[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]It was dreadfully early in the swamp; the sun had barely risen, its light still too weak to pierce through the thick, dense wood. The birds were still quiet, twittering softly as not to wake the quiet earth below. The swamp still breathed softly, like the delicate white body that lay beside his Kimeti form.

As The Sun Burns watched quietly as Underwater Rain slept on peacefully, half wondering what she was dreaming of and half trying to figure out what exactly had woken him. There was a pang in his chest, a feeling he was coming to know well in his life as a Stag. He was needed. But where? Ever so carefully, Watch slipped himself out from under Rain's tail, gave her a soft kiss on her forehead before slipping off into the swamp in an attempt to follow this need.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]It was in that pre-dawn light that Till worked, scratching at the dirt, pulling at weeds, tending to his garden. Only, if he were to be honest, he wasn't doing the best of jobs. He had already managed to over water a third of the herbs, pull up the petunias instead of the weeds, and currently the hole he was digging was far too deep for any seed other than a tree.

He shook his head to try and clear the fog in his mind, but it just wouldn't leave. He sighed heavily, looking down at his work before he turned to fill in yet another useless hole. His mind wasn't full of fog, it was full of bright sun light in the shape of a doe. Suncup, she had such a beautiful name. It reminded him of buttercups, and calla lilies and...

He hadn't slept well since she left, and last night he hadn't slept at all. He was stupid to think she'd stay, but still Till had let himself hope. He'd never met a doe like her before. He wondered if he would ever agian... 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]Watch did not have to travel far, much to his surprise. It seemed he and Rain had bedded close to the gardens of a troubled buck, so close in fact, he did not even need his wings to guide him there. Too bad, for the sunrise was a hundred times more stunning from above the clouds. No, the sounds of frustration were clear and Watch followed them dutifully and with a little curiosity. Was the closeness the reason why he had awoken?

The stag stepped forward into the shambles that had once been a beautiful garden and immediately found a buck of many hues refilling his holes. He stood, watching as he always did, and spoke, "Can't sleep, either?" He offered a half smile. 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Till jumped slightly, looking around until his eyes landed on the Stag. His green eyes grew wide and broken words fell from his lips, "Oh! I, um... That is..." Until he at last gathered himself, "Er, can I help you?" He asked. The buck was very confused, he had never seen a walking legend before, let alone one so friendly.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]Watch chuckled at the sunrise colored buck. The puzzlement was refreshing, he was used to finding those who were searching for him, "I came to ask you the same thing," He gestured back over his shoulder toward the clearing from whence he came, "I could hear you clashing all the way. And before that." He paused, frowning, "Your heart is hurting." 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Till studied the stag like a new plant just discovered, standing before him, claiming to know his woes. He had heard tales of Legendaries, immortal kin who grant wishes, or something along those lines. "You're a Legend, aren't you?" He asked, confused as to why the blue stag who smelled of the sea was here in his garden.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]Watch looked down at himself. He saw an old kin with silver in his fur. Markings that cascaded over his pelt like rippling waves, moving in ways that markings don't do naturally. The ever-fresh pelt of a crane on his shoulder. He gave a slow nod, "Yes, I believe so. I've been called to you." He once more met the young kin's eyes, "I felt your need and have come to tell you that it has been heard." 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Till beamed, grinning ear to ear, eyes wide and hopeful. Legends of the Swamp granted wishes to those in need, or at least, that's what he had heard. He stepped closer, grinning and giddy, "So you'll bring her back? Suncup will come back?" He nearly shouted in his excitement. 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]Watch stared at the buck for a long moment before answering, his smile fading as the sun began to rise in ernest, "No, I cannot make her return." He watched the buck go from exuberance to crestfallen, "No, I have come here to tell you something else. You are to be a father." Watch smiled again, "Congratulations, surely that will make you happy." 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Till stepped backward, blinking at the stag before him, "A f-father?" This would not be his first clutch, but it was the first he knew of. Many things flashed before his eyes, responsibility, long hours away from his garden, loud noises, bad smells, "B-but..." And then he realized something else. Suncup was the mother. She had to be, he had been with no one else. Not for a while anyway. He smiled, thinking of how beautiful Suncup's children would be, their children would be. Maybe, if he could find her again, they could raise them together. He'd do anything for her, even give up his garden. "A father, huh? Wow. Thank you, I am much happier." 

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... ncert3.png[/imgleft]Watch smiled, his glowing red eyes shining, "I am glad, maybe now we both can get some sleep then, eh?" He gave a deep, throaty laugh that rolled like waves breaking over stones. "Now, before I go, here, take this." Watch nestled his nose into the soft feathers of his mantle and pulled free a long white feather. He rested it on the ground, "Take this and with it my blessing. May your children be as dedicated as their father and like him never be lonely again."

With that, Watch's Kimeti form faded and in a flurry of feathers, he was a crane, lifting himself high into the air.