[S] The Embodiment of Wind (Stargarden feat. Dream)

[Appeal]

It was early morning as Stargarden walked through the swamp. His bright coat could be spotted easily in the warm light, and his large crown of horns caught on many hanging vines as he walked. Unaware of the pull, the stag would keep walking until a snapping could be heard behind him as the sound of the vine broke against his will. He turned to the sound, expecting to see his friend Small Bite behind him. Alas, there was no natural-looking caiman there today.

Stargarden did see a large figure, a brown and bushy body in the distance. Red, glowing eyes looked at him and Stargarden thought it was a little early in the day for the sun to be shining through the canopy from that direction. Stargarden thought to investigate the sun's choices for the day but then a small flying mongoose crossed his vision, and he heard a voice calling, "Blue Wood! Blue Wood, I found some berries for you!"

His head turned to follow the sound of the voice and when he looked back to confront the sun and its directional sense he found that it had moved its location.

"Well, good riddance," Stargarden said proudly.

His interest had been peaked though, and he found himself following the flying mongoose as it flew toward the voice from a moment ago. As Stargarden cleared some bushes, he found himself face to face with the embodiment of air itself. In reality, it was a pale doe with long hair that flowed in the breeze but he could see the very current of air around her. Perched on her flank was the flying mongoose from earlier, and a ping of recollection reminded Stargarden of something.

Had he seen flying mongoose before? He was feeling certain he had. The thought of the young blossom suddenly flashed across his head, and he recalled he had mistaken them for that before. They were not mongooses that could fly but dragons... fairy dragons. The word was so clear in his mind. It was so clear that it was nothing but madness to suggest it hadn't been there his entire life.

"I never thought I'd see one of those again," he said, looking around for a colony of them.

"Excuse me?" The embodiment of wind questioned. "Do you mean Blue Wood here?"

Stargarden seemed absolutely stunned. He saw no wood, nor any that was blue. In response, he shook his head.

"No, the fairy dragon there flying in your currents," the sound had a hit of confusion in it as if he stating something SO obvious.

The embodiment of wind seemed just as confused but quickly it softened into kindness.

"Ah yes, they're quite a sight, no? They really like berries," the wind laughed, echoing through Stargarden's ears like a breeze through the trees.

Stargarden watched the fairy dragon take flight again. It flew around the embodiment of wind, and then over toward Stargarden with curiosity. It landed on his head without any hesitation, digging its paws into his crown of horns before pulling out an acorn. It proceeded to shove it into its mouth and then fly into some nearby bushes faster than Stargarden could really do anything.

The wind laughed, a coursing sound that drew Stargarden's gaze.

"I really must be off. I'm afraid I do have other friends to care for," the wind said softly before turning around and leaving. The fairy dragon peeked out of the bush, and then quickly receded again.

Stargarden sat there in front of the bush, watching the fairy dragon stick its head in and out as if playing a game. In response, Stargarden would transform into a stag, crane, moth, or jellyfish every time the fairy dragon hid back in the bushes. This continued until Small Bite, the caiman, appeared behind Stargarden and caused the fairy dragon to fly off for good.

"Ah, hello friend," the stag said. "Ready for an adventure?"