Keep Moving

It was all so familiar, and yet all so new.

She sat by the pond, the twilight reflecting off the soft movement of the pond's waters. The moon was huge tonight. And in those stars... well, she knew many who resided there. Many close to her heart.

Some fawns came by to disturb the shallows of the pond and she watched, a small smile forming on her muzzle as they laughed and cavorted about in the moonlight. She didn't know their names, and she doubted she would; there were too many new faces for her to count. Slowly, she got up, shaking some sand from her coat and headed toward the crying idol. Here at the idol a good friend had spent his time in quiet contemplation of what had been. A time when sadness had first rocked the forest. When violence was fresh. She dunked her head in the cool waters and headed off, realizing she was taking herself for a walk through the forest at this point.

The shika found herself at the playground, near the tallest and largest rock. Climbing it, she looked out over the birch, as she had many times before with her mate. She remembered many a time here with him; the life and death struggle between her mate and his rival; the confession to him that changed her own life forever. Just below the rock, her first son was born.. who now had a family of his own.

Time flies.. She felt old. But she would be forever in her prime in this forest, as many were.

She glanced to her left and saw a couple resting on the rocks, not far from her. So as not to disturb them, she left quietly, heading toward red hill. So many memories made there too, on this lookout. The one who had named it was long gone now...so many others with him spending lazy afternoons lazing with her on the hill. So many memories everywhere.. she smiled tiredly, heading toward home.

But memories were made here for others too, now, and who was she to begrudge them? She had done the same. She only hoped they would be as important for them as they were for her, too.

The ruins. Her home base. It was quiet here, most of the time.. she liked that. The first forest was a beautiful place. The poppies and hyacinths stood out among the many greens of the trees and grasses. The majority of her memories lay here. Lazy days on the pedestal with her mate. Keeping her eye out for a certain soul collector who was a thorn in her family's side. Hiding from a Demon Gazelle. Rivalry between her famliy and that of her mate's nemesis'. Most of her children were born, and grew up on Dandelion Hill; taking their first steps, speaking their first words. So many of her family would rest here during lazy days.. she missed the ones who were gone from the forest, but she would never forget them.

She looked out where Hoshiko lay, by the ruins, her tiny marker visible from the hill. Sadly, she was one thing that would never change.

Perhaps her thoughts sounded sad, but she was only nostalgic. Things changed.. yet they didn't. The forest was steadfast in change, she noticed, as she looked around. She felt somewhat like the forest, too.

In time, perhaps she would get to know these new faces too. She would welcome the change. She hoped the change, and the others, would welcome her, too. As the forest moved on, she too, would move on with the forest. She would be alright, her family would be alright.

She curled up on Dandelion Hill, curling her legs underneath her, and slept.