Behind the mask [Dhina Observation 2]

The forest is not kind to the small
Tread upon, ignored, bullied, sometimes even eaten.
It can be a dangerous nightmare for the unprepared.
Even the most prepared can feel neglected or left out.
The pelt spells will not stick to us.
Our antlers never as large.
Our pleas for forest magic ignored.
The worst being the lack of respect.
“You is small yes? Is cute!”
“Hehe look at the little mini!”
“Minis are always clowns “

No respect at all.

I set out to find respect and found it in the form of a face.
One that I had never seen before.
It did not matter the deer, the face demanded respect.
Blood curdling cry, empty eyes, bleached skull.
Yes. The zombie mask..I had to have it.

Acquisition, however, proved difficult.
I had attempted to gain it earlier in the year at Halloween.
The amount of trampling, kicking, fighting, and general
roughhousing around the Dark Lord proved impossible.
I could not even get within five feet without a larger deer
trampling over me to excitedly cast the spell they carried.
I had all but give up until the fates intervened and
I discovered my opportunity at last.

Opportunity quite literally knocked at my door when I awoke to a ghastly face staring down at me.
I had heard stories of the one known as The Collector, but I had never before been so close.
His body was nearly intangible except for the bleached white bones gleaming in the sunlight.
I thought nothing of the intrusion as I wore
no mask nor did the magic of the forest affect me.
Another amusing joke of the Twin Gods.
I was greeted by a large snort on the side of my head.
I raised my head and was immediately sneezed on again.
I couldn’t hide my anger and jumped to my feet, only able to emit a
loud “ZIKZIKZIK ZIK!!” before the beast stomped away angrily.
The fool had been trying to spell my muzzle off.
I was ready to forget the incident until my eyes fell upon his antlers...
or more precisely the masks that laid within its spikes.
My prize gleamed at me from the top and I could not help but stare.
Here was my chance to get the mask I desired..I only had to wrestle it
away from The Collector.
A simple task indeed.

Days of silent observation proved fruitful .
I had acquired the three pieces of information necessary
to steal a mask from the proud beast.
• When casting the forest magic to remove masks
the collector averts his eyes from the bright lights.
• Once in his possession he pays very little attention to the
masks until he is alone.
• Deer often rest by trees.

I had formulated a plan and needed only the right moment
To present itself.
That time came soon after.

The Collector had been doing his usual rounds in the forest.
He paid no mind as I silently moved in his shadows.
I too was on the lookout for a victim.
He paused at the pond to eyeball a sleeping deer near the large willows.
I could not help but grin.
The Collector took off around the rim towards his next prize.
Yet I took my favourite shortcut by skidding across the surface of the water.
I skillfully bounded higher towards the branches and grabbed hold before
the magic of the forest thinned.
At times gravity was weaker and I was always willing to take advantage of this quirk.
I waited patiently in the branches as my quarry devoured
mushrooms to receive the all important mask spell.

The collector approached his sleeping prey and gave his customary bellow.
This deer could have been dead for all we know.
It barely even flinched when he let loose that ghostly howl.
I crouched down and waited for the perfect moment.
The Collector lowered his head and let fly the spell.
Closer..closer..almost..THERE!
As the spell flared out the bull lowered his head ready to receive his new mask.
He got his mask..along with a booby prize.
As the mask flew past my face I clamped my jaws
tightly around its edge and held on for deer life.

I landed clumsily in the skeletal bull’s antlers.
Again I had to grip tightly as he used the branches of the same
tree to push it into position for safe keeping.
I contorted my body to dodge the prying limbs and
climbed higher towards my prized skull mask.
It was sitting at the apex of his crown.
Hmm..funny…it did not look so large at a distance.
I remained perfectly still once he had finished adjusting his reward
and kept my breathing as shallow as possible.
He had far more superior senses than I had assumed.
Instead of bounding away like usual he kept his head high and scanned
the trees.
He knew something was wrong..but what could it be?
I waited until he abandoned his search before I continued
my climb upward.
My presence was clearly known to him on an
unconscious level as he looked visibly ill at ease.
He triple checked each deer before taking their mask.
I had only second to move higher before another
mask was added to impede my climb.
If I were to disturb one he would become all too aware of where his
invisible intruder resided.
I held my breath and climbed higher towards MY mask.

Finally.
My prize…my reward for all of this nonsense.
I stretched upward and bit the corner of the mask.
Steady now..steady..deep breaths..don’t break it..
Success!
I had emerged victorious!
I couldn’t help but break into a grin and lifted the mask upwards
Triumphantly.
It was mine!
Foolish Collector you have just beenRobbed!
How could you be so naïve?

How could I…
Have ignored the laws of physics?
Almost immediately I was reacquainted with the
Ground as the large mask threw off my sense of balance.
How careless..sometimes I forget my own size.
I leaned down to reclaim my prize when I felt a hot breath
...
on my back.
...
This..was unfortunate.

“Entschuldigung Sie bitte…”
I flinched and held tight to my new mask.
I got it fair and square.
I’d never be able to get one by conventional means.
I needed this…he could just find another one.
He could steal it from a sleeping deer.
I was too small and frail to hope to pry one off.
He stared down at me with vague recognition and
scooped the mask back onto his head.
How selfish.

I couldn’t hide my own emotions and just cast my eyes towards the ground.
Could he not even sympathize for a second?
I allowed my shoulders to sag and turned to walk away.
My hooves only briefly met the ground before The Collector
clamped his large jaws around my back and lifted
me off the ground.
He turned his head from side to side attempting to get a better look at me.
I hissed quietly under my breath and he continued to look perplexed.
He might as well had a giant shit eating grin plastered across his face.
I lightly leaned back and head-butted his snout irritably.
“Put-me-down-you-thieving- basta-"
I thumped to the ground once more and felt pressure on the back of my
Head.
I panicked.
The size, the shape..a hoof.
I cried out in alarm and struggled under the weight.
I could feel the darkness closing in.
Everything was going black except for two spots of visibility.
I kept up my irate cries of ”zikzikzikzik”
Until it stopped.
I slowly lifted my head in confusion.
There was pressure..yes..but it was nothing compared to that before.
I felt the jaws on my back again as I was soundlessly carried
Through the forest towards the pond.
Great.
He was going to drown me too.

He set me down by the pond.
It was slightly more gentle than the previous time.
He still dropped me, but I could a tleast see
The ground this time.
He gave me a rough push towards the water.
I Reluctantly stepped forward.
I cast my gaze towards my reflection and squeaked in alarm.
I was not blind…I was wearing a mask!
A tiny skull mask.
I grinned and turned to face The Collector.
My body, however, was not use to the large weight and the
momentum caused me to fall over in the dirt.
I would have to cope with being..top heavy.
I faced my shadowy benefactor and he used a hoof to push me
Into a sitting position.
He did not have the fire in his vacant sockets.
Only that dull look of confusion.
He did not know what to make of me.
He leaned down so we were face to face and let out a few raspy hiss noises.

”So very tiny…”
The sharp intake of breath, the muffled hissing sound.
It took a few seconds,but then it dawned on me.
He was…laughing.
I amused him.
He let me keep the mask...
because it was entertaining to watch me struggle with its size.

I glared at him through the sockets of my mask
and took a deep breath.
Now was MY chance to unleash the howl.
I leaned forward and roared at him.
”zikzikziiiiiiiik”
What the hell?
This was no howl!
Was this another trick of the Twin Gods?
I tiled my head in confusion and glanced at
The shadowy thief looming over me.
He roared in my face and turned walking away.

One would think he were shaking with rage…
But the barely audible hiss accompanying
The gesture was unmistakable to me.
He had made a mockery of me.
I wondered vaguely if any other deer ever
had such a bizarre near death experience.

"No respect at all…
I'll play your game. You're playing mine now. Consider yourself collected Collector."

_________________________________
Featuring:
The Collector played by Alicev.
My Dhina.

By the way this is what sound a dikdik makes.
That is what Dhina's 'zikzik' sounds like.