ears up. I overlook the entryways as he got out of the hole.

"Here, eat it all."

"But what about you?"

"I ate a few outside, don't worry about me. What you need to do right now is to regain your strength. Now hurry up" I said moving my paw up and down.

He eats, content, and I needed to hold back the rumble growing in my belly. He needed the food more then I, to replace all the blood and energy he lost.

I was lost in though when he finished his meal, a happy light filling his eyes.

"Thank you brother, you are the best"

I snore, looking away.

"Now now, what would mother say about that appearance hã? She taught you better than that. Clean that face up, gosh."

He smiled, liking off the blood dripping from his snout.

"You are no better yourself brother."

"Nothing I can do about it now. Now you go back to sleep, I will be gone for a little longer, ok? I will be back by night"

He didn't look happy but agreed, yawning as he disappeared in the hole. God, I needed sleep too so badly, but I haven't eaten anything yet, but even beyond that, I needed to hunt, to become strong, yada yada.

The humans weren't going to wait for it.

~~~~

I had a fox after a little more than two hours searching and was ready to head back the cave when something caught my attention.

The smell of fire and smoke, coming from the north.

Mother?

It wasn't possible, but few creatures could make fire… and one of them were the humans. Funny that they couldn't even control the flames but would try noneless.

It wasn't far, so for our safety it was better to check it out; not only because I was curious, of course.

Hiding in the shadows I got another level up in my stealth skills. Following the smell, I ended up with the vision of a circle of fire at the slop of the small hill. Some chant was been sang, something tribal and enchanting, while some creatures danced in circles around the fire, stomping their feet and making the ground shake.

That got me in a trace. I have never seen or heard such a fine combination in my life. It was tribal, animalistic, filled with life and words that unfortunately I could not understand, like a calling to the forest.

"Oh, is just a small pup"

I paralyze in place. The voice came from behind, far too close for comfort.

"Don't need to be scared little one, we mean you no harm"

I look behind me only to see an enormous white deer. His horns were huge, like the branches of a tree, growing all around. He flapped his ears at me, a friendly frown on his face.

"Did you like our little dance, little hound?"

"H-how can I understand you? Who are you?" Probably not the smarted questions to make, but were the first ones that came to my mind. He came closer, his blue sky eyes holding my attention.

"I speak a little of your tongue, though some barks and shouts are hard to make. I'm Elfihe, leader of this humble deer herd." He walked beside me, laying down, and for the first time I saw that flocks of snow surrounded him like butterflies, soon covering the floor around him, but never reaching me, as if he knew that ice was deadly to me.

"You seem… quite lost, little pup. We heard from the forest that some turmoil happened down the hill, including some cows and humans. Wouldn't be you're doing now, would it?"

Once he looked at my face a melodic giggle resonated from his snout.

"Leader!"

A two legged child came running up the hill, stopping to catch his breath. I gave him a look over, and he did the same with me, an eager curious childish light shining in his eyes.

He wasn't human though.

He hard horns, still little and hiding in his nest brown hair. He had flecks, and deer ears standing low at the sides of his head.

Once I look beside me my breath was caught; instead of a deer stood a man, white smooth skin, long white hair, and icy blue eyes. He smiled at me, making the earrings of his deer ear dance with the movement.

"Don't worry child, life can be hard sometimes, but you can get through it. I can see a fire in your eyes, and as long that that is there you have nothing to fear."

He patted my head, and for some reason I let him. I watched as he walked away, still too astonish by the events to rationalize, like I'm going through a fairytale.

"Wait!"

He stopped, and curiosity got the best of me. Information could be vital for our survival, and he was the first creature that did not try to kill or capture us.

"Yes?"

"What was that… singing for? What language was that? And how did the forest told you anything?"

He smiled gently at me, like a parent having his child asking too many question.

"Why don't you accompany me then so I can show you?"

My doubts passed quickly; If he could sneak at me like he did he could easily catch me, probably been far more strong than I, so no point in thinking that I could escape if he didn't intend to let me go.

He starts to walk in a leisure way, resting his hands inside the big round sleeves of his robe.

"We were singing for the forest, for the Mother Nature." He starts as I accompany him, going down to the little hill with the campfire on in. " And in return it gives us advices, the Voice of Nature. You would be surprise of how much the trees and rocks know, old as the oldest of our kind to have ever existed."

"I can do that too?" He looks at me sideways and shrugs.

"You can only know your limits once you have tried them." He continuous, adding: "That language was our own, the same way you have yours little hound. There are many languages as many species, but of course you can use the common language to communicate, so best have that higher up."

We were close enough now that I could see the deer and fawns standing in their humanoid form, some holding hands at the outer circle while others dancing in the inner circle, making a white path of snow behind them.

"This is our goodbye to this forest. Tomorrow we will be heading to the colder parts up north, but will be back here when the winter comes. By them, I hope to see you doing well too." I nod, but when he turns his back on me, I mumble:

"We probably won't be were next year, but thanks for your kindness stranger."

I went back to the cave, thoughts coming and going as the moon shone bright, having another headache, but I was more fired up than ever.

I could become strong. I would become strong, to never, ever, have to run from any one again.

For my brother.

For my mother.

And specially for myself.

~~~~

MC: *looks upon Elfihe* Are you the ML?

ML: *Takes a sharp knife and starts reciting recipes with deer meat out loud*

Elfihe: Wait, that's it? I won't be that type of character that appears only once to never be remember ever again am I?

MC/ML/Elfihe: *looks at author*

Author: *looks back* … your name is difficult to write, you know?

MC/ Elfihe: You are the one who chose it!

ML: ~don't worry, he won't appear again, I will make sure that- cough, cough - *goes to back stage were Elfihe is*

~ ~But seriously, I dunno ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌