But now I got a bellyache,

optional teachings for kiddos! Informing of colorist stuff
@Warwick @Edith @Melrose @Calhoun @Rohesia @Vermillion @Maral @Aldritch

"Though we have thoughts upon wolves and elk with white.. Remember, this does not cross into other animals." She brought her children to an open part of The Elk's Crown. The snow had melted, and yet the cold still continued. It simmered lightly, embracing the soon spring and the budding of flowers. At the moment they cherished the warmth the sun brought, especially as it broke through the trees and graced them with it's shine. She looked to the sky, squinting lightly before facing back down to her eight children.

"They do not follow the same God — rather we don't know who they follow. That's why at times we call the High Elk our Patron, then our God. For to the Elk he is by define, their God.. But by pure chance did we fall into the same grace, and given His guidance to wolves of the world."

Celnes explained to them, as she noticed lately there was more fauna roaming the area — some who had the ability to speak within their own language. The barrier that normally is there seemed to slowly be disappearing.. The appearance of elk who could were now gone, and yet she had met not only a cat, but a raccoon who could. It was best to clear the air for her young, that they were not subjected to the same faith that they are.

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Begrudgingly the lanky boy followed with the rest of his siblings. Keeping as far to the wayside but not the back of the group in fear that the other more timid siblings might be there. Instead, he opted for the path as far to the left of the group as possible without disappearing into the brush.

Mother was once again teaching them of their religion and though he did not dare to look at her, ears were drawn to listen to the lesson. So other creatures did not follow their ways, then didn't that make them wrong? Didn't they need to be taught about the great High Elk in order to be saved from their sins? These questions would remain untold, instead, he would keep them to himself, perhaps he would discover the answers within the High Elk himself.

After all, that is who guided them, right?

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Calhoun too would follow the group, though compared to his wayward brother he remained near the front, likely beside @Edith and @Warwick. So often were they lectured about the pale spots in pelts that he almost thought to ignore his mother's words. She would likely only drown out his thoughts with some overly long explanation to what they already knew, but he was wrong. This time it would not be them or the elk as their subject, but the other creatures of the woods.

He wanted to scoff at her words. They made no sense. Why would the High Elk make everything only to pay attention to the elk and by grace their family? He played a part in the rest, didn't he? Mother pitied those who did not believe in Him, so why would the beliefs of other creatures matter. If they sinned from a lack of faith and ignorance that is not by mistake. Never mind that some species almost always had white plastered upon them, it was likely a warning to their kind as a whole. “What happened to his warnings? If things happen by His grace then surely it's intentional if they hold white.”

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Edith followed Célnes through the forest and into an open pasture of The Elk’s Crown. She kept close to her brothers @Calhoun and @Warwick, and sat besides them as the group settled for their lesson. The ground was wet from the recent melt, and she dug her toes into the mud and wriggled them.

"Though we have thoughts upon wolves and elk with white.. Remember, this does not cross into other animals." Edith straightened, interested in the subject matter. They were often lecture of pelts and hues, and she had grown bored of those lessons. But this was something new, and she listened closely.

Other animals didn’t follow the High Elk? Edith wrinkled her nose as the thought, clearly displeased with the information. ”Yeah,” she agreed stiffly, glancing at Calhoun, ”That doesn’t make sense.”

”Why would He allow for them to live when they don’t believe in Them?” Why would he have allowed it, and why wasn’t everybody subject to Their mercy? There had to be a common thread between the wolves, elk, and those lesser—those who didn’t follow the High Elk.

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It couldn't be the denied that the Queen found herself surprised, not expecting her children to ask such questions. Majority of the time they took her teachings without such blunt questions to follow, sometimes simply wishing to know more on the matter and not going further. Yet the first arrived where they spoke up, and even worse.. It was something she did not have answers for. Part of the religion she was taught, but like them, did not give an adequate answer. A flawed, religion really, to appease the High Elk and so many questions that came.. Yet they always seemed to accept it one way or another — with some minor tweaking on her own part. She wasn't realizing they started to branch out within their own beliefs.

"The High Elk is not so malicious to strike down everyone that does not believe in them," she shook her head at her daughter, "it is thought that they cannot intervene with mortals so much.. With His Blessing, he gave us away to see the good, and the evil, and a warning to us through that white within our kin, and his own apostles as well. He is generous." 

Her paws crossed over each other, as she sat up start with a smile, carefully thinking how exactly, to answer as so. There was thoughts to be truthful, and yet at the same time.. She perceived herself as someone always having an answer, and a 'I don't know,' wasn't an acceptable choice to her unless an appropriate circumstance calls for it. Usually following with 'we may never know,' rather then her stating she doesn't know. Admittingly, a tricky situation she had found herself in. Maybe it was why she had diverged to so much sin, for unlike her kin, she didn't outwardly ask questions, and simply moved on.

"My young," her smile strained, "as we were born with majority of whites and reds, with only a few of grays and blacks, who is to say that holds for other species? After all, he took their colors away thousands of years ago, then doing it since our origin — where by then, white existed. Even Elk we rarely see a diverge from brown, not even a red touches them at times. Maybe they have their own way to discern the good, and the bad.. Yet, we cannot communicate with them. To spread the word of He. The High Elk could be under their guide with different name, and a different game. For them it could be another color — but in truth we will never know, and how we knew with elk had long been lost. Yet it seems.. Perhaps times are changing, as a few elk who can speak, have been visiting us."

"He always comes to us in mysterious ways, and help us the best that He can, that sometimes the answer is not always there for us to see."

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It was another one of mother's preachings. One he would listen to even if they weren't always... straight forward. They were confusing (even tho that is what religion is my boi, but he doesn't know) and convoluted, but would hold onto each word that he could remember with his little mind.

Shooting a curious glance over to Calhoun and Edith who in turn questioned some of the logic, he's scrutinizing glance returned to their mother for answers. He too wanted to know this—despite not wanting to voice anything at the time being.

Well... not wanting to and having the control to keep one's mouth shut were two different things. Something that a child had a hard time to do, so the prince opened his mouth. “But fawns are born with white spots... doesn't that make them all sinners?” he too found some holes in the preachings and wanting answers. But he was more timid around mother still than his siblings.

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Piece by piece he was finding more to tear apart. No longer did their lessons add up and he had already sought @Cynefrid 's expanse on the religion. The High Elk was generous, this much he knew. Patient to deal with those who would not believe in him, yet the stains left behind were a sign of those who refused to listen. A species marked as a whole for casting away His grace. Maybe it had happened long before their family came into good relations with their idol, but that did not change the reasoning behind it.

They were simply lucky. Lucky that they opened their ears and cast away foul minds to listen and appreciate all He had done. It was simple to him. The elk never diverged because they were smart and followed His teachings. They shed their white, just as the Deorwines had...spare for the sinners.

Calhoun's gaze would drift to his brother as he voice his own question. It was rare for @Aldritch to speak out, but it seemed even he was beginning to notice. How long until he realized the sins painted on his fur were not his own? Times were changing just as their mother said, but it was not in the way she suggested. It was clear from Cynefrid's teachings that their dear mother had been creating her own take on the religion. Maybe that was why the elk now spoke...to warn of the lies their mother might spread.

For what reason, he couldn't say, but between the things that didn't add up and the marks on his siblings, she was hiding something. He'd be the first to find what it was. “Fawns were not protected once.” He didn't look at Celnes as he spoke. It was Aldritch that had his attention. “Mother made an exception from the religion upon settling here.” They were never meant to be holy, not in the same way the elk were. He had a good eye. Of course, Cal didn't know what made the deer sinners over the elk, but there was enough there to mark their flanks. “Deer are just lesser versions. They probably insulted the High Elk.”

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Aldritch and Calhoun’s questions made Edith think. It seemed that some of Célnes’s lesson did not add up. She considered the point that her sinless brother made, zoning out until their other sibling spoke. It was surprising to hear his voice, as he tended to shy away from talking to any of them. She pushed her ears forward and looked at him, surprised. Although Aldritch’s question was simple, and Calhoun quickly corrected him, there was still a part of her that couldn’t get over that he had said anything at all. It was like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs.

For the remainder of their lesson, Edith listened to Célnes with scepticism. Her older brother had made several valid points—all of which had disproven what their mother said—and it made her think. Did she really know anything? Or was she disgracing His will by spreading misinformation? Only time would tell.

When class was dismissed, Edith followed Calhoun elsewhere, eager to discuss everything.

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