1: "Theory"

The shuffling of a set of hooves through the grays of long-cooled shadows trickled through the forest. Dead leaves rolling about tinkled like strident wind-chimes. Thick shadows sucked layers of color from everything as the being trod through them, her own vibrant coat also falling victim to the hungry beings. Like water, they took the bright orange and turned it to rust. The rustier the doe's pelt got, the slower and more deliberate her steps became.

Heavily a breath shook from the doe in a purposeful sigh. The world was fading to darkness around her and that same darkness eked into her lungs; she felt a need to expel it. It clung to her eyelashes and there the shadows were washed away by tears not unlike those of the Idol that cries a river. Yet there seemed to be nothing to cry about in this place, except maybe to wash away the shadows from the pair of green eyes they tried to take refuge in. Both shadow and tear were blinked away.

A mouth, pink-lined and black rimmed, opened in a long yawn.