[completed quest] falls-a-lot

[lanimari]

++++++++++++++++++₪ an accidental jester painting the world his own colors ₪
X X X X

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++name | Falls-a-Lot
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++gender | buck
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++theme | court jester markings
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++colors | purples, greens, golds and perhaps some black or grey
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++hoping for | ram horns and a little extra fluff to the tail
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++dreaming of | eyes of gold some hair
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++in the end, though, it is all in the hands of the colorist

▫ warm ▫ caring ▫ compassionate ▫ clumsy ▫ goofy ▫ stubborn ▫ ladies' man ▫

++++++++++++++++++++++▫personality

++++++++++++++++++++++As a young buck Falls-a-Lot never really quite grew into his legs and has a slight tendency of running into or tripping over things. When this happens, though others may laugh at him, it is rare for him to feel awkward and embarrassed because of it. Instead, he will often play it up for the attention value - especially if there's a pretty young doe around. After all, Falls-a-Lot just can't resist pretty things, does most of all. He isn't the sort of buck that might settle down, either, preferring to take part in all the delicacies of the swamp.

If ever Falls-a-Lot is in a somber situation, chances are he will grin and try to make everyone around him chuckle. Even if it isn't exactly appropriate at the time. For example, laughing instead of crying when someone dies. In his mind that's completely fine because he's probably found a happy memory of them - to others, that may be decidedly less okay. Regardless of that, he is a typically kind and caring buck who will go to any lengths for those he claims as friends. Ever a listening ear or a shoulder for someone, preferably a doe, to cry on he is also not afraid of slapstick humor in cases he thinks calls for it. Since he's clumsy anyway it isn't too far a stretch for him to take a timely tumble over a log or trip into the water when someone needs a laugh.

When things get troublesome Falls-a-Lot will stick to his metaphorical guns and rarely backs down when he thinks he's right. This stubborn behavior sometimes makes him look like a false bravado or willful but often comes across as just plain old pigheaded.

 

[lanimari]

++++++++++++++++++₪ dreaming a dream ₪
X X X X

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Drip. Drip. Drip.

A steady dripping of warm liquid caressed the Kimeti's forehead as he lay in the swamp, half in and half out of the water. The young buck had dreamed of something he was to find out in the wilderness and had immediately rushed ahead and chased after what his dream suggested. Surely the dream was more, he had thought, and clearly by searching and hunting in the wilds he would locate the epiphany he had come for. Weeks had passed since the buck had left the refuge of his tribe and at long last he had collapsed from hunger on his trek homeward.

To focus, he listened to the dripping of the rain as his lips pulled into a soft smile and his eyes shut to better tune in to the sounds around him. "1....2...3...." The drops continued and he couldn't help but feel a little amused, "The rain sure falls a lot around here." Strong legs tensed as he pushed himself back out of the water, as the rain persevered so too would he in his quest. Somewhere out here was his answer and somehow he would attain it.

Slowly the buck shook the water from his body, from head to tail, until he felt dry enough to continue. The beat of his hooves was more of a plodding along than anything else and he listened intently to the sound of his falling footsteps. As he moved along he couldn't help but notice that as the rain fell, the leaves were falling from the trees. During his absence the season had slipped from summer to fall and he stopped a moment to watch the beautiful colors as they made their way to the murky earth. So many leaves were falling and it vaguely reminded him that he needed to eat, or he too would soon fall as the leaves had to never rise again.

For he could feel it in his body that this would be his last day on his journey if he did not rest and eat. He needed to recover and find shelter, but the temptations of that one dream were too much. Things grew hazy as he walked and his footsteps fell slower until they nearly dragged in the mud, but the buck's heart quickened as his eyes saw something brilliant and red up ahead. Was this what he had been looking for? Was his answer so close to him that he would fall before it?

"No." Thought the young Kimeti, "I will see this through, whether it be my end or no."

With what little reserves he had left the buck took off at a fast speed, racing towards the flash of red he had seen only to discover what had to be the most beautiful of all Kimeti does he had ever seen. Brilliant were her eyes and long was the hair that flowed from her head and tail. He was stunned with her beauty and felt his jaw grow slack as he was unable to form the words to ask if she was the answer he had been looking for.

In a voice that made his heart race, she nearly sang, "Reach for the stars but know that eventually, you will fall back to the earth from whence you came. For everything that rises must fall one day."

And with that, the doe disappeared. The buck felt his legs fall beneath him and relaxed as the mud cushioned his head somehow, though he didn't know how, that was the answer he was looking for. As he felt his life slip away, he knew that for each time he would be born he would reach for the stars and when there was no where left to rise, he would find his way back home to the earth.

Another light grin touched his face as he breathed his last in amusement, "I'll fall a lot, but that's ok because I'll rise a lot, too."

As his life winked out, somewhere in the distance a young sac quivered, ready to be born and knowing without a doubt that he was Falls-a-Lot, a buck that would go far but come home for the end each and every time.


 

[lanimari]

++++++++++++++++++₪ the game of its namesake ₪
X X X X

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Falls-a-Lot was having one of those days where nothing seemed to go right and what did happened in just all the wrong ways. He had been trying to get a beautiful doe to look at him all day long but had been unsuccessful. This was unusual to the young buck because with his bright coloring he was accustomed to attracting a certain level of attention. And so it was that the buck gathered around some of his other male friends in an attempt to get the pretty does to come and watch them as they played.

The games started simple - head-butting to see who was stronger and with better endurance, firefly catching and as the attention to the other bucks grew with Falls-a-Lot's clumsiness showing through he gave one last desperate game idea to the other bucks. It would be easy, he figured, since no one could possibly run across a log in the water. All he had to do was stay up longer than the others. He was fast, so surely he could do that much.

"Let's see who can run across a log in the swamp water the fastest, without falling off of it!"

All of the other bucks laughed, for Falls-a-Lot was the one with the least grace and would likely fall off before he had all four hooves atop the log. They readily agreed and the group trotted off into the swamp to find the Perfect Log. It floated in the water and didn't appear to have any roots to hold it down, so Falls-a-Lot hopped on almost falling off right away with the moss so slippery his hooves wouldn't stay in place. His nose touched the water briefly before he regained his balance and he stood proud and tall, looking down at the others and not at all disappointed with the view.

"See! I didn't fall off right away!"

Falls-a-Lot laughed a little as the other bucks jeered - he'd only just stepped on the log, after all, and had already touched the water once. They dared him to make it a harder challenge. You had to trot across the log and could not touch the water even once. If you did, you were out and it was the next buck's turn. With a sigh and a nod he gave his consent before straightening himself out and carefully taking his first step. The look of concentration on his face was comical with his tongue peeking out of his mouth as he bit it from his focus on the log.

His concentration did not help, though, and not two more steps had passed before he landed face first in the muck of the swamp beneath him. Falls-a-Lot swam back to shore with a sour look on his face as he watched the next buck give it a shot. They too fell into the water and soon each buck had given it a try with only a couple making it across without growing wet. So fun was the game that they went another round, completely forgetting the fact the does were present and only intent on beating each other at this new game.

Soon even the adventurous does were giving it a shot, wanting to see how they matched up with the boys. Hours passed before the young kimeti went home, most of them soaked and filthy with swamp water, but all of them laughing and having a good time.

Tomorrow they would meet and play again.