Clear air whipped through the leaves and tussled the animals who stirred in their holes and warm beds of leaves. A hushed silence swept through the forest, as if waiting in a shushed silence. Colorful leaves on the trees slowly balanced on their thin stems and as the wind blew, fell off sailing on the currents of air. a shadow fell on these leaves on the ground, and the great figure of a deer appeared.

The stag's antlers towered on his head like the branches of an ancient oak tree. Th bark of these great antlers was covered in silk, and the deer's fur was long hugging his massive body, a warm winter coat. The deers powerful legs stood straight and muscles bulged beneath the silky dark brown fur. It shined and rippled in the fall sun, as the animals stood to watch the mighty deer walk across the forest path.

The deer's humanoid face was stern, his eyebrows furrowed. His eyes were a deep blue, thick layers of clear ponds rippled in them and they reflected the sadness that came with fall, the trees going to sleep and the chirping sound of the bird quieting down. The deer quickened his pace and crunched through the leaves. He looked down.

It seemed as if the world was coming to an end. His family was gone for the fun of the game. The sharp sound of bullets echoed in his ears, a never ending chorus.

He remembered it clearly.

It was midmorning- he was sitting on the edge of a small rock cliff. Dirt was piled up on top of it and grass grew creating a soft cushion. Below him was a small pool of water- perfectly clear with not even a ripple. Smooth, long, flat rocks made up the bottom of the pool. There were two deer standing across from him, looking in.

One, was a light brown speckled with white, the sign of a fawn growing to become a stag. His eyes were green, and his mouth was turned upwards into a smile. He quickly looked to his brother. He was black, with chocolate brown eyes like mud, he was smaller with studs of antlers. The looked at their reflections in the water, and giggled to each other.

He smiled, perched on his overlooking hill. The forest was alive with the sounds of smaller animals scurrying across the ground for food to store for the winter and the songs of birds melted together creating a band of voices rising up ad down, carried through the wind. Leaves were painted with yellow at the edges and leaves that had already fallen were edged with black as if dipped in onyx ink.

They were there for a while. The two fawns were dancing through the tall grass while he was there, watching, an overlooking statue with never blinking eyes keeping a close eye on his beloved.

It was then it happened. The forest quieted- animals scurried up trees and into holes in the ground. The deer twitched their ears back to hear the distant sound of a dog barking. It's loud angry bursts of noise sent a rabbit leaping in his heart. He stood up on his legs, trembling, and let out a bray as a warning to other deer, a noise that the hunter would hear. He leaped down into the shallow pool of water and the fawn's reflections were broken. The water sifted and splashed unto the grass.

He nudged the dark fawn who ran off too the tree line. His eyes were big and frightened. The stag looked at the other fawn, who stood bravely, not moving, his legs were slightly spread apart to balance firmly on the ground. His eyes showed fear, but his face showed no emotion. THe trees and bushes started rustling and the stag went into a panic. He reared and kicked the light colored fawn who flew across the clearing next to the dark fawn. A gave a loud bray and turned around. A dog came tearing out of the bushes barking and howling.

It was a small dog whose bark sounded louder than it looked. It had a long snout and was orange like the leaves. Its ears were pointed and it had long fur and a long shaggy tail. The dog came up barely to the stag's knee joint.

A hunter came crashing out of the bushes and the stag heard a small braying sound echo into his ears.

His heart stopped and his head was screaming 'No!'.

The hunter brought his rifle up.

And in front of him, the two fawns stood bravely.

And in two sounds, his life changed forever.

And here he was, walking down the forest path, alone, and it was his own fault. It was all because of him. He hung his head low.

There was nothing else to life. Everything he loved was gone. He stopped on the path.

In front of him was a small pool and an overhanging grassy hill. And in front of that pond were the skeletons of two small fawns, and a human. He shut his eyes and walked forwards, walking around the pond until he came in-between the two fawns. He laid down, folding his legs.

He stuck his mouth and nose in the water and held his head there.

The wind blowed calmly and he felt peace. This was what should have happened. His lungs burned and he felt his mind darkening. The mighty stag closed his eyes.