Sorry for this taking so long to bring out. It might not be totally fabulous, but I hope you'll all enjoy it. ^_^

And I think this particular chapter might be longer than I thought it would be. Sorry if it's a strain on reading!

ALSO. I added in a few surprise characters. I didn't originally intend to, but with a few storyline changes I made, I thought it would be nice.

Final note! Walter has.. "kindly" added his opinion at the end of the story. Isn't that sweet of him?

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As the bright golden orb in the sky slipped downwards off the edge of the Forest, its final rays were cast upon a clearing. Within the clearing, stood a group of gathered stags. The resounding clash of antlers and hooves signalled the ongoing spar between two of the five stags gathered. Rutlius and Magnet, both golden-pelted stags, crashed antlers again and again. Whilst the ivory-like, winding antlers of Magnet lunged forwards, the thinner, straighter antlers of Rutlius drove themselves back at the other male. With an echoing smash Rutlius entangled his antlers amongst a particular curve of Magnet's antlers and thrust his head upwards, deflecting the blow and sending Magnet back for the briefest of seconds before engaging combat again. Watching the fight stood yet another golden stag, although by the incomplete set of antlers and the thinner form, it was clear he was younger than the two fighters. Kuzco twitched his ears and watched the fight anxiously, hoping that they dare not come his way for fear of injury. Beside him grazed the remaining two stags, each occasionally looking upwards at the spar, but only in mere interest to see who was winning. Seed, a golden-eyed stag with a stocky, dragon-scaled form munched quietly on the grass through the curved mask which formed about his face before peering across at Kuzco. Away from him, Sqish also grazed with his red and brown pelt making him stand out the most. He, like Magnet and Kuzco, bore the deer masks. Still, every now and again the stag would glance over at Seed and shudder. He never did like that pelt.

As the final smack was delivered between the two stags, both Seed and Sqish looked to Rutlius and Magnet. Both were panting from the exercise, but from the grins on their faces, they were pleased with their session. "Heh, it's a shame you're not younger! You might have lasted longer!" Proclaimed Rutlius in a mocking tone, tossing his head back proudly and taking a few strutting steps across to the more suitable grazing spots. Magnet chuckled and shook his head, before doing the same with his pelt. Kuzco had often wondered: How do stags with such large antlers become able to shake off without toppling over sideways? Regardless, Magnet shook off and joined Sqish in the grazing, keeping silent all the time. He wouldn't satisfy the younger stag with a reply. Seed laughed at Rutlius' remark with his gentle tones and moved across to the nervously prancing Kuzco.

"It's a shame the pair of you have mates already. If any ladies were watching, they'd be all over you."

"Really!?" Kuzco seemed somewhat impressed by Seed's judgement. "Is that how you get a doe? Really?" His timid actions slowly drained to a halt with his growing interest, his fascinated gaze lingering on firstly the two other golden stags and then Seed. "It's not the only way, Kuzco." Seed replied with a smile. Sqish raised his head from his grazing and nodded in agreement. "Me and Echo didn't meet through me beating another stag to a pulp. Doesn't always work that way, kid!".

The group of stags carried on with their grazing well after the sun had gone down. It had become custom since the murders that some deer remain alert during the night for further danger. Magnet and Seed had volunteered for the duty for that night and had been joined by Sqish and Rutlius. Kuzco had bumped into the group by sheer coincidence, but his eagerness to help had been enough (along with a certain amount of nagging) to make the other stags allow him to stay.


Elsewhere in the Forest, deep within the trees, a creature stirred. From the shadows emerged the tremendous bulk, dangerous antlers and the sound of a snarl.

Walter was awake.

His body first took a few steps. The same as he had done when he first came into existance; unsteady and weak. However, unlike the first days of the Demon Gazelle's reign, this creature already knew of his purpose. The beast's head lifted and his jaw opened, and a thundering explosion shook the Forest. From the deep tone, of anger and frustration, it was clear he was hungry.

Thirsting for blood.

A cloven hoof uprooted the earth as he took a step. A step became a walk, then a trot, then within a few seconds it was a full-blown gallop. The scent of sweat had reached the creature's nostrils and he was enraged. It had been merely a few days since he stood in this Forest, before a female, feeling the instincts that any male should. With her sudden dissapearance, the previous rage had now intensified with the assumptions that somewhere, in the darkened Forest, there had been another stag whom had stolen the doe from him. He would find her.


"G-guys.." Kuzco was the first to speak. Any creature awake would have heard the bellow. The call of combined lusting desire and fury. The four other stags were already alert, ears twisted towards the source of the noise, motionless forms ready to spring. Fight or flight? "Was that.. One of us?" Squish muttered. He and Magnet exchanged confused glances, before Rutlius stepped forwards and raised his head. "Probably just another stag wanting to challenge my superior skills!" He announced with a smirk. "Bring it! I'll show that male who wins the ladies around here!" Seed quickly hushed the boasting stag quiet and motioned for him to remain with the group. "It could be more dangerous than you know, Rutlius. Stay here."

And it had been a good thing too, that Rutlius had not gone to find this other stag alone. As the group waited for further signs of this other living thing, two screams broke the silence. One of a fawn first, then the next of a female.

The doe in question was the first to come tumbling into sight. Her grey pelt matted with dirt, she stumbled and fell blindly out onto the lighter clearing, gasping hard through the dark magpie pelt obstructing her eyes. Her mane, what should have been a collection of beautiful feathers, was askew. "Peppa!" Lemon screamed, "It's going to kill her!"

The cries of the doe were all what were needed for four of the five stags to charge bolting in the direction Lemon had fled from. Kuzco hung back, too afraid to face the danger and remained with the panicking blind doe, trying to assist her to stand and calm down. The group of four continued between the trees at the fastest their senses and legs would allow, until they finally reached their goal. Standing before them was indeed Walter, his identity cloaked in shadow. Beneath him lay a quivering piebald Peppa, thankfully alive but in clear shock. It had seemed, judging from the four's arrival, that they had made it just in time. A heavy hoof had been raised above the young, deaf fawn's head, ready to crush through bone. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" roared Seed and Sqish in unison. They were protective of their shared family member, and both looking ready to kill. The shadowed figure paused, observing the group, then turned on it's haunches and bolted. Rutlius and Magnet shot off after Walter's form in an instant, followed by Sqish. "Make sure she gets back to her parents alright!" He shouted over his shoulder before being consumed with the others into the darkness.

Seed dashed forwards to the small fawn and slumped down beside her, resting his head protectively over the fragile body. He knew his words of comfort would go unheard, but regardless, he gave them. With a gentle nudge he urged the fawn to her wobbling legs and assisted her back to the clearing. Already half of the way there, Lemon and Kuzco came into sight. The foster mother dashed forwards to embrace her child, whilst Kuzco inquired to what had occured. "The other three are on it's trail now. They'll probably chase it until it gets tired or turns to fight, so we can only wait and hope. We must tell Vipin of this though, so he can alert the others. It looks like we've found the killer."

Through the night the chase continued, neither the shadow nor his trackers showing signs of tiring. When at last the sun began to rise, the three stags were skidded to a halt as the shadow mysteriously dissolved before their eyes. No trace of identity, or where it had gone. Simply not there anymore. "So.. It strikes at night.." Magnet growled as the trio regained their strength, observing the surroundings for signs of the attacker. The stags each spread out and searched until the sun was high in the sky before returning to Kuzco and Seed. Lemon and Peppa stood with them still, along now with Vipin. Words of the event were exchanged long until midday, when Vipin thanked the group and proceeded away to the Oak to think. He would need a plan to catch this criminal. One which already began to take root in his mind.

This night.

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"And for any of you idiots who give a damn, I was going to eat Peppa. And yes, if I had the chance, I would have had my way with Lemon. Got a problem? Tell it to my face, ignorant punks."