Nadya's tear soaked eyes lifted as the witch proclaimed his heart was beating. It gave her hope but the fear of losing her family again was too much to bear. As Matilda covered him with a blanket she scooted closer and placed her head over his neck. Even if he couldn't hear her she spoke to him softly,"Remember..when we first met Leo..I was so cold and you kept me warm."she laughed sadly."I was so nervous then. I don't have much for warmth but I'll try my best to do the same"she said nuzzling the golden fur on his neck. Her tears soaking the fur. She sniffled in silence for sometime before she began to sing. The tone was horribly sad and her voice chocked up more than once during it.
You are my sun shine
my only sunshine
you..you make me happy
when skies are .....grey..
and do you know dear
how much I..I.
...

..
I LOVE you...
oh please don't take my sunshine away"

She was sobbing by the end of the song and the last line was spoken
in more of a beg than the usual lighthearted tone it had. She closed her eyes tightly and sobbed again into the golden fur. "I love you Leonardo" was the last thing she muttered before falling asleep as well.

Nadya was barely awake when the woman told her she should go home. A moment of shock struck her as she jumped up. She looked down, her heart filling with grief at the sight again but she managed to look away at Matilda."Why what is wrong?"She asked curious as to why the witch was so urgent sounding. Or was she merely trying to get her to leave so she would not have to see him die?

The doe stood speechless for a time , her eyes watering as she looked at the bright stone her mate wore. She moved forward and nuzzled the witch. Hoping she wasn't crossing any boundaries."Thank you Matilda..please...if he wakes or.....you know....please tell me"she said looking into her eyes with a begging expression. She moved to the bad the witch had made for her. She stopped then trotted back and nuzzled her mate on his shoulder. "You stay strong love you hear me? I'll be back...I'll be back and you better be here"she whispered through her tears. She gathered the bag then took a deep breath and approached the tree. Looking back once more she said a small prayer...then stepped forward...

It had been a few days with still no sign of the bull waking. Matilda made sure to keep the wound clean at all times though she knew it was time. Thankfully no infection had showed up & the poor stitches she had, had just kept the wound closed. It would scar & she was sure he wouldn’t mind if he was to wake though it shamed her she could not rid that for him. He had nothing to eat or drink for days now & she was able to see it. There was no dramatic weight loss, but the lack of fluid was the most concerning for the brunette. A decision had to be made before his health deteriorated anymore. She closed her eyes & called for Nadya, her thoughts begging for the doe to return & to enter the tree she had left with the bull previously. It is time, my child. Enter the tree you did previously & you shall emerge by the one at my cottage… Please be hasty. She went to sit back by Leonardo, gently stroking his side ”You’ll be ok, Leonardo” she whispered & closed her eyes.

Her brown eyes shot up as she heard the crunch of hooves on the ground. Standing to acknowledge the doe, Matilda walked over to Leo’s face as she knelt down ”A decision has to be made, Nadya” she spoke as she kept her eyes on the bulls closed gold eyelids. The forest was eerily quiet, whether that good or bad was unknown but the brunette witch was glad that she could concentrate none the same without the constant noises the forest produced. Keeping her eyes on the bull as they wandered between his shut eyes & his wound, the witch spoke again… her voice breaking slightly ”It’s been days since this happened, my child” she spoke quietly ”If nothing is done he will just die. I may have a solution” as her eyes moved up to look at the young brown doe’s red eyes there was clearly worry in her own ”Unfortunately, I do not know what the outcome may be” she looked down as she whispered, barely hearable ”He may lose his memory and I do not know how severe it could be.”

Matilda nodded as she went to fetch some things from inside her cottage & lay them next to the large males head. Looking up at Nadya one more time she spoke ”It’s going to be a hard time” she whispered before her eyes moved to the necklace around Nadya’s neck. Getting to her feet once again the brunette walked over & gently took it off ”I’m going to need this, I’m sorry”. Putting it over the bulls neck Matilda sat down. Placing a hand on his forehead & one on the orb she recited a phrase that she had read out of her book. Never trying it before caused her voice to break numerous times & she prayed it wouldn’t affect the outcome. Once finishing, she scooted back, her eyes keeping on the males. After some time of nothing, the witches eyes darted to something that caught her attention. Leo’s ear was twitching. It was the first time she had seen movement as she jumped up & immediately began gently pushing the bulls shoulder ”Leonardo” she yelled through hysterical sobbing ”My boy, please wake up”. She continued doing it until she heard a groan. Looking to Nadya & realizing it wasn’t coming from her she moved back to the front of his face ”Leonardo?” she whispered as the bulls eyes groggily & very slowly opened a small amount. A loud squeal was heard from the witches mouth as she sat back & sobbed. ”M…Ma…M” he tried with great difficulty to speak. His head hurt horribly & his body felt stiff as a tree as his eyes slowly opened more & more. ”Matilda?” he finally managed out. He didn’t understand why he hurt so badly… especially when the large male thought he had only just fallen asleep the night before.

His eyes burned as the sunlight hit them. ”Wh…why am I so sore?” he asked, his voice grasper then usual from being so dry. Matilda immediately came over with water & food & set it out for male. He dove into the pail & drank his heart out upon seeing the brown doe in his view. He lifted his head as water dripped from his mouth & he got up slightly. His body ached from stiffness as he looked to the pretty young doe again. How on earth does this doe know me? he thought to himself before putting a small smile upon his face ”Ahh… Hello there” he said as he looked to Matilda quickly before turning back to Nadya ”How do you do?” he asked with a polite nod of his head which instantly shot a sharp pain to his wound. He grimaced slightly but didn’t want to show it.

Confusion shot across his face at all of her words… Healed me? Bump on my head? He watched as the doe walked away & shot his gaze back to the brown ones of Matilda ”What is she talking about?” he asked ”and what bump?” . Trying to move his eyes & head slightly to see if he could get a glimpse of it just caused more pain. He relaxed some as he looked in the direction Nadya had went ”She looks awfully familiar” he whispered as his eyes squinted. Turning back to Matilda who seemed to be fixing a sort of paste type thing he asked her ”Who is she?” . Matilda’s head shot up at his question & her eyes wandered around for any sign of the brown doe ”Ahh… I think…”she started before yelling ”NADYA”. Her eyes looked back to the bull ”I think it’s best she tells you, my child… but here, eat this. It will help with the headaches” she said having him eat the paste.

Matilda waited for the doe to return but after some time she still had not come. Getting to her feet the witch left in the direction leaving Leonardo alone. The bull tried getting up, it took some time but his legs finally allowed it & held his large frame up. His head already felt much better as he began eating the food Matilda had left for him. Turning the corner Matilda bumped into Nadya as she stood with her hand on her hip ”Nadya” she snapped though controlled herself, she knew it would be hard for the doe also ”He needs you” she whispered ”I know it’s hard… but it’s going to be harder for him. You don’t need to tell him who you are to him if you don’t wish, that is your choice, but I know my son” her voice breaking on the last word made her hesitate for a minute ”If he is told he has family in the forest he will want to go and nothing anyone says will stop that. He was overjoyed upon hearing of the forest when I told him of it.”

The golden male kept his head down & eating as the pretty, young doe returned. It seemed she had been crying but he had never seen a doe cry before & thought it perhaps rude to ask. He nodded at her question & moved over slightly ”You are welcome to join me” he replied as he lifted his head back up & smiled. ”I’m sorry” he said shaking his head slightly & instantly regretting it as it shot a sharp pain through his skull, thankfully it didn’t last long ”Where are my manners… what is your name, pretty one?” he asked. He looked off quickly, unsure as to why he called her that… She was pretty of course & it wasn’t a lie but it felt like there was something else behind it. He didn’t push it though & instead added ”It would be nice to know the name of the one who helped take care of me” he smiled as his blue eyes gazed into her cherry red ones. There was something there… he could feel it… but he had not met another deer besides the farm & she wasn’t the kind they had there.

”Nadya” he whispered as he went back to eating. After eating till he couldn’t anymore he rested as he watched the doe, watching as she pressed her nose to her side & as she hummed ”Are you ok?” he asked. He hadn’t even taken notice that Matilda was sitting some distance away & just watching. She knew she had to give them space but she didn’t want to take her eyes off the male. ”What is that song you are humming?” he asked, it sounded so familiar, but yet again he couldn’t put a hoof on it.

His eyes grew wide at her confession of being pregnant but confusion kept there as she seemed sad ”That’s wonderful news, Nadya. Where is the father of this unborn child?” he asked looking around & not understanding how a pregnant doe could be without a protector. He moved closer though kept a small distance as he worried that she may get freaked out. ”Would it be strange to ask if I could feel?” he asked quietly, thinking if it was strange he hoped she may not hear or simply think she misheard. He had never been this close to a pregnant doe before & was fascinated there was a small being inside her stomach.

He gave a short nod ”of course” before slowly making his way closer & as his nose gently touched the side of her stomach, he felt a kick against it & then as his eyes closed he saw images… pictures… like he was watching it all in front of him. He was in it & he was in a distant forest. Nadya was there… they were together. He saw them sitting together in a poppy field, eating blueberries together, bathing together & conceiving of this child together. Matilda rose & was about to start walking over as the bull seemed out of it though before she began his eyes shot open & he stumbled back a little ”That is my child” he whispered ”Th… That is our child” . This was his mate & his unborn child… how could he have not known that. A smile came upon his face ”My love” he whispered.

”I love you too, pretty one and I’m sorry for that” he whispered as he melted into her nuzzle. Matilda sat back down & smiled as happy tears slowly filled her eyes. He still didn’t understand what had happened to him & he was a little scared to ask but he wanted to know the extent of it, perhaps it was his mate being overly cautious ”What happened?” he asked. He still had no idea how he forget his mate & what was the forest he had seen them in. He wanted to go back there, from what he seen it looked like such peace ”Where is the forest we have been in?” he asked, ignoring her attempts at getting him to rest.

He rested as she spoke, wanting to take everything in. Memory loss? how could he have memory loss? Though upon hearing the names he knew they sounded somewhat familiar, but there was no way he could put a face to them. He had never had a family besides Haley & Matilda, his witch & girl. The wound explained the horrible sharp pain he had & constant throbbing. ”The forest is our home?” he asked looking off & trying to remember, but it was no use. He eyes slowly moved back to his mates ”Why are we not there then?” he asked as he looked to Matilda this time, knowing she would be behind him staying put. The witch saw her cue to approach & she did as she wrapped her arms around his gold neck & stepped back ”You just woke up from being asleep for days, Leonardo… you need your rest” she said smiling, though the smile was just a cover up because she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold him down if had the idea of leaving so soon.

He turned his head slightly & rolled his eyes at her doe eyes… how could ANYONE not do as their told when having them in their face? He was sleepy, wondering how though since apparently he had slept for days & his head was beginning to throb again. He rested his head on the blankets that Matilda had folded for him. It soothed the pain straight away as he sighed ”Ok, ok” he muttered ”Perhaps tomorrow?” he asked looking between Matilda & Nadya. The brunette walked over & put some more medicine on his old wounds surrounding his side & gently on his head, paying attention when the bull jerked slightly. Putting the paste down Matilda rested herself on her little makeshift bed she had done up for herself during his time asleep ”We’ll see” she whispered as she kept her eyes on the males. So relived he was awake & responsive. She knew it would take time if at all for his memory to fully return but he remembered his mate & their child & to Matilda, that was the most important right now. She didn’t know if he would or even could return to the forest tomorrow but she knew she would probably not hear the end of it if she didn’t give him hope.

Matilda had gotten up periodically through the night to get a clean bandage that she had fastened to the bulls head earlier. Thankfully there wasn’t anything oozing out & it looked pretty clean, though the site was still a tad swollen. The bulls eyes slowly opened as he woke, his head feeling a little better but perhaps that was from whatever it was Matilda was giving him for the pain. He still could not remember anything from the forest except Nadya & he hoped they would allow him to go today. He rose silently, trying not to wake Nadya as he went to eat the stuff the witch had gathered for them. Eating his share the gold male then went to drink & rested as he turned his attention to the brunette human ”So…” he said trying to read her mood though he was no good at that ”Am I able to travel to the forest today?” he asked as he twitched his ear around to see if Nadya would wake upon hearing their discussion. Matilda sighed as she sat down on her chair & moved the one strand of hair that had fallen out of place, back behind her ear. She looked into the bulls eyes. She knew she could not force him to stay if that was what he desired ”I don’t like to think of you leaving, Leonardo, when you are still wounded. Who will clean & change your bandage?” she asked with a raise of her eyebrows.

Leo put a small smile upon his face as his eyes turned to look at his sleeping mate ”Nadya, of course… I’m sure she would have no worries with such a job” he said quietly before turning his attention back to the human. Matilda sighed… there was no reasoning with this male ”My opinion is you stay here for a few more days, my child”. His body was beginning to get stiff again as the large male rose. His legs already felt stronger & the stiffness beginning to cease though if laying for too long it would return immediately. He looked at Matilda, pleads in his eyes. He couldn’t do doe eyes & he didn’t know if there was such thing called bull eyes… but he would try ”Matilda… please” he whispered as he very gently pressed his nose to her small cheek. Stroking his forehead the witch leaned over to look at Nadya who was still resting ”Ask your mate” she said getting up & walking to refill the water pail. Mumbling things under her breath at her displeasure that she could still not control the gold male. He walked over to his mate & gently nudged her with his nose ”Wake up, my love… It’s time to go back to the forest” he whispered as he stepped back & waited for her response to his not so subtle words.

He still could not believe he had a family. How was it that he didn’t remember them at all? Perhaps it would all return to him once his eyes lay upon them. He nuzzled her back & gently whispered a good morning to her side before showing her the food Matilda had gathered for them. The brunette walked over & dropped the pail on the ground by the food before making her way back to the chair to watch the pair. The bull moved back slightly to give Nadya space to eat if she wished ”Why would they react badly?” he asked with confusion on his face & scared underneath. She may be small… but she scared the gold bull. ”If they are as you say, our family, they should not react negatively to something that I could not help” . He still didn’t know exactly what happened, but he knew he would ask Matilda when they were alone as to not upset his mate further.

Leonardo sighed… it’s all he could do. He didn’t want to upset her anymore & he knew trying to argue the point would lead to it. Walking a short distance away so she could eat, he lay down. Matilda looked around, feeling uneasy she too got up & walked inside the cottage to allow the pair privacy. His eyes moved to his mate ”Ok” he whispered as he rested his head on the blankets. He could tell she was upset but he knew he would just say or do something that would hurt her even more. He didn’t know what to say or do, so he just lay there, hoping she wouldn’t get more upset then the doe already was.

His eyes darted up to hers ”You mean it?” he asked. He was about to jump up but remembered he wasn’t well so slowly got to his hooves again ”I… I’ll do anything you ask” he whispered as he moved over & licked her cheek ”Thank you, my love” he whispered again. As if on cue Matilda again walked out carrying a bag with fruit ”I knew it would be” she smiled a little as she dropped the bag in front of the bull ”He’s good” she added with a raise of her eyebrows. ”There is fruit, clean bandages & cleaning solution. Clean his wound once in the morning and before he goes to sleep” she ordered to Nadya as she fastened it to the gold males back. Walking over & throwing her arms around Leo’s gold neck she quietly sobbed into his neck ”I’ll miss you Leo” she whispered ”Please come back every few days so I can keep an eye on the wound” she added. He nodded at her words & closed his eyes as she hugged him ”I’ll miss you too Matilda, please look after yourself” he whispered back as she let go & kissed his nose before going to hug the does neck ”Please keep an eye on him, Nadya” she said quietly as she stepped back.

The bull nuzzled the top of his mates head & wondered if he would still be this happy in a now foreign place. It scared him just a little, especially with the strange occupants that he once knew. Matilda gave a small smile as tears filled her eyes ”Thank you” she whispered as Leo began turning to leave ”This one, right?” he asked as he pointed his nose to the closest tree & turned back to the brunette. She gave a small nod which was all she could muster. She knew if she spoke, the tears would flood & she would not be able to stop it. Stopping in front of the tree, the bull looked back, making sure Nadya was behind & giving Matilda a small smile before walking through. The witch nodded & waved as the two left… desperately hoping Leonardo would be ok, desperately hoping he would take care of himself.