Well it was dark at least, surprisingly so when I instanciated. I thought I even saw a bat, although I may have been imagining that. But it was certainly dark, and looked a bit nippy, and I wondered if I'd see any others awake at all on such a night.



No sooner had I started to wander the darkened forestthough than there was the sound of hooves and I was joined by Eris and Valaire.



Meeting-frolicking ensued, followed by a greetings-nuzzle. It's always so nice bumping into other deer in the forest, everyone's so pleased to see one another and joyous in greeting. If only humans were as welcoming and pleased to see one another. Mind you it's probably for the best that they aren't, imagine how chaotic it'd be in Basingstoke town centre if everyone was frolicking and nuzzling all the time. And glowing.



It is rather lovely though. Very shortly we were joined by Widmung and there was more leaping, nuzzling and glowing.



Followed by a not inconsiderable amount of circle-dancing. The previously chilly-seeming night was warmed by dancing, good company and all manner of good-natured frivolity.



Including the ever-popular interpenetrating with a tree, with which we all joined in with alacrity. It made me laugh to see a row of deer butts all sticking out of the tree with their little tails wiggling. I think that little tail wiggle is one of my favourite aspects of the deer animation.



Even amongst all this amiable silliness Valaire found a moment to look properly imposing with that long mask and those scary blood red antlers.



More dancing followed, and of course a bit more frolicking. One can never have too much frolicking. (Except maybe in Basingstoke town centre). I apologise for being the only one not frolicking in this picture, I have not yet developeed sufficient dexterity to frolic and get a screenshot at the same time.



We ran for a while and then gathered at the boundary of magical reality. Deer flickered back and forth between their magically-expressed exterior appearance and their natural deer base. It all looked rather impressive, there amongst the mist.



As we were there it would have been rude not to have a nice drink of trip-water and see which little beasts we'd all become. Would I be my usual frog yet again, or maybe something cute and fluffy? Would we all be cute and adorable?



Aaa I'm a little squirrel this time! Look at my fluffy little tail lol. Looks like Eris got a bunny and Valaire got the frog this time (hey the frog is still adorable). And Widmung the crow.



We decided everyone needed a shower so we collectively hopped and flapped and scurried to the fountain. Although I don't think we were actually dirty, having only existed for a few minutes in our various forms at that point.



"I know, let's all sit with our arses inside the bricks of the fountain". A perfectly normal forest way of thinking.



Eventually we all reverted to base deer form and had a little bit of a base-deer-meeting. "Dude, you look so different". "Oh hey, so do you". And given that things could get a little confusing in that state we all exit the nonmagical zone (inasmuch as a fountain that transforms you into tiny animals can be considered nonmagical, I suppose) and resume our chosen magical externals. But not before I bow to my deer friends and get ready to head off to sleep, as it is getting late in my timezone by now.



And so I head to the little hill to rest, and my deer friends come with me to say goodnight, which is rather lovely. As things tend to be in the forest, I have found.

Rather lovely. <3