//------------------------------//
// Chapter two: names and trials 
// Story: Brothers 'N Antlers 
// by Elkia Deerling 
//------------------------------//

‘Come on, Elkia! Hurry up! Faster!’

Between panting breaths, Elkia looked up to where his brother stood farther uphill, impatiently looking over his shoulder. Elkia was grateful Alces stopped to check how far he had come. Grateful so he could take a little pause. 

‘Why are you stopping, Elkia?’ Alces said, tapping his hoof on the frozen ground. 

But Elkia didn’t end his pause yet. ‘Why must we go so fast? It isn’t a race.’

Alces rolled his eyes. ‘I know it isn’t, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be the fastest twin yet. Come on, brother, we can write history here!’

A wisp of cold vapors escaped through Elkia’s nostrils, as he sighed. ‘Alright. You can go on ahead if you want, then I’ll be right behind you.’ Elkia knew he would never be able to catch up with his brother, especially with the heaps of snow lying everywhere. Even though Elkia had the longest legs, Alces had an advantage. Where Elkia had already lost his antlers, the beautiful, razor-sharp crown that adorned his brother’s head was still there. Alces used it to plow the snow aside and create a path, but despite all the extra effort, he was still faster than Elkia. 

When Alces saw that his brother was picking up the pace again, he bent down and stood firm, plowing himself a way to the top of the hill.

While his brother rushed on ahead, Elkia took the time to enjoy his surroundings. The forest of the Bugbear Territory looked cold, with snow-covered pines and white hills making up the landscape. The Bugbear Territory was a bit of a misleading name, and the elks, deer, and reindeer often called the lands where they lived by different names. The Winterlands, the White Forest, or Needle Region, are some examples. Ponies called it “Bugbear Territory,” but the lands housed many more animals than just Bugbears. In fact, there weren’t even that many Bugbears left, which was a good thing, and meant that the forest was a lot safer for the creatures that lived there. 

A snowy owl, as white as the land, fluttered away, and when Elkia looked closer, he spotted a little arctic fox running right past him. Elkia smiled. Nature sure was beautiful, even in the inhospitable winter. At least it wasn’t snowing.

Gazing around, daydreaming, and taking in all the details of winter life, Elkia didn’t notice that he had reached the top of the hill already. He bumped into his brother’s haunches, startled, and lost his footing. He felt himself falling backwards, and would undoubtedly have rolled right off the side of the mountain, had his brother not intervened.

With two jumps of Alces’s muscled legs, he was under Elkia. Bracing himself, Alces thrust his antlers forwards, caught his brother, and with one big shove, made him fly right back onto the top of the hill, where he landed with a smack.

Elkia saw a few stars, but when he saw his brother’s antlers in his face, he bit, and Alces hoisted him up. ‘You’re welcome,’ Alces said.

‘Eh… thanks?’ Elkia shook his head, shedding off some snow.

But Alces had already disappeared among the trees that crowned the top of the hill. After giving himself a quick brush, Elkia jumped after him. The truth was, he was very excited too.

The only thing he had to do was follow his brother’s trail. It zigzagged around the snowy white trees, turning this way and that. Thanks to the trunks everywhere, Elkia couldn’t see his brother anymore, but he also knew they should be close.

He was right, because suddenly, Alces’s rough voice shouted, ‘Elkia! Elkia! Come look, it’s still there!’

Once again Elkia let out a sigh, but this time it was a sigh of relief. It would have been terrible if Alces and he climbed all the way to the top of the hill without finding the tree. Even though the seer predicted its bloom, one can never know for certain with the strange and wild magic of the forest of the Bugbear Territory. 

Trudging on, Elkia soon saw his brother’s tail. He was standing in a clearing which looked strange, as if it were artificially created. But Elkia and Alces both knew that there was nothing artificial about the place at all. It wasn’t artificial—it was magical. Elkia made a few more large steps, which brought him next to his brother. He tried to say something to him, but then saw that Alces was entranced, his eyes fixed upon that which they had been seeking. Elkia followed his brother’s gaze. 

‘Wow!’

Before the two elk brothers stood a very special tree, an apple tree. 

It was the only apple tree in the entire Bugbear Territory forest. How it managed to bloom all year round, even in the bitter cold of the long and dark winters, was a mystery few elks understood. And those who did, were sure to keep its magical powers a secret. Yes, even this far north, in the freezing winter temperatures, the tree looked as healthy as the spry little elks gazing at it. It was enormously high, even for an apple tree, and it bore shiny red apples, gleaming in the bright light of the sun.  

It surely was a strange sight, and even the elk brothers didn’t know how exactly the tree could be there, bearing fruit. They only knew two things: the tree and the clearing had hidden magical powers, and they had to get two apples from it. One for each of them.

‘How are we going to get up there?’ Elkia said. The closest apple hung much higher than they could reach. In his mind, Elkia was already trying to concoct a plan, the best angle of approach.

Elkia’s voice brought Alces out of his bliss. He had a job to do. Only by gaining an apple from the magical tree and taking it back to the valley could they complete the first part of their naming ceremony. The rest would be all up to the seer. He exchanged a glance with Elkia. ‘Do you think what I’m thinking?’

‘Certainly,’ Elkia said. ‘We should find a subtle and clever way to get the apples down from the tree. I think the key will be to make sure the apples stay safe and unharmed. Who knows what might happen if we don’t do everything correctly. We should—’

‘You’re overthinking things, Elkia,’ Alces said. He did a few steps back, scraped his hoof on the ground like a bull, and then charged antlers-first into the tree. 

‘No! What are you doing?!’

‘Using my head,’ Alces said. The impact hadn’t made him dizzy at all, but the tree showed quite a few scars from where the antlers had pummeled it. But, as the two brothers watched, the bark started to glow. An eyeblink later, there was nothing left of the marks.

Elkia wiped some cold sweat off his brow. ‘Phew! At least we didn’t knock it over.’ Then he looked at his brother. ‘What did you even want to accomplish with that?’

‘Wait for it…’

‘Wait for what?’

The vibrations from the impact still travelled through the enormous apple tree. The green and golden leaves rustled. The apples banged against each other. Down below, Alces got in position. ‘I didn’t expect it to work right away. We’re not dealing with an ordinary tree, after all.’

Elkia wanted to object, but before he could, two apples fell out of the tree, right onto Alces’s antlers. ‘Got it,’ Alces said.

‘Argh!’ Elkia moaned. ‘Now the apples have holes in them.’

‘Nah, they’ll be fine,’ Alces said.

‘No they won’t. Look!’

And when Alces followed his brother’s hoof, he saw that the apples were actually impaled on two branches of his antlers. He let out a nervous chuckle. ‘Hehe, oops.’

Elkia threw his hooves into the air. ‘So what do we do now?’

‘Let’s just try again,’ Alces said, and got back into bull-position. Before Elkia could do another attempt at objecting, Alces rammed his antlers into the tree. It did shake again, but the tree kept a firm grip on its apples this time. Perhaps it had prepared itself for another violent assault. 

‘Darn! Another time!’ Alces stood firm, charged, and slammed against the tree trunk. 

BANG!
 
CRACK!
 
The crack came not from the tree, but from Alces’s antlers. As he drew his head back, his two antlers dropped to the ground. 

‘Oh, wow,’ Elkia said.

Alces shrugged. ‘Never mind. That was bound to happen someday soon.’ Yet while he said that, he slowly reached up and patted his head, where just seconds ago his beautiful crown had been. He already missed the antlers, although he would never admit that. He shook his head, feeling the absence of the heavy antlers, and literally feeling light-headed. Turning towards his fallen crown, he grabbed one of the apples with his mouth, pulled it off the bars, and tossed it over to Elkia. ‘At least we got the apples.’

‘We found some things and we lost some things,’ Elkia said, after tossing his apple into the basket at his side.

On their way back to the valley, the two elks were filled with ecstasy, for they kind of knew what to look forward to. They were both running again, Alces up front, and Elkia trotting behind.

‘I hope we’ll get our cutie marks too,’ said Alces, who had slowed down a little to be able to voice his thoughts to his brother.

Between panting breaths, Elkia said, ‘Maybe. Who knows?’

‘I’ve heard that many elks, deer, and reindeer get their cutie mark during the naming ceremony, if they complete the test.’

‘That’s nice.’ Elkia wasn’t uninterested. It was just that it was hard to breathe when you’re out of breath.

‘”That’s nice?” You mean “that’s great!”’ Alces said, emphasizing his words. ‘Are you not excited about that?’

‘I am, I am.’

‘Really, Elkia? I believe we should be double as excited and double as cheerful, if we get both things, our names and our cutie marks.’

Elkia slowed down a bit so he could talk better. ‘I am excited—double as excited, I mean. It’s just that I think cutie marks come when they come. They are a nice bonus, but the thing I really want to do and complete is the naming ritual. That’s the most sacred and important of things.’

Alces frowned. ‘I still don’t get what you mean.’

‘You can earn a cutie mark on any random day,’ Elkia said. ‘But today is not at all a random day. You and I know that well enough.’

Once, they had spied on a naming ceremony, where two ponies had visited the Shimmering Eye and the seer, asking her to perform her amazing magic. The two elk brothers had stood aghast watching the rite. Using her beautiful, sleek antlers, the seer had made the lake glow like a million colored fireflies for a couple of seconds. Steam and strangely-colored vapors emanated from the Eye, drifting slowly into the air. After that, the visitors placed the apple on the seer’s antlers. The seer waded further and further into the flashing lake, which obscured more and more of her body. When at last the tips of her antlers completely disappeared into the water, she resurfaced and walked out of the Shimmering Eye again, still bearing the apple on her antlers. Elkia and Alces had to watch very closely to see what happened next, but Alces, with his keen eyes, had been able to spot the next stage in the ceremony. Both the seer and the foal took a bit off the apple, after which the seer didn’t stop looking into the child’s eyes. She talked or whispered many things, which the elks couldn’t hear, and after a couple more minutes it was all over. The lake stopped acting as if it were possessed, and the seer turned her head away from the foal. Obviously quite shaken, the ponies had bowed, took the basket with their foal, and retreated back the way they came. 

So that was what it looked like, but how did it feel? That was a question to which both elk brothers would get an answer soon, very soon.

* *  

‘We got them, mother! We got the apples!’ Elkia and Alces shouted in unison.

‘And I didn’t doubt you for a second,’ the seer answered. 

Now that the elks had returned to the valley, they saw a whole throng of elks, deer, and reindeer gathered around the Shimmering Eye. ‘Wow! That’s quite a crowd,’ Elkia said, gazing at them all, yet not looking into anyone’s eyes.

‘I wanted everyone to be present at the naming ceremony,’ the seer said. ‘Everyone should get a chance to rejoice in the festivities.’ The seer lowered her head and winked. ‘Besides, it isn’t everyday one gets to name one’s own sons.’

Aeltha the seer, Elkia’s and Alces’s mother, was a formidable sight. She was the only elk who had a completely white coat. Her white antlers—which shimmered even in darkness—more closely resembled crystals than bone, and were never shed. Her striking blue eyes looked hazy, but of course, Aeltha was far from blind. Everyone revered Aeltha for her magical powers, but many were scared too. In no other elk had the power of the essences manifested itself so clearly and thoroughly. Wherever Aeltha walked, the snow melted, and wherever she went, strange things happened. No, no one could deny her powers, and they were called upon very frequently—if one dared to ask her.

The only elk who managed to talk with Aeltha as if she were his equal was Moussa, the leader of the herd. He stood a little behind her, at the front of the dozens and dozens other elks, deer, and reindeer. He wore a crown of moss, heather, and crystal-clear splinters of ice upon his head, and regarded the whole procession as if he were counting heads. Moussa and Aeltha exchanged a glance, nodded in unison, and then both of them looked at the elk brothers.

Now that everyone was laying his or her eyes on Elkia—including the king of the elks—and now that the ritual was truly going to begin, Elkia’s demeanor changed. He suddenly felt anxiety and nervousness. Maybe he wasn’t as ready as he thought? The actual ritual had seemed so far away when he and his brother were gone getting the apples. Yet now, with literally everyone present, it was as close as a puff of breath in front of your muzzle. 

‘A-a-are we going to start now, or s-s-should we wait? What’s the best thing to do?’ Elkia said, stuttering a little as he talked. 

Aeltha raised a hoof, and lifted her son’s chin. Instantly, Elkia felt his nerves seep away while she talked. ‘We will start right now, little Elkia. Everyone is ready to witness the spectacle.’

‘Of course we’re ready,’ Alces said. ‘Shall we begin now?’

Aeltha nodded, and stood up straight. ‘Let’s begin.’

Drums started playing. Elkia started, and searched for the source of the noise. A few elks, who still had their antlers, were hitting hollowed-out trunks, while a few elderly elks bellowed a strange, deep-throated hymn. The bombastic sounds did nothing to diminish Elkia’s nerves. He looked at his mother.

‘Relax, Elkia,’ she said. ‘The sounds will help you through the ceremony. Focus on them. Hear the drone and embrace it. Let the tones calm you down.’

Looking at his brother, Elkia saw that Alces had a much easier time with the music. His eyes were closed, and he swayed back and forth on the mysterious tones. He was entranced. Elkia was not sure Alces would even see what was going to happen. 

Closing his eyes and swiveling his ears, Elkia tried to do the same, but his fear kept him on a leash, preventing him from entering the trance. His mind was still as clear as the water of the Shimmering Eye. He remembered something. Reaching back, he opened his wicker basket, pulled the two apples out by the stalk, and looked at Aeltha.

‘I knew you wouldn’t forget,’ she said, as she smiled and eyed the apples. She noticed the holes instantly. ‘Oh my! How did that happen?’

‘I’m so sorry, mother,’ Elkia said. ‘We weren’t careful enough, and—’

‘It is not your fault, little Elkia. They will be enough, don’t worry.’ Bending down, Aeltha offered her son her antlers. Elkia was just able to reach them, and placed one apple on every antler. Aeltha nodded, and walked towards the edge of the lake.

Once again, Elkia felt a pang of fear, as he saw his mother slowly disappear into the lake. Everyone watched with their breaths held. One calf was on the edge of crying, as he thought the seer was gone. The tips of the seer’s antlers went under, as she took a few more slow, graceful steps. 

And then she was gone. The ripples in the water widened and widened, until every trace of the magical elk vanished. It looked as if the lake swallowed her whole.

The drumming paused. Elkia looked at Alces. He had regained his wits, and trotted until he stood next to him. ‘Elkia, where did she go? Is she in the lake? How long has she been under?’

‘I… I don’t know,’ Elkia answered. He looked at Moussa, who still bore his haughty, leader’s expression. If he was concerned, he didn’t show it. Every elk, deer, and reindeer’s eyes were glued to the lake. Then, they all received a startle.

The lake crackled and fizzled as if someone lit a thousand firecrackers which floated on the surface. The blue became deeper, darker, blacker. But the other half of the lake became lighter, whiter. Black and white circled around each other, leaving trails of crackling essence. Strange vapors started flowing out of the Shimmering Eye. They floated slowly between the hooves of the other animals. It didn’t become thicker, and it didn’t obscure one’s view. It stayed low, spreading fingers of mist everywhere around the lake. 

Now Elkia was really afraid. Not only because of what he saw, but also because of what he felt. Even though he had never performed miracles himself, Elkia felt that something was happening. He knew that the feeling that crept into his body now, was essence. It was nothing compared to the essences which housed in his mother’s body and mind, but he knew it was a strong sliver of those primal powers nonetheless. It felt as if someone emptied a bucket of warm water over his head. The warmth crept into his ears, his head, his heart, his hooves. It enveloped him, gave him a sense of being alive. He really felt alive during that moment, and he would never experience something like that ever after.

Alces, on the other hand, didn’t feel fear at all. He felt pride. He was proud to be a part of this ceremony. He was proud the essence had found a way into his heart too. For him, the power was cold, sharp, and fresh. The cold felt different from the cold winter gusts that blew through the winter forest. This cold literally made his bones shiver. Alces had expected that there would be at least some kind of pain during the ritual, so he had steeled himself against it. Even though the cold was unpleasant, he could handle it easily. Instead of resisting, he let the cold blow through his body, rattling his bones and leaving his heart fresh and frosted. 

Rustles went through the crowd. The drums sounded again, as Aeltha the seer slowly reappeared from the waters. She shooed away the light and the dark with the ripples in the water. The essences made way for Aeltha, the Elkish seer, and step by step, more of her body became revealed. The water seemed to have let her alone, for she wasn’t dripping or anything—she wasn’t wet at all.

Once she reached the elk brothers, the feeling of the essences—for Elkia living warmth, for Alces crisp cold—grew less in strength. Both elks saw that something had happened to the apples. Once again, Aeltha bent through her knees and offered the apples to her sons.

‘Nice! Me first,’ Alces said. With one jump, he appeared before his brother. With a second jump, he stood muzzle to muzzle with his mother.

‘Take the apple,’ she said, ‘then bite. Do not let it touch the ground.’

Elkia didn’t like the sound of his mother’s voice. It had changed in a strange way. It sounded both foreign and familiar at the same time, as if some friend from far away had traded voices with Aeltha. It was not even possible to determine whether the voice was male or female. It was just there.

But Alces paid little attention to that. Slowly, he grabbed the apple in his mouth. He could see that the apple looked very different. Not only did it glow, its surface was like a mirror, and he could see his own reflection clearly. But there was something wrong; his reflection seemed off. The elk that looked back at him looked angry, grim, ready for battle and determined. It looked as if it wanted something, and wasn’t afraid to do whatever it took to get it. Alces blinked. His reflection was still there, and he wasn’t sure if the picture was a good or a bad thing. He decided it was a good thing. He was here at his own naming ceremony, which was, after all, something festive and cheerful. There should be nothing scary about it.

Aeltha slowly raised her head, but still had to bend down to be able to look into her son’s eyes. She paused and looked Alces over. She whispered, ‘Alces, listen closely to what I say. I’ll hold the apple in my mouth. When I tap your hoof, we bite at the same moment, then let the apple fall to the ground. Whatever you do, don’t drop it before we both have taken a bite. Do you understand, my son?’

Alces almost dropped the apple, when he wanted to speak. But he held on to it, and nodded instead. 

‘Good.’ Aeltha took the apple in her mouth. Three seconds later, she tapped Alces’s hoof.

Then they bit.

After the characteristic sound of a bite from an apple, the fruit fell to the ground. Elkia watched it go with astonishment. Before the apple touched the ground, it froze over in the blink of an eye. With the sound of broken glass, the apple shattered on a rock which protruded from the snow. Nothing remained of the strange fruit.

Alces and Aeltha looked into each other’s eyes. Alces found himself unable to look away. He became lost in the eyes of the seer. It was as if he looked straight into his very own soul. He felt connected to his mother like never before. However different they sometimes were, at this moment they were one. Alces felt the cold again, and it seemed to affect his mother too. Out of the corner of his eyes, Alces saw her trembling. A tear, frozen and shining, fell from the corner of her eyes. Nevertheless, she kept her gaze on him. Once again, Alces became lost in the blue eyes, in the black of her pupils. Aeltha’s pupils widened and widened, until everything he looked at was pure darkness. Now Alces too, felt a shiver over his body. It made him blink. As soon as he opened his eyes, everything was different.

* *  

He was standing on a rocky outcropping, which gave him a bird’s-eye view of the valley below. But Alces wasn’t paying attention to the valley or whatever lay in its lap. He looked around with hazy eyes, confused to the bone.

‘Mother? Where are you? Where is everyone?’

Everything was so strange. It was as if he had teleported out of the forest. Alces felt strange too. He felt strange, as if he were dreaming and awake at the same time. He thought he was awake, yet everything seemed so blurry, the colors amplified a thousand fold. Alces took a moment to let his mind adjust to this situation. Then he looked into the valley, and was amazed by what he saw.

Down in the valley, at the edge of a large, green forest, was a village. It consisted of many wooden cabins, large halls, workshops, and even a mill or two. And there were elks. They were all busy doing their thing, walking, working, chatting. It all looked so picturesque and cheerful, especially considering the time of the year. 

‘Wow! It’s summer!’

The sun shone brightly; Alces knew for sure that the pleasant, glowing feeling was the summer sun upon his hide. It was very hot, unusually hot. Thanks to the sweat upon his brow and the summer going strong, he knew for sure that this whole new land was not real. When he looked to the east, he could see snow on the other mountainside, and a little lake even farther away. Summer and snow, ice and water—this whole landscape made zero sense. No, this was definitely not real. But Alces wanted it to be real. Once again he looked at the funny little village in the valley, and asked himself questions, in the hope that his mother—because he reckoned she was still somewhere near—could clarify things.

‘Why are we there? Did we move? Did we settle there in the valley? Does this mean we won’t be travelling anymore?’ And then came the biggest question. ‘Is this… the future?!’

Alces didn’t get any answers to his questions, much to his annoyance. He shook his head, noticing that his antlers had grown back. He decided to get some answers himself, and looked for an easy way down from the outcropping where he stood. 

Hopping, skipping, jumping, Alces made his way down the hill and into the valley. It wasn’t long before he encountered some oaks, chestnuts, and maple trees—deciduous trees that could never survive in the Bugbear Territory. Colorful red flowers grew here and there, sprouting between the rocks. When Alces followed the different shades of red with his eyes, he noticed that there was a faint glow on the horizon. Was it the sun? No, when Alces looked up, he saw the sun right above him, signaling midday. Yet, out in the distance, it looked as if the sun went down, or as if a second sun would soon rise. Alces stopped. He was just a mile away from the village, but still high enough on the slope to be able to watch the mysterious light. Dark clouds seemed to accompany the light, hovering over it as though night would soon fall. 

With the sixth sense that many animals have, Alces sensed something was wrong. Then he smelt that something was wrong. He smelled a campfire somewhere, but he wasn’t even in the valley yet.

Then he realized he wasn’t smelling a campfire—he was smelling a forest fire.

When he strained his eyes, he could see red ribbons shooting into the skies. Flames danced underneath the blanket of smoke, and he could even hear the crackles and pops that a big fire produced. As he looked and looked, he saw that the fire formed a giant blazing ring, enveloping the whole patch of forest. There was no doubt about it. Nearby was a forest fire, and it headed straight for the village. Alces knew the villagers didn’t stand a chance. The fire would turn the whole village to ashes—everything was made out of wood! He had to do something. He had to warn them.

Twice as fast as before, Alces jumped and slid off the side of the valley. With every yard, the stench of burning wood grew more intense. The fire galloped forwards, and Alces galloped forwards. They were bound to meet in the middle, at the village. A final grassy plain stood between Alces and the village. He crossed it quickly with rapid hoofsteps.

‘Everyone, listen! There’s a big fire coming towards the village!’

Alces was standing roughly in the middle of the village, on a grassy square. Behind him was a large wooden tower, that probably functioned as town hall.

One elk, pulling a wagon, paused to look at Alces. ‘What are you talking about? It is a beautiful summer day. There is no cloud in the sky to be seen.’

‘What?!’ Alces yelled. ‘Can’t you smell the bloody fire? Even a mule with the flu would be able to smell it. Stick your nose in the air, for forest’s sake!’

The elk did so. He sniffed three times, and then waved a hoof. ‘I don’t smell anything. It must be in your head, you poor creature. The doctor is quite close, maybe we can run towards him quickly, and then I can continue—’

Alces reared and threw his hooves in the air. ‘We shouldn’t run! You should run. This entire village should run, before the fire catches up and destroys not only the village, but your lives too!’

The elk didn’t like the looks of that yelling Alces. He rolled his eyes and moved on. 

But Alces didn’t give up. He ran towards some deer, tried to convince them, and failed miserably. The smell was intensifying at an alarming speed. Alces galloped around town square, trying to warn as many elks, deer, and reindeer as he could, but everything was to no avail. If he didn’t know better, Alces would think that this entire village was filled with elks deprived of any senses. And then he realized that could be entirely true, for this was not a normal situation, after all.

For the fourth time Alces tried to get the villagers into action. It just didn’t work. Alces found himself sweating. The heat became much worse. He reckoned he didn’t have much time left. 

A yell came from somewhere. A group of little hinds came galloping through the streets, screaming, jumping, fleeing. 

Alces frowned. ‘I bloody told you all. There’s a huge forest fire coming! You all should run like them, and leave everything behind.’

The villagers didn’t seem to listen to Alces’s words, yet when they saw the hinds fleeing in panic, they quickly understood what was going on. More elks, deer, and reindeer ran away.

Already, Alces could see the flames towering over the trees. Slowly and yet surprisingly fast, the fire closed in on the poor wooden village. 

‘RUN! Everyone run! The fire is here!’

A burst of flame came from somewhere at the edge of the village. Alces galloped towards where the flames were. When he arrived, he saw that the roof of one of the houses was ablaze. Then Alces gazed right into a wall of fire, his eyes hurt from the smoke and the ash. An enormous mountain of fire stood right before him, ready to embrace him in a flaming hug. 

A stray cinder touched down on Alces’s foreleg. Immediately, his thick winter fur caught fire. Alces smelled it, and then felt the pain blow through his body, with his foreleg as the epicenter.

‘OUCH! OUCH!’ Alces shouted. He jumped away from the forest fire and began rolling on the ground. But when he did, the bone-dry grass caught fire too. Alces left a trail of fire in his wake. The pain kept burning like the fire. 

‘No! Ouch! STOP’ Alces jumped up and down, as if that would extinguish the flames. He flung his head around. ‘Just go away, flames!’

The moment he spoke those words and flung his head, the flames left his fur alone. They sprang off of him, and then settled on the wooden wall of one of the cottages. 

Smoke was still trailing off his coat, and the pain was still there, but the pesky little dancing flames were all gone. Alces looked at the charred fur in bewilderment. ‘Wait, how did I just do that?’

Sizzling, crackling, the fire came ever closer. Already three houses were burning, and the fire had laid its hot, greedy eyes upon a sawmill. The village was going to burn.

In his bewilderment, Alces once again realized that this was all not real. It didn’t matter that the whole village would burn down. It was just imaginary, it was just in his head, and it was just part of the naming ceremony. Yet if that were true, then why did the flames hurt so much? To Alces, that felt real enough. But when he chased away the flames, that was also real… Alces thought for a split second. His bewilderment made way for the feeling of discovering a pleasant surprise. Alces wasn’t dumb. He knew what had just happened, how fire was an essence too. And in the end, he was the son of the seer…

Alces turned around, looked at one of the smoldering buildings, and repeated what he had said. ‘Just go away, flames!’

The house kept burning. The roof sagged, and a cloud of cinders flew into the air. 

Could he or couldn’t he? Alces didn’t give up. ‘Just go away, flames!’

The flames didn’t go away.

‘Just go away, flames,’ Alces said again, this time staring intently at the licking red tongues.

Nothing happened.

Alces stomped his hoof onto the ground. ‘Darn!’ He shook his head in frustration. ‘Just go away, flames!’

This time the flames did as they were told. They jumped from the smoldering building to a fresh new cottage. It was not entirely what Alces wanted, but at least he had figured out the secret.

He had to point with his antlers. 

Suddenly, the roar of the flames became louder. It sounded as if a dozen bears gave out a terrifying roar at the same time. Alces frowned and backed away. Something was happening. 

It looked as if the fire took shape. Slowly, the flames rose or fell, merged with one another, solidified. They grew four long legs, a powerful body with a humped back, a tiny tail, a strong neck, furious eyes, and a pair of antlers so large and shimmering and bursting with raw fire, it made the seer’s antlers look like shiny little toothpicks. It looked like an elk from hell.

‘You have found out the secret,’ the fire elk said. His words were furious, and were carried upon blazing hot breaths. ‘No one is ever allowed to learn the secret of commanding the essence. Now you must burn!’

Alces had taken a few more steps back. At once, the fire elk bent down and swept his burning antlers towards Alces. But Alces was ready. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he dove into a backwards roll. The antlers hit three other houses instead, which instantly ignited. 

Steadying himself again, Alces snorted. ‘Is that all you got?’ He galloped not away from the flames, but towards them. As soon as he reached the wall of fire, he jumped right in it, shouting, ‘Do what I think you should do, flames!’ and waving his antlers about.

Instantly, he felt the heat around him. The flames draped over his charred fur like a mantle, lifting him up and making him much bigger than he was. The flames formed a framework around himself, and soon Alces became the core of another giant fire elk, controlling it with his thoughts, just as he wanted. 

‘You defile the power of nature!’ the fiery elk shouted. He had stood idly by while Alces transformed, yet now he was filled up with rage. He bent his head down, braced himself, and then charged antlers-first into giant fire Alces. 

The fiery form was slow to react and felt quite bulky and big. Alces couldn’t dodge. The blazing antlers connected with his side, almost skewering him. Alces tried to steady himself, but tripped. The giant fire Alces fell down upon town square, destroying half a dozen houses and the pretty little town hall. 

But Alces was undaunted. The giant fiery elk was just like any other elk, and any elk can be beaten in a duel. As quick as he could, Alces stood up, and so did his fiery shadow. He turned towards his opponent, who was ready for another charge. Alces ducked, raised his antlers, and galloped. 

The two fire elks crashed into one another. The force of the two fiery antlers made cinders and sparks fly. The cloud of cinders touched down upon the other mill. A few minutes later, it was burned to the ground.

‘You cannot best me. I am the force of fire!’ the fiery elk roared. He pushed and he pushed, trying to knock Alces over.

‘And I am Alces,’ Alces said, pushing just as hard as his opponent. ‘I am Alces, son of Aeltha, and I am about to get my name!’ Suddenly, Alces shifted his weight and sidestepped. The giant elk went along. Then, Alces twirled around, stuck out his hoof, and made the giant fire elk trip. The beast fell down, incinerating a smithy, and then it rolled a few hundred yards further, setting numerous other workshops and houses ablaze. By now, there wasn’t much of the village left, but Alces was too absorbed in the fight to notice that. He stepped forward, leaving giant burning hoofprints in the main street. Slowly, he walked towards his fallen opponent. Before he could rise up again, he received a hoof of Alces pounding against his side, pinning him down on the ground. 

‘You will not rise, elk,’ Alces said. He snorted, and gouts of fire escaped his nostrils. ‘I will make you fall, and you will never harm this village ever again.’

Beneath Alces’s hoof, the giant fire elk snorted too. ‘Ha! You have already accomplished the task I intended to do myself. Look!’

Making sure his hoof was still keeping the elk on the ground, Alces looked around. All of the buildings were on fire now, and those that weren’t had already burned to the ground. The village lay in ruins. Alces had tried so hard to save the village, yet it was demolished now. Silently, Alces hoped that no one had died, but at the same time he thought it unlikely that everyone had escaped unscathed. He had tried his best, and he wasn’t rewarded for his efforts at all. Rage built inside Alces’s heart. The fiery elk he commanded grew larger. The fires grew hotter. After mere seconds, just his hoof was as big as the fire elk he held. Alces gritted his teeth, as he looked down upon the pitiful dwarf fire elk. ‘Any last words?’

The fire elk let out a burst of laughter, clutching his stomach and rocking his shoulders. ‘Har har har! The only thing I want to say to you, Alces son of Aeltha, is thank you!’

‘RAAAAAGH!’ Alces jumped up, and then brought his burning hoof down upon the fire elk below, snuffing his candle out with a wave of fire. When he turned around, he saw that the wave pounded the last remaining buildings, making them completely fall apart.

With a flick of his head, Alces dispelled his mighty form. Instantly, he shrunk in size, until he was just a normal elk again. When he looked at the street, he saw that it was covered in smoking wood and ashes. Alces met not a single living soul. There was only blackness everywhere. A slight breeze began to blow, stirring the ashes and making some buildings sag down. Alces had to cover his muzzle against the black dust in the air. The dust kept coming and coming, obscuring his view. It twirled all around him, carried by the unusual gust. Alces could see nothing but blackness. He made a quick attempt to command the ashes, but unlike the fire, they didn’t listen. One more time he tried to see through the black cloud, and that was when he saw her.

They were no longer in the village now, and Alces wasn’t even sure he was in the same world anymore. There was only black, with occasional silvery spots here and there, twinkling away in the distance. The shape of Aeltha took form from the ashes, which turned white and soft. She walked over to her son, her face bearing only the slightest hint of an expression. 

‘That was quite impressive,’ Aeltha said. ‘You found out about the fire very quickly.’

Alces nodded, but then frowned. ‘Yes, I had to, otherwise I would have burned alive. Tell me, mother, if I had died in that fire, would I have died in the real world?’

Although she tried to hide it, Alces spotted how her snowy-white eyebrows stirred. ‘Perhaps, perhaps not. It depends on the strength of your spirit. Know that I would never throw you in harm’s way, but also know that I had to present you with a challenge.’

Alces was not at all satisfied with that answer. He decided it wasn’t important. ‘So do I get my name now? I succeeded, didn’t I?’

‘That depends on your point of view,’ Aeltha said.

‘But I did it! I destroyed the fiery elk.’

Aeltha laid a hoof on Alces’s shoulder. ‘That you did, son. You have proven to be smart and deadly, a true warrior. Yet, look.’

When Alces followed his mother’s hoof, he saw that in the blackness, one speckle of light disappeared, then grew larger until it was like a mirror. Through it, Alces saw the demolished village, something he hadn’t forgotten. ‘Yes, yes, I know, but I destroyed the fire. Those other elks just have to rebuild their own village, no big deal.’

With a wave of her antlers, Aeltha dispelled the star-mirror. ‘For the inhabitants of the village, it will be quite difficult to rebuild their village from the ground up, and don’t forget about their everlasting fear for fire, which is instilled in their hearts. I am very certain they will travel far away towards some other place where they can rebuild. And the journey will be hard for them, very hard. I have seen it.’

‘Seen it? But it wasn’t real, right? It was only an illusion.’

An icy cold sigh escaped through Aeltha’s nostrils. ‘That it was, but think, Alces. Just think about these poor creatures. Think about how you defeated the fire elk. You fought fire with fire.’

‘So?’

‘There are numerous other ways you could have bested the fire. Think about the snow on the mountaintop, or the lake in the distance.’

Alces looked deep into his mother’s eyes. ‘Could I have done that?’

‘But of course,’ Aeltha said. ‘In the vision, you were able to control essence. Not just fire, but also water, snow, air, ice, and earth. You could have made an avalanche, and bury the fire underneath the snow. Or you could have created a wild running river from the lake to smother all the flames. You could have made sure that the villagers and the village would have remained safe and sound.’

‘Hey, wait a minute!’ Alces did a step back, so his mother’s hoof hung in the air. ‘I didn’t know I was able to use the other elements as well. You are cheating! You could have told me!’

‘Hush, Alces. You yourself could have found out by trying and experimenting. You could have thought out of the box. You could have stopped and think about the best angle of approach, instead of charging antlers-first into the fire.’

Alces pouted his lips. ‘But still it’s cheating.’

Once again, Aeltha sighed. ‘Your mind is sturdy but stiff. If you keep thinking like that, you will forever be roaming on the same paths, trying to find what you lost. You will roam and roam both in your mind as well as in the physical world, for I have seen it.’

‘Whatever.’ Alces shook his head. ‘Did I earn my name?’

Aeltha closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Alces saw how concentrated she was, and reckoned she must be looking into the future now. One by one, the little lights went out, until the only two lights of her own eyes, which she opened, sparkled brightly.

‘Your name shall be: “Roameling.”’

‘Huh? What does it mean?’

‘It means: “the roamer of the herd.”’

‘Roamer of the herd,’ Alces repeated. He was just going to ask Aeltha about that, when something new and extraordinary caught his attention. There was light in the darkness. Alces looked around, trying to find the source of the light, but he couldn’t find it. That’s when he realized that he himself was the source. 

The light completely enveloped him, and it was so intense that even Aeltha, used as she was to magic, did a few steps back. The magic of cutie marks was really something to behold. 

Alces felt himself being lifted off the ground. At first he tried to resist the levitation, but then he saw that it was of no use, and he gave in to the mystical power, letting it take possession of his body. He hovered for exactly three seconds, and then the power lowered him again. As soon as his hooves touched the ground (if there was really something that could be called “ground” in this black nothingness) Alces turned around and looked at his flank. 

‘YES!’ he shouted. ‘YESYESYESYESYESYESYESYES!’ I got my cutie mark!’

Aeltha stepped closer to him to be able to look. A proud smile was etched on her face. ‘Indeed you do, and what an impressive one it is.’

‘My very own cutie mark,’ Alces said. He blinked twice, and then regarded his flank.

Permanently resting upon his flank were two antlers, bearing spiky bars as thick as large thorns. They were crossed, and all around them was a gout of flame in the shape of a circle. The antlers were both black, and the flames were crimson and orange, giving the whole picture a truly impressive, intimidating, and tough look. Any other elk would certainly think twice before challenging Alces to a duel, if he would spot his cutie mark. 

‘I love it,’ Alces said, his voice still loud and filled with ecstasy. He didn’t take his eyes off his new cutie mark. ‘I absolutely love it.’

‘Impressive,’ said Aeltha.

‘I know I’ve never drawn anything more than stick figures, but trust me when I say it looks exactly as I expected it to look.’

‘Of course,’ said Aeltha. ‘It’s very impressive.’

Alces frowned at his mother. ‘That’s the third time you said “impressive.” What is so impressive about it? Is my cutie mark a nice one? Is it a good one? The best one maybe?’

Aeltha nodded. ‘It is the most suitable one. I have seen the picture in my dreams, alive and shimmering. I stood in a burning forest, where burnt, black branches reached up to the sky and flames engulfed both them and me on all sides. At first I thought it was a nightmare, and I couldn’t find the symbolism behind it, couldn’t grasp the meaning. But now it all makes sense thanks to you, Alces Roameling, my son.’

‘This day couldn’t have gone better!’ Alces said, ready to jump in joy any second now. He didn’t jump or dance yet, however, as something still troubled him. ‘I earned both my cutie mark and my name. But, to be honest, the cutie mark is better than the name. “Roameling” still sounds so weird. What does it really mean?’

Suddenly, a little breeze began to blow. Aeltha slowly dissolved into white ashes. She did a step forward, and bent down to talk into her son’s ear.

‘That is something you must find out for yourself, dear Alces. I will give you one hint. Both the fire elk and the flames in your cutie mark are a projection of your own battle fury. Know that fury will only get you so far in life. Sometimes, compassion is needed, and you must think of others too. There will come a time where you think you’re doing the right thing, but also bear in mind that sometimes, another approach will be better and friendlier. Take the time to think. That is the only lesson I want to teach you for now. The rest you can find out in the real world.’

‘No, wait, no!’ Alces shouted, as Aeltha kept disappearing. ‘I still have questions. I still don’t understand.’ 

But the seer was gone. A bell rang. The sound of drums grew louder and louder. Slowly, Alces returned to the Shimmering Eye, back home.

* *  

‘Alces! Are you okay?’

Alces rocked back and forth, and seemed to be losing his balance. Elkia jumped towards him and offered support. But Alces pushed him away. ‘I am perfectly fine.’ The two brothers’ eyes met. Elkia quickly let go of Alces, as he stared into his blazing eyes. ‘Oops, eh… sorry. Are you sure you’re okay?’

‘I am sure!’ Alces snapped. ‘I need time to think stuff over for a change.’ He searched for the eyes of his mother, then glared angrily into them. ‘Expect some questions later, mother.’

‘Of course,’ said Aeltha, and made a small bow as her son took his leave.

‘W-w-was it that bad? W-w-was it scary?’ Elkia said, trembling a little as he looked at Aeltha.

‘Don’t worry, Elkia. Your brother is just a little grumpy. You know how he can be. You don’t have to be afraid of the vision. Nothing will happen that you cannot resolve with your inner strengths. That’s a promise.’ And Aeltha stuck out her hoof, gently touching Elkia’s. Instantly, Elkia felt better.

Aeltha bent down. ‘Now it is your turn. We both bite the apple, and then the journey begins.’

Nodding, Elkia reached for the apple as his mother bent down. He forced his teeth not to chatter, and grabbed the fruit at the tiny, hair-thin stalk. 

Aeltha heard the sound, and glanced upwards. ‘Keep it steady, Elkia. Whatever you do, don’t—’

And then it happened. Elkia squeezed his eyes shut. He shivered with tension and pure stress. His nerves stretched and stretched, ready to break.

And so did the apple stalk. SNAP!


‘No!’ Aeltha yelled. 

It was as if the apple fell in slow motion, and now that he thought about it, Elkia was sure his mother tried to slow time somehow. Was she that powerful? The apple fell down, down, down. Until it touched the grass. Instantly, a black spot appeared on the shiny fruit, as if it were rotting. Then another one appeared. And another one.

Elkia looked at his mother. ‘I-I-I’m sorry, mother, I-I-I s-s-should have—’

Aeltha made the decision. ‘Bite, Elkia, bite! Maybe it is not too late.’

There was such urgency in her voice, it scared Elkia even more. His eyes shot at the rotting fruit. It didn’t look that delicious anymore. The mirror-like surface was cloudy. It smoked too. Yet, Elkia did as he was told. He knelt down and tried to bite, but the moment he did so, Aeltha tried to do the same. They ended up in an awkward headbutt. But they did it. Both animals took a bite.

And not a moment too soon. The last thing Elkia saw before he slipped away from Equestria was the apple, which was now completely black, and fell apart on the snowy grass. It left nothing but a black stain behind. 

* *  

It became very busy in Elkia’s mind. There were many different voices sounding from everywhere at once. Some were even shouting. Elkia flinched. But then he realized they weren’t shouts of pain or something like that. They were shouts of joy, shouts of children. He recognized these sounds. Homely sounds of a cheerful hubbub of elks. Elkia wondered why it was so dark. Then he opened his eyes, and regained his sight in a not-so-magical way. 

He stood right in the middle of a small town. There were wooden cottages here and there, and there were elks everywhere. Some kind of market was going on, as stalls made of sturdy tree trunks were standing in a circle. Music resounded. Elkia tried to find the source of it, and ended up at a fiddle player, playing his instrument with a wide smile on his face. The whole atmosphere was noisy and cheery. The sun shone, signaling a beautiful early morning.

‘Wow!’ Elkia said, ‘this actually seems… very nice.’

A few other elks bumped into him. ‘Oops, sorry, mister. Oops, sorry madam.’ Elkia decided to go with the flow, so as not to be a nuisance to every elk. That, and he was very curious. 

He ended up looking at the stalls, gazing at the jewelry, the clothing, the toys, the tools, the food, and everything else that was being sold. Sometimes he stopped, closed his eyes, and enjoyed all the sounds and the cozy throng of elks and deer and reindeer. Yes, Elkia certainly felt like home. He already started calling himself a drama-elk for being so afraid for the ritual. The ritual wasn’t scary at all. 

‘Maybe the purpose of the ritual is to relax and feel at ease,’ Elkia said, talking and thinking to himself. ‘Maybe it’s all about discovering oneself, or finding a place where one belongs, or maybe—’

FWOOMPH!
 
His thoughts were cut short by a cold, wet snowball landing right into his face. Elkia rocked back and forth for a few seconds. Then he shook his head, flinging off the snow, and looked for a suspect. He just had to follow the sound of laughter. 

In a small alley, there were some calves looking at him. One of them couldn’t contain himself any longer and laughed out loud. Yet when they saw that Elkia had discovered them, they turned around and galloped away.

‘Haha! I don’t think so!’ Elkia said with a smile. He reared on his hind legs, and then bolted after them. He followed the children through a few more alleys and a few more squares. The festivities were only going on around the main street, as the rest of the village was mostly empty. It didn’t take long to get to the edge of town, and Elkia reckoned that it was just a small village. The elk children jumped over a frozen stream into some fields, where there was snow enough for them to throw.

Elkia kept his eyes on the little rascals. Once he stood in the field as well, be bent down and gathered up some snow between his hooves as quickly as he could. But not quick enough.

FWOOMPH! Another icy surprise right into his face.

‘Wow, you’re good,’ Elkia said. He was quite startled at the force behind the shot. ‘Yes, you’re good, but I’m not giving up so easi—’

Another snowball hit home. Elkia had to be quicker. Shaking off the snow, Elkia kept his eyes on the children. He was ready to dodge their next attack.

One of the children looked at the ground. A heap of snow flew into the air, as if it were attached to an invisible strand of silk. It transformed into a perfect round ball, twirling around and around. The little calf bent his head, and then the snowball shot forwards, once again right towards the target’s face.

Elkia was too startled to dodge, and the snowball hit home. After flinching, his eyes were wide open. ‘Wait, how did you do that?’

‘We can all do it, mister,’ the calf said. ‘Come on, everyone! Let’s show him.’

Now all the elks performed the same trick. Snow hovered all around. Soon enough, every one of them had a snowball locked and loaded, levitating in the air by their side. Elkia stared in disbelief.

‘Wait, but how’—FWOOMPH—‘do you guys’—FWOOMPH—‘make the’—FWOOMPH—‘snowballs’—FWOOMPH—‘so’—FWOOMPH—‘quickly?’

‘It’s easy, sir,’ one of them said.

‘Shush! Don’t tell him the secret, Ada!’

But Ada didn’t listen to her friend’s words. ‘You just look at the snow, wobble your head, and think of something round, look!’ And she started to make another snowball.

Elkia followed the little calf’s every movement. ‘Ah!’ he said, ‘now I finally understand how to—’ FWOOMPH.
 
Ada and the rest giggled and laughed and jumped up and down.

Focusing on the snow, Elkia thought of something round, an acorn. Sure enough, the snow moved off his face, collected beside him, and formed a ball. Elkia had no idea what he just saw. ‘But, how does it work? I mean, normally the snow doesn’t behave the way I want it to. Is it magic? I thought only unicorns can use magic. Do you know how it—’

A snowball to the face was the only answer he got to his question. He lost focus. The snow he levitated fell to the ground. Smiling and furrowing his snow-covered brow, Elkia focused on the elk children. ‘Alright, time for questions later. Now it’s time for payback!’

They all had great fun, creating snowballs and bombarding one another with them. Elkia tried his best to hit them as softly as he could, but that was a hard thing to do. Whatever magic was at work, it was very potent. He only had to give the snow a gentle nudge with his mind to make it fly fast. After a bit of practicing, he had no trouble creating many snowballs himself. But even armed like that, he still had trouble winning the fight. Hitting four little running, rolling, dodging calves was a lot harder than hitting one tall, clumsy elk. He had obviously neglected his snowball-fight-skills, so the calves gained the upper hoof. He didn’t stand a chance. Yet, in the end, Elkia got a superb idea. Instead of thinking about acorns, he thought of home, about the little snow huts he and his family and friends made, when the winter weather got too bad. As soon as the picture entered his mind, a heap of snow in front of him changed into the familiar, round shape of a snow hut, with its entrance facing him. ‘Hey! Not fair!’ Ada called out, but it was too late. Elkia jumped right through the hole in the front, and used his fortification well.

Elkia and the calves played on for what must have been hours. With all of them together, and with a little effort, they managed to break down Elkia’s snowy bunker. Then the barrage continued twice as heavy as before. The calves had so much energy, Elkia thought they would never stop. But lucky for him, the fight came to an abrupt end. Suddenly, Ada dropped her snowballs, and looked up. ‘Oh no! We should have been back before the sun sets,’ she said. ‘Now mommy is going to be so mad.’

The rest of the children looked up and dropped their snowballs too. Upon seeing the darkened sky, they all gathered together. Elkia looked from the sky to the children and back.

‘I’m sorry, mister, but we have to go,’ Ada said. 

Elkia nodded. ‘That’s quite alright, children. We had a lot of fun together. I hope I—’ But then Elkia realized he was still someplace imaginary, as far as he knew. Instead of saying what he wanted to say, he waved his hoof. ‘Goodbye!’

The children jumped and ran back towards the town, which was now covered in the half-darkness too, leaving Elkia alone in the snow-covered field. He followed the children until they disappeared into the gloom. It became quite hard to see. Elkia shrugged. ‘Did we really play for that long?’ When he had first noticed the sun, it had signaled but a young day; an early morning at the most. Yet now it seemed as if the sun had completely forsaken everything. Looking up, Elkia tried to find the sun somewhere at the horizon. But it wasn’t there. Then he tried to find the moon, and thought he had found it. A heavy, black cloud moved aside to reveal a bright yellow orb. But that was the sun. 

Now Elkia knew for certain. It wasn’t evening; there were just so many clouds. He looked at the sky again. The clouds only grew darker as they collided, gathered, melted together to create even meaner-looking clouds. The sun was gone. A strong wind appeared. Elkia blinked when he saw lightning flash in the distance. The thunderclap came after it very quickly, signaling the approach of the growing storm, because that is what it was.

‘Oh my! Oh my, oh my, oh my!’ Elkia said to himself. His nerves tightened again, and he could literally feel the storm brewing. What should he do? He had to go to the village, warn everyone. Everyone should prepare, get someplace safe. But were there even safe places to be when the wind and lightning laid waste to the town?

Elkia jumped at yet another thunderclap. This one was really close. In the distance, there was a lonely tree ablaze. After that, flakes of snow fell out of the clouds, and In a matter of minutes, whatever dry part of Elkia had remained became drenched nonetheless. But he didn’t care. He bolted for the town, galloping and jumping on his long legs. He almost slipped as he made a turn. A few alleys later, he was at the town square. Then, just like his brother, Elkia became the herald of danger.

‘Everyone! There’s a storm coming! You should, eh… find someplace safe!’

But the villagers weren’t stupid. They had noticed the weather going bad, and the few elks that were still there were the stallholders, who were busy closing their stalls and making sure to stash their merchandise somewhere safe.

‘Oi, I think you should go someplace safe,’ one of them said. 

Elkia’s ears flattened. If the winds hadn’t been so cold and the snow so wet, his blush could have been seen a mile away. ‘Oh, eh… of course. I think, eh… I think you’ll be alright. Or will you? You need… need any help with that?’

The stallholder flicked his head in a direction. ‘Why don’t you go to the pub, lad? I think that’ll be the safest place for you.’

After thanking the elk, Elkia galloped in the direction the stallholder had pointed, to find a little pub. He shook himself and went in. It was quite busy inside. Not only were there the regular pub-folk, but some families had taken refuge there too. Elks were sitting and drinking, while the calves were playing card games and board games. The ambiance felt merrily enough.

But Elkia found himself unable to calm down. He was about to go for a drink, but then a violent thunderclap made him jump and bump his head. No, he was still not at ease at all. The wind was still howling, and Elkia swore he felt the whole tavern shake. He saw that only oil lamps were lit, as all the candles had been blown out by the draught. Rubbing his head, he eventually reached the bar.

‘What can I get for ya?’ the barman said.

Elkia gestured with his hooves. ‘Aren’t you all very worried for the storm? I know I am.’

‘I can see that,’ said the barman, pointing with a glass pitcher to Elkia’s wobbling knees. Then he shrugged. ‘Don’t worry, lad. Just relax, have a drink, gamble away some money. Everything will be just fine.’

Elkia had to strain his ears as he listened to the barman, because the winds were no longer howling—they were shrieking. Some glasses rattled on the bar. Elkia felt the vibrations going through the wood. An elk cursed because his glass fell and shattered on the floor, but Elkia reckoned that there were much bigger problems going to arrive.

And he was right. The door swung open, and the wind rushed in. At the same time, two windows shattered, as somethings flew through them. Elks yelled and jolted. The thing that came in clattered to the ground, where it came to a halt in front of Elkia’s hooves. It was a piece of broken and splintered wood, tortured by the wind.

Elkia knew enough. ‘Oh no! Oh no, oh no, oh no!’ One of the main support beams let out a long and painful creak. It bent and bent, until it snapped like a toothpick. Everyone yelled now, including Elkia. The elks and deer and reindeer got up and moved to the door as quickly as they could. Some even jumped through the windows to flee the inn. In a matter of seconds, only the barman and Elkia were left, both frozen in fear. Despite the raging winds, the gusts of snow, the creaking and croaking wood, and the clattering door, Elkia and the barman exchanged a silent look full of fear and panic. The barman moved his mouth. Elkia didn’t need to guess at what he said. ‘Run!’

The barman jumped over the bar. Another support beam fell down. The wind bashed against the walls of the inn just as elks bashed their antlers together. The roof let out a dangerous creak. Tables and glasses and chairs all fell down, and so did the barman. He tripped. 

Despite his fears, Elkia looked back. ‘No!’ He jumped back, grabbed the barman, and, with a wee bit of effort, tossed him onto his back. Pieces of the roof were falling down. Wood splintered. Elkia yelled as he made for the door. He tried his best to jump over fallen chairs and tables like an obstacle runner. He made it to the door, just in time. As he looked back, he felt a rumble go through the ground, as the roof collapsed.

The storm had entered the village, and was busy demolishing it. Already a few houses and buildings had collapsed. The icy winds flung the debris like missiles through the streets. Elks, deer, and reindeer were scattered about, desperately trying to find some structure sturdy enough to protect them. And in the middle of all this hubbub was Elkia.

Elkia had once been in a snowstorm before, and he knew of the terrible winds, which let trees bow and made snow fly everywhere. Once again, he looked back at the sagged inn, beside which the barman was crying. A picture flashed into Elkia’s mind. What would have happened if there had been elks inside? The sound of splintering wood reached his ears. There were definitely more buildings with elks inside. Elkia realized they were about to be buried alive. But what could he do against such unbridled force of nature? What could he do against the thrashing winds, the obscuring snow, the lightning bolts, thunderclaps, and heavy clouds? Elkia knew the answer was nothing.

So instead, his mind went to the poor inhabitants of the village. How could he save them? If only they had someplace safe to go to… Elkia thought about the safest place he knew: home. It was then, that an idea shot through his consciousness, taking the front seat in Elkia’s mind. He had a plan.

With a few big jumps, he found himself back on the marketplace, where there was a lot of snow. There were elks, deer, and reindeer there, trying to dodge the flying debris and get inside somewhere. Elkia had to act now. He pictured his home in his mind, the forest, the people, the Shimmering Eye… and the snow huts. 

Elkia stood in the middle, guiding the snow with his hooves and his head. It looked as if the snow was alive, and moving all by itself. It gathered like the dark storm clouds above, pressed itself together to create a solid wall. The wall circled around Elkia like a white ribbon. Then the snow stretched out, folded, until a dome-shaped roof crowned the structure. It was much bigger than the little bunker he had made for himself during the snowball fight. It was exactly how Elkia wanted it: big, sturdy, and solid.

No sooner had the roof appeared, than a couple of elks entered the structure, slowly, carefully, as if it were a trap.

‘Come in, come in!’ Elkia said. ‘Bring in as many as you can! This snow hut is your best chance.’

More and more elks, deer, and reindeer entered the snow hut. Some were wounded by the storm and the swirling debris. They had broken bones or had got many splinters or bleeding wounds. But they were safe, and that was the most important thing. As more of them came in, Elkia still stood in the middle, balancing on his hind legs, with his forelegs outstretched. He had the feeling the snow hut would collapse if he were to let his focus slip, or if he put his forelegs down. The storm was still going strong outside, and Elkia could feel that. Every time something heavy collided with the walls of the hut, Elkia flinched. It was as if he were balancing on a pole, and others were throwing things at him, in an attempt to make him lose his balance and fall down. Elkia wasn’t sure he could hold on like this for much longer. 

The elks shrieked, as something tore open the roof of the hut. The house standing next to it collapsed, and its full weight came down onto the roof of the hut. Elkia felt as if someone charged right into him with the antlers. He wobbled on his hooves. For a split-second, the debris became visible, but Elkia’s mind proved to be stronger. His tongue hung out of his mouth as he pushed with all his might. The snow became solid again, cutting off the bits of wood that had pierced the roof. It clattered to the ground.

It all became too much. Filled up with exhaustion, Elkia bent through his knees. His forelegs trembled. Some others tried to support him, but they had a hard time keeping their hero upright. It was at that moment that Elkia realized he could not do this alone.

‘Mister, shall we help you?’

It was Ada, one of the calves. With visible effort, Elkia opened his eyes to look at her. ‘I-i-i-f you could, t-t-that would be marvelous,’ he managed to say. 

And then Ada did as she promised. She gathered up her friends, and together they took the same pose as Elkia: hind legs steady, forelegs outstretched. It helped! With the strain lessened, Elkia was able to scramble up to his own hooves again. The swirling snow steadied itself and grew solid. The walls and the roof held. 

Elkia looked around. All eyes were on himself and the children, who together were fighting the storm outside. 

‘That’s… that’s quite something there, lad,’ one of villagers said. It was the stallholder who had directed Elkia to the pub. Hearing that voice, Elkia got a second idea. ‘Maybe you can do it too,’ he said through gritted teeth. Then he addressed the rest. ‘Maybe you can all do it. Can you try, please? We can work together. Ada will show you how, it’s simple!’

He nodded to Ada, who jumped into the crow of elks, and started to instruct them. The villagers picked it up pretty quickly. One by one, they stood erect, using the strength of their minds and bodies to uphold the snow hut. 

But then they had a practical problem. As more and more elks, deer, and reindeer entered the snow hut, it became really crowded. Some of them had abandoned their homes and had rushed towards the snowy safety of the hut. Now, there simply wasn’t enough room left for everyone anymore. Of course, that didn’t mean that Elkia was going to forsake those that couldn’t come in. 

After a few panting breaths, Elkia said, ‘Everyone! We’re going to make the hut larger. On three, we’ll reach out with our minds and push the snow away from us. At the same time, we’ll gather more snow to reinforce the walls and the roof. Everyone ready?’

‘Yes!’ they all shouted. 

‘On three! One… two… three!’

The villagers tried their best. Like a bubble, the snow hut extended. But it lost strength. Pieces of debris, wood, stones, broke through the thinning surface of the snow. One piece flew towards Elkia, knocking him over. The snow hut flickered without its cornerstone. Dizzy from the impact, Elkia couldn’t find the strength to raise himself. The others had to do something now. He called, ‘Grab some new snow, everyone! The walls are too thin!’

Another beam flew through the roof of the snow hut, and the villagers got what he meant. Together, they gritted their teeth, looked with their minds for more snow to add to the pile, and did their best to reinforce the hut. 

And it worked!

Elkia saw how the walls and the roof grew more solid. He felt them becoming thicker by the second. They were doing it. They were actually doing it, and he didn’t even need to help.

But that didn’t mean that the work was done. Elkia scrambled up and jumped towards the entrance of the hut. 

‘Are you going to leave us?’ Ada said.

‘Yes, but I’ll be back soon. Keep holding up the snow hut. You’re all doing great!’ Elkia managed a quick but tired smile and then disappeared outside.

It was chaos! The winds howled and tore at the wooden buildings. Elkia saw that a few more had sagged in and collapsed. He was not going to let anyone get hurt like that. 

‘Hello? Anyone here?’ Elkia shouted through the doorway of one of the houses.

‘Yes, here!’ someone shouted back. A mother, father, and a calf had taken refuge underneath a large table. Their faces showed nothing but fear.

‘It’s not safe here!’ Elkia shouted. ‘There’s a giant snow hut at the marketplace. Make for it as fast as you can!’

They didn’t need to be told twice. The father took the calf on his back, helped the mother on her hooves, and together they bolted out the door. Elkia let out a sigh, which seemed puny in comparison with the heavy winds.

Jumping, galloping, dodging debris, rushing through the streets, Elkia went from house to house, calling and shouting against the winds. Most of them were empty, but there were a few houses—some dangerously close to falling down—where some elks were holed up. Elkia quickly got them out and pointed them towards the snow hut. He had no idea how many he saved like that. He went on and on and on, working systematically and in a widening circle.

‘There shouldn’t be that many more,’ he said to himself, although he couldn’t hear himself speak. He had almost come to the end of a long street. Just one last house remaining. He entered, and found it empty. When Elkia got outside again and looked to his left, he saw the snow-covered fields, marking the edge of the village. He had done it! He had finished checking on every single house in the village. Everyone was safe! 

With one last sigh, Elkia slumped down on the ground. He looked up towards the sky, and saw something that lightened up his heart. The floating black sea of clouds came to an end. Some miles away in the distance, the sun broke through, and the storm clouds were all gone, almost as if some artist had drawn a perfectly straight line, separating storm from calm weather. It was a strange sight.

Elkia knew everything would be over soon. He closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths. 

‘Mission accomplished.’

A few more minutes passed, during which Elkia did nothing but lie down and look at the sky, which looked better and better with every passing second, as if the sky were healing itself. Elkia bore a smile on his muzzle as he thought of all the elks, deer, and reindeer he had pointed to safety. And when his train of thought finally brought himself to them, he blinked and was about to scramble to his hooves, to go back to the market square and check on everyone, when a new voice resounded. 

‘Very well done. I truly am proud of you.’

Had Elkia forgotten someone? Had he skipped a house? No, of course not. To the voice of his mother, Elkia opened his eyes wide. She stood right before him, sitting on her graceful white knees to watch him better. ‘Of course! This is all not real,’ he said. ‘I completely forgot about the fact that this is not real at all. I was so busy—’

‘Saving every single one,’ Aeltha finished for him. ‘Yes, I have seen that, Elkia, and whether this is real or not, you have accomplished a great thing today.’

Elkia blushed. He tried to get up, but he found his knees still too shaky, as the adrenaline left his nerves alone. Just the voice of his mother close to his ears was enough to calm him down. ‘Thank you very much, mother. I can’t say it was easy—far from it. I had to really… how does Alces always say it? Put my antlers into it. Yes, that’s it.’ Elkia wiggled his antlerless head. ‘Well, I mean not literally.’

Laughing, Aeltha said, ‘I understand, my son. No, this was not at all a trial of strength, although it may have looked like that. It was a trial of the mind, of creativity, resourcefulness, and inventiveness.’

Elkia nodded. The words of his mother were filled with so much comfort, that he actually felt himself relaxing. But then his face grew worried, as he thought about something. ‘But… but you promised that the vision wasn’t going to be scary. I found this quite scary, actually.’

Aeltha placed a hoof on her son’s shoulder. They stood up together, carefully. ‘It wasn’t supposed to be, my dear Elkia. Please forgive me. When the apple fell, I should have called the ritual to a halt, but instead, I chose to continue, and you saw what happened. No, my dear Elkia, your naming ceremony wasn’t supposed to be such an adrenaline-filled and dangerous adventure. It was meant to be something… calmer, much calmer. Can you forgive me for my mistake?’

‘Of course, Mother,’ Elkia said. He hugged her close. ‘It was scary, but I did it. I saved everyone.’

They stood like that for a moment. Aeltha brushed her son’s fur, while Elkia embraced her. He even shed a small tear or two. When he finally let go, he turned around. The village—or what was left of it—was still there. When Elkia looked over his shoulder and towards the horizon, he saw the fair weather approaching. But something strange was going on. It didn’t look like the real thing anymore—it looked like a painting. Indeed, when he once again looked forward at the edge of the weather-torn village, he could see the colors as if they were pen strokes, as if this whole world was created by an unknown artist.

‘It is not a pretty painting, is it?’ Aeltha said.

Elkia’s shoulders slumped. ‘It’s not, not at all. I just wish there was a way of saving the village too.’

‘There was,’ Aeltha said.

‘There was?!’ 

Slowly, Aeltha nodded. ‘As you commanded the essence, you—just like your brother—were able to steer the elements. You used snow and water and ice to make your weatherproof hut. Yet you could also have used air to blow the clouds away, or to calm down the violent winds. You could perhaps have used fire to steer away the lightning bolts. Or perhaps you could have used the power of the sun to break through the clouds and command the fair weather to hasten itself.’

‘Oh my!’ Elkia said. He was just about to slump back down, but his mother kept him upright. 

‘Indeed it is true that you could have saved the village, but, just like your brother, I understand your actions—and not only because I have foreseen them, but also because I am your mother, and I know of your natures. You chose to save the villagers, at the cost of the village. You chose the right thing in your own way, as did your brother. It is by your own actions that I can give you the name, Deerling.’
 
Elkia’s mouth opened wide. ‘Wow! Deerling! It sounds so nice. But… what does it mean?’

Aeltha once again looked straight into her son’s eyes. ‘It means: “part of the herd,” because, as you know, “ling” means “herd” in Elkish. Even if we are miles apart, even if we are in the same world or not, even if you travel to strange and dangerous places, you will always be a part of the herd, Elkia. You belong with us, and we will think of you, just as you think of us. Keep your faith, not just in nature, but also in others. That is the advice I will give you and which will do you good, for I have foreseen it.’

FLASH!

Elkia let out a yell. A sudden blue light, like the aurora, popped up all around him. The light was so intense he had to close his eyes. He only felt more disoriented when whatever happened tilted him off the ground with such force as if someone grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Elkia felt his breath quicken and his limbs tense with stress. He thrashed his long legs about, trying to find some solid ground. So he hung in the air for three seconds which felt like three hours. Then, as quickly as the invisible hand had appeared, it disappeared, and Elkia flopped to the ground.

He lay still for a couple of minutes, recovering from the shock. When finally he looked up, he saw his mother’s outstretched hoof. ‘It seems this day is double as special to both of my sons,’ she said as she took Elkia’s hoof and helped him back on his hooves again.

‘What was that?’ said Elkia. ‘Was it some part of the naming ceremony? 

Aeltha shook her head with a smile on her face. ‘Not exactly. It is—’

‘Was it a new challenge I had to conquer?’

Aeltha’s smile only widened. ‘No, my little Elkia, just look—’

‘Or a new fear I had to face?’

Now Aeltha’s perfect white teeth could be seen through her smile. ‘Well, it might have been a bit scary, but actually—’

‘Did I pass this new test?’

After a deep breath, Aeltha moved closer to her son. ‘Well, it wasn’t exactly—'

‘Or did I fail?’ Elkia’s ears drooped down. ‘Oh, I knew I should have kept my eyes open to see what was happening.’

Aeltha wrapped her hoof around her son and turned him towards the village. Guiding him, she walked towards one of the little wooden houses. Once they were both facing the outer wall, she concentrated, and then flicked her antlered head to the side. In an instant, a pile of snow became water, then splashed against the wall. The moment the water touched the wood, it froze over and crystallized, until nothing less than a full length mirror faced them. Then Elkia finally saw it.

‘My cutie mark!’ he exclaimed. Then he said it again. ‘My cutie mark! Yay!’ He started bouncing up and down in the snow, and twirled around as if he wanted to show his flank to the world. ‘I have my cutie mark! I can’t believe it.’

‘Yet it is so,’ said Aeltha. She stroked her son’s fur and regarded the symbol on his flank. A small tear of joy glistened like the magical mirror, fell down to the ground and shattered. A few more followed. ‘I truly am proud of you, Elkia, just as proud as with Alces.’

‘Oh, I can’t wait to show it to him,’ said Elkia. He was ready to jump around some more and do some silly dances, when his mother once more put her hoof on his shoulder, pausing his joyful outbursts. 

‘Look into the mirror, Elkia.’

Elkia did so, and watched the symbol that was now permanently part of him.

‘Do you know what it means?’ said Aeltha.

‘I do,’ said Elkia. During the few seconds he had experienced the cutie mark magic, a fresh wind of insight had made him understand everything about it. He pointed to his flank, and traced the lines of the symbol, blue like a cloudless, crisp winter day, with his hooves. ‘E… D… They are my initials, “Elkia Deerling.”’

‘And together they form the symbol of the elk.’ Aeltha traced the three diamonds on the cutie mark. Two diamonds made up the elk’s two ears, and a third, the biggest one, was the head. The letters E and D, flowing like a calligrapher’s signature, crowned the stylized and abstract symbol, forming the antlers of the elk.

‘It’s so beautiful,’ Elkia said. ‘I could never have wished for a better cutie mark.’

‘It is as I thought,’ said Aeltha. ‘You truly are Deerling, member of the herd. Just as the cutie mark will forever be bound to you, so the herd will forever be a part of you too, Elkia. Remember what I said before. We will never be apart. Even if we’re not physically together, we will always be joined in spirit. You will never be lonely, Elkia. Remember that well and draw strength from that in troubled times.’ 

Elkia looked his mother straight in the eyes. He felt like he was making a sacred vow. ‘I will, Mother.’

And then, right after those words left Elkia’s mouth, Aeltha started to disappear. Her white colors drooped as if an artist tried to erase her from the canvas.

The moment of bliss transformed into a moment of sudden panic. ‘Mother! What’s happening?’ Elkia said.

‘Don’t be afraid, son. My last advice is this: always remember to be strong, and sometimes be stronger than you think.’ Aeltha was almost gone. Only the tips of her antlers remained. When at last those were erased too, Elkia knew for certain that his naming ceremony was over. 

* *