Skokey and Siki had spent many days talking about magic and the forces which control them. Skokey had been very interested in what this magic could do. So one day, Siki took him to see what his friends looked like. They went over to the pond, where most of the deer usually hang out. They sat down for a while, since none of Siki's friends were there yet, they looked at the strangers and what they looked like.

Siki looked around, then spotted one. "Okay Skokey, look over where I'm looking." He did so. "See that deer?" Skokey nodded. "Well, that deer has what's called the Peacock Pelt. A very pretty arrangment of color to look like a bird."

"What kind of antlers does he have?"

"I believe those are the Masquerade Antlers. I was never fond of them. But Uncle Fraalch always liked them."

"Uncle Fraalch does seem like he would..."

Siki looked around again, and saw a younger looking stag. "Okay, look over there." Skokey looked again. "Now there's a deer with a complete set."

"Complete set?"

"Yes. A complete set is where you have a special pelt, mask, and antlers, so that nobody else will look like you. This one has the Magpie Pelt and the Magpie Mask."

"And the antlers?"

"I believe those are the Kirin Antlers. Boy, he looks very nice. Maybe you should go over there and talk to him."

"No... I shouldn't , he looks busy." Skokey looked around. "Ooh! What about him?"

"Him? Oh my, he's very big isn't he? Well, he also has a complete set. He has the Skull Mask, Zombie Antlers, and... well I never knew what that pelt was called. I never really knew what it went with."

The larger stag let out a cry, which frightened Skokey. "What's he doing? It's really scary!"

"Don't worry Skokey, he's not out to get anyone. Sometimes masks change the sound of your voice. And sometimes your voice will frighten little fawns." Siki nuzzled his son to comfort him.

"So... Why don't you have any special pelts and stuff?"

Siki sighed, smirking. "I never really liked the idea of changing your appearance. To me, being a regular stag is the most beautiful thing."

Skokey seemed to be a little let down by this statement.

"Oh, but.. That doesn't have to apply to you. You're your own deer, you can have a set if you want."

Skokey shot a smile, "Really? Can I have one now?"

"Well, you could, but it would all wear off. You see, fawns can give spells and they can receive them. But a fawn is still a little ignorant to magic, and it usually wears off. Once you become a stag, then the magic will stay with you."

"Oh.." Skokey looked around, and spotted a doe with a beautiful pelt. "Dad, what's that pelt?"

Siki looked over at the doe and smiled. "That's the Butterfly Pelt. To me, it's probably the most peaceful pelt you could ever have. No mask or antlers could ever make that pelt seem scary."

The doe looked at them. She stared at them for a few moments, and then darted away. This confused Skokey a little.

"Why'd she do that, dad?"

"I don't know. There could me many reasons."

Skokey stared at the spot where the doe was. He blinked. "Is there a Butterfly Mask?"

Siki was a little taken by the statement, it was kind of off topic. "Umm.. No I don't believe there is. But there is a Golden Butterfly Mask. It's different. Let's see if we can spot one."

They sat there for a few minutes. Skokey spotting different masks and asking if it was the Golden Butterfly Mask, but then being corrected my Siki. Soon they spotted one.

"There! Skokey, do you see it?"

Skokey looked where Siki was looking, and then smiled, "Yeah I do!"

"That's the Golden Butterfly Mask. It's really very pretty. I don't know if you could wear it with the Butterfly Pelt, though. It wouldn't match."

"What about antlers?"

"There are Butterfly Antlers and Golden Butterfly Antlers. I'm sure you'd know which ones they were if you saw them."

Skokey deeply desired the Butterfly Pelt and the GB Mask. But what about antlers?

***

Later that evening, Siki and Skokey were walking home. After Siki had put the fawn to bed, he was called out. Fraalch had once again come up to him.

Siki looked a little distressed. "What's wrong Fraalch?"

"It's..It's Frola... She's been complaining about being sick. I sent my daughter away just to be safe, but..." He looked down and shook his head, "Siki, I don't know what to do. Frola's gonna die, I just know it."

Siki got a little closer to him. "Come on Fraalch, pull yourself together. Did you send for Voko?"

"Yeah... She said to try and have her pray in front of the Twin Gods statue. She said it might purify her of the sickness. But what if it doesn't work? This disease could wipe out our entire existence."

"Fraalch, don't think like that. Voko's suggestion makes sense, once you've prayed long enough you feel very healthy. I have confidence in that. You should send her over as soon as possible."

Fraalch sniffed. "Yeah.. Yeah I should. It's just.. I'm really scared."

Siki knocked his antlers on Fraalch's, an old jab they used to do when they were young. "Don't worry, Fraalch. We're all scared of this. You're not alone. Now you should take Frola and your daughter over to the statue right away."

Fraalch nodded, "Thank you, Siki. I don't know how I'd survive without you."

"Come on, none of that." He smiled, "Now go."

Fraalch knocked his antlers against Siki's, then ran off. Siki was just about to go back under the slab when another deer called for him. This time it was another one of his friends, Vin. Vin was about the same size as Siki, with only an Orca Pelt.

"Siki. Was Fraalch just here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's my sister, Shen. She just passed away." The last few words seemed to fade out as he spoke.

Siki's eyes widened. He backed up a little and shook his head. "This sounds all too familiar. Is it.."

"The same disease. Yes."

Siki thought for a few moments. "What did she look like when she died?"

"Well... Right before, she let out a cry. When we came to look at her, her eyes were just pooring with tears."

"Tears?" Siki thought again. "Of coarse... Chorre died with a smile. He had a very good life. But Shen was always... depressed."

Vin looked at him in dismay. "Are you saying...?"

"I don't know. But you should go to the Twin Gods statue immediately. Voko said that this was the only cure."

"What about you? You should go too, just to be safe."

"I'll do it in a while. I don't want to scare Skokey. Now go to the statue, quickly. I'll be to your sister's funeral."

Ven tried to hold back a tear and nodded. He ran off in the direction of the statue.

Siki sighed. What else could go wrong? This disease is tearing everyone apart. I'll have to take Skokey soon, he thought.


(any of those deer sound familiar to you? at the pond? XD )