"It seems that a large group has been protesting about the way we are approaching this new species. While most think that these deer are violent creatures, others think that we should give them a chance to calmy introduce themselves. We have heard rumors about a Peace Group going into the forest and try to communicate with the deer rationally."

***

Skokey awoke some time after Fulu and Fenqua. He had spoken with Fenqua for a while about her mysterious trip back home, but he still didn't know much about it. But that day had tired him out, and he was ready for sleep.

Fulu managed to tickle his nose with her now fully grown-in feathers, making him sneeze himself awake. He rudely greeted her and soon got up. While going out to a large patch of grass, he spotted Fenqua again and decided to join her.

Fenqua cheerfully greeted him, "Did you have a nice sleep?"

Skokey yawned for several moments, then said, "Yeah, I guess. You kept me up for a while though. I was hoping I'd get more sleep."

"Maybe around your sister, but not while I'm around." They both chuckled and started to munch away at the grass. "So I remember you saying something about meeting deer?"

Skokey nodded, "Yeah, I met... Nine new deer yesterday. Probably why I was so tired last night."

"Nine, huh? Well, I hope you meet them again and actually become friends with them."

"Oh yeah, no doubt about that. There were a lot of really nice deer." He rememebered what Vessel told him about that fawn. It troubled him a little, he was anxious to hear how she was connected with Fenqua. He considered asking her, but decided to leave it to Vessel. He doubted if that was the right decision, though.

Fenqua raised her head, and looked at Skokey, "Hey... Don't you remember Raku?"

Skokey's head shot up, "Oh man, I haven't seen her in..." He recalled the last conversation he had with her, "Oh no..."

"What? What did you say to her?"

He shook his head, "It was during my adolescence, you know, so I wasn't thinking right... I told her to... to forget about me."

She went up to him and nuzzled him, "You should go find her. Clear things up a little. It would make her so much happier, I'm sure."

He nodded, "Yeah... I can't believe I forgot about her. She was practically my sist-" he looked over at Fulu, embarrassed, "uhh, yeah..."

Fenqua smiled, "You should go soon."

"But what about-"

"Don't worry about me and Fulu. We'll have a Doe's Day Out. She'll enjoy it." She nuzzled him again and kissed him on the forehead, like she used to do with fawns. This made him blush very heavily, which in turn made her blush.

He smiled, "Okay." He chuckled dumbly, "I don't know when I'll be back."

Fenqua nodded. Skokey bowed stupidly, he didn't quite know what to do, and ran off. He charged through the Birch Forest, flattening any tall grass that was so unfortunate to be under his hooves. Soon the birch trees thinned, giving way to pines and oaks. The new smell of flowers replaced the smell of berries, and the atmosphere seemed to change completely. The grass thinned and shortened, fairy rings becoming more common, and large purple flower patches springing up every which way.

He rememebered where Fraalch and his family lived as if he had been there yesterday. Two trees on either side of a small flower patch, the left tree with mushrooms on one side. He saw the area a few yards away, and almost hesitated to approach them. Fraalch and Frola were grazing around the flower patch, while Raku was still asleep in the flowers. Skokey swallowed the lump in his throat he just aquired, seeing the three of them after all this time. Raku had become a doe, and she was very beautiful. She still didn't have much of a set, though. The only thing she was wearing was a Masquerade mask. Skokey huffed, probably courtesy of her father...

He approached the two deer nervously. Fraalch noticed him first, but didn't recognize him. "Hello there, stranger." He greeted cheerfully.

Skokey was almost insulted that he called him stanger, but soon figured that he had changed a lot since fawnhood. "Fraalch, don't you recognize me?"

Fraalch seemed to process his question, but still shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't." Frola lifted her head in curiousity, studying Skokey. She seemed to recognize him.

Skokey noticed her, and smiled. "Uncle Fraalch, and Auntie Frola?"

Fraalch's face seemed to go blank for a second, but soon filled with joy. This immediately spread to Frola, and the two of them were flooding him with nuzzles.

"Skokey my boy! Where have you been all this time?" Fraalch asked excitedly.

"We thought you were lost somewhere terrible! I'm so glad to see you safe..." Frola added, almost relieved.

Skokey smiled as he let the two elders calm down. "I have to admit, I've been gone a while."

Fraalch laughed, "You come after all this time and that's all you have to say?" He calmed down and looked at him. "You look good, Skokey. The mask suits you well."

Skokey smiled widely, "Thanks. It was a gift."

Frola looked surprised, "A gift? From who?"

He shrugged, blushing lightly, "Let's just say, a really special friend..."

Fraalch smiled and raised an eyebrow, "I see what you're sayin'." he nudged his mate.

Skokey cleared his throat, "Um, actually Fraalch... I came here to see your daughter. I need to clear something up with her..."

The two deer's faces soon went serious, "Did something happen that we should know about?" Frola asked.

Skokey sighed, "I'll tell you afterwards. Right now, I just wanna get this over with."

Frola nodded and went over to her daughter. Fraalch eyed him worriedly. He seemed to be anxious about whatever this was. Raku soon lazily opened her eyes, got up, and stretched. As soon as she saw Skokey, she froze. She almost expected to see him the way he was the last time she saw him. But instead, he looked a lot better, and she seemed to calm down.

Skokey looked her in the eyes, "Raku... Can I talk to you in private?"

Raku paused, but after a moment she nodded. They both went to another flower patch that was more away from her parents. They both sat down, Skokey looking nervous, and Raku looking terrified.

"Raku... I just wanted to say that... Well, I'm sorry for what I said to you last time. I wasn't thinking straight..." Skokey didn't look at her at all, he was too afraid of what she would say.

Raku just sighed and asked him with a lump in her throat, "What happened to you? Why did you just disappear like that? Without telling anyone..."

"It's a long story..."

"We have all day! It's morning you know."

Skokey looked at her, and sighed. He told her about when he met his mother, and what she did to him. He told her about his sister, his depression, and most of his recovery with Fenqua. Raku listened intently, understanding every word he told her. When he was done, she tried to gather her thoughts.

"What about your father? Your real father?" she asked gingerly.

Skokey huffed, agrily, "I hope I never have to meet that psychopath. Most of this was his fault in the first place. I hope some day he realizes what a burden he's put on two innocent deer."

Raku nodded, then asked, "And your sister?"

Then, he smiled. "She didn't do anything wrong, I can't blame her for being born. She's living with me, now. But she might move out soon enough now that she's a doe. I won't stop her." He chuckled.

Raku smiled warmly at him, "You're such a sweetheart, Skokey."

He looked at her, concerned, "Do you... still like me?"

She sighed calmly, "I guess not, after the last time we met. You broke my heart. And Dad told me that I just had to pick up the pieces and move on. So I did. But that doesn't mean I can't call you a sweetheart, does it?"

He chuckled, "No, I suppose not." His ears pricked as he heard the familiar bellow of Fulu. He got up and bowed his head, "I'm afraid I have to go. My sister's calling me."

Raku got up and nuzzled him, "Of course. You come back as soon as you can, though, okay?"

Skokey smiled and agreed, then ran off. He went straight back into the Birch Forest, and noticed that Fulu's scent was getting stronger. She was running to him. He decided to slow down, in case of collision. They soon met each other, and found out that they were on the edge of the forest. Skokey shivered at the thought of humans, and tried to push Fulu away. But Fulu didn't budge, she had noticed something strange.

***

"Fulu, get back to the Playground, now." He told her sternly as they stared at the two-legged creature infront of them.

"No, I wanna see what this is." She tried to get closer to it, but Skokey stopped her.

"Fulu, that's a terrible creature. If you get too close to it, you're gonna get killed!"

She stared at it, absorbing its details. It was female, and she wasn't carrying anything with her. Even Skokey noticed that she didn't have a gun. Another human came up after her, carrying another small box. It looked slightly different from the first one he saw.

Fulu shook her head, "These creatures aren't threatening. The female has a kind heart, I can see it." She walked to the human and looked at her. The human held out her hand, and Fulu put her face to it.

"Fulu... Fulu! Come back here right now! Listen to me! You're in terrible danger!" Skokey screamed for her to come back, but she ignored him.

Fulu smiled, and the human smiled back. She could sense from the pulse in her hand that she was excited. The human slowly trailed her hand down Fulu's Magpie mask, feeling the authenticity and craftsmenship of the Twin Gods. The male human seemed to be trying to coax Skokey into following her. Skokey stayed in his spot, keeping his eye on his sister, not the human.

The female gently lead Fulu out of the forest. Skokey looked in horror as she left the safety of her world, and went into the next. "Fulu, no!!" He started to bound after her, but was soon blinded by a horrible flash of light. In a few seconds, he regained his sight, only to find that the two humans had left with his sister.

"FULU!!" Skokey screamed at the top of his lungs at the edge of the forest, but to no avail. His screams were muffled by the invisible barrier, making it echo on the other side of him. He dropped to the ground, tears silently rolling down his face.

Fenqua dashed over to where he lay in a few moments. She looked at him, scared, "Skokey! What happened?"

He looked up at her, everything in his body was shaking from terror. "They took her, Fenqua..."

"The humans took Fulu..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*PHEW* that was a long one... sorry for the huge chapters everyone! i just needed to get the rest of the plot rolling. maybe now the story will have an actual END XD

i have a lot in store, so i hope youll like it :3