Skokey spent most of the next day sleeping under the slab. After sitting at his father's grave all night, he went to the Twin Gods statue to get himself purified. He wasn't the only one there though. The death of Siki renewed everyone's fears and they all started to pray again. Siki wasn't the last one who died. A few deer met their end a couple days afterward, deer that Skokey never knew. But as soon as it started, the relapse of their fears ended, and everyone went back to their normal lives.

Skokey, slowly but surely, became happier. After about two weeks, he was pretty much back to normal. It wasn't Siki's death that depressed him, it was his mother. The fact that his mother abandoned him deprived him the motivation to even get up. It hurt him, but he soon figured that what's done is done, and there's nothing he can do about it.

In the morning, Skokey got up early and decided to graze a little. He saw Fraalch and Vin come up to him, and he gave them a warm greeting.

Fraalch bowed his head cheerfully, “Morning, Skokey. How are you feeling?”

Skokey smiled, “Uncle Fraalch, I'm fine. You don't have to worry.”

Vin looked over at Fraalch, “Well?”

Fraalch cleared his throat, “Yes, um.. Skokey, I know you're not very old... But I reckon you're old enough to... look over a little fawn while someone else is away?” A little fawn head poked out behind her father. “What I mean is, could you watch over Raku while me and Frola go out for a while?”

“Where are you going?” Skokey asked, munching on some grass.

“Well, we're gonna-” Vin gave him a shove, “We'll tell you when you're older.”

“Okay... Why me?”

“Everyone else is busy. Besides, I think Raku needs to make a new friend. Maybe she'll be a little less shy once she gets to know you.”

Skokey agreed. With much fuss, Fraalch left his daughter with him, and left for their mysterious trip. Vin kept him company for the rest of the day, mostly helping him with Raku. Raku slowly became friends with Skokey and Vin, she even played with them when she wanted to. When the few days passed, and Fraalch and Frola came back for her, she had a hard time leaving. But her mother told her she could see them whenever she wanted when she was older. It seemed to cheer her up. Vin also left, politely saying goodbye and telling Skokey he'll see him around.

***

Another week passed, and still nothing special happened. Once and a while, Fraalch would come visit with Raku, and the three of them would mess around. But Skokey felt like he needed to meet more deer. So today, he would forget his awkwardness and meet a new friend.

When it was well in the afternoon, he went to the pond. It seemed like there was a very big party going on. Who knows why. But Skokey found this as an opportunity. He scanned the large group of deer, most of them were stags. He felt a little discouraged, not seeing anyone his age. He stood there for several minutes, searching for a fawn that might want to be friends with him.

Out of nowhere, he spotted a fawn, slightly smaller than him. He read her pictogram for a moment, then gathered up his courage to go over to her. Oh, but she seems busy... He thought. Then he remembered what his father said to him.

“Everyone is busy. You just need to find a polite way to get their attention.”

With his knees shaking a little, he started to walk over to the fawn. He was so afraid he was gonna do something stupid in front of her, and that would label him as a weirdo. He shook his head, getting the thought off his mind. He was already right next to her.

“Umm... Hi.” He smiled weakly at her.

She looked at him cheerfully, “Hi.”

“Uhh, what's your name?”

“Fenqua. What's yours?”

“Skokey.”

She could see that he was a little afraid. Fenqua looked around to see that everyone was dancing. “Come on, let's dance.” She smiled sweetly at him.

“Uhh, sure!” He seemed a little relieved.

They both went to the crowd of deer and danced for a long time. After a while, the party broke up, some groups going their own way, others were just plain going home. Skokey and Fenqua ran off to find a flower patch. Fenqua did something Skokey had never seen before; she picked up some of the flowers on her head.

Skokey was greatly intrigued, “I didn't know you could do that. How'd you do it?”

“You just rub your head on them.” She giggled at the obvious question.

Skokey rubbed his head all over the flowers. Soon he had a ring of flowers just like Fenqua's. He looked amazed, “Can you do this with any flower?”

“Well, you can do it to the poppies too. But I think that's it.”

Skokey shook the purple flowers off his head, “That's pretty cool. I've always liked poppies better.”

Fenqua sat down, with Skokey following her. “So, why haven't I seen you before?”

“I haven't really been around other deer. I guess it's because I'm shy. It's been kinda hard lately.”

“Hard? How?”

Skokey told her about how his father died of the disease, and how he found out about his mother leaving him all alone.

Fenqua looked down at the purple petals, “That's horrible. I'm really sorry, Skokey.”

He nodded, “Yeah, well, I've gotten over it. My dad's in a better place, and the past is in the past. I'm not too broken up over it.” He gave her a smile.

She smiled back, “That's good to hear. I don't like seeing anyone sad.”

Skokey felt really good. He finally made a new friend that was his own age. He felt like he could finally talk at the same level with Fenqua. He looked up and found dozens of butterflies floating over them. He got up and started to bat at them. Fenqua got up shortly after him and played along. They both jumped up and down, batting at every butterfly that came near them. Their laughter was almost never ending.

Fenqua suddenly stopped and looked over at Skokey. “Hey, Skokey, you know what?” Skokey stopped and listened to her. “We should go to the Playground and play tag!”

Skokey felt a small pierce in his heart. His father and he used to play tag there all the time.

Fenqua looked at him, “Hey, you okay?”

Skokey shook his head a little, “Yeah, actually the Playground is where I sleep.”

“Oh, that's cool, so you should know the way?”

Skokey shot a look of pride, “Are you kidding? I could find the Playground if I was caught in a blizzard!” He looked around and swirled his ears in every direction. He soon pointed to his left, “This way!”

Skokey and Fenqua ran over to the Playground and spent the rest of the day playing tag. Later in the day, Fraalch came over with Raku to see what Skokey was doing. He was surprised to see that he was playing with another fawn. Raku, seeing Fenqua, slipped behind her father's legs.

Fraalch walked up to the giggling pair, “Hey, Skokey. Who's your friend?”

Skokey, still giggling, looked over at him, “Oh, hi Uncle Fraalch, I didn't see you. This is Fenqua, I met her today.”

Fraalch bowed his head politely to her, and she did the same to him.

Fenqua saw the little fawn hiding behind him. “Who's the little one?”

Fraalch looked behind him, “This is my daughter, Raku.” He nuzzled her a little, “Be polite Raku. Say hello.”

Raku gingerly came out from behind her father. She timidly said, “Hello...” and shot back behind him.

Skokey looked a little surprised. “She's just starting to speak? That's pretty big.”

“Well, she can only say about three words. But that only means she's gonna learn more.”

Skokey looked at Fenqua who was smiling sweetly at the little fawn. Fenqua looked up at Fraalch, “She's a real sweetie.”

Raku smiled at Fenqua and let out a little giggle. Fraalch sniffed the air and pricked his ears. “Oh boy, Frola's calling me. Well, I better go before she gets too worried. It was nice meeting you, Fenqua.” He bowed his head and ran off, Raku following close behind him.

Fenqua and Skokey spent a little more time together, but Fenqua had to leave soon after.

Fenqua smiled at Skokey, “I had a really fun day. I'm glad I met you.”

“Me too.” Skokey said happily. “Hope to see ya around?”

Fenqua nodded, then bowed a little. Skokey bowed too, and stood there as she ran off. He soon went under the slab and went to sleep. But a little while into the night it started storming. Skokey never liked thunder or lightening. He tried to find some way to comfort himself while the flashes and booms loomed overhead, but to no avail. He felt very alone that night.