By Cunincâ uiri seni/RabbitSage SC
Long ago, there was an adventurer who got lost in the wilderness. Wandering aimlessly, starving and thirsty, he walked through the wilds for eight days. He never encountered another person, but he came upon a goblin trapped in a net, hung high in the air from a tree. The goblin, noticing the adventurer, called out asking to be freed.
“Why should I free you?” asked the adventurer, knowing that goblins always play tricks. “I’ve been out here for days and I have found no road, no water, no people, nor any beast except for you.”
The goblin replied, “if you free me, I will give you drink and a means to find food.”
Being desperate, the hunter agreed and freed the goblin, and in return the goblin gave the adventurer some water. After drinking the water the adventurer asked, “where is this food you speak of goblin?”
The goblin rubbed his hands together as if warming them up, and when he parted them, a bow appeared from between them and the goblin gave it to the hunter.
“But there are no beasts in these wilds, what am I supposed to hunt?”
The goblin laughed and said, “there is one beast in these wilds, but no one has ever managed to kill it, and all who have tried have been lost. Every adventurer, hunter, and starving man have all perished in search of this great doe who, when killed, will provide endless meat. But I know where she is! And I will tell you in return for freeing me.” He made a sickly smile.
The adventurer listened to the goblin’s directions and he set out to find the great doe. He walked for two more days, and finally he caught a glimpse of the beast. She was bigger than any doe or stag that the adventurer had ever seen; and the doe was beautiful — so much so that when the adventurer drew his bow, he decided to not take her life. When he set his bow down it turned to ash, and he turned around to walk away knowing he was going to die in the wilds.
Suddenly the doe was in front of him, staring at him. Startled by this, the adventurer fell back and the great doe walked right up to him and spoke.
“You, noble adventurer, who has spared my life in exchange for yours: I will bless you with what you desire, for I am Carvonia, the great goddess of these lands.”
The adventurer, stunned, bowed in reverence for her. “Great Wild Mother Doe I do not wish for anything from you except to be home.”
Carvonia laid at the hunter’s feet and spoke once more. “My child, you are already home, for all creatures on this earth are mine, and so are you.” She smiled and vanished with a bright flash of light, blinding the adventurer, and when his vision returned there was an inn where the great doe had stood. The adventurer saw people outside eating, and he saw roads, and he smelled food and wine and could hear the sound of the birds. He knew he was placed here by Carvonia so he prayed to her in thanks and praise, having been saved from certain death by the great goddess.
Bessus Nouiogalation 