Auroral Ethereal Elk

In the secluded realm of Nivalea there existed a creature of legend, the Auroral Ethereal Elk. It was said that this majestic being roamed the silent... more

by Bill and Linda Tiepelman

Title

Auroral Ethereal Elk

Artist

Bill and Linda Tiepelman

Medium

Digital Art - Digital Photograph

Description

In the secluded realm of Nivalea there existed a creature of legend, the Auroral Ethereal Elk. It was said that this majestic being roamed the silent forests, its antlers casting a light so pure that it turned the darkness into a canvas of hope.

Once a century, as the celestial event known as the "Aurora's Veil" graced the heavens, the Ethereal Elk would emerge from the hidden folds of the mountainous horizon. Its arrival was a silent promise of renewal and enchantment for the land. It was during one such night that Aeliana, the guardian of the Nivalean gate, first witnessed the creature.

Aeliana, whose heart carried the weight of a hundred winters, had heard the tales of the Ethereal Elk from her grandmother. She never dared to believe them until that fateful evening when the sky burst into ethereal flames, and the Elk stepped into her world. Its eyes held the wisdom of the ages, and its presence was a melody that resonated with the soul of the earth.

With each step it took, the snow beneath its hooves glittered like stardust, and the icy blooms that peppered the landscape seemed to sing in a chorus only the pure of heart could hear. Aeliana followed the Elk as it tread lightly across the mirrored surface of the frozen lake, where the world below reflected the cosmic dance above.

The Ethereal Elk stopped at the heart of the lake and turned to face Aeliana with a gaze that pierced the veils of time. It bowed its head slightly, and from its antlers, a single shard of light fell into Aeliana's open palm. It was a fragment of the aurora itself, pulsating with life and warmth.

With the gift of the Auroral light, Aeliana felt the winters in her heart thaw. The Ethereal Elk had chosen her, a silent guardian no longer weary but awash with the magic of the Nivalean night. As the dawn approached and the colors faded, the Elk vanished as subtly as it had appeared. Aeliana returned to her post at the gate, her spirit forever entwined with the Ethereal Elk.

Uploaded

December 5th, 2023