Found something!
A fur asked if I could find him some old text files I had so I agreed to do it. Copernic desktop search is a GODSEND when it comes to my system. In 5 minutes I found all the files he asked for.
But in the meantime I also found a gem of mine, I wrote years ago and completely forgot about. I faintly remember something about this story. While some come to me suddenly and just get written in one setting. This one I wanted to write, but had to write it in stages. I'm honestly surprised how well it came out. I thought I'd post it here, incase it's lost someday or someone wants to read it.
"The Margi"
A furry fantasy
by
ShadowWalker DeLaForge
Date: April 26, 1996
The air was peaceful, and the grass cool, as he sat under his
favorite tree. The lad of only seventeen summers came to this spot
often, deep into the forest to play his flute.
Although the lad was a strapping boy, and he did all his chores and
helped with the farm, his father was never happy with him. Especially
since he was of marrying age. "You can have the pick of the maidens in
this land. You could even have the Princess herself, and what do you do
with your time? Play that accursed flute!" Although the father was gruff
and hard on his only son, he never forbid him from playing, for he knew
it brought him happiness.
When he began to play his flute, the notes seemed to drift out of
the wooden pipe, as though they were carried upon the wings of angels.
Soon the wind seemed to stop, and the trees ceased their swaying, so
they may better hear the boy's euphony.
Eventually, as always the boy begins to have an audience. The
normally shy, and hidden forest creatures gathered around him to listen
to his playing. The raccoon didn't chatter, the skunk kept her tail down
nor did the deer shy away.
As always, the animals lay around the lad, for they knew he would
bring them happiness, and much scratches. The deer too lay at his feet,
for he always enjoyed scratching the stags on the root of their grand
antlers when they itched while the velvet was peeling.
This day was no different from the rest. The one doe that he grew
to know well, returned as always. She was different from the rest.
Seeming to be a bit bigger, and the look in her large liquid-black eyes
seemed to be telling him something. She approached him as she always
did. Slowly, but with great affection, she rubbed her head against him,
and he always returned it, with neck rubs, and back scratches. This
would continue for a bit, before he would change songs on his flute, and
she lay beside him. The warm body, and stiff fur seemed to flow from his
flute as music.
"Oh great Queen of the forest. Although my father says I could have
the pick of the kingdom's ladies. But I feel not as close to them, as I
do to you, and your herd."
To his great surprise, she looked up at him, and spoke. "Dear human
Lad. Do not call me, 'queen' for I am not a queen, but a simple doe.'
He jumped in amazement when the doe begins to speak, and she only
smiled, and giggled softly. "You can speak!" He said, as he backs away
from the reclining doe, only succeeding to trip over a root, and falling
hard on his rump.
She stood as he saw many a deer raise, and walked up to him. Her
mouth formed a smile as she looked down upon him, and she reassured him.
"Do not be afraid. All deer cannot speak your tongue, although I am not
what you call a 'deer'"
Once he regained his composure, she lay beside him again,
explaining, that she was a Margi. A race of beings that worshiped the
deer until a great evil came over the lands. To keep all from being
killed, the gods transformed the survivors into deer, and have been
since that time.
"But why do you wish to speak now?" He asked.
She smiled, and turned away, shyly. "I have been attracted to your
gentle ways, your music. But now you speak of your love for us, the
forest creatures I knew then that you were different, and . . . " she
turned back and smiled, "I feel a great longing for you. I look forward
when you return, and dread when you leave."
With those words, the lad's feelings crystallize, and were given
voice, "I . . . I know what I feel for you, is love as well. But . . . "
She merely smiled, as only she could do. As she nuzzled him warmly,
she said, "Come with me, and your questions will be answered."
As she begins to walk toward the trees, she smiled over her
shoulder at him, "Come." She beckoned.
After a bit of walking, they came upon a great cave. "Do not be
afraid. The cave is dark, but it is only a short way into it, to the
answers to our desires."
The Lad looked at the cave, and watched the Doe advance into the
darkness. Despite his fears, he followed; around her, the fear of the
unknown was less than his need to be with her, and to please her. As he
entered the cave, the darkness gave way to an eerie greenish glow from
the fungi on the walls. It was faint, but enough was cast to see the
passage, and the low ceiling.
The couple, a doe, and a human traveled deeply into the cave, until
they came upon a hole in the wall. It was only barely big enough for him
to enter, while she slipped in without a problem. Entering, they came
upon a wonderious room. Gloriously large, covered with rare stones, and
precious metals. His eyes went large as he looked around at the
treasures, and was struck mute.
The doe however licked his arm and he looked down at her. She
smiled up at him, then walked over to a corner. In that corner was a
patch of green, moss-like plant growing there. "This is summer stock"
She told him, and with that, she nibbled on some.
As she raised her head to chew on the plant, a light begins to grow
around her. Her fur begins to lighten, and grow ever shorter; her long
ears, seemed to fold up, and flow toward her head. The muzzle draws into
her face, as her face starts to widen. Then, her body begins to
lengthen, and grow wider. Long black hair flows from her head, and down
her back. Soon before his eyes, the doe he loved stood up, on her two
feet before him, and smiled.
Although she now was a woman, the eyes spoke to him as the doe's
did. The mouth formed the warm smile just like the does, and he knew
this was his beloved, now a woman just for him.
Their embrace was warm, loving and tender. The love for each other
flowed out into each other speaking as no words could. Later he knew he
would have to leave for home. "I wish to come with you," she said, "but
come with me first." They left the cavern, and she led him to another
part of the cave. There was a dress, just her size, folded neatly. With
simple sandals of cane. "It was made for me, by an old lady that knows
also of the Margi. She told me to don it, when I find my beloved." With
that, she slipped into the dress, and simple sandals. "Come, let us go
to your home, my beloved."
The return home was as he expected. His father was working long in
the hot sun, and was tired. He chastised him loudly and firmly. "But
father, I have good news." He countered.
"Oh? What news would be better than hearing you say you'll stay
here and work the fields with me. The crops must be harvested!"
The son said not a word, but going to the door asked her to enter.
"Good evening, sir. I am sorry if I kept your son out longer than he
should have." The father's jaw dropped when she walked in, and spoke
with her voice that sounded like the gentle summer breezes. "Good
evening, M'lady. I..." he stuttered and hurmpf, "Please excuse an old,
and tired man. But I . . . " His voice trailed off by her smile, and shy
look. "I understand, sir. You should be proud of your son." She told
him, as he walked to him, and held his hand in hers. "Your son's gentle
ways, and music attracted me to him. Be proud of him. For even the gods
smile upon him."
The man's eyes seemed to grow wider with this, as he looked to his
son. But the son only had eyes for her, and so did she as they stood,
hand in hand."Then my son has found himself a bride?" He asked, as he
grew excited.
"Perhaps, father." The son said with a smile. "If she would have me
as her husband."
A smile from her, told him what he wanted to know, and the father
sensed it immediately. "By the gods, it will be a grand wedding!
Feasting, dancing!" He was beside himself with happiness upon learning
of his son's bethroal; forgetting all about the pain in his bones, and
the anger he felt having to work all the day.
The only request the lady had of the wedding was it would be in the
forest, where they met. Although she didn't say it, and the son knew it,
she wanted her parents and forest friends to see the wedding too.
Although everyone wondered who the beautiful bride of raven hair, and
black eyes was; no one cared as they exchanged their vows in front of
all.
Of all the presents, the King's and the Princesses was the most
splendid. The princess presented each with a fine Arabian horse from
their own stock, and the king promised them a plot of land anywhere upon
the kingdom for life. The kindly old King also brought most of the food,
and the musicians. With the food, and the musicians, most agreed this
was one wedding that would be spoken of for years.
The months went by swiftly. The young couple lived on the fringes
of the woods, and everyone was amazed on how the couple could approach
the timid forest creatures, and how the animals, in turn would leave
fruit, nuts and mushrooms at their doorsteps.
Every night, the man's music from his flute would drift across
the lands, and every night the people would see his lovely bride laying
her head upon his shoulder, smiling softly as her belly grew ever
larger, while the wind would die down, and trees seeming to bend toward
him as he played; as though they too was mesmerized by the lad's soft
notes.
One day, a few years after his marriage, the wife was in the market
with her twins, haggering over the price of a squash. She was approached
by an old, and twisted crone.
The old woman turned her around, and looked at her, as she croaked
out. "Beware, woman. Ye union will not last, nor will it be happy. All
will know of ye."
The wife looked at her, and gave her such an ugly face. The old
woman mealy turned and left, laughing and giggling to herself.
As she turned back to the merchant, he said nothing, but shrugged
his shoulders. She then told her children to follow her and she walked
back to the home she and her husband occupied.
There, told him of the incident and he grew cold. "But what can we
do, my husband?" She asked, tearfully. "I do not know." Then he thought.
"I could ask the King for advice. Perhaps he would know."
In walking to the king, the husband found the damage had been done.
Even while walking, he could see the looks, the glances of horror, and
doubt in the people's faces. One child ran up to him, "Witch husband!"
he cried to him, as he ran off. Now he knew what the people's faces was
telling him.
The King could do nothing but offer him and his family asighlem in
the castle, and he had a royal decree drafted granting him, and his
family protection.
The trip back to his home was quick as his ride in the royal
carriage would allow. All their meager belongings was packed into
another carriage, pulled by the family horse, and they made their home
in the castle, until he built a small home on the edge of the castle's
woods. The princess, who was the same age of the couple became fast
friends with them, and they shared a lot, and did much together.
But not all was bliss there. The children could not travel off the
castle grounds, and had no one their age to be with. They did not
complain, but no longer seemed to laugh and have their happy faces they
use to have.
And the man too no longer played his flute; the gods, and the
weather seemed to grow angry at this and as the months passed crops
begin to fail, and the people begin to grow angry at this as well.
Soon they begin to grow angry at the king, and blamed 'the devil
woman' for their problems. Although she never complained, the husband
finally told her.
"My wife, I can tell you are not happy here anymore. And I want you
to take the children and go back to your peoples. It is the only thing
you can do."
She looked at him, and broke down, telling him she could not leave
and would rather die than leave him. But he stood firm, even though his
heart was breaking.
Just then, the princess walked in. Hearing of this, she spoke. "So
it is true then, what I hear on the streets, that she isn't like you and
I?"
The wife told the princess that it was true, but valued her
friendship and trust over all. The princess was taken aback at first
hearing of the wife's confession, but the princess, being of worldly
views and ideas accepted her finally. Also the princess genuinely loved
the children, and did not wish for any harm to come to them. "But...in
order to go back to your peoples, you must become..." The wife nodded,
"yes, I must return to the way I was before I met my husband. So must
the children, for they are Margi as well."
"But then you will be in danger again of being hunted down. For
food and possibly..." She let that thought leave her, but the wife shook
her head. "It was always that way, and it will be that way again. I
accept that fate, but I only regret leaving my husband behind."
The husband, silent all though this looked down, saying nothing. He
left to make preparations for the journey.
At night, the princess, the couple, and the children all bordered
the wagon one last time, and headed out into the woods. They purposely
followed a very long, and zig-zag path in order to throw off any
followers. And just before sunrise, they stopped in front of the cave.
The princess, with tears in her eyes, hugged the wife, the husband,
and each of the children in turn. Then watched as they, one by one went
into the cave.
The husband went in, to be with his wife and children one last
time. Even though she would be a doe now, he could still say goodbye.
"Goodbye, my husband. Do not forget me" She said as she held him
tightly. The children in turn also hugged and kissed their father
wishing there was some other way. But even they knew there wasn't.
Each in turn took a small truff of the bitter tasting fungus, and
chewed it. The children transformed into fawns. Their spots dim in the
dim light spoke of their age. But when the mother ate her sample, she
groaned, then screamed as she slowly metamorphed.
"Dear goddess..." she yelled, as she bent down to her knees and
hands. The children and the husband embraced her as she slowly
transformed into the doe she was when she met him. "I was too long a
human it seems..." she whispered as she laved shakily on the ground. Her
eyes no longer was happy as she looked up at him, and licked his cheek.
His heart was breaking and being ripped apart as he sat beside his
beloved, and his children, now fawns. His eyes filled with tears as he
screamed out his pain, "I shall never play my flute again, and never be
happy, if I must let you go. I cannot ever be happy again, for it was my
happiness that made my music." He sobbed loudly.
The doe knew it was breaking his heart, as she laved her head into
his lap. The children too was crying as the huddled around him, and
their doe. Soon they fell asleep in the cave.
The sleep wasn't natural, mind you dear reader. But Diana in her
great wisdom heard this, and the whispered prayers from the Margi
female. Diana for all her strength was too moved by the lad's gentle
playing, and deep love for all animals, and of course his wife and
children. So with great speed born upon the winged feet of Mercury she
sent a request to the great god-king, Zeus. Asking him to grant this
Margi female's request.
As the lad awoke he felt different. He was stiff holding onto his
doe-wife in his forearms. Forearms? He stood, stumbling around upon legs
that wasn't his. Alien and long. He looked around, but his vision was
different. His wife looked up, and for the first time, she smiled as
their fawns danced around him. "What...?" he asked. "My prayers have
been answered, my husband. You are now my mate, my gentle stag." She
nuzzled him softly on the neck as he finally started to see what had
happened to him. Since it was only the summer, he wasn't bothered by an
itchy rack. He smiled softly and nuzzled his doe gently. "No, my mate.
OUR prayers was answered. For I too prayed for this as well. The gods be
praised."
They squeezed though the passageway, out into the cave. He walked
unsteadily on his new legs, but knew he would evenly grow use to them.
The children emerged from the cave first, bilking into the sun. They
looked at the weeping princess, then stood quietly. She looked up, and
smiled a bit seeing their spotted coats. The mother emerged quickly and
smiled softly at her, as she walked to stand beside her fawns.
But the princess's eyes filled with tears as she didn't see the
husband emerge. "Goodbye dear Fatima," she said as she turned to climb
upon the wagon.
Just then, the lad emerged from the cave. He was slower for he was
having trouble still walking. His hooves clacked upon the rocks and he
said, "Weep not for us, Princess, for the gods have smiled favorably
upon me as well."
Upon hearing this voice, she turned. Seeing the tall, proud buck
standing there, she knew indeed that the gods did smile upon him as
well. She laughed and cried as she hugged him around the neck, and he
gently neckhugged her as best he can. With a sniffing sob, she
announced, "I will see too it, that all deer in the kingdom will not be
hunted forever!" The stag smiled and bowed before the Princess, "Thank
you, your Magisty. I shall miss you, but will never forget your
kindness, and tell all of your generosity and of your father as well."
With that, he stood, walked to his doe and fawns, and bellowed to
them. The doe turned over her shoulder and smiled at the Princess as
they walked into the forest, never to be seen again.
The story went far and wide over the kingdom. And as promised, the
Princess had the King ban all hunting of deer in the Kingdom for all
time. But with the return of the mild weather, and prosperity upon the
kingdom, not one deer was ever hunted. Soon over time, a new belief
begin to emerge and temples of Diana begin to see statues of deer added
to it. Diana smiled upon the tiny kingdom, and one day stopped by,
dressed as a simple pheasant. She came into a temple devoted to her, and
within, spoke of the Margi to the ones that would listen, telling them
wonderious stories of this race.
And what of the family you may ask, gentle reader? Only the gods
know what happened to them, but they say, if you go into the forest and
are pure of heart and love for animals, you may hear a flute being
played; as the winds calm, and the trees seeming to bow down...
The end
It seems I have a knack for writing fantasy works. It's the period I think; A simpler time, a time in which a young boy or people can enjoy themselves in the outdoors, instead of being tied down to technology, and working your arse off....
In that vein, let me introduce you to another story I wrote just a couple of years ago. toraneko liked it now that I remember.
The old man, and the doe
A fable by Shadowwalker Delaforge
07/03/05
An old man was walking though the woods one day. Tall, and bent, a gray beard hanging from his chin. His waking stick as gnarled as he in his strong right hand.
The old man, came upon a shell of a turtle. "Why hello here, my little friend." he started, a smile on his face. But the smile was replaced by sadness, when upon picking up the shell, he wasn't greeted by red eyes, but vacant ones. The skull, gleaming white.
"I see, I was but too late" the old man thought as he gently put the skeleton, and shell back to where he found it. His long finger moved a few bones, and the bottom of the turtle. "How sad it is, that I must meet him, upon this time. His shell, and bones the only mark that he ever lived here. The only mark that he ever lived."
As the old man walked though the forest, his robes caught upon the bramble, the vines wrapping around, and gripping his stick. "Would you denies an old man his stick?" he cursed at the vines. "Would you hold an old man by his cloth?" he then directed to the bramble. "It is but our nature..." came the voice from the bramble, "We are only looking for a perch to climb." the vines said. The old man smiled, "Forgive an old man's anger" and in response the bramble dislodged itself from the robes, and the vines wrapped around another tree, and away from the stick of the old man.
The old man stopped by the stream, and took a drink. The day was hot, and dispute the shade of the trees, the old man wiped his brow. Suddenly he jumped, and turned. "Please do not harm me, I am merely an old man walking though your forest..." As the old man held out his stick in defense, she moved quickly though the thickening brush. "Wait!" he cried, "please..."
She stopped, her eyes showing though the brush like two brown flowers.
"Please...I am an old man, I mean you no harm." he said to the doe. The doe said nothing for a moment, looking at him, then seeing he isn't a threat cautiously poked her head out of the brush to look at him.
The old man could see she was older, like he. The brown muzzle laced with white.
The skull, more pronounced with age. She glared at him "You are man, you mean nothing but harm to me, and my kind" she snapped at the old man.
The old man, was visibly shaken, and taken aback from the brunt of the doe's attack. He hadn't expected such bitterness, and anger directed at him. He looked down, and spoke softly, "No lady. I do not mean harm to you. I do not hunt your kind, I have no wish to harm you or your kind."
The doe snorted softly. She wasn't moved by this old man's words. "Why is it then, I cannot pass though the forests, without fear?" She asked, pointedly. "Why is it, I must morn the passing of my fawns, taken by man? Answer me that, son of man."
The old man could only say, "Not all of man is as such. There is some..." he paused, "Nay, there is many who consider you food, consider you a trophy" He quickly looked up, "But not all, lady. I am much like you, I eat only plants, I drink only milk, and water. I do not hunt any animal."
"What proof can you give, to back up your words?" The doe asked. Her anger, was being replaced by surprised, and curiously. This man was not a hunter? Was not one who preyed on her kind? Impossible! He was man. But yet, his actions, his language spoke confusion to her.
The old man shook his head slowly, "I cannot, Lady. Only if you was to live close, watching me every day could you see what I spoke of is true." He looked at her, with sadness, "But to do so, would put you at risk, and deny you a life."
"...You speak the truth, son of man..." the doe finally answered. "But why is it, that I only see pain, and fear from your kind, and your firesticks?" Her ears pinned back, and her voice snarled. "Why is that, son of man? Answer me! What possesses your kind?"
"I cannot say for certain, Lady." he said quietly. "But do not hate me. Do you hate the wolf, who also hunts your kind for food? Do you hate the ticks who feast upon your blood, and the fly who follows you?"
The doe thought for a moment, then quietly said "No...I do not hate any of those, for that is their nature. To be angry and to hate that which is their nature, is not wise, and uses precious energy."
The old man nodded, "It must be man's nature to do the same. It must be man's nature to pollute the very air we breath." the old man took a look of distance, as he told the doe of what mankind is doing to the environment, what his greed is doing to his kind as well.
The doe's anger and bitterness disappeared quickly, as she listened intently. This man was speaking of things of insanity. Then she snorted, "Enough! You speak lies, and insanity. No animal would deliberately destroy themselves for that leads to death."
The old man couldn't say anything, but as he looked up at her, a tear rolled down his cheek. She could see that he wasn't lying now. "...it's true, isn't it?" she whispered quietly. In that moment, the doe, and the old man crossed a line between them. "I'm sorry, son of man." she finally said. She stood there quietly for a moment, then asked. "Is there no hope, Son of man?"
The old man smiled a bit, "As long as their is life, Lady. There is hope. Not all of my kind is mad. There is many who are fighting back, pushing for change, and working for such as well. I use too, but I am now but an old man who cannot do anything more, and only has his memories."
The doe stepped out of the brush, and stood before him. She lifted her tail, flagging the others who stood with her, but he didn't know was there. One by one, heads popped out of the brush, some young, some older, some bucks, some does, walked out and stood with the old man.
Then with a soft rustle, a magnificent stag walked out, his crown standing as proud as he did. He stood before the old man, who was humbled by the presence of the Stag. "You are wrong, Son of man" came the booming voice. "You can teach others, you can show the errors of your kind, and push for change."
The old man couldn't find his voice, but he nodded, then bowed his head to the stag. Finally he asked, "I will try, Sir. So many won't listen to an old man, the young only see the surface of people, and have no respect for ones older and wiser than they." Sadly, he stood, leaning on his walking stick. "But I can but try." he resigned softly.
"Perhapses we aren't so unalike, as many of us believe, Son of man" the Stag replied finally. As the two stood there for a moment, the stag finally lowered his head to the old man "If you ever wish to return to this forest, know you are welcome. But..." he continued, with a stern look at the old man "Do not bring your firesticks, do not lead anyone of your kind here, with firesticks. For I will protect my herd."
The old man looked fearful for a moment, thinking of an enraged stag with a crown such as his. "I swear it on my life." he told the stag, bowing on one knee, despite the pain of his joints.
The stag nodded a bit, "Know you have the blessing of Herne" He then turned a bit, waking back though the brush.
The old man watched as Herne walked off, then turned to the doe who he had met. "Are you, Lady. His mate?" he asked softly.
The doe shook her head sadly. "I am too old to be his, Son of Man. I once was part of his mating herd, but now merely one who is protected by him. Until we meet again, Son of Man, Farewell."
The old man nodded, and waved a bit, as he watched the others melt back into the forest. "One moment, Son of Man" the doe said, just before she too melted back into the brush" The old man turned and faced her.
"If we meet again, it may not be as friends..." she started, "But it will not be as enemies. I do not hate you, Son of man, merely pity you, and your kind."
And with that, she walked into the brush, and disappeared
Hope you enjoy :)
- Shado