Hey, Deer Dad

Ezra paced around the perimeter of the island as the sun began to set and everything began to be cast in a warm, orange and purple light. He walked by the place where the ferry system was set up and paused, looking out over the stretch of water that separated him from the mainland with a longing sigh. It felt like ages since he had last seen Syanna and even longer than that since he had been in The Hallows. He knew summer was inching closer and he'd finally be able to return home, but somehow now that it was near it felt like time was crawling even more slowly. He desperately just wanted to go home, to see his family, and, most importantly, see Syanna. All this time apart really made him realize just how much he really cared about her and how much he missed her when they were apart. He was glad that he was able to help out around Fenmyre when they needed it and he couldn't be mad at Art for wanting to help their allies, but gods did he hope he never had to be sent away on this long of a mission again.

He was about to keep going on his patrol turned lazy walk around the island when something caught his eye on the opposite shore. He squinted a bit, stepping closer to the lapping waves to get a better look. It looked like a very large deer, but it was absolutely covered in all manner of crystals. The purple and blue stones were all over its antlers, face and body, but from this distance it was hard to make out finer details of it. Unlike a lot of the animals he had seen infected with the mushrooms and crystals through the endless night this one didn't seem like it was sick. It was up and alert... and seemingly staring right at him. His ears flicked uneasily, but didn't look away until the deer finally turned and ran off into the aspen trees with leaping steps. He blinked with confusion and gave a shake of his head before continuing on his way.

Ezra Adravendi