"...You are my best friend..."

"...You are my childhood friend..."

"but… who will I choose…"

Today I awoke like any other day. I stretched my body and yawned softly as I looked up into the tree tops. The light filtered through as the sunlight danced across my pelt. I walked over to the lake and got a drink keeping a look out for other deer as usual. These past few days I have been extra interested in the Stags. I tried to befriend a few. Yet I still end up running away most of the time. "I'm pitiful" I told myself.

After drinking I got up and moved off through the forest my eyes and ears keen to my surroundings. After sometime I caught the scent of a friend of mine. I moved at a quick pace as I closed in on him. I didn't know why but, I was very excited. I hadn't seen this Stag for a bit and was starting to miss him. As I closed in I nearly yelped when I almost ran into another deer. I stepped back a few in fear only to see that coming from behind him was my friend. I quickly went up to him and nuzzled him, being a little weary of the other deer. Lorque (my friend) nuzzled me giving me a little confidence. I smiled and noticed the other deer was in the middle of getting himself a new look. Lorque went to help and I decided to help also. At first I was a little nervous but after long I got used to the new Deer.

I spent some time playing with Lorque then fell asleep next to him. I loved the feel of his warm body against mine as I slept. I felt so safe and secure. We awoke after a bit and spent some time playing and frolicking without a care. I loved the feeling of him being so close. I enjoyed it more when he nuzzled me. We continued to play for a time until another deer came along. I quickly backed behind Lorque frightened.

I didn’t know who this deer was, and those antlers that he adorned on his head where massive. He just made his way towards me bowing at me. His skull mask scaring me more. “What does he want of me” I told myself backing a bit. Then I saw it. A familiar glow between the antlers. Immediately I sprung up and jumped around like a fawn again.

It was Touraga! I hadn’t seen him since that time he fell in the lake. Lorque looked confused and I hardly could splutter it out through the tears “It.. It’s Touraga. He was my best friend when I was a fawn. I thought I’d never see him again” I could barely contain myself, and Touraga came and nuzzled me. I was so happy that I jumped and ran around them both. Eventually they both followed along. Although, I did notice at certain times Lorque looking a bit uncomfortable. Touraga seemed to be equally as wary.

We went towards the lake after some time of frolicking. As we went on I was starting to get a little confused. I had been looking for a mate this whole time and here where these two Stags in front of me. One a childhood friend and the other my new best friend. I care for them both but I don’t know what to do.

We got close to the lake when we saw a group of Deer frolicking about. I was so scared and I backed away immediately. Lorque and Touraga both stepped between me and the other deer. That just got me even more confused. I shook that idea out of my head and looked at the deer in front of us. I wasn’t comfortable with the situation as we were getting somewhat surrounded. Then I bolted.

I ended up crying behind a tree feeling hurt. Both Touraga and Lorque came towards me and nuzzled me to calm me down. I admit it worked and we began to play some more, until a brown deer (one who was part of the group earlier) came to us. I backed away because he seemed to want to come near me. I looked over to Lorque but he seemed to not even be here at the moment. He seemed asleep with his eyes open. I was about to go over and wake him with a nuzzle (or possibly hide under his body in fear) when I heard a clashing sound. I turned in time to see Touraga with his antlers locked in battle with the brown deer.

“Tou…Touraga!” I screamed. But he didn’t hear me. I tried and call him to no avail. At one time the anger burst inside me and I shook my own smaller antlers and came charging at the deer in anger. I tried to fight but I was nothing like them. I then began to try and call to Touraga again. He couldn’t hear me though. It seemed his mind was to into his fight. He just kept fighting, until the other deer gave up and backed away. Touraga seemed to want to continue the fight. I quickly blocked his way nuzzling him and calming him till he nuzzled me back. I nuzzled him for a bit then ran off towards another location.

He seemed sorry for fighting like that. Yet I have to admit I was really interested. I wanted to look for Lorque again but I was so exhausted from the fight. I decided to lay down and Touraga stood beside me looking down at me with a soft smile. “Wh..Why is he smiling at me like that for” I thought as I looked away. I could have sworn I heard the familiar chuckle of his as he lay down next to me. This felt oddly familiar. It was the same feeling I had when I curled next to Lorque earlier that day. That’s when my confusion hit the ceiling.

I wanted to be with Lorque but I also wanted to be with Touraga. “How can this be” I thought. My emotions felt like they where on a roller coaster. Lorque was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. Yet Touraga helped me become braver while I was young. I closed my eyes as I curled close to Touraga. This decision would have to wait. My eyes were much to heavy and my mind was much to confused. So I drifted off to sleep feeling a chill on my other side where I wished Lorque could be. “Agh.. Enough Ayanel no more… just sleep” I told myself. With that I drifted off to sleep with images of my two favorite Stags dancing in my mind.