[imgleft]http://www.matope-swamp.com/images/cin/ ... uncert.png[/imgleft] As Summer nears its peak in the swamp, an acha doe, round with eggs, nestles into a bed of tall sweet grass beneath the shade of an old willow tree and sighs in weary relief. Normally, the heat wouldn't be much of an issue, not for one of her kind, but with the eggs growing larger and larger she finds that she grows tired far more easily than ever. Before long, her eyes droop, her head lolls, and she sleeps.

The hours pass, and soon the worst of the heat fades with the sun. With the last rays of light turning the world to purple and gold, she blinks and wakes, and squints when she notices the small dark mongoose sitting just in front of her, watching with a keen, glowing, gaze.

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... ncert2.png[/imgleft]

"Oh...hello, there. You're awfully friendly, aren't you? Though I'm afraid I don't have any food." Unspoken Riddle shifts and winces as cramped muscles stretch around her girth. The mongoose tilts its head at her, and the acha smiles.

"Well... I suppose you could come with me. I should be getting home before it gets too dark," she looks around and stands, stretching awkwardly as the vertebrae in her back give a satisfying pop.

Again , the mongoose tilts its head and the doe laughs softly, "Well, let's go then. Though it would be nice to have a snack right about now. I'm starving."

Just at that moment, her stomach growls fiercely and Unspoken Riddle grins before setting off at a waddling pace. After a moment, the mongoose follows.

Along the way, the mongoose darts off now and then, returning each time with a bit of food. At first, the doe isn't sure what to think. Perhaps it was someone's pet, trained for such a task? Except she'd given no command , and the odds of that were unlikely. Now and then, however, she catches the creature watching her as she eats with an uncanny intelligence in those small but bright eyes and something inside of her shivers - not with fear, but a kind of recognition.

By the time she makes it back to her den, she's quite full, and very sleepy despite her nap. As she circles the dried bedding of leaves and collected feathers and other soft things before finally settling down, she smiles at the little mongoose once more.

"Thank you for helping me today. I don't know if you can understand me or if you'll stay, but --" she yawns suddenly, her eyes watering a little with the force of it, and when she blinks her eyes open again she gasps.

There before her stands a doe, far too similar in looks and demeanor to be anything other than the mongoose who has spent the afternoon with her. Her bright red eyes are bigger, but nevertheless the same glowing red, her sweet little round ears the same as her mongoose form.

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"Be well, little one, and may your children be also. Thank you for spending your day with me, and for such sweet company. I bless you with the peace of an easy birth, and that all of your children might be as thoughtful as their mother." She smiles, and Unspoken Riddle barely manages a stunned 'thank you' before the mare turns, her fluffy tail swishing behind her as she darts off back into the trees, her form melding once more into that of a mongoose and disappears into the night.