There he was. Mystress' hair stood up. She knew he'd come back. He said he would.
Would she bother him again? She knew her limits. Would she only loose any chance she had to show him she had respect for him? Didn't he understand?
Immediatly a group of happy deer came around, and bounced over to him. And he was firm in saying he didn't want any part in whatever they were up to. Oh NO.
She thought, she didn't want anyone being hurt. She stepped in, and lead them away. They found it more fun to dance around somewhere else, where they wouldn't be shunned by him. She danced with them for awhile, keeping an eye on Walter. She did feel bad for him in some way that seemed unusual. Only in a sense that he never seemed to be happy... She, the complete opposite.
She kept her distance, and (bowing first) sat down. This seemed to work most times. It gave the opposite a chance to run if they wanted to, if she began to stand up. She wouldn't. She had to tell him. So at first the distance seemed ridiculous, but she left it up to him to get closer. She was expecting him not to take any intrest at all, and find somewhere else where he wouldn't be noticed. It was different.


He sat with her. Well, not WITH, but across from. A good 5 and a half deer-lengths away. It was a start. She was mildy annoid and bit angry with him, for not understanding... She let it go, and just sat. Forever it seemed. How long is he going to stay like this? Should I bow and leave? A fawn called. It was alone. She shook it off, if it was still alone after she finished her mission she'd find it and comfort it, but now it had to wait... She was determined to show him...
Why? What would this proove? It was a challenge to her. It drove her mad to know not everyone knew she had respect for them...
He stood, and looked around. No one was coming. He inched closer and sat again.



It was working. Her heart leapt.
Not too much sooner, another herd of deer came tumbling in. She stood, as did he. Drat. This time he was very put-out. It nearly made her laugh to see a fawn totally mistified by Walter and nuzzle him far past his nuzzle-meter. Lowering his antlers, the group found it funny and one cast a spell on him, sending him running. She told the group to follow her, and she brought them to the pond for a drink. One fawn turned while he drank and lower his antlers in the direction Walter came from. She couldn't say she blamed the little guy... on the other hand.
The group dispersed and when she was sure no one was following her she found him again. Not sure if he still wanted her around, she once again kept her distance when she found him sitting at the deep end of the bank near the pond. She sat behind him, embarassingly far away. He stood, and invited her to sit. She thought it wise to be humble even though she was holding back her muscles to dash over, and to only inch a few steps closer. Still he said to keep coming.


Finally she sat, next to him, still keeping a fair amount of space in between them. She didn't want him getting the wrong idea. It was done.



Perfect timing, a fawn skipped over, and Walter kept still (and kept his head on) as Mystress slowly lead him away, dancing around a sleeping Yorres, and watching the horizion, Walter was jumping in the water with several other deer. Oh God, what's going on? thinking it better to see if any fawns were in danger, she ran over to the water to see it was not like that at all. He was happy. He had friends, and even around them all, a small fawn skipped. He was un-deterred. She fell asleep in the water smiling to herself. My work here is done. For today.