The Pinecone Murderer

Featuring Baeric, Babeh Aatami
Early Winter, Year 750 of the New Age
Near the main herd, Blackwood

Baeric

The old man had been a fool...selfish...blind. To turn his back on him? Just as his powers had begun to grow so strong he had turned his back on him. Baeric ground his teeth in fury as he thought over the last few years of his life. He had finally felt like he had a purpose again, a place to belong, a family....

How stupid. How childish and stupid.

He strode through the thick, inedible grasses that flooded the Blackwood and grew tall even through the snow. Had his hide been soft and tender the blades would have easily cut through his fur and flesh. While he was not the most physically fit specimen by any reach he had still grown callus thanks to his years growing up in the dark wood. His hair hung just long enough to grow past his neck, ungroomed and close to the point of dreadlocks. His fur was thick but had a slightly greased look to it from a lack of growing and inability to bath in the freezing winter waters.

Above his head his rack grew tall, his hormones adding to his angst and bad temper as rut continued to pass him by with a lack of outlet. He had more important things to worry about than does or siring another generation. He had his gift, his magic blessed by the great earth mother herself that he needed to be strengthening.

His brooding mind soon went back to the elder stag, his old mentor who had sent him away all those years ago. He had given Baeric a taste of true power and now he hungered for more, even if he had started to see signs around him that, maybe, he had been right.. As his mind swirled with treacherous plots he paid little attention to the world around him.

His stride was determined and with purpose, his sharp hooves cutting through anything he might find under toe…

Aatami

The two year old Aatami had just been playing with a pine cone that he found buried underneath the needles the tall trees dropped a tad late.  The snow had begun to cover the ground, but his little hooves were enough to dig it out and began pushing it here and there while giggling.  He wished his step-brother could see this and got an idea to push it all the way back.

For a while, it was going smoothly since Aatami was careful and made sure not to go too fast.  It rolled through the snow, gathering some of it on top of it and it looked like the tall trees.  He smiled, his excitement to show his step-brother grew even more and he went quicker.  There was a medium slope up ahead but he didn't slow down.  Aatami could hear it as it rolled through the snow and ice and laughed.

Crunch

Aatami's eyes widened at the sound, his laughter interrupted as he looked down and saw a really icky stag with his hoof on the pinecone.  It was crushed completely.  Rather than cry, Aatami flared his little nostrils and slid down the slope in a comic like charge.  "I'll kick your butt sir for destroying my gift to my brother!" he bellowed out before butting his head against the stag's stomach.

Baeric

He had been so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn’t noticed the fawn. The pine cone flew even lower on his radar to the point that, as his hoof pressed down on it, he nearly lost his footing and fell down. He snorted loudly, back hooves cutting deep in the snow as he put on the brakes and lifted his hoof.

’What in the name of Uir…?’

Where had THAT come from!? Before he could lift his eyes to discover the source something small was thumping into his side. He grunted, eyes snapping around as he glared at the flustered ball of fur calling him out.

He swung his hind quarters about, squaring off against his “opponent” who he soon realized was nothing but an infant.

“Child…” He snorted, posture relaxing as he realized the small fawn wasn’t a threat. “You should return to your mother...this is no place for you.” He huffed, breath steaming up the air as he rolled his eyes. He didn’t have time for this…

Aatami

Aatami then reared up and began to stomp his little hooves on the stag's side.  He ignored the child comment since, well, he was one, and he was still mad about the pinecone!  At the mention of going back to his mother, he got even madder.

"At least I watch where I am going, old man!  Didn't your mom teach you that?"

Baeric

He gave a loud snort as his hooves continued to hit his side, the fawns strikes embarrassingly effective against his ribs. There was little muscle there to provide protection and his fur was easily parted by his hooves. He didn’t want to cause the young one harm though so he opted to thrashing his tail around to bat the boy away. What a pest!

“It’s just a pine cone..go and find another. There are a million more like this one.” He snorted, shaking his head some as he fought away a growing irritation. In the back of his mind a whisper began to hum...something dark and ill that urged Baeric to cause the fawn harm….

’He needs to learn his place..a lesson...you should teach him..’ It cooed as Baeric tossed his head again.

’It would be easy...no one would believe him if he decided to speak against you…

No.

This...it didn’t feel right...

Aatami

The tail hair whacked against him but Aatami was used to roughhousing with his step-brother.  Still, it stung a little.  Why wouldn't the stag at least apologize?!  Aatami got more annoyed than man and headbutted him against his shoulder this time. 

He snorted back at the older stag.  "If it's really so easy, why don't you find me one to replace it, old man."

Baeric

“Because I have better things to do you runt.” He growled, temper growing more heated as the little pest wouldn’t let it go. He grunted again as his shoulder was hit this time, eyes flashing as his mind filtered through all the possible ways to get rid of him…

His first thought was to go to his magic, force the little fluff to leave him be but...no. That voice was starting to roar in the back of his mind and he knew if he tried his control would be lacking…

He snarled, nostrils flaring as he ducked his head and lined up his antlers. He tossed his head forward, taking a step at the same time as he hoisted the little fawn high above his head.

“You should REALLY learn some manners kid!” He roared, flicking his head with measured strength as he sent the little one flying.

Had it not been done with such angry intentions it may have actually been fun. Luckily for little Aatami the snow was fresh and the path Baeric had sent him in sent him into a large pile of snow. The pile was so large thanks to the piles of leaves that were hidden underneath. Baeric snorted again as the fawn landed, nodding his head as he turned to try and leave the scene at last. Had he finally gotten the message?

Aatami

A runt, of all things to be called!  Aatami's small nostrils flared again but before he could say or do anything, he was gathered  into the stag's antlers.  "...!"  It was the old stag who needed manners not him!  He wouldn't even apologize!

Aatami found himself being tossed right into a pile of soft snow.  It cushioned his fall enough to cover his neck, leaving his head only to be seen.  Aatami pulled himself out and wiggled the snow off while glaring at the stag, but he already turned away.  Angry and annoyed at the same time immensely, Aatami looked around and saw a regular sized rock.  He pushed it with his hoof to get free before positioning it and turning himself around.  With a kick, it sailed towards the stag.

Baeric

Baeric had colored the fight done. Fineto. But no...the little rebel just wouldn’t let it go apparently. The rock flew through the air, whistling ever so gently which Baeric mistook for the faint singing of a confused bird. But he was wrong…

The rock hit the back of his neck before rolling down between his shoulder blades and falling into the snow. He froze in place, hooves sinking down to the frozen earth as he felt the world tremble around him.

Oh hell no…

“Oh child...” He chuckled deeply, voice throaty and not...the same as before. It was deeper, darker and something about it sent a chill into the air. It wasn’t his own or at least it didn’t appear to be.

“What a mistake you have made...you should have let things go...let me be on my way..” He hissed, the steam from his hot breath seeping through his lips like a fire breathing serpent.

He called on them first, the spirits who he had been keeping as company the last few days. They looked haunted, eyes hollow and empty as they swirled around Baeric before swirling through the air and around little Aatami. They cooed and moaned quietly as they floated through the air as if drowning in water around the fawn, some looking at him while others just moved about mindlessly.

Baeric smirked, one resembling a gaunt and bony owl fluttering around his antlers.

“If I were you boy…  I would run...” He hissed, eyes narrowing in a silent threat as he watched the show unfold.

Aatami

Aatami wasn't scared as the stag threatened him in a hiss.  He just glared right back at him.  The wolves, bears, and cougars that he heard so much about were far scarier than this rude old stag. 

That is until he saw spirits appeared out of no where.  They had eyes so hollow and empty, completely void of life.  A memory flashed of his twin dying at the teeth of his mother and he was forced to watch the entire thing.  Fear reared its head up just as the spirits got closer, moaning and cooing. 

He didn't even need to have the old stag telling him to run since he leapt away immediately, bounding as far as he could and back to where the main herd was, his legs shaking in fear the whole way. 

He would be safe there, away from his crazy mother.  She wouldn't hurt him there.

Baeric

He lifted his head as the fawn finally heeded his words. He gave a firm nod of approval, the stag dismissing the spirits as they finally faded away. The silence that he was left with was...shockingly empty.

He made a face, realizing that had been the first interaction with anyone since he had been first learning his magic. How….strange.

He almost missed the fawns presence, that feeling rattling him down to his cold achy bones that throbbed from the strain of his magic.

“Fool…” He muttered to himself, turning his heavy head as he moved to head deeper into the frozen woods. “..you know this is why...this is why you can’t be around them anymore...you’re not who you think you are...you’re a monster…”