ORIGIN

The deer, it seemed, were rather skittish, so Artume didn't say a word, merely sending a feeling of gratitude through to Bold.

Where to? he wondered, and she nodded her head to where the other herd had vanished off to. He grunted, taking a moment to gather the two herds into one, before trailing after her.

And it didn't take long - this herd was drinking from the stream, one standing in the middle of it, head high, keeping watch. She came to a stop before she could alarm them, Bold walking up to her side.

With Bold on her side, this was so much easier.

"Can you gather them?" she asked, and he grunted.

They will follow me. And he strode forward, approaching the watcher. The other reindeer split to allow him to walk through, and she watched as they grunted, touching noses and sniffing.

And then, before long, he was walking to join her, the final herd trailing after him.

"Thank you." she sighed, thinking of her Glade, and of water in which to clean her wounds. But she needed to return the reindeer to Naskital, and make sure he was alright with her keeping Bold.

Was easy. he grunted, moving to join the herd into one. She sighed, and turned to lead them out of Eridanus - this would be a long walk.

-Exit Artume-