Oh Hello

Featuring Desmond and Ceto

Mentions: Donnaghan and Farrah

Spring, Year 763

Glenmore

Desmond

Today he had another day off he had decided to walk the forest borders even though he was not doing his guard duties today. Today had been rather quiet and things had been a bit confusing since Donnaghan had been sentenced to the guard. Desmond knew who he was and rather keep away from him as much as possible he feared his tongue would get him into trouble with him. He had walked most of the forest edge now and over some fallen branches. As he was coming round the woods again he saw a lone doe one he had not seen earlier or before. He approached slowly and quietly as he got closer he stopped a couple of feet away from her the distance Farrah liked.

    “Excuse me miss...are you lost?...are you alright?” he said with his deep voice he waited for a reply and stood as still as he could. He knew how scared some does are of stags some are not but you never know so he treated her a bit like a lady buy respecting her personal space.

Ceto        

Having been enjoying the quiet of the forest, Ceto had not been expecting the bumbling presence of a stag to come crashing within her little circle of peace and disrupt her thoughts.

She turned her head to look at the pale stag, resisting the urge to curl her lip in disgust. True, he had done nothing to her to deserve her scorn, and he wasn't exactly perfect by beauty standards, but he was male and that was enough for her. She detested any fawn who had a set of dangle bits between their legs, the simple parts that gave them the unjust right to rule the kingdom and set stupid rules upon her and others like her.

But she voiced none of her thoughts. He probably wouldn't understand them anyway. Even though they had yet to have an actual conversation the words he had said to her gave her the impression of a stag who thought he was as white knight, who thought he could coo to any doe and get her to bend to his will. He was sorely mistaken if he believed she would roll and show her belly to him, but she calmly replied to his question instead of snap her teeth.

“I am fine. Thank you.” Polite. Quiet. The perfect response a doe should give to a stag, according to Glenmorian law.

She wanted to spit.

Desmond

She reacted like Farrah this saddened him “I do not know you nor have I ever seen you during my job” he stated plainly “Though I can only guess why you are away from the rabble maybe the same reason I am” He sighed talking to much often got him into bother with does and saying too little they bothered him. “I am out here as unless I am doing my guard duties I feel unaccepted due to my dark points on my coat.Things were different when I was younger but now I have very few I would call friends” he dipped his head to her even if she was a commoner she was a doe and they deserve just as much respect as he did.

He backed off a bit more as he would to Farrah and prepared to walk around her and continue on his way he had noticed her dark coat but not commented on it. That was not his way subtlety and kindness where some times it got thrown in his face Eir proved that but mostly it was a relief that he was not complimentary towards does unless he felt that's what they were wanting he spent most of his life treating them like stags they would never lay eyes on him the way they do to a lord or a handsomer stag.

Ceto

Listening, Ceto wasn't quite sure why the stag had decided to tell her such a story, though she did suppose that, looking back, he was as much of a misfit as she was and if anyone were to talk to her she would rather it be another outsider.

“Perhaps I've started off on the wrong foot,” she replied, turning now to look at the stag fully. “I'm Ceto, by the way.”

Desmond

He turned his head to her and his ears “Hello Ceto” he said with another dip “My name is Desmond” with a faint smile but nothing you would notice he did not know this doe so too much could push her away and he did not want that. He paused and stayed where he was originally “I apologize if I said too much it's just you remind me of myself, Also it is the true reason I am out here alone” he took a breath “I often walk the forests off duty perhaps I may stumble across a fox that is trying to sneak in and steal away a fawn” He really smiled at that thought “Then I could chase it away give it a good kick that seems to make them stay away”. He stopped himself from getting too carried away.

“I would offer to take you up one of our guard posts but I was not sure how you would feel walking with me..or if you prefer following me I am not fussed any company is better than none some times” he chuckled slightly though it was true “Sometimes everybody needs space or to be away from the herd, the constant chatter for me is another thing I like to get away from” His off days where carefully charted he would often venture into the glade into the evening to eat less fawns around. “I could give you information on when there would be quieter times for you to eat in peace, If you're interested that is” his ears flicked about there was a faint distant rustle to his right he looked other than some birds flying up and a faint scent he knew all too well he hoped it would not go towards the herd and also that it would stay away from him.   

Ceto

Ceto listened, tilting her head as he explained why he had spoken so much and then offered to show her a quiet place to eat. She smiled. Perhaps this stag was alright. True, he was a little strange, but she kind of liked it.

“I wouldn't mind, actually,” she said. “I do like to stay away from the herd. It's too… claustrophobic for my tastes, especially when everyone decides to eat at the same time or everyone and their grandma comes out to do things.” Ceto sidled up to him as they began to walk. “And its a pleasure to meet you Desmond. I trust you know the way to this secluded spot of yours.”

As they went, she took a second to look at him a bit more. He seemed like a nice enough hart. She felt a bit bad for being so brisk with him earlier, but how could she have known he wasn't going to try something? Usually all the stag's she came all cross were too big for their racks, always feeling superior just because they were male. She hated that sort of attitude. It just wasn't right. But Desmond didn't really give off that air. He seemed much more… sensible.

“Have you been in the guard for long?” she decided to ask.

Desmond

He was pleased she would walk with him keeping one ear on those bushes just encase. “Definitely claustrophobic” he chuckled as he agreed with her. “Well of course I do” he joked. “About four years really long enough” he smiled. He led her back into the forest for a short trek then he pushed apart some bushes which hid his tracks “If you would not mind putting those back for me or everybody will be down here and I do not want that” the path was quite that was not surprising it opened up into another small ish space with no other obvious tracks in “Here I found this after the fall of the oak and have till now never showed anyone its location” He looked up “if you look that way towards the south you have a clear view of the main glade I use this as a watch post time to time when I need food.I tend to leave it for three weeks or so to let the grass grow and let the ground rest”

It was obvious it had not been visited for about that length the grass was just over Desmond's pasterns the right length to start munching on. “Also the main glade quietens around the evening which is useful for me as if a fox or Oakfern try to sneak in it won't see me so easily in the dark” he smiled. The birds flew up suddenly and a young fox appeared it was only young so it tilted and began to sniff them. “Stay behind me Ceto” he put his head down and charged towards it. The fox whimpered as he had knocked it slightly but it ran off back into the bushes jumping in and out of them he chuckled “I think it's trying to catch the birds silly thing.” he giggled at it “oh well it will now run away when it smells other adult fawns and it's too small to be a threat to fawns hopefully I have shown it they are too much hassle” he chuckled “only time will tell” he turned back to Ceto “Well now you can enjoy grass without a disturbance” He smiled at her and waited for her to start eating.        

Ceto

Ceto glanced about, nodding her head. The little spot was carefully tended too, and it was apparent that Desmond kept to his little schedule to make sure the ground and grass were not compromised.

She looked back at him as he spoke of the best times to graze, and then blinked when the conversation of foxes actually lead to the appearance of one.

Though foxes were not very large, they did pose some risk. Ceto wouldn't say she was particularly terrified of the small beast, but she wasn't disappointed when Desmond scared it off. She snorted slightly at the mention of it trying to catch birds. “He's doing a poor job if that's what he's doing. Birds live in trees.”

She smiled, then nodded when he reminded her that she had come here to eat. “I don't want to take over. I thank you for your generosity. It is a refreshing thing.” Ceto replied, dipping her head in a sign of thanks before carefully nibbling at the grass.

Desmond

“Tis only a pup he is trying to get the black birds in the bushes but yes maybe might want to try rabbit” he watched as she ate and then he joined her but kept his distance he munched the edges carefully this was where he would walk the most over winter as that is when he used this place more. He lifted his head “You're not taking over I have rare qualities” he chuckled. “I also know the feeling of not being accepted it's nice to find someone who is the same in some way” he said softly and continued munching the edge so it was easier to get in.

Ceto

Ceto finished her mouthful before she spoke. “I think those who judge us based on our coats are scared. They might like what they find, and that goes against tradition.” She nodded to him once more. “I'll admit I was wrong to treat you as I did when you came up to me. You are a very kind stag.”

“I’m sure others will come to realise this as well.”

Desmond

He lifted his head smiled “it's understandable” He almost fell over laughing and replied through giggles “That is so true they might like it, imagine me with a pale doe the looks I would get..” He dipped his head when she complimented him “Your a beautiful doe yourself. What they say it is only words do not let em get to you” He smiled but stayed back “Some have” he smiled “I have few fawns I would count as friends and only one I would say who I could count on in the guard”. He sighed “I will admit my years have taught me more respect” he took a step closer but not to in your face more so he could whisper. “May I tell you something..it's a sensitive thing and I do not want it spread about” his heart was racing and his ears were back slightly as he was unsure how to say this.

Ceto

Lifting a foot, Ceto lent an ear. She wasn't sure what exactly Desmond had to say, but she was betting it would be pretty juicy.

Desmond

“I knew the old king I am not to keen on new one its another reason I am here” he looked round “ Donnaghan is sentacted to the guard..After what he did to Brochan I do not know whether I can trust him or not” he lowered his voice “I know what he did”. “I may be a kind stag but I have a feeling my tongue will slip round him I can not afford that” he gulped “the way I have been thought to be around does some stags sure you’ll know which ones think I am a fool” He sweated a bit “Does deserve respect the right to make the first move towards a stag they like, They are not just baby machines and I think a lot of them deserve to be treated better” He was done he stepped back with a heavy sigh. “Oh look the other glade is becoming quieter now”  

Ceto

Ceto stared at Desmond as the light stag stepped backwards. “Why don't you just leave the guard?” she asked. “If you are concerned about how you and Donnaghan will interact, then why risk it?”

She glanced around, checking, then added, “I don't like the new King either. I thought… I thought Drustan was the right one for Glenmore, false bloodline or not. He had the right ideals, he was fair, and he was… odd. Just like you and me. He seemed to realize that some things we had weren't quite right, and I liked that.” Ceto shook her head, ears pinning. “But he's gone now.”

At the mention of the glade she gave a half hearted glance about, nodding slightly in agreement. “I suppose you have to get back to your patrol. I won't keep you.”

Desmond

“Hm” he breathed in “With out the guard I am nothing I only get the respect I do from being a guard I just need time to adjust to him being in the guard I am trying to work with Lord Knox as a royal guard that would keep me away from him. Otherwise I end up on border patrol” he sighed “I am not on duty today I just noticed” He smiled “I agree Drustan was good I met him when I was younger he was so patient and caring”

“You don’t have to if you do not want to” he swallowed …..

Ceto

She smiled. “I wouldn't mind a few more moments, if you’re willing.” Desmond was nice company, she thought. She wouldn't mind spending a bit more time with him.