Vastarael finally crashed through the dripping underbrush. He was tracking Runner's trail for a while and then he saw her. Just ahead, sitting in the mud like she had long since surrendered to the universe, was Runner, who was now laughing softly with a glowing golden fawn leaning against her shoulder like an affectionate dog.
'Look how much she's grown…'
Runner turned at the sound of his footsteps. Her eyes widened with excitement, which was an emotion she rarely revealed.
"Dad! Dad, look!" She scooped the fawn up with both arms with mud dripping down her elbows. "I caught it! I actually caught it!"
She was covered head to toe in mud but the grin on her face outshone the rain.
"I can see that. You did well."
"You owe me the present. You said so. I caught it."
"And you'll get it when we're back to the town."
Runner hugged the fawn tighter, still smiling.
"For now, go on. Kill it."
Her smile snapped into horror so fast it almost made a sound.
"WHAT?! I... I can't! Why would you—Dad NO!"
He arched a brow like he didn't see the problem.
"Runner, we are hunting—"
She pulled the fawn away protectively.
"No; No! No hunting! No killing! She's not dinner! She's my friend!"
A single tear almost formed. Almost. Vastarael finally laughed under his breath.
"Relax. I was joking."
"DAD."
"I'm not killing a Divine Creature. Do I look insane?"
"Yes! Yes you do!"
He ruffled her hair—earning a small squawk of indignation—and nodded toward the fawn.
"Besides, she can lead us to the Hidden Citadel."
"Wait seriously? But what about her parents?"
"Golden Deer abandon their children the moment they're born. She's been on her own since her first breath."
"She deserves better. I'll be her new parent."
"Of course you will."
The Golden Fawn sniffed him and instantly trotted toward him, nudging his leg. Runner's jaw dropped.
"Traitor."
Vastarael lifted the fawn with one arm, its glowing body curled comfortably against him like it was born to be there. It let out a tiny, contented bleat. He pretended not to enjoy the jealousy radiating off her.
"She likes you better than me."
"That happens. I already have a Divine Creature, anyway."
As if summoned—or maybe just offended—Biolumine materialized next to them in her natural giant feline form. Biolumine saw the fawn. The fawn saw Biolumine. The fawn stiffened completely. Biolumine narrowed her own eyes and made a single judgmental hiss, somewhere between "disgusting" and "stay away from my companion."
Runner patted the fawn's head.
"Aww, don't be scared. She threatens everyone. Biolumine, behave."
The cat hissed louder.
Vastarael sighed and shifted the fawn into Runner's arms. "Come here."
He then hooked one arm casually around Runner's waist and lifted her clean off the ground like she weighed nothing, depositing her onto Biolumine's broad, glowing back as if she was just another package to carry. Runner let out an undignified yelp.
"Warn me next time!"
They started walking out of the dripping forest with Vastarael leading, Runner perched on Biolumine's back and the fawn trembling in her lap but refusing to leave her arms. Then Runner's voice came out small.
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
He looked back.
Runner was staring at her muddy boots, fingers gently stroking the fawn's fur.
"I was rude. You were helping and I yelled and… I'm sorry."
"I'm used to it."
"What? That's it?"
"You're not a child anymore. You're seventeen. Remarks and attitude come with the territory. You're growing. That matters more than perfection."
"I'm still not like Shimmer. She's better at everything. People look at her like she's some prodigy and I'm just… behind jet."
Vastarael stopped walking and turned fully to face her.
"Don't compare yourself to her. You are not Shimmer. And thank the Primordials for that."
Her eyes went wide. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"It means that you're Runner. And that girl right there," he nodded at the fawn curled into her lap, "chose you. Most Golden Deer rarely choose anyone. I brought you here expecting you to be a companion to one and you did. Out of the two of you, you're perfect."
Runner looked down at the small glowing creature, its head tucked under her arm, trusting her completely.
"You hunted it without powers. You earned its loyalty. You kept going for two hours without giving up and now you have a Divine Creature of your own."
"I have a pet now."
"A companion," Vastarael corrected. "Not a pet. They don't like to be called pets."
______
The rain had softened to a steady whisper by the time they made it to the forest's edge, though the sky stayed a heavy slate-grey. Runner sat perched on Biolumine's back with the golden fawn curled in her arms like it had been born there. The fawn blinked at the drizzle, then tucked its head under Runner's chin. Runner hugged it closer.
Vastarael looked back over his shoulder.
"Careful. She's delicate."
"I know. She's shaking a little."
"That's normal. Divine Creatures are sensitive to sudden changes in emotions and you've been… a hurricane today."
Runner made a half insulted, half guilty face. "I wasn't that bad."
"You tried to fight a tree earlier."
"It was in my way!"
Vastarael snorted and kept walking. After a few minutes, Runner's curiosity got the better of her.
"Dad, what exactly is she?"
He slowed down so Biolumine could come up beside him. The fawn peeked shyly at him.
"Golden Deer are ancient creatures. They lived in the Hidden Citadel long before any of us existed. They appeared millennia before even the Richinaria line."
Runner perked up instantly. "Wait so she's old?"
"No, her species is old. This one is just a few weeks born."
Runner blinked and looked down at the tiny creature in her arms.
"She's a baby?"
"Barely. Oh, and they are harmless. They cannot attack or defend themselves. They are pacifists down to their bones."
"Then how did they survive for millennia?"
"They test others."
"Test?"
"They run, they dodge, they push your pride until you're convinced you'll die of embarrassment."
Runner flushed and looked away. "Yeah. I noticed."
"After the Hidden Citadel was destroyed, a deity—her name long forgotten—found the last Golden Deer couple and sheltered them here. She fell into degradation soon after, but not before carving out this safe haven. So seeing one is a miracle. She's also your responsibility now."
The fawn lifted her tiny head, blinked at Runner, then gave a tiny sneeze that glowed like dusted gold.
"Mine?"
"The Golden Fawn knows every path, lock and forgotten chamber in the Hidden Citadel. She will act as our guide when the path disappears or the illusions become too dense."
Runner looked at the fawn again, this time with a whole new layer of awe.
"You're smart, huh?"
The fawn blinked back, tilting her head like she was thinking too hard about something.
"She can understand almost any language spoken to her."
"Wait—NOW?!"
The fawn looked between the two of them. Its ears kept twitching as if trying desperately to figure out why she was suddenly the center of attention.
"Does she know what we're saying right now?"
"Yes."
"This is weird."
"It will feel normal eventually."
Biolumine made a low sound like she was deeply offended by the fawn's intelligence. Vastarael glanced at Runner again.
"She chose you. That means something. So from now on, even after we leave the Hidden Citadel, she will follow you."
"Really?!"
"Yes but Golden Deer have a simple cycle. When she becomes fully grown, she will find her mate. They stay together for life and will raise exactly one child."
Runner's fingers froze in the fawn's fur.
"And then, they abandon that child and return to a solitary life with their mate until the end of their days. That is their nature. Always has been."
Runner stared down at the tiny creature in her arms, who was now chewing curiously on her muddy sleeve.
"So don't get too attached. No matter how much she loves you, she will leave you eventually."
The forest fell silent except for the rain. Runner swallowed hard.
"I'll… try not to… love her too much."
The fawn looked up, confused by Runner's sudden sadness and moved closer, nudging her chin sweetly.
"She's making this impossible."
Vastarael looked away toward the trees, hiding the faintest smile.
'I guess it's too late for both of them...'