Snippet #1638636

Magnus sat beneath a tree on the edge of the school property, not moving. The only movement came from his chest, which showed breathing lungs. Inhale, exhale. Repeat. His eyes were closed, his mind thinking about the events of the day and evening. How quickly they had turned. Otter's...voices...had taken control. But what was more is that she did not forgive herself for it.

"It's not your fault," he whispered, breaking his silence. He shook his head. She would come around. She would find him. It would all take time.

Time...

Magnus jumped up as a bleat startled him from his impromptu meditation. Looking from around the tree, he saw as a stag limped from the forest, an arrow in its shoulder. Magnus ceased to breathe as the beautiful animal looked toward him. The eyes were calm, but full of pain. It gave another bleat--not like that of a goat or sheep, but something unheard, something beautiful, like that of a harp and horn--but that too gave signs of pain.

Magnus slowly walked toward the animal, unable to speak a word. He looked to the wound, touching his fingers to the silver running down the animal's leg. Wait...

Silver...?

Magnus rubbed his eyes. It could not be, but it was. The blood of the grand stag was silver. Magnus stared, dumbfounded, until the stag gave Magnus a nudge and a bleat to remind him of the wound. "Okay, okay...this is going to hurt..." He put one hand right near the wound, while the other grabbed the arrow at the base. He pulled and wriggled the arrow at the same time, gaining a groan of pain from the beast, but also succeeding in removing the arrow. He released a held breath, tearing a piece of shirt that was not bloody and tying it to the wound, putting a balled piece under that.

The beast looked at Magnus in thanks. Such silence; it was lulling. Magnus, almost bewitched, lay down right where he was. The beast lay next to him, the stag's head up in lookout. The lulling heartbeat soon brought the Sandman to the human.