[SairenMin]

Means harmonious prince, a regal name for a stag who stands proud and wise to all others around him. Kazuhiko displays his strong, gentle branches of the cherry blossom tree which welcomes the time of harmony and peace among the Oriental region. When the families draw near across the land, in unison to enjoy the same festival together. Any who come to enjoy the festival are shielded and graced with the boughs of the trees. Their protectors, the Elkrin, who decorate the islands in blossoms and harmony. They defend the honor of tradition and family, as well as new beginnings that spring represents.[/center]


The beginning is a fair bit interesting, for Kareen to be brought into this world an unlikely couple had to meet. Her mother, Nuan Shu insisted on visiting the sparkling city of Alabaster, to see its own unique beauty and sights. Due to a little bit of luck, they happened to have Sebastian as their translator and loved blossomed at the very start. After much persuading, with an iron clad agreement set in place, their beautiful daughter was allowed to move across the sea away from her family home. Nuan took to her great skill of sewing to make Oriental Isle style clothing right in the heart of her new home. Sebastian continued his life as translator for the army, and they were content. After a few years in blissful marriage, they were blessed with a child.

Kareen Hesamani had a fairly uneventful upbringing, in the bustling city of Alabaster. She took after her father's quiet and reserved demeanor, yet looking almost exactly like her mother. With no penchant for conversation, her nose was always buried deep in a book. In a bilingual household she was able to research to her hearts desire and was encouraged to learn several languages. It did not come as a surprise when Kareen followed her father's foot steps into a path in the army. However, instead of languages being her calling it seemed written word was her passion. Thus this bookworm became a valuable asset to the army, to not only maintain the vast records in the Alabaster library but to be an important courier for rare documents to high ranking officials.

Now each year, the Shu family would gather at the Cherry Blossom Festival along with their newest branch of their lineage across the sea. The tradition of attending was always paramount in their family, and the Hesamani made no exceptions. Each budding of spring, they would make the journey to Nuan's homeland to attend the beauty, peace and serenity the festival has to offer. Kareen especially enjoyed these visits, as she could spend time with her extended family and enjoy in the tea she loved so much. In fact it was often a family joke that if their daughter had not been so involved in books, she might be trying to open up her own tea house in Alabaster.[/center]


Kareen edged her way through the crowd, as the tall proud Elkrin followed besides her. The young woman was used to the slight stares, the side long glances in her direction as they passed. Though, she mused, it might be uncommon to see a Cherry Blossom Elkrin in their midst even at such a celebration. Such attention was something she was adjusting to, even after an entire year of their bonding. It meant something different in his homeland, and it was her homeland too after all. The exotic smells seem to weave in the air as if tangible threads the young woman could actually see. Twisting paths through the stands were tripping Kareen up. This year they had changed the layout of the festival, and she was if anything a creature of habit. Her blue eyes wandered the stands, feeling lost in what was supposed to be home. It wasn't until she nearly walked right into it, did she find the tea stand that was on her mind. To her dismay Mr. Adatchi's face was not behind the wall of steam, but a brand new face.

The entire scenery felt like a second strange home, yet here it began to have a deeper meaning. Her favorite tea and a Mr. Adatchi’s specialty, traditional Jasmine Tea hinted with peppermint and green tea with his signature peach stem twined with a limber thin cherry stem, sat in dainty, cheap porcelain ware Her yearning blue eyes focused on the familiar scent that wafted through her nose, but the face occupying the stand exceeded her desire. Backing away from the stand with a painful glance, Kareen knew her diminutive nature was taking the best of her, but dared not to confront it.

A powerful, but gentle nudge graced her back with a thrust forward. Kareen now shocked, saw the lowered head of her loyal companion. “No, no. It is quite alright Kazuhiko. I was losing my fondness of the tea anyway,” she assured with a fabricated smile. The mauve-brown eyes seemed to focus at her lie before the graceful stag snuffed his nose. With little hesitation he took his ivory, silver tinged antlers and shoved his rider forward. The soft thud of her hands tapping the edge of the stand caught the attention of its keeper. At a closer distance, Kareen saw the recognizable features of a possibly younger Mr. Adatchi, but that idea became nullified at the realization of the fact. Hiroshi was maintaining the stand like any proper son would after his father’s age would get the better of him.

Kareen had met him a few times, but his height had exponentially surpassed hers within the last two years of absence between their lives. Recognizing Kareen himself the green shopkeeper produced a gentle smile. “Aaah Kareen! Father warned me about his best customer during the festival!” he greeted with glint in his eyes as he removed a few sweet buns from a steaming pot. Kareen could only utter a few noises before the same forced pushed her back forward. Kazuhiko was relentless on his goal, but that simply gave her more confidence. “Eh-hehe, yes that’s me… I never thought I’d be famous,” she joked with an opposing straight face. A hot snort that rivaled the steam of the pot was blown from the unimpressed stag.

The tapping of a thin wooden cane came clanging near. The young man smiled as an elder with tight eyes and a black white-streaked beard came into proper focus through the steam. Mr. Adatchi quickly snatched up a bite sized bun and tossed it towards the looming Elkrin he watched silently. Raising his head Kazuhiko caught it in within his mouth in a single swift movement. Prior to Kareen’s question of the cost of the bun, the old man waggled a dry wrinkly finger. “On the house,” he foretold with a mischievous glint as he pushed a larger teacup forward with the tip of his crude wooden cane.

Unable to respond with anything more than gratitude, Kareen thanked the two with surprise as her companion mimicked the body language of “See, that wasn’t too bad?” Gently she sipped tea as she passed by the formal garments worn by those who treasured the traditional values of her homeland. It was common after the Cherry Blossom Elkrin would migrate through the city to reach the luxurious blooming trees that decorated the hills behind the city.

The two continued to walk side by side with an inseparable appearance between them as many veered their heads to admire or pierce with leers born of envy. Many times the pair had to stop to let the younger children who bothered their parents with every light ounce of their body to make contact with the rare beasts. Kazuhiko disgruntled by the tiny hands petting his fur had long became accustomed to the stops that were mere whims of the children passing by to grand and calm event of the festival.


The cascading hills were decorated with the drifting petals of numerous ivory trunked trees. Elkrin sat in the more distant rows than the humans who occupied the spots near the city. Kareen was supposed to relax and consume the traditional yearly dishes of her relatives during the “Petal Watching” segment of the festival. She scanned the plethora of families and occupied spots with the same precision of looking for the single author among the whole Alabaster library. Except the search for her should be waiting relatives came no avail. “They should be here now…or unless all the proper spots were stripped from this tree abundant terrain?” she questioned inquisitively.

Her fellow Elkrin snorted as she pondered there and took a heightened pace to some unknown destination. Kareen snapping out of her analytical and pragmatic gaze soon followed after. After finally catching up to her lustrous mount she recognized the familiar spot. It was the only tree on the small hill, but had a small portion of the city in a perfect elevated view. The Elkrin lied down at the snow hued trunk and bleated casually. Sitting on her knees with an empty tea cup in her hands she sat beside her large, but gentle friend.


A gust of hot air hit her face as Kazuhiko tried to provoke a fairly-one sided conversation. “I didn’t forget,” she faintly laughed. “I just was speechless. This was the same tree we met under, I could never forget that day. Even if it was only a few years in the past, it is unforgettable; every shard of memory is still whole in the entire image that is engraved into my cerebrum. I had been squabbling with my problematic and more self-proclaimed genius of a cousin. We bickered and argued about the proximity and the idea of the Elkrin coming that year as your herd was late by several days. How prudent of me was for I to stray from my relatives and to head down somewhere separate and placid for some time for myself. Only to miss the your herd come storming around the town. I had gotten so far that I had lost my way and ended up crying under this very tree, angry at my own mistake and feeble hubris. Then my tears ceased when you approached me some time later, your calm soft eyes, urging me to become a pacified ocean rather than a turbulent sea of emotions. Somehow through your ways I reverted back to my usual self and when I timidly stood and outstretched my hand. And with that strong courageous demeanor of yours…you met my finger tips with your cool snout.” reminisced Kareen with her closed eyes tearing gaily. Her hand rested upon the strong antlers of her best friend.


The footsteps of others approaching came as it was her family treading up the hill with supplies. It was unfortunate that they weren’t punctual, but at least they all could watch the petals drift and the blossoms shake in the wind together this year.[/center]

[Lady.Nixon]

OH MY GLOB. He's beautiful.

wip...poem :3

[*Blackberry*]

Reserve <3

[Benathorn]

You have one more day to complete your forms.
Judging for this Elkrin will begin tomorrow night at midnight CS time.
Please inform me if you need an extension, I am willing to give a few days extra for you all to complete your forms if need be.

[Benathorn]

An extension was requested for this Elkrin, I have decided to add three days before the final judging, which is now on May 8th.
Good luck to you all on your forms and I hope this helps you all out a bit~

[Goddess Sword]

Ah, 'Karp, I posted the edit just a little after midnight. Thanks, time zones, I love you too X3 -Crosses fingers that that won't come back to bite me later-

Just felt like I should say good luck to all who entered. I glanced through your forms, and they look pretty good to me! And, of course, good luck to Bena with judging. It's going to be tough, that's for sure, but I know this guy will go to a good home <3

[Benathorn]

Elkrin is closed for judging, no more forms or edits shall be accepted after this post.
I shall be taking the next few days to review forms and will announce the winner after then.

[Fluffy-Jelly]

I just finished a piece of art, like at exactly the same time you posted. xD
Could I add it to my form real quick? If not I understand. c:

[Benathorn]

I just finished a piece of art, like at exactly the same time you posted. xD
Could I add it to my form real quick? If not I understand. c:

You may go ahead and add it since the time was so close. ^^

[ElementStar]

It's closed? Curse these time differences.... please disregard any WIPs in my form and just count the art vuv