Just One Look

Featuring Valerius, NPC Silverthornes
Mentions Prilla-Vada
Autumn, Year 764 of the New Age
Silverthorne, Winterflame

Autumn had rolled in with cooler winds and dry grass, the Winterflame burning bright in the distance. The Silvervale seemed further and further away with each passing day, the covered birch forests home. Duty called however, called him up to the Riverbend for autumn duty guarding the herd. It almost felt like a joke, his commanding officer had stuck him up into the thick of the herd and then given him leave for a bit.

Get acquainted with some does, he said, it'll be fun.

Sounded like the filly, with that same knowing glint in those eyes that spoke volumes of what was going to happen. Usually nothing too bad, but sometimes it made one big mess of things. With that in mind, Valerius did enjoy the sight of all the does mingling.

The golden champagne had never partaken in rut, figuring to rise to a status before he could allow himself to be there. He wanted his life together before raising a family. Gazing around with bright green eyes, the call in his blood was getting real. He was no buck, not anymore to go chasing does, but they sure were everywhere and hard to ignore.

The Generals and Officers had the first pick, usually. The best looking does for the strongest stags, future mothers that wanted nothing but the best for future fawns. Soldiers and Firebringers and the herbalists brought up the rest, working to gather golden does and does of good standing.

And then there were those fighting for the attention and affection of some does off to the side. The clacking of horns got his heart racing, the ban on physical fighting was lifted during rut. Sparring was satisfying after months of not being able to do anything other than running and pushing large objects. Sometimes sanctioned sparring was allowed, but it was all pushing and shoving. Nothing like locking antlers and jousting for a bit.

A few heads turned and Valerius didn't know what was happening as the palomino stag approached him with a brisk trot. Valerius may have not been physically challenging to look at, but he was not weak. A life’s worth of training and becoming a soldier did that to a stag. Tossing his horned head and a sweep of his tail, Valerius met the other golden stag mid way. He looked to be about the same age, with a growing forward rack and neatly groomed pelt. A golden color, desired and welcome. He was a bit thin however, where Valerius was more filled out with muscle.

"Think you can take me?" The stag's voice was a challenge all in itself, a loud snort of fiery embers bursting through the air.

Valerius wasn't about to deny a challenge, bowing his head  to show the newly sharpened tines. He wasn't impressive, not yet, but give him a few years and he'd be there. The other stag dropped his head and Valerius didn't wait, kicking forward to slam their heads together.

"I do," Valerius beamed, locking eyes just before their heads cracked together.

The jarring impact was ground shakingly pleasing, a wildness that he forgot of most of the year returning. The other, unnamed stag had his footing and pushed back. Valerius kept his ears pinned back, planted firmly and tilting his head this way and that looking for an opening. The clacking was thunderous this close to his ears, the breathing of his opponent drowning out the sound of the herd around them.

Valerius jerked his head, watching cloven hooves shift to accommodate the change in position. It was a battle of pushing, eyes locked as they walked circles around each other with their racks pressed close. Push and pull, withdrawing for a brief second before Valerius shoved them together for another round.

Valerius wasn't a stag to do anything half hearted, this stag had walked up and picked him out. Valerius was going to chase him off if given the chance. This was the time of year to get out any pent frustrations and this poor guy had picked someone who babysat while doing his duties at the same time.

The stag's head tilted and Valerius picked his front hooves from the ground. If this stag had been any bigger he wouldn't have dreamed it, but the change in angle and pure strength in his upper body and neck had the other to the ground.

What felt like hours had only been minutes, both puffing out smoky breath and glaring heatedly at each other. Valerius felt the fire, the stag's dark eyes glancing to the side briefly with a pained look. Green eyes followed and Valerius understood why this young soldier had approached him.

There was a glittering doe the color of moonlight, standing in the light with her dark eyes on them. He'd never really looked at a doe and saw them, but she was beautiful in the sunlight. She was radiant in a way so very different than a golden doe. The wind was knocked out of Valerius, both literally and figuratively, when his grasp slipped and the stag threw his head up.

Valerius set his jaw and pulled his head away, cursing himself mentally for the distraction. The stag seemed hesitant to jump in again, stepping back a few paces with his head still lowered. With quick breathing Valerius readjusted himself, keeping his head bowed and ready. The stag's dark eyes seemed unsure, almost fearful as Valerius snorted a breath of sparks and charged forward.

Truthfully, Valerius was happy to see the backend of a stag for once in his life. That palamino had turned tail and bolted, a bit early in the fight too. Valerius arched his tail and perked his ears, steadily watching to make sure he wasn't coming back. Only when content at the distance he'd run, did the champagne turn his gaze towards the appraising doe.

Now he had the chance to look back, a content smile on his face as he took deep breaths. He wasn't quite ready to take does this year, but it certainly couldn't help to make some impressions for next year. Besides, the look he was getting from the glittering silver doe was anything but unwanted.