Warning, contains a little graphic content


He held his breath, watching the stag appear from the treeline. The deer kept walking, having other things on his mind, not at all aware that he was being watched. He stopped and bent down to eat a nice patch of grass, enjoying the subtle chirps from the birds and the gentle breeze.

The hunter drew back his bow.

As he did, the spotter who was right by him made a sound, just slightly, from a deer call. The stag heard a doe speak, "Hey...", in an odd voice. He raised his head to look for them, and at that moment, the arrow was released.

The stag ran, his heart rate elevated wildly. He had to get away, ignoring the pain. He just had to get away.

The hunters waited. They'd find him later. They were patient.

The stag's strength was failing him. His body was dripping with blood, the arrow had pierced him straight through. He didn't want to look at it. He knew what was happening, but he didn't want it to be his last moment.

He loved this forest, and never wanted to leave.

The stag fell onto the ground, crying out to the Forest, "Don't let them take me! Don't let me leave! I want to be a part of you forever!"

The breath was his very last, his body curled and he felt himself drift away.

I have heard your wish..., Nature spoke to him, and will grant you life as part of my forest.

At that moment, a great tree grew rapidly, engulfing his body within. The tree grew very tall, the very same as the other trees. There were very little traces of the stag's body, which rested as part of the tree.

The hunters came, following the blood trail that ended at the tree. "Where is he?", they asked one another, continuing on, looking for more traces, looking for the stag's body.

They would never find him, and disappointed, they would leave without a deer carcass that afternoon.

The stag became the tree that lived and thrived in the forest he loved for countless years.