#elaphocentaur

I made him in 2016-17 I think :)

They had first encountered Druid nearly three years ago, when they intruded into Elaphocentaur’s domain. The Druid had seemed lost, running through the old woods in mud-stained robes and ragged boots. Elaphocentaur hadn’t revealed themselves, they weren’t so foolish. Instead, they followed the rushing Druid, observing them to ensure that no mischief had occurred. They had been young then, new to ruling their forest and determined to protect the forest.

Druid made it out of the forest after Elaphocentaur had asked a bird to lead the increasingly panicked individual out, for no reason other than to bring peace to the forest again. After that they started coming back almost every week, no longer in a panicked rush, and not so deep into the forest. Instead, they barely entered the edge, the new growth, and just knelt whispering something that Elaphocentaur hadn’t quite been able to hear.

After nearly three months of that Elaphocentaur had wandered close enough to catch the words, curiosity overcoming the teachings of their elders “Thank you guardian of the forest who has saved me and who I now honor.”

They let the Druid continue to come and offer prayers for several months more before they were careless. Druid’s words had come to a stumbling stop as they had seen Elaphocentaur against the forested horizon. Elaphocentaur had immediately fled into the heart of their forest, they had let their ego grow, let a human see them. Druid or no that was a dangerous risk to take.

The Druid didn’t follow them, instead they started bringing offerings. Praising Elaphocentaur by their title. After nearly a year from Druid’s first foray into the forest Elaphocentaur gave in, they walked from the safety of their trees to approach the Druid.

“Why,” they asked, “why do you come back every week?”

The Druid had started up at them with wide eyes before pressing their face into the damp grass in a low bow that made Elaphocentaur dance uncomfortably. “You are magnificent.” They had said.

Elaphocentaur tilted their head, staring down at the Druid who had come so often and had never brought hunters with them. Then they walked away, back into the forested depths that protected them from the prying eyes of humans.

Druid started walking deeper into the forest them, protecting the small creatures from traps that humans placed. Elaphocentaur had watched from afar, whenever they removed traps humans would tramp through the forest searching for them. If they set the traps off humans replaced them with better traps. The Druid pained a symbol on each trap they disarmed, and humans never replaced them. Elaphocentaur wasn’t sure why, what that symbol meant, but they were grateful.

They were lax. They no longer searched for traps with every step as the numbers dwindled, and a sharp pain signaled their mistake. With great difficulty Elaphocentaur was able to free themselves, and limp away into the deeper woods, blood trailing with every step. Druid had found them, asleep beside a deep blue pool with blood pooled around their leg.

Elaphocentaur woke to Druid cleaning and bandaging their wound. The Druid had backed away as soon as Elaphocentaur woke, kneeling respectfully.

“I’m sorry,” they said, “may I continue? You may get an infection.”

Elaphocentaur had forced their instincts down, and let Druid tend their wound. Druid had had the chance to try and take them and they didn’t. They trusted this stranger, and continued to do so for years.

Druid came to visit often, and Elaphocentaur found themselves looking forward to the company of this strange human. Their pace quickened for a step, then it slowed again. The birds didn’t call out in warning when Druid walked among them.

Branches cracked behind them making Elaphocentaur whirl. They froze, staring at the rough face of a hunter. The human held a finely woven silver net, with heavy stones at every intersection of cord, ready to throw. Elaphocentaur’s heart skipped and they turned to run. But it was too late. As they turned from the hunter a second and third surged from the undergrowth – throwing their weighted nets. The shock of pain as stones hit made Elaphocentaur stumble, then forced them all the way to the ground as the their center of gravity shifted enough for the weight to topple them.

They cried out in pain as the silver ropes tightened around them, hobbling their legs, and securing their arms against their chest. The hunters didn’t remove the heavy nets first, they merely tied over them. Elaphocentaur began to hyperventilate, struggling against the restraints as Druid walked out of the underbrush.

“Help me!” They gasped, seeing their friend with a surge of hope as the hunters pulled a bag over their head.

Druid laughed, “Do you have any idea how long it took to set this up? How long it took you to trust me enough to ignore all signs of human presence in your wretched forest?” they asked. “There’s no way I’m letting you go now.”

Bonus, I made a post capture piccrew of elaphocentaur