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It's raining outside on a weekend afternoon. You have nowhere to go today, so you stay inside and think of something to do to pass the time. You sit in a chair, wrapping up in a blanket as you start to read a book. Slowly you drift to sleep.

Your eyes open and you find yourself in the dream world once more, though this time it is very cold. You are still wrapped in your blanket, and sitting up you look around. You are in a snow-covered forest, the snowflakes are slowly coming down, and the area has a slight fog that prevents you from seeing deeply into the distance. You notice hoofprints in the snow, and much like before you follow them, knowing who they belong to.

You find a clearing in the forest where the tracks seem to stop. You notice something in the center - a great ice boulder. It seems very odd to you that it is in the middle of the place, as there aren't any others around. You put a hand on it, and see that there is something trapped inside - a sword with intricate patterns etched into the blade.

"That belongs to you.", someone says nearby. You recognize the voice, seeing your deer has arrived. "How do I get to it?", you ask your deer. "Very simple, draw my pictogram in the snow before the ice, and it will melt.", your deer responds.

You do so without hesitation. You know your deer's pictogram well - you were the one who chose it. As the symbol is drawn, it glows a bright yellow, and you watch in amazement as another pictogram burns into the ice, and quickly the sword melts out and glistens as the light shines on it.

"Quickly, we're not alone in this forest.", your deer says. You take the sword, which seems much heavier than you expected, but you are able to lift it. You examine the blade and see that your deer's pictogram is engraved into it. You are convinced that your deer made it for you, but why?

Suddenly, the silence is interrupted by a loud roar. Startled, you look toward the direction it came from and see a great bear approaching you and your deer. "Bear! Bear!!", you say to your deer. "I know. He has been following me for a while. I think he's been looking for a meal.", they reply, "I need your help fending him off."

You nod, pointing the sword at the approaching carnivore. The bear roars again and charges at you and your deer. Your arms shake, watching the predator quickly come closer and closer. You close your eyes and brace for an impact. Your deer calls to you, coming to your defense and charging toward the bear.

The bear slows and straightens up, holding his arms up about the time your deer makes it to him. You watch in horror as the bear claws at your deer, knocking them down. You cry out, charging at the predator with your sword aimed at him. You slash at the bear, cutting into his side. He roars painfully, fleeing from the wound inflicted on him.

Your attention turns to your deer. They haven't gotten up, and you already notice that the snow around them is bloodstained. You drop the sword and run to their side, holding their head in your arms. They are still breathing, but you can tell they are hurting badly.

You don't know what to say, you are completely speechless. "Don't worry.", your deer weakly says, "It hurts, but everything will be alright." "Please, don't die on me.", you try to say, but your deer closes their eyes. "Don't worry.", they say again.

The gentle deer rests their head on your chest. You pet their side, and little by little watch as their breathing slows...until they stop breathing completely. The deer's body lay peacefully, and you feel unbearably sad, but look at your surroundings.

Deer follow the laws of nature. Death is a part of the cycle of animal life - carnivores must kill to survive.

Still, you wish it wasn't your deer that died here.

Your eyes open and you are back in your own surroundings. It's still raining outside, and you feel completely alone. The words they spoke to you echo in your mind.

"Don't worry."