I'm glad. <3 <3

_{I do prefer cake...}

tRCK. X)

"Little one," Mortis says softly. His tone is affectionate, but regretful. " I... haven't been here for you. I can only hope that you have been well in my absence. Are you well?"

Mortis sags in relief at Miyako's acceptance. He steps forward to embrace his daughter, smiling broadly beneath his helmet. At the sound of her voice however, he stops short and squints blearily at her, cursing his failing sight for keeping him from noticing her distress. "I have experienced nothing I could not handle. I am not sure that is the case with you, though, my dear. What concerns you? I may be blind, but I am not senseless." He smiles softly at her, encouraging.

A beleaguered sigh hisses from the stag's mouth as he rubs his chin back and forth comfortingly on his daughter's neck. It really had been a long time since he had seen her. A frown creases his brow as he strains to hear the doe's mumbled words. He presses his face closer against her neck and lets a deep hum thrum up his throat, evidence of his worry.
Miyako's request sends a pang of guilt through his chest and Mortis flinches slightly, ears flicking back. Stability was foreign to the stag. He almost never stayed in a place for very long due to his agelessness. The fact that he had formed such a bond with Miyako in the first place was strange. Her desperation seems to ignite his instinct to flee. To distance himself from her so that the pain would be less when time eventually took her from him. He flounders for a moment, jaw working before he is stricken with sudden resolve. He pulls away from her and focuses his gaze on her face. Deadly serious he murmurs, "Little one I do not often stay in one place for very long. You have experienced this first hand and for that I am sorry. I tell you now that I will make an effort to be here for you. It has been centuries since I have had someone to look after and I am sorely out of practice. But for you, I will try. I will try my very hardest."

As she begins to cry Mortis kisses her forehead sympathetically. "Oh, child. I will stay with you for as long as you like." He settles himself then, solid and stable as a rock. With an air of determination and paternity not often found in the aging stag. He grooms the doe until the tears cease falling and her breathing evens, content to stay there with her leaning on him. Her dependence on him brought a certain calming affect to him.
In a voice that speaks of absolute finality Mortis whispers, "I will always find you."

_______
Hah, alright ^^ I'll probably be able to get back to you tomorrow afternoon.

After being rejoined by her he'd go to rest his head between her shoulders. At first drawn out silence, staring at a nearby object, but then, "What was that all about?"

"He did look upset", a sigh, "He was circling you though", quite briskly at that, "Should I be concerned?"

http://endlessforest.org/community/giftarts-part2-dampir-nimariel-lostpineapplepie-wake-veedeer-and-alcinda

"You always put a smile on my face, miss," he says while letting his head rest lightly upon the doe's back. Something didn't feel right though. "How have you been?" The canine asks, faint worry lingering in his otherwise calm tone.

The wolf slowly brushes his skull against the doe's soft fur, inhaling her lovely scent. "You seem to have lost weight, am I right?" He asks, crimson eyes briefly shifting to look at the doe's. "I've been well," he pauses briefly, examining the skinny female. The wolf was obviously not pleased by the view, forming a faint frown behind his mask. "May I ask what happened to you?"

Beren's ears flickered backwards as he gazed into the doe's eyes. They were so much different since the last time he saw them, it made the wolf even more concerned. "Honestly, I was expecting for a more detailed answer," Miyako's short answer was not enough to him, he wanted to know at least some things that were troubling the young doe, hoping he could somehow help her. "You can tell me anything," the canine assures her, pressing even tighter against her side. "Besides, you should eat. You don't look too well."

Beren's ears were perked as he listened, his heart stung a little bit as if he felt the doe's own pain for what she had to overcome. He wished he could fix things, but the wolf knew he wouldn't be able to change anything. "You're not alone, nor you trouble me. I'm always here for you if you need anyone," instead he tires to comfort the doe, even if he wasn't very good at it. Miyako's glare causes the wolf to make a confused expression and he tilts his head lightly. "Lets go get you some food," he rises and leans to nudge the doe to get up.

Beren glanced at the doe's fragile state once more as she stood up. "You must eat. Would you like me to carry you?" He asks, worried that it might be difficult for Miyako to walk longer distances by herself.

The wolf eyes her suspiciously, could her words be a lie? Either way, he knew Miyako had to eat before her state gets even worse. "Lets go to the blue bowl," he says, partly ignoring the doe's words. The canine takes a few steps forward towards the Blue Bowl's direction, glancing back to see if the doe was following him. "If you like meat, I can hunt something for you," he offers and moves forward.

Beren slowed down his pace and walked beside Miyako in case she needed a shoulder to hold on to. "And promise me that you'll start eating again," he demands with a serious tone, crimson eyes looking at the doe from behind the wolf's long bangs. "Everything will be fine."

Once the Blue Bowl came into sight, Beren trotted to inspect the place of anything that could be potentially dangerous to both of them. When things seemed to be fine there, he went back to Miyako, continuing to support her as they made their way to the destination point.

^^ Sorry it took for so long but long long long time ago you helped me with CS and I promised you something for return <3

(Usk3ch here 8p )

Even though her heart had stopped beating some time ago and the warmth of her body was slowly fading away, she could still feel her mother's presence and hear her words. There was no better feeling in the whole wide world than being accepted and loved.
That's how she felt right this moment.

A familiar face waits beyond.


________________


This is so bittersweet.

{Gonna write something here tomorrow ;; ♥}

He could smell her.

It was faint and a day old, but her scent never went undetected by him. The black and white stag was on his hooves immediately and they took him to her grave. The stench of death threatened to take over and bring forth unwanted memories of his past as well as fears concerning Miyako, but he didn't allow it to push away the subtle smell of fresh grass and rain that he had so often inhaled from her fur.

Neiro stared down at the mound of earth with his yellow eyes, whose pupils were constricted slits to reflect the disbelief and shock he was experiencing. He suddenly felt ill.

This could not be real. Miyako could not be dead. And yet, there she was, her body buried under the ground. "What the hell are you doing down there, Miya?" he demanded quietly. One black hoof halfheartedly scraped away a little bit of dirt, but he stopped - despite the desire to uncover her body and see the proof, he couldn't. She may already be a feast for the bugs, and Neiro knew the image would never leave him if he saw her now. He decided that he only wanted to remember her alive.

The stag felt numbness creeping up his legs, so he crumbled down. The increased closeness to her resting place didn't help the odor of decay, but he ignored it.

Rage slowly began to boil in his blood. Who had done this? Her 'family'? An enemy?
...Herself?
He had seen her just a little while ago, her figure looking emaciated. She had to have done it to herself. It had taken its toll on her, and this is what resulted. His anger directed itself towards Miyako, and his muzzle twitched as he struggled not to snarl. "Look what you've done," he hissed, yellow eyes narrowing while they gazed at her grave. "I told you the truth, opening myself up to you and we rebuilt our bond stronger than it would've ever been. You taught me that maybe being honest would be worth the risk of getting hurt." His brows knit together and he continued, his voice gradually losing its venom and becoming quieter. "And now you leave me? This is wrong, Miyako. This is all wrong." Neiro clenched his jaws together. Keeping up a somewhat composed exterior was quite the challenge at this point. "I didn't even get to... say goodbye."

Both ears were pinned back. His accusing gaze softened and he inhaled a shaky breath, closing his eyes and turning his head away. He had seen enough death to be insensitive towards it, but it had claimed Miya, and the pain Neiro was feeling made it clear that he had actually truly cared for the doe. This was affecting him deeply, and he loathed how vulnerable he was, the ugly result of getting too attached.

In spite of that, he didn't regret his attachment to Miyako. She was causing him a great deal of torment, yes, but she was still the first he'd cared for and the first to care for him back, besides his brothers.

"You won't be forgotten," he murmured, his tone nearly inaudible. Neiro slowly lifted himself back up, opening his eyes to give her grave an unreadable glance. "I-.." He stopped himself. When he spoke again a few moments later, he could muster nothing more than a whisper.

"...Goodbye."



-x-

{Had to change his speech color so it'd show up.
This was written as if the others had left by now.
;n; ♥}

Oh my god guys you're making me cry here. And my eyes are pretty damn sore after reading these comments here. D:
I would give you a better response but I focus all my thoughts on not crying anymore. Iloveyouall. ♥

Awwthankyou! ♥ It's waaayyy too late response but Happy New Year to you, too. :'>

New picture and tearing down to layout. Info highly out of date and coding looks yucky.

-goes to make a new one-