In the great oak, a solitary natural pelted doe slept. In her sleep, she tossed and turned, struggling to wake from a desperate nightmare. She muttered broken terms as she struggled in the dream, trying to change it, or break out of it. “No… don’t kill… Stop…”

A fawn stepped into a world of complete mist and blackness. The mist began to thin, revealing the surrounding area to be the interior of a great cellar of sort, completely intact save for a hole leading into the ghostly world on the other side. He was quickly surrounded with glowing eyes and the sounds of snarling beasts. The silhouette of the Big Zombie Deer stepped forward, backed by a strange gray deer with the horns of a mountain goat, and the hands of a gorilla. The stairs the fawn had just finished walking down became blocked by the bulk of a large, one antlered skeletal pelted stag, and a smaller albino doe with blue facial pant and massive red antlers. The fawn shuddered in fear, already figuring on the worst. He began to back up, toward the stone walls. Mr. Red stepped into the cellar threw the hole in the wall, flashing a grin. “So, someone did fall for it.” He commented. Spangled Plushblue laughed to herself, cockily. Clearly she had been the one whose screams lured the little creature to its doom. “You can start thankin’ me now.” She added. The Big Zombie Deer slowly approached the cowering fawn, and reared, deadly hooves tearing thru the mist. The large skeletal stag stepped away from the staircase in the same moment, Mr. Red, Spangled, and Sinker each looking ready to head up, the moment the Zombie’s hooves would strike.

Roxie’s eyes snapped open, and she stood, gasping in horror. Pelt coated in a cold sweat, she shivered unhappily. “Gods… is this happening right now?” she asked, looking in the general direction of the twin statues. With a sinking feeling, she stepped out of the old oak and into the warm sunlight. Her ears perked, and she looked about nervously. The sound of wing beats caught her attention. Looking up thru the leaves of the trees, she noticed Pejgolt flying high above, without a care in the world. “PEJGOLT!” she shouted, quickly grabbing the winged stag’s attention. Cupping his wings, he dropped out of the sky, and landed on all four hooves in front of Roxie. “What’s up?” he asked casually, looking slightly concerned at Roxie’s panicked demeanor. “I can’t explain everything right now, but can you find… as many deer as possible, and tell them to meet me by the twin god statues? It’s urgent.” she requested. Pejgolt nodded, and flared open his wings, taking off barely a second later.

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About an hour later, Roxie stood before the twin statues, looking down at a medium sized group of deer, among them being the former Shaman, Norway, Yorres, the first lightbringer, the complicated Lady Bones, the ever grinning Sambreel, and the more timid Paralda. Also among them, Seed, Cirrus, Ravenflight, Emiva, and Mar Sart arrived slightly later than the others. Aegle hung back, away from the majority of the group, only close enough to hear the announcement. Pejgolt dropped out of flight beside Roxie, watching the group somewhat childishly.

Roxie inhaled, and sighed. “Everyone… I have reason to believe we once again face the murder of an innocent.” She started, a few gasps being heard among those gathered. “The demons the twin gods exiled from the forest have, from what I understand, figured out how to return… and unfortunately, they seem to be under the guidance of the Big Zombie Deer himself.” She added. A few horrified glances were passed between the deer. Yorres frowned tightly. He was aware that Roxie had dreams that often predicted events that would or have passed. There would be no questioning her. “This is serious…” he sighed, then stepping up the hill to stand beside Roxie. “Let’s not take this lightly, any of you. Norway, Mar Sart, and I can check things out at the…” he trailed off and looked at Roxie. “Where’d this take place?” he asked. Roxie sighed. “The ruins, or… under the ruins, I think.” She reflected. Yorres nodded. “The ruins then.” He decided. Perhaps there would be time to stop the evil deer from returning, or time to figure out a way to reinforce the seal the twin gods placed on the ruins. Without another word, he took off, the appointed helpers following after him.

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Short Chapter is Short. Hope everyone enjoyed.