[B] Nothing to Fear [Fear Not x As the Sun Burns]

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert2.png[/imgleft]It was a muggy day. Wet. The air hung heavy and clung to Watch's feathers. Days like this made him feel his age, even in these hollow bones of a crane, he ached. Though, it wasn't just his joints that nagged him. A feeling as though there was something he had forgotten pulled at his mind, but as a bird, he could not place it. It felt like home. Like migration. But... Different. More solid.

But there was a more important calling he was listening for. The plea of a new parent, desperate yet excited. And so much fear. It was coming closer now. And so he waited and watched from his perch, wondering who the kin would be.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Fear Not was a bundle of anxious nerves. This was a normal state for him, really, but today was countless times worse. Covered in bumps and bruises, the speckled Kiokote stumbled his way into the clearing where the crane was waiting. So wrapped up in his thoughts was he that the poor kin tripped himself. He fell, splattering his white coat with more mud, letting a choked cry fall from his lips. He had to hurry, he had to find one.

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert2.png[/imgleft]As the Sun Burns hopped to the side with a flurry of wings, alighting on a large, flat stone a small distance away to avoid the wet. He shook out his feathers as the Kiokote pulled himself to his hooves and looked to him with eyes of setting sun. His voice, calm like the gentle waves caressing the sand of a far away shore echoed softly in the panicked buck's mind.

"Calm, child. There is no rush. You have found what you have searched for. Calm now."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]This did little to calm the young buck, unsurprisingly. He cried out and scrambled backward, throwing his head about trying to find the source of the voice.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean--!"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert4.png[/imgleft]The white crane lifted a wing to shield himself from further splatter, his eyes flashing brightly. In a flurry of feathers, the crane faded and from them a stag formed. In a firm but not unkindly tone, he repeated himself in his speaking voice, gravely from lack of use.

"Calm, young one. Don't be sorry, I did not mean to frighten you," Although, looking closely at him, Watch could sense that he was not the center of his fear, "What is your name?"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]His heart was thudding heavily in his chest, but the spotted Kiokote stilled himself. His eyes unbelievably wide and his mouth agape, he shook, finding himself unable to speak.

So this... this was a Legend. A Stag. The Swamp-Kissed. The stories held such grand tales but he never would have guessed they were so true.

When he realized the Stag was speaking to him, apologizing to him, his breath hitched.

It took a few tries, but at last, he answered in a high voice, "Fear Not. M-My name, that is. Are you--?"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Watch's form solidified and the scent of salt spray filled the already heavy air. Despite his own stillness, his markings and greying mane rippled with light as though he were just beneath the water's surface. He offered the spooked kin a kind smile.

"I am exactly who you were searching for. The Swamp heard your call and here I am."

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Fear Not stared in awe at the being before him before hastily dropping his eyes. Was that rude? Staring at a Legend, who did he think he was?

"I'm so sorry, you probably had so many better things to be doing," He looked around, as if unbelieving what the stag had said, "So, you heard me? Me?"

[Blinded By Silence]

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft]There was something more important, he thought for a moment, but he shook that memory away and smiled at the new father, "Nonsense."

"Yes, you, Fear Not. I am here to prepare you, to steady you. You, dear child, are to be a father soon."