We are Plagued (open)

[Ophelia]

“He who conceals his disease cannot expect to be cured.”

The forest was once a place of peace; all was in harmony, though, as with everything in life, there were occasional disputes. The deer lived as deer ought to - free, roaming always, giving birth to fawns that would later give birth to their own fawns, being chased and sought after by predators fiercer than these creatures of flight. All was as it should've been. It had been such a long time since their world had been plagued with problems - wildfires, disease, human interference, the list goes on - that, in truth, it seems as if they had entirely forgotten any of those problems had ever existed.

But it is not in the natural order of the world for things to remain as they were then. No; the earth was not made to be that peaceful. Instead, it was a whirlwind, never ceasing. Now, the lives of the deer are being shaken up once more as a mysterious disease sweeps the land, ravaging everything in its path. As the deer met up, it was decided that there was one option for them all, for survival: that they had to form a herd, a herd consisting of all the species of deer affected by this, and they are currently heading Northward.

A reminder... The symptoms for the disease are: severe headaches, muscle weakness, occasional blackouts as the disease progresses, vomiting, and general fatigue. The disease kills quickly.


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Siarra - White-tail (changa)

Ceren - Red (changa)

Leonidas - Puma (KingKovu44)

Loch - Red (Ophelia)

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Roleplayers:

changa

Ophelia

KingKovu44

TheLionQueen

Simbadacub.

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So - roleplay away!

[changa]

Siarra munched on grass, thinking. What had happened to those two deer? They were twins, and they began to feel pains in their heads. Everyone said it would pass quickly, but it never did. The twins died a week ago. Why? What was it? She puzzled over these, eating.

Ceren was happy. Things were doing alright. Anlach had just passed, and his hinds still surrounded him. He liked to think he had the most.

[Ophelia]

Loch was grazing nearby to Siarra, his lips taking in the vegetation, which was being stored to ruminate. It was odd, at this time of the year, for Loch to be so near a hind, or at least one that was not of his harem; but the young, fiery stag seemed to take no notice of her, and as he finally did look up, it was not in her direction. In most cases, it would've been unusual - but now that this herd had been created, Loch was reminding himself, it was quite ordinary for the stags and hinds to be so close to one another after the rut. Finally Siarra caught his eye; taking a step forward, and letting out a low snort of recognition, he stomped one forefoot and began, "I hope I am not disturbing your graze - but I was wondering, do you know if there is any news in the herd concerning the disease?" Loch did not feel bad, honestly, interrupting the hind, though he could see in her expression that she was deep in thought; it was simply not Loch's nature to think over things that, in his mind, were "petty."

It wasn't odd for Loch to be polite at first, however. If this hind did not get on his nerves, then he would, in his turn, not step on hers.


[ooc: sorry, it's awful!]

[TheLionQueen]

Jade and her son had been part of this herd yet they strayed from the other deer while grazing, they didn't want to bother anyone too much or hang around whom might have the disease. Her young son Devon looked up to her from the grass he had just been snacking on, "Mom, when can we stop worrying and go play?" Devon asked curiously he had wanted to play with another deer, but his mother shook her head in disagreement, "No, you are not to play with the others until we know they aren't sick, this plague can kill both of us, understand?" Jade warned. "Yes, mother." Devon replied before gazing over at the others he could see very clearly and he heard Loch, "Maybe one of them knows about the disease." He thought as he listened for Siarra to reply to Loch.

[KingKovu44]

In the hills above the herd, Leonidas the puma watched from his perch. He was eager to take advantage of the current migration to take a meal. "Soon, one of you will be mine," he said. He then uttered a fearsome scream that echoed for a moment before fading.

[changa]

She looked up. "Not that I know of. The only ones in my herd were twins, and that's it. I don't know about anybody else."

[Ophelia]

Loch had seen Jade and her son, and he felt a stab of pity, his eyes searching Devon's young face. Once he heard Siarra speak, however, he directed his attention back onto the slender hind, his lips pursing as he pondered over his answer. "I see," he murmured, stamping his forefeet and again gazing at Jade and her fawn. Gradually, he returned to grazing on the rich grasses; the juices of them filled his mouth, and he felt his heart lighten, if only just a tad, in the thought of plentiful vegetation. It was not enough to distract him from the concept of this disease, but it was just enough for it to slide to the back of his mind.

Then the noise came.

Loch's handsome head shot up swiftly, and he swung his antlers, snorting and whirling around in the direction of what he thought he had heard. Leaning towards Siarra, he breathed quickly, "Did you hear that?" Loch had thought he heard the sound of some distant predator; but perhaps paranoia was simply beginning to seep into his bones. Shaking his head, he looked expectantly at Siarra, hoping that she would either confirm or deny his fears. He gazed anxiously at Devon, taking a step in the direction of the mother-son duo.

ooc: hope this is okay. =) I just realized we don't have a head hind or a leader of the herd...hm.

[TheLionQueen]

Jade quickly got to her sons side she had also head the noise she was unsure what it was but she stepped towards the rest of the herd, "What was that?" Jade said looking at her son for a moment before looking at Loch. Devon looked up at the hills, "Maybe somethings after a meal." He said knowing that lots of predators must be real hungry with this disease spreading was killing quickly.

[changa]

Siarra smiled. "It's probably a rock rolling down the mountain. It happens all the time."

[Ophelia]

Siarra's confidence did not seem to entirely soothe the stag's fears, and as he continued to release soft grunts and stamp his hooves nervously, he then turned towards Jade and Devon and, seeing the anxiety reflected in Jade's eyes, began to collect his exterior into a facade of calmness. It would do no good to make the White-tail doe panic, and he did not wish for her to end up putting her fawn in any danger by attempting to flee. With a resigned sigh, Loch grunted, "Yes, I suppose you're right. You'll have to excuse me; I'm simply nervous, what with this disease going about. What is your name?" The inquiry was a furtive way to make Devon and Jade, or so he hoped, think that everything was certainly okay, and he even began to graze a little. He knew Jade and Devon's names because a young White-tail doe had once told them to him; but he did not know Siarra's name, for he had never shown any particular interest in her. Perhaps he had been too busy doing stag things.

In a bit, maybe I'll speak with Devon. It wouldn't hurt to engage in a little play with him. He seems so...lonely.