A Crystal sapling tree slumbered, waiting.

Dreaming of harmony.

Dreaming of the world and the grand lights that walk it.

A Green light in the shape of a zebra, that speaks of witchcraft

A red light in the shape of a jackal, that speaks of curses

A bronze light in the shape of a bull, that speaks of mountains and strength

A purple light in the shape of a kirin, that speaks of magic.

A light blue light in the shape of a fish like horse, that speaks of oceans.

An orange light in the shape of a dragon, that speaks of fire.

A grey light in the shape of a griffin, that speaks of wind and thunder.

And two lights one pink and another deep violet in the shape of two alicorns, the pink one speaks of light and fertility and the violet one speaks of darkness and destruction.

And *bzzt* finally up *bzzt* north a gold *bzzt* light in the shape *bzzt* of a stag, that speaks of Luck and fortune.

All the lights the sampling dreams of as it waits for its awakening when a new generation of lights cometh.

Near a river by many rocky ruins, that spoke of a once great town like area with multiple broken owl statues littering the ground, a large camp of Caribou is seen.

Some of the Caribou were riding on their beastly mounts, on their backs were tied up owl and crow hens. Having comeback from scouring this land.

Contraptions can be seen being pulled by these beasts, contraptions with net-like ammunition most likely what was used to capture the anthropomorphic avian.

Said avian hens had seen better days, disheveled feathers, broken wings, dried tears across their beaked faces and with dried, and fresh, white substances covering their bodies.

The residents of this camp celebrated their newest additions, the one who lead the hunt being the most praised.

An “adult” stag, with cream-brown fur and brown lightly braided hair, who looked to be in his twenties, wearing shoulder armor, metal braces and a decorated loincloth that stretched to his knees. His most notable features being the gold glowing runes on his body, his large antlers that emitted yellow flakes of lights and finally his golden yellow eyes that spoke of power beyond mortal grasp.

He was ahead of the hunting party that has entered the camp, his destination being the biggest fur tent in this place.

And out from the tent came a familiar grey stag, Dvalinn, with a proud and pleased smile.

Pulled out the tent by him was a voluptuous crow hen, with faded eyes, a black collar around her neck. Dvalinn laughed hugging his son who just got off his mount “Dàinn…my son, to see our people grow…to see them expand to more soil, I had thought was a dream, made reality by YOU” said Dvalinn shaking his head with a smile, his first born just smirked “Its expected father, these races are weak compared to us, the only reason they’ve flourished is because we were divided without a true leader” Dàinn said separating himself from his father.

“That leader being you son” Dvalinn nodded at his own words, 2 years ago Dvalinn deemed Dàinn strong enough to lead his tribe, which was further proven by his defeat by his son’s hands during their ceremonial duel, he grew fast and strong. Able to carry the largest of their beasts with ease, out pace many of their swiftest warriors(who were enhanced by runes) and endure greater punishment than any of them could bare.

Capabilities that are further enhanced by the runes etched on his body which glowed a brilliant golden yellow to certify his divinity. Though it was sad to discover he had little affinity in making his own runes, but that didn’t matter to Dvalinn.

The first thing Dvalinn asked his son do is defeat all the chieftain that lead their tribes and absorb them into his own, which he accomplished with little challenge, the Caribou, united, proceeded to raid their neighboring enemies.

Their closest enemy, the bears who resided at the east forests of Berria where the first to be crushed, many of the women were taken and many of their men killed, even at knife point they refused to conform to their ways continuing to live in their delusions.

Then the easiest of them all the owls, who lived as either bandits, mercenaries or small villagers made it all that simple, their men where easy to convince to follow the right path and the women were made to submit to their will. According to some of the male owls a large chunk of their female populace started venturing to the west, home of the foxes - the Zonai lands, after seeing so many of their males accepted the Caribou’s truth. Dàinn vowed that after they finished with the other avian species the foxes will be next.

Now their current objective and most challenging of them, the crows, whom many years ago who’d have beaten the Caribou relatively easily using their advanced weaponry, now struggle to hold us back, many of them escaping to the mountains of the ruined lands of Hardyree the once proud land of the owls. Where the caribou follow as multiple camps are spread throughout these lands creeping closer and closer, leaving no room for escape.

Due to their rise in power, from the minds of their most brilliant men, advanced and improved their tools ,and weapons. Better tools and methods to farm, forging being something “created” by his people, better weapons made of a sharpened and strong material known as “metal”, which can be used as armor too, and with wooden and “metal” shields that can protect them from their even sharper arrows.

Some improvements on their sowing too allowing them to make good quality cloth only reserved to their grandest warriors.

“Start a fire men, for we are about to hear a most great tale of conquest from my boy!!” declared Dvalinn, the many stags cheer with raised fists their morale at an all time high.

Dàinn laughed joyfully “Let me have some fun with my bitches first before that” shaking his head with a smile before going into the large tent and seeing at his right two naked female bears, gagged, with muscular legs and arms, thick behinds with a good amount of fat and breasts almost as big as their heads, the bears had runes written on them to prevent any resistance and on their pelvic area to increase their fertility. Black thick collars on their necks.

They glared weakly at him “Ahhh yes, there’s always something about strong females that give me a rush” He said lust clear in his eyes as he approaches them “To crush and conquer them” undoing his loincloth, he picked up one of them by the neck and threw her on his fur bed “And have them on their knees or bent over as I make them mine” forcefully turning the bear, her face pushed into the soft bed sheets, ass out facing his pelvis, his very large 13 inch thick rod making itself known, before he thrusts deep in her thick furry cavern drawing a gasp from her gagged mouth “To show them no matter how strong they are…” he picked up on his thrusting drawing more gasps from her, whether of pain or pleasure is anyone’s guess.

“I’m always superior”

As Dàinn asserts dominance on the female bear, his father was outside organizing their celebration.

He stood in the cold wind, his bitch shivering which was ignored by the large grey stag as he stared at his fellow men in arms as they worked.

He sighed as his thoughts drifted to the rumors of the savagethaw forest, about how anystag that travels there will meet with nothing but death, said death being described as a pale demon or wraith as the many delirious stags that made it back described before either Killing themselves or going completely mad.

Which was enough for the older stag to know that theres something worse than the many dangerous predators, which they avoided at all costs, that made that region its home.

This had Dvalinn worried as it was the same forest he left his second son to die in, he considered the small possibility that he’s son somehow survived and his taking revenge on any Caribou that travels in those woods, but squashed that thought seeing how his first born’s progress is matching up with the prophecy.

“But could my son’s soul have cursed the forest?” He muttered in worry, as the miracles of magic can unleash anything for all he knows. He sent many Caribou warriors to investigate, none returned, so much so he declared the forest forbidden grounds.

Dàinn offered to investigate but his father disagreed saying that he should focus of bringing the caribou prosperity, but mentioned that when he considers his son ready he could go if he wishes.

The frozen forest – the silver stag’s home

Nami groggily started to wake up, her eyes slowly fluttering open, her gaze lazily sweeping around the-!

“Wait where am I!?” now paying attention to her surroundings, she realized that she was in a cave…a very clean and furnished cave, which at first she mistook for a Noble’s house if it wasn’t for the stalactites and rocky walls.

Some high quality furniture spread around, animal fur carpets, well carved and very smooth looking tables and cabinets , and even a fire place too.

“Is that a kitchen?” she noticed at the far end of the cave was…was…she didn’t how to describe it as she’s never seen a kitchen like this, the rocky wall has been made smooth with no bumps whatsoever, the many things that spoke of a kitchen to her was the kitchen knifes, table with vegetables ,hung meat and other compartments she’s never seen before. To humans this kitchen would a look like a normal modern kitchen with meat hanging on hooks at the corner.

Noticing a weight on her shoulders she turned her head seeing her unconscious friend Temari leaning on her, they’re tied up together now, as she now realized her restricted movement.

“Dammit! What happened?!” Nami tried to remember how they got here and why they were tied together, with their own rope(from their backpacks) it seems. She heard a growl, turning her head to the noise she now faced two very close, if she remembers correctly, Chuntoths.

The felines in question watching them with clear curiosity as their tails wagged behind them. Nami screamed, waking up Temari in the process.

“Uuh…whats-BY Empress Tamamo’s lushes tails!!” she screamed now seeing the predators so close to them, Said Chuntoths did not move an inch, preferring to look at the two vixens with curiosity.

The two cats ears stood up, having picked up something, before they ran off to the cave’s entrance.

Nami having stopped screaming and now noticing her awoken friend, “Temari you’re awake!! I don’t remember what happened, but it looks like we’re captured!” Temari now noticed their predicament and struggled against the ropes with no avail.

“We have to get out of here before the Caribou get here!!”

Nami’s eyes widened in horror after hearing what Temari said, before she completely remembered everything, now struggling with her partner to escape.

“No! Please no! This can’t be real!” cried Nami in desperation.

Hoofsteps can be heard getting closer to them, causing them to hurry, but still no progress was made.

A very familiar young stag walked up to them.

POV the silver stag

“Damn that was boring” I entered the cave after watching the black haired fox woman he let go, whom despite having stayed in the forest for at least half a day, spent it all doing nothing but sob violently under a tree reeking of guilt.

‘Maybe I should’ve picked her up too. She’s definitely going through something’ I thought, heading towards the now awake foxes, having detected their rising heartbeats and overall movements when he was in the forest stalki-watching over their ‘leader’.

So now walking to my ‘living room’ I saw them where I left them, near the middle of the room tied to each other. I trusted Tina and Jeff to watch them as he observed the other fox, which turned out be a huge waste of time.

Said cats followed behind him.

They were struggling through their binds but immediately froze when they saw me, fear clear in their eyes, the ones with braids started crying while the other glared defiantly at me.

‘Damn, am I that intimidating? I’m an eight year who looks twelve’ chucking at the thought, which didn’t help his image as the braided one started crying more, ‘Well an eight year old that just beat up to adult foxes…’ I stopped before for them, my face scrunching up in thought.

“Fucking baby steps I guess” I sighed as I went to the kitchen, a plan made, ‘but first I’m pretty sure they’re hungry’

The one with blue eyes adorned a confused expression pretty much confused by my weird language. I started cooking some of the meat I’ve gotten from those super “mammoths”, considering their foxes, a carnivores meal would please them.

Wait aren’t they omnivores?

Doesn’t matter I’m still make them a good meaty dish, the smell must be good considering the green eyed one stopped crying.

Humming a song I remember, I continued making them food.

POV END

Temari and Nami, ceased what they were doing and stared at the mystery stag’s back with clear confusion, a wonderful smell reaching their snouts.

“Te-Temari wha-what is he doing?” stuttered Nami, incapable of making sense of what the Caribou is doing or rather not doing to THEM. Temari just continued staring “He’s making food…” she didn’t let her guard down, believing after he’s done he would come for them.

Their snouts twitched, as the smell drew them deeper, ‘Is he going to eat that heavenly dish in front of us!’ Thought Nami, her stomach growling hard, drawing Temari’s surprised gaze causing Nami to blush.

They heard closing hoofsteps as turning their heads back to the silver stag they saw him walk with two steaming plates, they tensed when placed the plates next to them and walked off back at the entrance.

Nami’s and Temari’s jaws dropped, Temari refocusing again looked down at her plate and saw a cooked steak, with mushroom sauce, spiced up vegetables and two fresh smelling bread buns.

All in all it looked incredibly good, her thoughts about the food being possibly poisoned was halted by Nami’s movements. Now seeing the vixen, free of binds, happily munching on her food.

“Wha-?!” looking down Temari noticed her untied bindings, plus a knife and weird clawed ‘spoon’ on her right “When did he-!?!” her words cut by her friend “Don’t care, eating now!” Nami said in between her chewing.

Hesitating at first she picked up her plate and started digging in while ignoring the utensils laid at her right, her eyes widened before she started eating with the same gusto as her friend, a look of bliss overtaking her expression.

Soon enough they finished their meals, looked around and froze immediately noticing one smirking stag crouching near them.

Frozen forest

Jinako had tears streaming down her face, regret eating her from the inside, she didn’t know how long she cowered under this tree.

Her body’s cry of hunger, ignored, the unforgiving cold as frost spreads across her exposed fur, all of it ignored as nothing could overcome the pain she felt for abandoning her allies “it’s not my fault!” she cries to no one “If they’ve captured all us, if they took me…” whatever words she wanted to use to justify her action died, as she hugged her knees “Nami, Temari…Forgive me…” was all she could utter to afraid to even try to rescue them.

Hisssss!

Her eyes widened as she stood alert, her heart beating through her chest as she looked around for what made that noise, her tail twitched. Feeling something behind her, she slowly turned her head and came face to face with a giant serpent that looked big enough to swallow her whole with ease.

Arctic blue scales, red slit eyes and an unbearable amount of heat was radiating from its body, which was wrapped around, crushing, the large tree she was under.

It's huge forked tongue tickling her snout as she stood their frozen.

The serpent started pulled its head back, fangs exposed themselves as it released what could be perceived as a demonic hiss that would stay in Jinako’s nightmares forever.

But thankfully she immediately got her bearing, acting quickly, pink ethereal magic covered her arms.

The serpent seeing her movements and in a split second struck her, its jaw clamping on her, only for the image of the supposed dead vixen to vanish as a pink haze revealing to the snake had only attacked air.

The giant snake reared it’s head in confusion, looking around seeing nothing, before it’s forked tongue popped out detecting a scent that lead deeper in the icy wilds, her scent.

Releasing an angry hiss it followed the scent of its newest prey, moving across the thin snow with a ferocious speed.

Jinako ran and ran, ‘Just when things couldn’t get any worse!!’ she ran feeling the cold air impact her exposed furry face, black long hair waving around. Her triangular ears twitched picking up the sound of harsh scrapping and hissing behind her “No!” she quickened her pace, her left arm gathering magic as she imagined walls and obstacles to impede the predators speed.

It worked as the serpent was fooled by the fake constructs weaving around and past them, delaying its pursuit. But it’s main focus was still on her.

She kept running and creating more obstacles, even creating an even larger snake to try and scare it, it worked to a degree as it caused her hunter to pause taking a defensive position. This proved to be her greatest mistake once the serpent pulled out its tongue, confused but noting a lack of scent from the larger form.

Proving it’s intelligence, it went though her means to scare it and all other constructs she made, now realizing they are all fake as they all disappeared into a pink haze.

The speed of its pursuit has gotten worse for her.

She vaulted over rocks, swung from sturdy branches and displayed noteworthy acrobatic and parkour skills, but the serpent was still hot on her trail and getting closer.

She reached a frozen lake and accidentally slipped, falling she proceeded to slid across to the middle of the iced waters.

Releasing a yelp from her fall she tried to stand from where she stopped sliding. Cracks started to cover the iced floor.

The serpent reached the frozen lake, and unperturbed moved across it, “Wait stop!” cried Jinako, for some reason expecting the animal to listen.

The thin ice supporting them immediately gave away, breaking and dropping both Jinako and the predator in the cold waters beneath them.

5 Minutes earlier – Chuntoth habitat

The two sibling chuntoths , whom sat behind their adopted sibling, were feeding on some raw meat placed in their wooden pet bowls.

As the other occupants sat on the sofas across each other, the silver stag had a calm and almost serene expression.

The two vixens just stared at him from their comfy seats with different levels of suspicious, fear and confusion.

Nami being the most confused, one reason being his eyes, which he hasn’t opened ever since they’ve seen him. Something she finds unnerving too.

Temari adorned a mask of stoicism, but internally she was panicking, making plans of escape as she hides the Knife he gave them for their food behind her back.

The silver stag in question...

‘They’re scared, well that’s to be expected I kind of did kidnap them…What am I thinking, I totally did kidnap them SHIT!!’

‘Its cool, you gave them food, and you’re treating them with some good hospitality. I can relax…there’s a snake approaching the third fox woman’s position!. Well I’ll save her when things get too dangerous for her’ he thought stroking he’s not existent beard(well he still has hair there soooo) causing the two vixens watching him to jump slightly in fright.

‘Well its time to communicate what I need from them’ the silver stag pointed at Temari, who stiffened, and tilted his head in confusion, an kept pointing at her.

Temari blinked, wondering what was the meaning of his actions ‘Has he chosen me as his first victim’ she thought but Nami voiced what she thought “I think he wants to know you’re name…” Temari quirked a brow at her and stared back at their captor who was still pointing at her with his eyes closed, still maintaining his head’s odd position.

“Te-Temari” she stuttered, wanting to kick herself for the lose of composure. “Teh-Ma-ree! Nice name, but I already knew it from your little conversations ” he repeated, though with a lot more emphasis at some parts of her name than necessary.

He started repeating the name while nodding ‘I can say the name perfectly if I wanted to, but I REALLY need to sell the I don’t know you’re language deal’ which worked as Nami’s eyes shown with understanding, noting his weird language and the way he pronounced her friends name “Temari, I think he can’t speak our language” suggested Nami, part of her was unsure.

Temari was caught of guard by Nami’s suggestion, flabbergasted “What do you mean he can’t understanding what we’re saying! There aren’t any other languages in our realm!” she said but became stunned seeing the silver stags look of confusion and twitching ears, a scrunched up expression as if…

“That makes no sense!!” Temari angril shouted “Was he living under a rock!!”

Nami hummed “Maybe a forest, long enough to make up his own language”

“Long enough to speak gibberish you mean” sarcastically responded Temari, a large part of her thinking this is some trick from the Caribou.

The “young” stag pointed at the green eyed vixen “Ohh Nami! My name is Nami” she said with a strained smile.

“Nami!” he repeated, which oddly enough caused an actual smile to appear on her muzzle “I think the reason he brought us (“Kidnapped!” - Temari) here was so could learn from us” she said, her eyes now following the large felines who just finished they’re food and rubbed themselves on the young stag’s legs. The silver furred “child” smiled and started petting them.

Before Temari could voice a complaint, the silver stag stood up suddenly and disappeared in a burst of speed, blasting wind within the cave, that forced the occupants to cover their eyes.

Nami was the first to shiver, as the fire place was snuffed out.

Butt that didn’t matter to the duo, as they noted the missing kid and two felines that sat down as if what occurred was normal.

"I want to go home” Nami said to her outright stunned friend.

“What the Hel!!”

Frozen forest – Lake

Jinako was drowning, her efforts to swim up made moot by the snake, which was sinking deeper. The serpent was in shock from the change in temperature, but somehow wrapped its tail around the vixen as they sank deeper into the cold abyss.

‘So this is how die…’ thought Jinako feeling the last remnants of air start to leave her ‘Mom…guess I’ll be joining dad soon…’ was her last thoughts.

Closing her eyes and accepting what’s to come.

But the creeping peace was ruined by something violently entering the cold waters, said something separating her from the snake and carrying her over its shoulder before bursting out of the water.

She coughed and expelled any water that had entered her lungs, and weakly tried to set her sight on her savior.

Silver half braided hair flowed from his back, with antlers-! “Oh…its…you…” she rasped, suddenly she feels warm, very warm as if under a hot afternoon sun. The comforting warmth leading her to the world of dreams, her body too tired to continue.

The savior sighed as he flew back at the cave, Chain! Dagaz! Kenaz! Was present on the her back, the combined runes engulfed her in the heat of a sunny day. He flew in the cold near-evening back to his home ‘At least the other two will be happy with their reunion, I was still hoping for more but I believe I got enough to work with concerning their magic’ He thought in satisfaction, with some guilt present at leaving her victim to the dangers( Well not to him though ) of this forest.

‘I should move…’ He faced many challenges here but there are still many more out there, new things to discover and learn.

He’s already used to the dangers of this frozen forest, from vicious predators, mighty beast and occasional hunters/warriors that make themselves known here, so much so they stopped coming here altogether.

‘I wonder if their any ghost stories about me? Maybe scary legends!’ he thought remembering leaving some of the warriors to leave if they’ve never tried to fight him, they weren’t innocent that’s for sure, for he could sense their bloodlust for him...and “normal” lust too from a few of the bear women he let live…”Sometimes I swear-!”

He saw the cave opening and headed down towards it, his boot covered hooves touching the ground, he stopped at the opening.

Doing a widespread scan with his super senses, picturing everything inanimate and animated of the entire forest and beyond. He came to a decision.

“After I learn to speak this place’s language, I think I’ll pay my old “tribe”… or is it “village”? Whatever! A little visit” he said with determination, though he nervously sweated a bit, because he doesn’t know whether or not he’s a special case for his people considering his capabilities and if whether or not ‘his’ tribe was all the caribou can offer.

For the adult man turned young stag is still unaware of his own divine status.

1 week later

These past days have been very slow for Temari, as expected when you’ve been living with some freak of nature of a caribou child.

Because even now Temari was trying to recall where in their teachings and warnings about the Caribou did it state that they can disappear and appear in bursts of wind, especially at such a young age.

She demanded answers from him, with her knife out, when he came back with their leader Jinako in his arms, but the language barrier between proved it was pointless much to her frustration.

Nami volunteered to teach him how to speak, as Temari couldn’t stand being close to him so chose to watch over the Jinako.

When Nami tried to ask for his name he froze which Nami took as him not having one and a bit too enthusiastically tried to give him one, offering many names for him to take, which he refused, one of the offered names being Kurama.

The amount of effort Temari needed to fight the urge to slap her for trying to name a caribou stag after Tamamo the first’s husband was incalculable.

When Jinako woke up the next day, they filled her in on what’s happening, well only after they comforted her after she started to meltdown when she saw them. Shouting many apologies and asking for forgiveness.

Nami forgave her quite fast, while Temari reluctantly did so after spending some hours angrily thinking about how their “leader” abandoned them to save her own hide, Temari is definitely never going to forget that.

They awkwardly ate with the Caribou, with Temari finding out he took his knife back much to her annoyance. They also never tried to escape.

Temari wanted to escape, but Nami and Jinako wished to stay much to her shock.

Nami’s reason being that out all the three of them she came to enjoy spending her time with that ridiculously fast learner of a child, which she started to see him as such and many times treated him as such much to his irritation, and the pseudo lavish lifestyle minus the servants was a bonus to the…former noble.

Jinako’s reason being that she felt like she owed him a debt for saving her life, despite Temari’s suspicions and her pointing out he was the reason Jinako almost died in the first place. But the amethyst eyed vixen didn’t care because in her eyes he exposed a weakness in her heart, one she wishes to rectify by staying with him and her friends to some degree, she started helping with him with his housework, such as cleaning, cooking and washing which he appreciated.

Though there was something else she wanted to ask of him after he learned how to speak.

Speaking of him learning their language, as said before he was a fast learner much to Nami’s excitement and Temari’s horror, in the first three days already speaking a broken version of their language. His progress continued to get better as these few days past.

“He’s so unnatural!” was Temari’s response to all of this, his very existence freaking only Temari out, as the rest of her friends either ‘ignored’ his “perks”(Jinako) or just called him “gifted”(Nami), which pissed her off at how unfazed they are by his abnormal abilities “Nothing about him matches what we read about the Caribou!”

At first Temari thought it must be some kind of magic to keep herself sane, despite never hearing any Caribou rune magic capable of producing something like that child.

One the fifth day when he went out to gather food he left trails of snow clouds around the entire forest, a display of jaw dropping speed and strength as one time dragged a dead ADULT giant Trunkmaw (Super “mammoths “as the silver stag likes to call them) with one arm, his facial expression showing that he experienced no difficulty doing so. The trio reacted as expected as any rational thinking being would.

But that didn’t matter now as they are eating the next meal, Jinako who hasn’t touched her food stared intently at the silver kid ad he ate.

Nami and Temari noticed this and were sending small confused glances at their friend and “captor”, the Caribou child made no indication that he noticed her staring or was bothered by it.

“I demand a duel with you”

Temari almost choked on her food, Nami was the first to respond “Jinako! You can’t force a child to fight you!” Temari snorted and gave her an ‘Are you serious?’ look.

“This is my way for redemption” said Jinako, her breathing steadied, “The first time we encountered him I ran, like a weak coward” she continued now glaring at the only bipedal male in the room “leaving behind my friends, I can never forgive myself unless I do this.”

Before Nami could scold her friend she was cut off by the lone Caribou.

“I accept” he said with the same serene expression, causing a chill to run across Temari’s spine, as she was still weirded by how his voice sounded, young like a child but yet it felt old… so out of place.

“But I demand something in return” continued the silver stag, Jinako nodded “What is it do you desire young one?” nervous sweat present on her forehead.

He smiled, none threating nor malicious almost cute(Nami), “Tell me more about Zonai, I’m planning on heading there after a ‘little’ errand of mine” this shocked the group, the two Chuntoths approached them with curious eyes.

“And please”

“Call me Mannaz”

End

Author's Note

Here's my newest chapter hope you enjoy it, remember I'm a noob writer so please point out any mistakes on my story K.