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The night is young.

Alone in the center of a cluster of purple flowers, a young fawn yawns silently.

Like most his age, he is alone.

He is motherless.

New to the world.

So young, so naive.

Prey.

While the clutches of sleep still hold him tightly,

a false mother settles itself by his side.

A gentle breathing brings the fawn slowly back from his dream.

He rises reluctantly, attempting to locate the source of the sudden warmth by his side.

His sleepy eyes locate his companion, and drink the strange creature in.

A blood red mask stands out from his coat,

which is of the purest white.

Suddenly, the strange deer's head swivels around to face his little friend.

The mask has an odd canine grin, which causes the fawn to shrink away in fear.

The fawn struggles to find the words to greet his strange sleeping partner.

Before the right words can reach the fawn's tongue, his partner stands.

Soon, the fur and skin on the creature's neck begins to peel back, revealing

row
upon
row

of

sharp,
glistening
white
teeth.

"Run."

The fawn heeds his command without hesitation.

He tears through the forest at top speed, not bothering to look back.

But,

He doesn't hear hoofsteps behind him.

Cautiously, he stops and looks over his shoulder.

All he can see in the distance

is
that
damned
smile.

He tears off again, running until his legs are numb, and his lungs burn for air.

He crashes to a stop in the stream below the Crying Idol, where he clings to its base.

His tears mix with the Idol's as he seeks it's protection.

The rest of his night is sleepless,

and in the coming week,

whenever he reluctantly succumbs to sleep,

The smile is always there.

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In the distance,

back in the patch of purple flowers,

the smile turns to a frown.

A dejected voice mumbles from the inside of the mask.

"I just wanted to play tag..."

The white creature falls onto the ground with a sigh.

"They always do this...

Why doesn't anyone want to have fun with me?"

"They just don't understand you yet, Jinny."

"You always say that."

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