IM SORRY IM JUST IN SUCH A PRODUCTIVE MOOD

hope you can keep up. please people, read chapter 24 of Hanging Flowers first. it turned out really good <3

and now... i present, Fluttering Feathers.

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"What did you say?"

"I.. I said, I'm... pregnant..."

"Again?! I thought this wasn't going to happen!"

"I'm sorry, I.. I didn't know..."

"That's it, Jayla, I can't take this. We could leave the last one, but we can't do it again. Others will start wondering."

"I know... What will we do?"

"We? Hmph, this one is your problem. I can't take care of a fawn. I'm sorry, Jayla. We're through."

***

The doe opened her eyes, her face still wet with tears. Her heart was broken, her strength withered away. She couldn't help but cry after that night, so many weeks ago.

She was starting to show. She felt so ashamed. It was bad enough for it to happen once, but how could she make the same mistake twice? The little fawn growing in her body was created only by carelessness.

Jayla's eyes started to water again, thinking of the last time this happened. Her mate told her to give birth to him, and then leave him. It broke her heart in two when she just left the poor thing. She never wanted to do it, but she was under too much pressure. Her father was sick, and she didn't have time to take care of a fawn.

Now her father was gone. She had all the time in the world. But with no father? How could a fawn grow up without a father? She dwelled on the thought, but was interupted by a little thump in her belly.

The fawn had just started to kick, only occasionally. At least Jayla knew it would be healthy. She sighed. "Well..." she thought out loud, "I guess I'll keep you. At least now I have time to be a mother..."

Another thump in her belly, a little stronger this time. Jayla wished she could smile in delight as the fawn made itself known. But her heart was still shattered from him leaving, and she didn't know how to be a mother. She would have to trust her friends to guide her.

***

More time had passed. Jayla only occasionally went out into the open anymore. Her belly had become larger, it was now obvious that she was pregnant. She felt too ashamed to go out and see her friends. Even though they had been visiting her often and telling her that they didn't care how she got pregnant, she still felt terrible.

She had heard no news about her mate. It seemed like he just vanished into thin air. She wished she could know at least where he went, so she knew that he was safe. She sat on the ground in the Ruins, looking out at all the other fawns playing at a distance. I hope you can fit in with them, she thought, looking down at her belly. The soft orange markings of her Butterfly pelt seemed stretched out by the extra girth. She sighed, and lowered her head to sleep.

She remembered the last time she looked like that...

***

Many more days passed, and Jayla had been going out a little more frequently. One day, she went out to the Pond to take a drink, and see if any of her friends were there. She lowered her head, and sipped at the cool water. Many deer were out and about, but she noticed two deer that made her blood run cold.

She noticed an older stag, and a fawn. They were sitting and talking. She overheard their conversation, they were talking about spell magic. She stared in fear at the fawn. That's him, alright... she thought. That's my son...

Soon, the fawn noticed her. Her heart beat heavily, and soon she brought herself to dart away. She didn't go very far because of the fawn, but she got far enough away to hide herself from the Pond. I can't believe it, she thought. I ran away from my own child...

I'm... I'm sure he doesn't know...

***

Another day, she got up extra early. She knew it wasn't wise, but she asked her friend to transform her. Jayla's friend warned her of what that could do, but she didn't care. She had to be in disguise.

The doe cast the spell on her, and she became a dove. She flew off with difficulty and worry. She knew being transformed into a dove transformed the fawn as well. She would have to make this quick, otherwise the consequences could be devestating.

She landed on a tree, and called attention to the old stag.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"That boy of yours... What's his name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"I think I know where his mother is."

The stag looked at her, then retorted "You can't fool me. You're his mother." She gasped silently. "Yes, and it's rather unfortunate that I can't make out your pictogram. I'll have you know, I'm not giving up my son."

Jayla looked down. "I thought you wouldn't... Listen, I don't want you to think of me as a horrible deer. I never wanted him to be alone, but I had no choice. You must understand."

"I understand. But what I don't understand is why you were so careless."

Jayla sighed again, "I don't know... I was confused and hurt. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Well, you have to live with it now. Sooner or later, you'll want to face him. And when you do, I hope for you sake he'll understand."

The stag walked away from the her, but stopped and looked over his shoulder, "By the way, his name's Skokey." He walked away, leaving the Jayla speechless.

She almost called him back to her, but her stomach began to hurt badly. She made sure he was far enough away, and sneezed off the spell. I hope that didn't do anything, she thought. She breathed heavily and gritted her teeth, baring through the pain that happened only occasionally.

She knew it was almost time.