[b] Chance Upon

[peanutbutter]

It was late at night, this time, when Dusk felt the call. Still, he followed it regardless, something in him urging him up into flight, the golden undersides of his wings flashing as he took up to the sky. His flight was quiet, his mind calm and almost empty, only the restless pull of the call keeping him moving forward as he searched for his destination. It was impossible for him to tell how long he was flying for - all he knew is that at some point, he was near his destination, and he slowly circled his way back down into the swamp.

With a quiet shift, Dusk returned to his stag form and he began to walk, taking care with his step. The moon was bright enough that he was able to avoid tripping, guided by its light, and he continued his strange, quiet journey. It wasn't long until he found his way to a clearing, and with a little further searching, there was a pale buck that was curled up under a tree.

Dusk watched him for a long moment - upon his first sight of the buck, he had been reminded for a moment of the doe that was Breaking's mother. The thought passed quickly, but perhaps there was some resemblance. There was certainly a chance they were related anyways, with how the swamp was. Dusk wouldn't consider it an impossibility, anyways, but it was not what he was here for clearly and he let the thought pass as he studied the buck. Most of his blessings were done on those awake, but this was still possible - he just needed more time to consider what he wanted.

When he finally had what he wanted together he spoke, his voice quiet from both disuse and to not wake the buck. "May your children be healthy, happy, and with grace to understand others." The blessing complete, Dusk blinked, broken from his compulsion. He then turned and shifted back into a crane, spreading his wings and taking up to the sky once more.

The sun was starting to rise as he flew back home, his task completed, and Dusk wondered how the buck would feel as he woke. Would there be any relief perhaps, or any understanding of what happened? Or would he have no idea what happened at all? He turned the thought over a few more times, but then ultimately let go of it. It didn't matter in the end, so long as the children were born safely, and were happy in their lives. Dusk did what he could, and the rest was up to time.

Yet as he flew off, back to his home and his tasks for the day, and the pale buck stirred under the tree, Forever Faithful woke up to a few feathers on the ground, and a sense of contentment that he could not entirely place. He thought about it for a few moments, considering the night before. Perhaps it was a good dream? Still, whatever it was, Forever smiled as he rose. It would be a good day, it seemed.