........

Muscles from lax to bunching fire, spreading legs wide in a leap-like run. Skidding noises followed close behind, claws skittering over fallen trees, rocks, roots, clawing holes and divots in the soil. The beast that chased growls, the one that flees lets out a grunt of challenge. Both speed on.

Underbrush moves, and a smiling being steps free of the warm confines of the nest. Shaky legs brought the tawny being to the center of the well-worn path. A rumbling could be heard in the background, and the little one moved toward it. His pace quickened until the trotting became ungainly leaps, neck outstretched as he skittered in the opposite direction of the predator and prey. "It will never catch my mother." The being puffed as he reached the misty banks of the Tahquamenon River. The fawn paused, looking around with his satellite-dish eyes, hearing everything with his satellite-dish ears. Satisfied, the fawn took a drink of the tannin-tainted water. Again, he raised his head to peer around before trotting off toward the thick of the mist.

The sound was distinct, like the sound of bone breaking under rock. The young buck decided, after a couple of years, it was time. The herd had treated him like a god for too long... and for what? Because he could speak with the eloquence of a snake, and the intelligence of a bear? His mother was long gone, turned to food for the wolves. His herd was full of sheep-like deer. Iphea was done, it was time to leave. And that bone-crunching noise that echoed through the forest signified the journey and Iphea passing through the upper falls... in to the Endless Forest.

His story is not often talked about, and if so always briefly. It seems too cliche' and too boring, to him anyway. Momma died when he was a fawn, raised as some important being among his herd... poor him. It's really just a bunch of past, and should not be talked about, in his opinion. But you asked.