i n t h e d e e p w a t e r

parrotsnpineapple's picture









Press play.
















When does something truly become real? Is it the moment when a wish you harboured for many years finally is granted? Is it the day you find your place? Were things just real all along? Or are we simply drifting, drifting through a state of nothingness, and just happen to bump across each other from time to time. Is that when things become real? Is that when we finally have purpose? I was certain I was out of chances. My purpose had been filled time and time again. As if I was in a state of perpetual fulfilment. I was going to die, here; this murky, rancid tomb, the grand irony that my undertaker would then go on and nourish the rest of the forest, and would continue to do so for the rest of its life.

The pond was a deceitful creature.

So it was here that I would muse the entirety of my existence. In the end, it was all I could do. I had lost track of time as days melded into nights, nights to evenings, rain to snow. I had been waiting for what had seemed like eons, as if I was a god, that had watched her own creation, and watched it slowly spiral into chaos. I was a god. I had done this. The only reason I was here was because of my “shrouded destiny”, my “greater purpose”. I was here because of myself. I was sick of it. I was sick of ”destiny” pulling everything I cared about away. I missed my friends. Poltergeist. Wudiin. The distant Virgil. Rowan. Gehirn. Seed. Vipin. Kaoori. Quad. Zephyr. Tobbie. Oisin. Melusine. Pride. Iaurdagnire. Mehiel. Scape. Trees. Ephire. Amary. Illrose. Atvana. Many more of whom I did not know called to me.






































I had heard them all. But I wondered if they still missed me? Would they still remember me now? That feathered doe that cheated death? As I looked to what my body thought was up, I noted the distant view of dancing lights, dappled lights flittering on the surface. I missed the warmth of the sun. I wanted to be home. I thought back to the veil; the place outside the forest. Not many had ventured to this place. I, Rowan, Rajan and Darcy had seemingly found a way out, and were journeying to what we thought were “better pastures”. In the end I just wanted to be here. I just wanted to be here with him. I had lost Rajan once, and I went after him. This time I was lost.
Would Rajan come after me? I pictured us often, years from this mess. Together. Maybe we had a family? We were happy.

But instead, I was plagued with a ”gift”. A gift that brought my death and resurrections, a gift that my own blood brother, Feathercrest, would kill to have it for himself. I wanted to be free of this gift. I just wanted a normal, life.
I wanted to grow old, happy, and when my day would come, sink into the soil and my soul take the wings of a raven, fly up and bask under the stars glow.

But the stars in my mind would not shine tonight. Even the seemingly vibrant lights began to fade, as I felt an approaching darkness enshroud me, grab me by the legs and snap them. Stuck in this murky tomb.

My mind began to think back to all the times I felt that darker spirit.
It was tearing me apart.

And then the water began to ice over. It was right behind me.












































































































































My body froze as the scaly demon pulled himself from underneath the mud, as if he was the entire pond, willingly able to change into any form or element he wished. I screamed out has he slowly lurched forward, my legs frozen with sheer trepidation. His large scaly snout edged towards me, snarling and gurgling wicked incantations, his bulky legs pulling him closer.
The demon snapped his jaws shut and his body floated upwards and began to circle me. Why didn’t he ’kill’ me when he had the chance.
The creature continued to swim around me, as if weaving some foul spell, ensuring my decent into madness.
I couldn’t take it.

I had to get away.

I screamed and flung myself forward, my bony legs clawing desperately at the mud. Gravity had seemingly increased and the thought of moving was an effort.
A dead weight.

I could not pull myself to the surface. All I could do was run.
Run myself to the brink and hope he would go away.

But he wouldn’t. I could hear the foul beast cackle;


















































































I didn’t even have a chance to reply when the creatures tail flung around and knocked me down. Unsettled mud began to float upwards, creating a murky colloid. He vanished again, but I could not move. Every now and then, I would hear a












































I watched for his eyes, but could not find them.

And then I felt the crushing power, as if every darker feeling; guilt, malice, hate, jealousy, fear

all came crashing down onto my leg.
And clamped his jaws shut.













Snapped my back leg right off.














And then he faded again, back into the shadows and mud. Back into the filth.
I could still feel him there, and all I could do was lay there still.
I was not going to move, even if I tried.

I summoned every last ounce of strength I had, looked to the glittering surface of the pond and let out a cry.







And then I collapsed.




Was that when things became real?














Hart's picture

o______o Yikes. o_o

o______o
Yikes. o_o
Kaoori's picture

(not sure if this was

(not sure if this was okay-just ignore it if it's not. Otheriwse, this is beautiful as always. Had me hooked from the beginning. I love the top picture. Makes me want to hug her. Except.. she'd fall apart, probably.)
Kaoori looked toward the pond, where there was a bit of commotion. She had thought she heard a cry- of a familiar voice long since gone. Then the waters were still. Had someone fallen in? Had that hideous crocodile-beast finally grabbed a victim? Kaoori ran to the shore, but was too frightened to jump in. The bottom had been stirred and the water was too murky. She'd easily have been prey.

Hello..?
z.m123's picture

:'c ...

:'c ...
parrotsnpineapple's picture

Dont worry guys. Ravey isnt

Dont worry guys. Ravey isnt dead.

Part 3, the finale will be coming in the next few weeks.
Snowsauria's picture

This was intense, and those

This was intense, and those drawings is gorgeous. Look forward to the finale. n__n
Apeldille's picture

Ooh, damn I thought he was

Ooh, damn I thought he was just going to you know, taste her leg a little! Lick it or something. (not sure if he actually would do that - bite her leg off, I mean, but it's very effective as a story-telling thing.) Beautiful work as always, I look forward to the next part!

parrotsnpineapple's picture

(@ Apeldille. asdasd ;A; I

(@ Apeldille. asdasd ;A;
I was worried about how I was portraying him here. Basically, I figured because shes so frail, it was bound to happen. I can change anything if you want.)

But thankyou C:
Apeldille's picture

Oh, don't worry about it,

Oh, don't worry about it, it's fine <3 I understand the frail thing, I thought it might be something like that. But I'm not sure if he would call her 'bird' or 'raven' since he doesn't know her -- to him she is just a almost-dead deer. (sorry for being so picky, please don't feel that you have to change things ;_;)

(oh and if you are going to write more Neath-dialogue: here (last bit of the page) are some tips about understanding his sounds. I wrote it yesterday so please don't feel that you have to change anything!)

Mis's picture

*Flails around like a crazy

*Flails around like a crazy person*
*So pretty much herself*

Man. Your talent. I want it. Now. Present it on a plate to me.

Very tense, you know what I think ♥
Iaurdagnire's picture

... -Swears- I connect with

... -Swears-
I connect with this a lot... she and Dag are similar in that destiny and purpose is something they don't want.


This was fantastic to read, the music rose and fell at just the right moments. What is the music, may I ask?

Ohh..Mygod. The music, text,

Ohh..Mygod. The music, text, pictures..everything was so breathtaking. You blew me away, the text toke me in the story and everything's just..Ahh.. No words..I'll be waiting for the next part, Hnn ♥ ;A;

Fincayra's picture

This is amazing. I was drawn

This is amazing. I was drawn in the moment I started reading. (: ♥
ocean's picture

Very awesome, as all the

Very awesome, as all the parts have been! ^^
Spyrre's picture

Wow... this was beautiful, I

Wow... this was beautiful, I loved reading it. Very dramatic.... <3
Pegasicorn's picture

Neathe, you're creepy. o_o I

Neathe, you're creepy. o_o
I don't know how Ravenflight can be helped, but I await the next part.
parrotsnpineapple's picture

@ Vee: Indeed

@ Vee: Indeed O_____O

@Kaoori: Awwww. It always makes me smile to hear that people enjoy my plots and words.
And rofl yes!. Better send Kaoori on with some sticky tape, incase, raveys head fell off or something.

@ z.m123: ;_;

@ SnowSauria: Thank you <3

@ Apeldille: I dont think there will be any more dialogue from neath. Possibly, but at this current time no. Maybe Ill have to draw a decent image of him and put some authentic neath lingo in there <3
Thankyou for letting me use him in this plot. And sorry if I went off his character a bit. (what can I say, Im a story teller C:)

@ Misako: -ACTS HERSELF TOO-
Pretty sure you have some talent too.
Just sayin <3
WE ARE MASTERMINDS.

@ Dag: Destiny sucks lots. Im sure they would get along famously, theyd start a hate destiny club.
But really, Im glad the story provokes such reactions.

Thankyou. Im honoured <3
And the music is from the Amnesia Soundtrack, something called Daniels Theme I believe C:

@ Nopje: Thankyou so much lovely C:

@ Fin: Thankyou C:

@ Ocean: Thankyou very much!

@ Spyrre: Thankyou! SO MUCH DRAMA <3

@ Peg: All will be revealed in due course C:
Thankyou <3
Watchbreaker's picture

Extremely interesting story

Extremely interesting story you've wrote. What would really make it fascinating is if you've stopped at the "Raven lost her way", making the reader longing and thinking about what will happend, but after have readed it I can see you had to finish it.
Melusine's picture

Woah... That was intense, I

Woah... That was intense, I was hooked on everyword... I'm literally speechless on how perfect everything fitted. The work and detail in this story line is just incredible.

Melusine has ventured in and out the forest a lot, she missed quite a chunk of what recently happened. She doesn't know where she is but has concerns, she's trying to get back in touch with other deer but she hasn't seen Raven.

It's a bit of an obscure feeling, actually.

Poor Ravenflight. This is

Poor Ravenflight.
This is intense, and I love the art.

Wow... o.o..... That got my

Wow... o.o.....
That got my heart pumping.
Beautiful as always! <3
Snowsauria's picture

I just have to ask; I hope

I just have to ask; I hope it's okay with you that I in a story I'm going to write post pictograms in a similar way that you did?

I have had the idea in mind for quite some time, but now I'm afraid it's going to look like I copied you if I don't ask first. :')
parrotsnpineapple's picture

Thankyou all

Thankyou all <3 It means a lot

@ Snow: pffft. I dont care love. I dont get defensive about stuff like that unless you like
copied the image or raveys story.
But the placement of pictograms wasnt even my idea. Its been done many times.
C: So the short answer.

Go for it
quadraptor's picture

Oh wow...I've always been

Oh wow...I've always been fascinated with your posts like these but this one was especially haunting.

Quad and Zephyr would do all they can to help Ravenflight. She is like a sister to Zephyr especially.

Didn't get to commenting


Didn't get to commenting until now.
This is absolutely fantastic. The art, the words, the pacing of the story as one scrolls down the page.
It's just bursting with time spent on it, if that makes sense. You can tell that you worked really hard on this.
And the sound effects, and the everything! Pfft.
Incredibly well done. It left me even more curious to know what will happen to Ravenflight next.
Stunning.
Truly stunning.