December 20, 2013

After a whole childhood of wandering like a nomad, repeatedly searching for grazing places, learning from mistakes, watching my back for danger, and cautiously approaching other deer, I have become older and have gained knowledge. I have been shunned from every herd in this area. I am the unwanted. I have become lean and muscular, a traveler; always on the move. I eat whatever I find; very little of what I find is actually edible. I have stuck to the grassy fields of the birch forest for now, finding small insects and berries every now and then. Sometimes the grass, if bitten in the right spot, will yield a sweet, white liquid. This afternoon I had found Jennie and Kio together. Joining them would mean comfort; so I was more than happy to. Something told me they were surprised to see me like this after so long, but that was common. After all, I felt like I was not a child anymore. I probably did not even have an ounce of fat on my sides or neck. All I do during the day is run, walk, find food, eat, run, walk, find food, eat, hide from bigger animals, and during the night, cover myself with flowers and sleep. Of course they would be surprised to see me like this.

November 2, 2013

Hard to see through the white. Made me scared to go anywhere. Kept hearing noises in the white and it made me even more scared. I wanted mother back, but I knew she was gone. I had to be on my own from now. Someone about my age found me. He said his name was Hovis. He seemed nice, so I decided to trust him and let him lead me, because he seemed to know where to go through the white. We sat under a rock, he tried to keep me warm. Just barely, though. He fell asleep, and I was hungry, so I ran away to look for food, or the tasty milk mama had before she went cold. Found some fawns who weren't very nice; they kept rearing up at my head, trying to crush me. I escaped by running to a doe. She was warm, so I greeted her, saying the name that I usually say: 'Betsie', or what mama used to call me by. 'Herla', she said back. Sadness was in my chest because she looked just like mama. We sat down next to a tiny red tree, and she warmed me up until she fell asleep.