[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]The pale doe once more gave a small nod. She would settle, but there was no rest. Not yet. Soon. Soon...

At some point, she did not remember when, food and drink were brought to her once more. With the white shadow watching, she ate and drank to the best of her abilities. Her stomach was knotted and tense. Anxiously, she watched the doorway. Waiting. Soon?

@Lirilei

She would have been momentarily confused at being thought of as the white shadow if she was able to read thoughts. Instead, she merely stayed nearby, offering company and companionship to the doe who didn't seem to be relaxing at all. After a time, she said she would go check on Pestilence and his progress, and come back to tell her.

Guardian figured she was anxious about the bones that belonged to the dead buck, and hoped that by gathering an update it might help her relax at least a little. Silently she joined her mate as he worked, recalling for a moment the first time she'd seen him at work. Different circumstances, and in this case his pools and beetles were not needed. But she recalled helping him with the old totoma's bones, the story they told of her life, and she looked down at the unknown bucks bones, trying to see his story.

For long minutes she sat there watching him work in his quiet, reverent, meticulous way and she gave a soft, fond smile. There was something beautiful watching him at work, there always had been. She knew he was aware of her presence, but she didn't disturb, and as she left, she merely let her tail brush along his flank before she made her way back to the doe.

"Pestilence is progressing quickly, but it will still take just a little bit longer yet...but he'll be done shortly..and then we can go from there on putting your buck to rest."

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Not having a fresh body to work with was a strange blessing for Pestilence. His work went by much quicker than it typically would have, as he had no need to strip the bones. However, their condition was... not ideal. They had never been properly cleaned, he noted. The buck had been buried fresh. The fats and oils had already begun degrading the skeleton. Quite a few had been broken too, some before death and some after. They were caked in grave dirt and he did not know how long they had been rubbing against one another in those make-shift containers of hers. They were old... Older than he had expected. This poor doe must have been carrying him for years.

However, this did not deter him.

With the gentleness of a mother cleaning her newborn children, Pestilence cleared this buck of the dirt of his first burial. For hours, he boiled away the fat and grease until the bones came away bright. With careful precision, he sealed every crack with resin. Piece by piece, he made these pieces whole again.

A new day had risen by the time the bones were ready. He sent Bone Keeper, his apprentice, to tell those necessary to begin preparing for the ceremony. It was time for this buck to rest at last.

@Lirilei

The doe didn't talk much, didn't respond much. Sure she'd eaten and drank, but that was as far as it all seemed to go. Guardian was alright with that, she was sure she was just anxious about the whole thing, about the bucks bones being saved properly. At one point she had finally given the doe privacy, it was growing late after all and she might want to sleep.

Retreating back to their home, she slept briefly, time and again looking out at Pestilence hard at work. It was as Bone Keeper was sent off she rose finally and went to his side. Briefly she twined her neck around his and there a low "I'll go tell our guest it's almost time. I wonder how...or even if she slept."

Her steps were slow and quiet as she made her way to where the doe was possibly sleeping, and called out quietly. "Are you awake? The ceremony will be soon...."

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Mirage wasn't sure when the last time she had slept was. It was rare. There was no rest. She was kept up by the mumblings and murmurs within her. No, she was not allowed such a thing. She didn't deserve it.

But as the empty, hollowed tree grew steadily darker and her poor, tired eyes drooped, the words kept echoing in her head. She repeated them over and over until she had at last fallen asleep.

She awoke with a jolt at the approach of the kin from before. Guardian, she had said. For a moment, she felt heat rush to her face, embarrassed and ashamed that she had fallen asleep instead of keeping watch for her lover's return. But then came a small wave of confusion. She... She did not dream. A first in who knew how long. She was still tumbling that over in her mind when the doe entered the room. She shook the thought from her head and looked up to the white doe.

"Has he fixed him?"

@Lirilei

"He's fixed him yes. The ceremony is being prepared now, and will start very soon. Lets go." Guardian smiled at her, waiting to be joined before she stepped out and made her way to where she knew Pestilence would be waiting.

A depression in the ground showed where the buck would be laid, and she led the doe closer, aware of the other kin gathering around. She could hear 'stil talking to Bone Keeper quietly explaining a portion of the soon to happen ceremony. It was as the sun began to rise just a little more she heard the start of the ceremony, those reverent words of 'Oh MotherFather today we....' and she glanced to the doe beside her, keeping an eye on her knowing this would be difficult. It was for many who came to them.

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]As they walked, she felt this strange feeling. It gnawed at her, unannounced, unlabeled. What was it? She did not know. As she was lead through the slowly growing throng of kin, she drifted past them like a shadow. They mattered not to her, nor her to them. Her eyes were locked onto the doe ahead of her. Step, limp. Step, limp. Step. Limp.

Kin were speaking. Solem songs filled the early morning air. Her brow furrowed as she looked into the grave they had dug for him. He was beautiful. All clean. The sins of his life washed away and laid to rest. They had carefully laid flowers here and there, just so. Good smelling herbs, pretty trinkets. She should feel touched by the effort they had put in to this, a grave for a kin they don't even know the name of. There should have been sadness. Ache. Heartbreak. But there was only a shuddering sob of relief and then... Nothing. Empty. Gone.

Words were said to her, but she ignored them. Numb, she stood, staring blankly at the now covered grave and its simple markings. Kin left, but she remained. She did not know how long. But it took her hours before she spoke. And when she did, it came with a tired scoff.

"That's it then. He's... He's gone now."

@Lirilei

The ceremony was beautiful as it always was. Pestilence speaking to the MotherFather, about returning one of their own to them after living their life. She joined in on the singing, though her voice wasn't the clearest, or strongest in the group, she still sang.

As the others drifted off, she told Pestilence to go rest awhile, before she settled with the doe, just letting her be. When she finally spoke it surprised her, she'd been...not asleep or anything just lost in her own thoughts. "He's at peace, with the MotherFather now."

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]Once more, the doe nodded, "He deserves it."

And he did, she truly believed that. Swirling in the Mists had been a good buck. True to himself. Despite his blind eyes, he had seen past her mask and her lies and saw... What? She didn't know. There was nothing left there now. Her mask lay broken at her hooves and where her face should have been, there was nothing. She was nothing. No one. Not without him.

@Lirilei

"Is there anything I can do for you?" well she wasn't sure. She'd come here for this obviously, and it was done. But now, she wanted to help her. Some kin cried a lot. Others grew catatonic for awhile. Others angry. She was just trying to make sure she helped this doe work through her emotions, and that she had support as she worked through her emotions. "Lets go back to where you were staying last night." words gently urging. "Or, would you prefer to go soak in the waters and wash up a little?"

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]She shook her head. For the first time in so long, her mind was clear. There were no words in there but her own. She hated it. It was so... empty. So... alone. She squeezed her eyes shut. Fear was building inside her. She was alone now. Alone...

She opened her eyes and blinked a moment before looking at the white doe. There was an odd determination in her golden eyes. "Actually, a bath sounds nice." She said softly. She would want to be clean before she met him again, after all. As beautiful as she had been, so long ago.

@Lirilei

The agreement for a bath made her smile. "Come, I'll take you to one of the bathing pools, where you can relax. I can help with things for the water if you'd like it scented for a little while, while you clean up." well really, after the travel here, and all a little bit of time to rest, and relax was important.

"It's a short walk from here, but you'll have privacy as you bathe." she would even see to having some foods brought, so she could eat after. She knew every kin was different at this point, so she was trying to anticipate a little, to help make this all easier for her, if possible.

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]When they arrived at the bathing pools, she was greeted by sweet, clear water. Scattered about were shells filled with liquids and pastes and all kinds of beautiful things she would have loved so long ago. Before she climbed in, she turned to Guardian and asked her quietly, "Don't leave me?" She hated being alone.

She was quiet during her bath. There were no mumblings, no voices, not even her own. Despite the uncomfortable silence she had within herself, she was focused. Something she hadn't been able to hold in quite some time. The dirty, matted doe became white again, her vibrant colors a dancing mirage for which she was named. Beautiful scents filled her lungs and she smiled a little at that. What a lovely scent, she hoped that Haze would like it.

She took her time. She wanted to look her best after all.

@Lirilei

There was a smile given at the request, a dip of her head. "I'll stay, don't worry." and she did, settling close by the pool of water, letting the other doe soak in the water, watching as little by little dirt and grime washed free of her pelt and Guardian gave a soft exclamation seeing the colors come to life. "Such pretty colors!" she'd never seen such bright colors on a doe that was more the color of fresh snow, than she herself was. It was very eye catching! Guardian was glad to see her taking her time, relaxing and cleaning up. She was sure the warm water would help her to relax, at least a little!

@Blinded By Silence

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... linded.gif[/imgleft]She gave a small, sad smile, "A shame he never saw them," She said softly as she finished up, "He was blind."

She climbed out of the pool and set herself to dry, grooming her fur in the dimming sunlight. By the time she was done, her white fur shone, silky smooth. She stood with a sigh of relief. There, one thing out of the way, she thought. She was ready now.

"Guardian of Life, that is your name, isn't it? You may put me to rest now." There was no sharpness to her words, only a plain acceptance. There would have been, once. Her old self hadn't cared much for other does. Their subtle lies and false kindnesses. But here, now, she was not her old self. She wasn't sure still who she was. But it didn't matter now, she'd be who she was meant to be soon, if this doe really could help her like she had said.

@Lirilei