Aleris

Post originally by Character_Faunia

The forests were always alive with the words of all it's creatures. Her ears tilted up to listen to what the commotion ws about, it seemed there was an army that was gathering on the outskirts of the forest. They were warning her to hide again, her kind was rare and hunted. It wasn't a life she wished to live but it was one she dealt with. Strong and agile deer legs shifted a bit the more she listened. Before a nod was given and an agile leap she headed into the forest. Black raven hair tangled with vines and leaves but that was nothing new, it was a calming place normally.

Wind touched upon her shoulders as the tattered old top she wore did very little to cover her body, it was all she had. The bladed bow that was passed, mother to child was gripped tightly. The silver of it glistened in her hands darkened upon the edges with black like blood. It was a weapon like she that had seen war and horror of those that infringed upon the woods. The army gathering wasn't here for her, it was here for something else, either hunting or a place to stay for the night. That was usually the way of it, but the last thing she was going to do is provide them a new sport to hunt.

A mythical creature some people called her for she shifted from human to what she truely was with sometimes little more then a touch. It was a hard life add to that she could hear both the words of the foul human invaders and her forest. Her temper was always a firey one as she often had to resist leaving her places within the forest to become the hunter. Although sometimes, she had to do just that. Notching an arrow on her bow she listened to a scout talking to himself about his oh so hard duties. Taking map of the terrain, to which she shifted carefully to not make a sound.

There was little place for her in this world, sometimes she wondered if she truely was the last of them. It had been years since she'd seen hind or hair of her family, her kind. It was a saddend existance but it gave her a purpose. She protected the forest, and in turn they protected her. An army would be hard to destroy but the hunters that would come for merciless slaughter is another thing. That was why she faught so to control herself even when she knew the odds were insurmountable as was this case.

The scout went further into the woods and her eyes traveled with him. Birds in the trees twittered about his whereabouts at all times. Bunnies thumped out numbers of how many there were in the army. It was not something she was liking to hear but she said nothing, not for a while. Even the forest wasn't a safe place, it too had it's threats from the animals within as well as the human animals outside of it. However, there was a need to protect them and she had an ideal for doing just that.

This forest, was land that no one had claimed although the humans sure did a nice job of robbing it whenever they saw fit. Trees for lumber to make their buildings, animals for their fat guts and the such. These things never pleased her much but it was the circle of life and the natural progression and law. Maybe it was time one of her kind did something a little differently. A newspaper had blown some chronicle into that of the forest. Probably from the stupid army making a mess out of beautiful woodlands. Leaps and bounds were made when the all clear was given towards the far side of the forest away from the army. Today there was another predator in the woods that she would deal with in her own accord.

There was a job she could seek to save the money to buy the forest lands she grew up in and called home. The problem was, how does one like her gain protection from humans to work it without them trying to slaughter her in town while she worked. Perhaps she'd send a messanger to the king requesting a stay of protection for the propose of working to procure lands to keep the forests safe. It was a long shot, one she doubted would even be listened to. Still it was better then nothing perhaps, for now her attention shifted to the twitter of birds.

Poachers were in the dark side of the forest she happened to be in. The warning as given out and a smile grace her lips. The arrow was still notched in her bow when she caught sight of the two men as they lifted a gun and shot a mother deer leaving the young to scurry for cover. Another shot would render it's flight worthless and her lips drew taunt. Fingers pulled the arrow back and allowed it to dispatch through the air, aimed for the foul creatures heart. Another arrow was notched with a experts ease and grace before a secondary arrow was fired off seconds later for the second man's heart as well. One fell. The other turned to see the fallen companion's death rattled yell. His arrow threw him back as it lodged in his shoulder so close to his neck. Damn, oh well perhaps the hunt should begin.

A bear had come upon the scene drawn by the scent of fresh blood and allowed his roar to dominate the small clearing. With a nod of satisfaction she watched the paniced poacher try to drag his friend then fled or tried to to say the least. The bear drawn by the sudden movements, the yelling and the sight of the two guns mauled the man clawing and slashing him. Eatting his guts out from his slashed open chest before his own eyes. She kept a silent vigil nearby when the man's chest rattled and death approached, she stepped from the shadows. Her legs moved with pure fluid grace and a hand rested on the bear's head as it gored the man more. Makng his last moments the most painfulled misery there could be permitted.

"Death embraces those, that embrace death and force it upon others." She spoke almost elven toned english. Where as to the bear her fingers stroked it's head as it looked to her. "You have protected your forest well, there is some spawning fish in the river a few miles north, my friend." She spoke softly to it to where it would know what she spoke of.

Still the questions remained, how to preceed from here. Vultures circled overhead and she made no effort to stop them. Gathering the hunter's rifles, she slid them into a leather bag she had fashioned upon her side and went about gathering the deers that were so abruptly brought to the end of their life. With help, she and the mate of the deer got the mother and the young one to a sacred grove and buried them, as the forest creatures did for those of the loveones that were killed by humans.

That night she gathered two candles she'd pilfered from a hunter's shack and put them on lilypads within the grove. Lighting them so the fallen could walk the path in light to where they belonged in heaven. Such was always her way, she stayed with the buck until his lowered head and form disappeared into the forests. Still she had to find a way to keep this forest safe, this was her home. Perhaps the letter to the king should be given more thought.

Post originally by Character_Faunia

The army moved on, the winds shifted showing another season was on the horizon, with spring came more hunting, camping and people in the forests. People that might hurt her friends to which she wasn't happy with. Each loss was a strike to her back with a whip. A memory she hadn't ever forgotten from a dark stormy night where a man had taken a lash to her back and tried to drive her into a meadow where she heard screams of agony originating from.

Agile and fast her legs bounded then as they did now allowing her to escape but the pain was still there, a new pain she felt when she lit another candle and set it adrift on a lilypad for another forest life lost. Another soft ground grave that shouldn't have to have been dug because of others greed. Still it did little to ease the disquiet within her mind and thinking of the plights and how best to help her friends. They were the only family she truely remembered anymore.

Times changed as did the winds, never truely blowing the same way. All the war and the things going on in the outside world as she thought of it, took it's toll on the forest. Scarred trees, burned places and the scent of death and destruction clung there in places as sure as the sun set. With a proud toss of her tangled raven wing hair she kept her silent vigil of the forest. Listening to the calls of the birds, the thumps of the bunnies and the soft wind that blew through the trees rustling the leaves.

Seasons were changing, Change was coming and with them came new hopes, new fears and a new element to which would have to be overcome. Normally she embraced them all but after the war that had taken place in the outside world of the forest, she couldn't stand by silent anymore. Which was why she entered that old cottage lost in the woods. Long ago forgotten about and write a simple letter to that of the king of these outside worlds she'd heard exist.

Butterflies carried the most wonderful tales of what went on outside their protected forest. She set her bow down and gave it thought. There had been upheaval, goddesses and great battles raged, lives lost and new hope found. It was something that was exciting but she knew it all came at a cost, Lives. How many lives had fallen, how many innocent creatures, woodland animals had met their fate while the marauding warring ones carried on their plans. Fabulous tales of flying machines that brought death and destruction to all they touched. It wasn't a peaceful thought that entered her head when she heard that.

The wind carried a slight chill that night as she finished her note to be sent to the king. A bird had volunteered to carry it to him. She feared honestly for it's life it was a dangerous perhaps a foolish task but she didn't persuade him to abandon his quest. She appreciated the way the animals worked together, even as she was part of them. The note was a simple one, a simple one that she hoped would allow her friends, her forest a chance to keep thriving.

The bird took flight and head for the city to which the butterflies told held the king. It would take flight, soaring into the sky through the clouds high in the air so none would stop his mission. It was with a faint smile she watched from the edge of the forest until he'd vanished. One only, had to hope that it went well and it wasn't killed. Clasping her hands together she softly preyed for it's safe arrival to the king, and more so that it would return home safe where it belonged.

Should the bird reach the king, a solitary parchment would be dropped upon his lap. A black ribbon with a feather would be binding it.

Hallowed king upon the lands outside the great forest,

I humbly request if not all out plea for you to try to make the south western forests just outside of the grand city a protected area or at least allow myself a permit to work within the cities to be untouched or harmed to earn the money to buy the forest land. It is threatened from the remnants of old wars, armies gathering and poachers, hunters that threaten the woodland creatures, their homes. I ask we be given a chance for survival as humans are given.

Faunia of the Forests

Post originally by Character_Faunia

Through the shadows of the forest she watched the hunters come. They as always came in droves and she was always watching as the hunting seasons came and went. Most the wildlife here within the forests knew to head for the heart of the forest, an unsullied place that most hunters dare not go. It was dark there, the air was still even with the animals there. There was dark magic there cast long ago that left an inklike shroud there. It was safe for the animals but humans it was said, it did dark things to.

She stayed from these places, though she wasn't human, the air there the sensation it sent up her spine troubled her greatly. But it wasn't something she was prepared to explore most of the time, at times she wanted to learn what it was that was there in this darkened grove. But for now it was the sanctuary of those that would be hunted during the seasons. At the old cutter's cottage she patiently gave it some thought as her form shifted, the four hooves of her replaced by a pair of legs. During hunting season, she shifted though she prefered the speed and agility of her true form.

Black shroud like robes adorned her form as did a black hood the hide her face away as she walked armored as per always under the robes. Humans couldn't be trusted so she allowed none to close. Bare feet tread upon the dark moist ground the more she walked through the forests looking around upon the ground. Soon she would find the courage to leave the forests and find a way to truely protect her friends. To take possession legally of the land would keep these hunters out.

Watching from a distance her quietness always kept her out of sight. She watched as a bear was shot with a muzzle of a rifle and a frown marred her lips. It was nature for now and she hated it. Hated the death of each animal for they all had wonderful stories, had all been her family.

She worried also about her brave bird that went to the king of these lands. Perhaps she should while the hunters were there in the forests and it wasn't safe, venture into the town. Find out what she could about the lands and whom and what she was dealing with.

Bare feet tread upon the ground as she walked through the mists and fog of the forest towards Grand City to head for a tavern, there was always some gossip to be had there. Perhaps there was a newspaper that she'd seen floating about and read. Something to help her, get a good grasp on her goals and objectives.

Still through this all, it was a fear that someone would touch her. The human form, the illusion of it was magic true and old ones. Still she could easily be revealed and shown for what she was. It was a constant fear if not almost a paranoid factor that made her not want to leave, to turn back into the forests. But whom would protect them, find a way to keep them safe if not for her.

Along the way she picked up bits of blown newspaper, a small black sack on her back made her look like a common vagabond unworthy of attention. She was watching those golden ringed crimson eyes of hers studying all those she passed from under the hood of her cloak.

She read of well some man being important now working at a whorehouse. Well to each their own she suspected. She read about the deaths and lives of those that lived about and she had to wonder, why it was so important. Perhaps the newspaper was a place she could go to find out facts too.

Just as Faunia was wondering if her bird friend had made it to King Alerion, the little animal was soaring through the skies towards her. The bird dived down in through the trees and sat perched on the nearest tree branch that was in her line of vision. The bird ruffled out its feathers and dropped a rolled up piece of parchment into her open hands. The paper bore a wax seal, being one that King Alerion used when sending important documents.

After unfolding the letter, she would read the following words in the king's script:

Dearest Faunia of the Forests,

I thank you for your concern on the well being of our forests. At the moment, the best I can do is send some of my finest rangers to keep watch over the forest, apprehend any suspects and have them report back what they discover. Should their investigations prove that there is a significant number of poachers roaming the lands, then we may certainly write up an official post that states the Southwest Forests are off limits to any sort of hunting.

Still, I do not believe that declaring this land a haven for animals will totally get rid of the problem. You may find that once that rule would go into effect, even more trespassers will be tempted to step foot in the forest sanctuary. People can be, afterall, tempted by the forbidden.

For now, I would also suggest for you to send a prayer to one of our Deities. Though it may not seem like it, they are constantly roaming the nearby forests.

Humbly,

King Alerion