❦ [video]

[burningheart]

[GUESS WHO. This face might be vaguely familiar, barring the new hairstyle, or it might not. Either way, it sure looks happy to be here.]

Oh, finally, I think it's working! Um... hello! I'm back. In case you don't know me or maybe just forgot, my name is Kieran, and I'm a child of the forest. I'm spending a year away from the herd in order to gather knowledge... a year that's almost over, actually. Winter's only a season away, isn't it?

But I guess I'm getting ahead of myself! Each season has its turn, so I guess I'd better talk about autumn instead. You don't mind, do you?

[Not even waiting for the magical spirit box picture thingy to respond. Just plowing on ahead. SEASONS ARE A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR A SAWSBUCK.]

Each and every person is attuned to a season of the year. That's what we Sawsbucks believe. Autumn might be the time of year when our leaves fade away and our antlers drift into dormancy, but it's also the season when our foliage is the color of our blood -- it's not a time of resignation, it's a burningly, achingly alive season! The autumn-hearted are people who possess fiery ambition. They have a depth of emotion that not many others can claim; when something seizes their heart, it's seized completely and utterly. Their passion can inspire the complacent and meek: the autumn-hearted are the bringers of action, powerful agents of change with endless nerve in the face of adversity. I didn't meet many autumn-hearted spirits last time I was here, but I'm certain there must be some of you out there!

Ah, and just between us, spirit box... they say that the autumn-hearted make the best lovers. I guess it only makes sense: for us, autumn is also the season of love. It's something I'm kind of nervous about! Last year, I was still a Deerling, so this is going to be my first rut. I don't know who I'm going to try to fight for yet... actually, I'm not sure how I'm even supposed to win anyone over. So many of the spirits here have no antlers, so I guess jousting is out, huh?

...Well, as long as I'm in the realm of the gods, I might as well do it however the spirits do it, right? I am here to learn, aren't I?

Comments

[burningheart]

[HMMMM who could this mystery voice be]

I suppose so! I'd like to think it's not just us, though. It'd be much harder to live out of step with nature than to go with its flow, wouldn't you think?

[raced_god]

Not so hard.

[burningheart]

What, really? I can't even wrap my head around the idea! It doesn't even make sense, does it?

[raced_god]

Maybe if you grow up in a big city.

[burningheart]

You mean like the place outside of these gates?

[raced_god]

There are lots of places outside these gates.

[burningheart]

Yes, you're very right! But those places must feel the seasons just as much as we do... don't they?

[raced_god]

Temperature-wise, sure. But I can think of a few places with no trees.

[Just let that

sink

in.]

[burningheart]

[MOTHER OF GOD]

No trees? How? What does everyone use for shelter? What do they graze on? That sounds horrible!

[raced_god]

[THIS IS ALMOST ADORABLE]

Humans don't...graze...

[burningheart]

[NO TREES, NO GRAZING. WHAT A LIFE.]

Then what are they supposed to do instead?

[raced_god]

They buy food, usually. From the supermarket.

[burningheart]

Oh, I see! And... what is a supermarket?

[raced_god]

[oh my god...]

It's a place to buy food.

[AND I SWEAR TO GOD IF THE NEXT THING OUT OF THIS KID'S MOUTH IS 'WHAT'S BUY' I'M GONNA--

[burningheart]

Then... what's buy?

[HA HA HA WHOOPS.]

[raced_god]

[NAILED IT]

Do you know what money is?

[burningheart]

I think it's probably safe to say that if you can't find it in a forest, I don't know what it is, spirit.

[raced_god]

Right, okay. Say that you're in the forest, and there's a Pikachu who has a bunch of apples. And you want the apples, but he'll only give you some if you give him a certain amount of acorns. So you give him the acorns, and you get the apples. That's money.

[burningheart]

So it's just exchanging? Why give it a whole other fancy name?

[raced_god]

Because not everyone wants to carry around pounds and pounds of acorns. Money is an evolved barter system. Exchanging.

[burningheart]

Spirits... like to do things a bit more roundabout, don't they? I think that's something I'm starting to notice.

[raced_god]

Things get a little more complicated when you leave the forest.

[burningheart]

I'm starting to notice that, too.

[raced_god]

You'll get used to it.