Season's kiss

•~°~• × Ephemeral whispers of what is past, Echoes that fade, forever toast, On eternity's silence we find.. What was never ours, left behind ×[By Eva] •~°~• Snow crampled on it's unique horns as it fed, it ate even if it knew that's the last it'll even eat from me. Romeo the larger of the two deer, ate slowly hoping it'll last longer, savoring each bite as if prolonging the inevitable. While I patted it's head slightly, the warmth of his fur grounding me against the icy chill. Despite his calm demeanor, I could feel the unspoken sorrow radiating from him. I could feel the eyes of the female deer looking intently at me but I couldn't bring myself to look back. Nearby Diana the female deer sat apart from us, it's stared with pain and sadness refusing to eat the meal, it's had already made up it's mind that it doesn't want to let me go. Her eyes spoke louder than words, pleading silently for me to reconsider. But I couldn’t . I couldn't go on anymore, I had nothing left to give, not to myself, not to this life, there's no point in living, no place to call home, no day filled with happiness, no one to call friend, family or even just somebody. I am a living after all and I have reached my limits, I had lost my kingdom, lost my crown, lost my throne, my people erased me from their hearts, and even my family they all disowned me. There's one thing a princess feared.... 'Been forgotten' that's what had enveloped me.. banished and sent to the Forbidden Ice forest to die.. To be eaten by evil magical creatures, To be dried out by the ice but thanks to this deers who protected me. The forest had been my prison and my sanctuary for twenty long years. I was kept alive by the very creatures I had now vowed to protect. I am grateful and always forever will be, but I can't be a burden to anyone or anything anymore, I should bear my burden even if it's means death. Death was a very easy thing to achieve in this forest but I kept fighting it, but I won't fight any longer, I will let it's darkness envelope me. I will gladly fall in it's claws. Little to no food was in this forest, there were weeks were no food was seen. I made sure to starve myself for 8 weeks to at least make a half bowl meal for the deers before I pass on. Because I know that if they leave me I'll be eaten by the evil magical creatures, they were my shield, they protected me from every big and little harm, it's like they understood me and everything I've been through and it now my time to protect them. They are about to have little ones, kids and the kids of this magical deers will need to eat to their fill immediately they are born or else they'll die and once they die the deers won't be able to give birth again. And the way the winter magical deers has lived for billions of years was that the newborns will have to feed on something enough for them, if they're no food, they'll feed on their parents and if wasn't enough they'll feed on themselves. Because they were in the womb for 200 years. So they become extremely hungry, they only give birth once in their life, they are the last of their kind... I won't ruin them. The most powerful creature in the forest. The food that they were supposed to save up and give to their children so that after they were born. they won't feed on themselves after feeding on parents. Were given to me this past 20 years. They made a sacrifice to loose their lives and those of their children but I wasn't about to watch them loose their lives, just to save a hopless person like me. I see them as my parents and I would do anything to save their happiness. At least they will be the first of all the billions of their ancestors who lived to take care of their children. They won't be fed on by their children. It was a cruel cycle, but one I refused to let continue. They would feed on me instead. And the winters feed on the flesh not bones, so Romeo promised to keep my bones safely. Keep it and pass it to the generations of his kind. Such an honour. I was going to die eventually, so it's better to die and let the new borns feed on me than live here hopelessly. My magic was fading and fading almost vanishing, I couldn't create things anymore. Couldn't even raise objects with telekinesis, couldn't read minds anymore, couldn't manipulate or control. I was dying gradually and knew it.... But I'll die saving them. Today was the day, I will gladly watch my siblings be born because they will be like siblings to me. I'll watch them form the stars. Tears welled in my eyes... 'i'll miss you' The air shifted. A sudden stillness blanketed the forest, and I felt Romeo tense beneath my hand. Romeo's deep, dark eyes glowing white, it stopped eating and immediately looked up and looked at the sky. And there it was covered in Blood.. The moon blood red... The night sky instantly became as bright as the suns of Jupiter. The once forever snowfall ceased, replaced by rain that cascaded like tears from the heavens. This happened once in centuries, whenever the deers give birth The winters are about to come... A low growl escaped Romeo’s throat, a thunderous sound that shook the fragile peace of the forest. I moved back slightly at the destructive noise... I instinctively looked at Diana...., lying on her side, let out a strained cry. Her time had come. Romeo rushed to her side, his growls subsiding as he nudged her gently. Diana’s labored breaths filled the air, mingling with the distant howls of unseen creatures. My heart clenched as I watched her struggle, tears streaming down my face. Then after few seconds the quadruple were born. Their tiny forms glistening with the blood of life. It was strange as only two were normally conceived in the kind, but they four? It's a miracle, the first sign of hope in centuries, now I am more than happy to give up my life for them. The quadruplets let out piercing cries, their voices louder than any I had heard before. Their tiny, fragile bodies quivered as they crawled towards their parents, driven by instinct. I felt Diana’s eyes on me, filled with anguish, protest, sadness and pain despite the pain of her giving birth.... It was time. I looked at her too and smiled and also looked at Romeo, I came closer and them and bowed I rose up to my feet. I flew up high summoning the last remnants of my fading magic, I raised my hands to the sky. Ice swirled around us, forming an small mighty fortress, a sanctuary for the newborns and their parents. The structure stood tall and impenetrable, a testament to my final gift. To let them at least live happily.. With each second, my strength ebbed away. My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the ground. Diana screamed in despair, breaking free from Romeo’s hold, but he caught her, his own grief etched into his features. I was drained and this was it. “I’ll miss you,” I whispered, my voice cracking. Romeo stood firm, his stoic resolve holding her back as she tried to reach me. I watched, tears streaming freely down my face. Diana tried running to me but Romeo held her back... I cried as I watched them, Diana crying and to reach me while Romeo held her back not even looking at me. It knew that it couldn't bear to watch me like this so it looked away form me but Diana couldn't look away. The quadruple immediately ruched to me to feed, but I want to give up before I feel their teeth on me. They ran towards me and as they reached near.. and then.. The newborns reached me, their tiny forms huddling close. I closed my eyes, their warmth a fleeting comfort against the cold that seeped into my soul. As they drew nearer, their cries softened. I felt their breath, their innocent hunger, and smiled through my tears. And then, I let go. ... I gave up my soul..... In death, I found purpose. In sacrifice, I found peace.