The doe was cold. Cold, wet and hurt.
Blood dribbled slowly from a wound above her eye. The slick life flowed from a peppering of cuts on her legs and in to the waters of the river, which fed in to the pond. Jupiter had fallen in while trying to find shelter, tumbling down the embankment. Being almost completely blind to the world due to rain, she could not have seen the crevasse until it was too late. Maybe it would be too late, if nobody could find her.
Pain wracked her form. The doe shivered, crying silently and wincing each time she tried to move. Her awkward position put stress on her spine: one forehoof stretched out and caught between two pieces of the stone, a hind-hoof tangled in the reeds, her back against the earth, and her head just above water. The contortions also put strain on her shivering muscles, causing painful cramping. But her position was not as great a worry as the threat of Hypothermia that loomed as closely as a water predator.
The water lapped at the blood, taking it away and rendering the doe weaker and weaker. Pain marred her beautiful features, creating a grotesque mask of blood-smeared agony. And she was too weak to pull herself free.
I hate rain. An errant thought crossed the doe's mind as she stared at the sky above the river's banks, wishing for help.
The fox slipped water
Finally, a meal...
Though as he came to be beside this deer, the fox noted breathing. In and out, slow and faint. Though since this doe seemed to be in such a state, the fox decided to pity her. If she perished, then he would eat.
"What's wrong?" his voice was gentle and pure. The canine sniffed the doe, flicking his tail.
The doe smelled the predator
She did not want to show that she was too weak and stuck to get out, but it was pretty apparent. Pinning her ears, the doe spoke again. "I don't think I would make a good meal. I've been ill." She fibbed, but didn't. She had been ill, but had not known it. "I would not want to give you whatever it is."
Liar. But good at it.
Ourania sighed heavily,
Nearing the edge of the birch, the doe paused, looking around. Several deer were huddled against each other under trees, some running for shelter. The doe picked up pace, then stopped at the river's bank. She dipped her muzzle in the cool water and drank thirstily. Suddenly her head flew up and she snorted, shaking her head. The horrible taste and smell of blood had tainted her water. She wuickly looked down the river and saw the problem.
The doe hurried to the deer, whom she recognized as Jupiter, in the river. " Hey it's me, Ourania. Are you ok?" The doe looked her over and snorted. " Well that was a dumb question. Here, let me help you out of there." Ourania slid down the river bank and lay beside the doe, using her body to attempt to push her up the shorter side.
A comforting voice blew
Jupiter smiled at Ourania, but quickly her smile turned to a look of pain. "Wait! Mh... don't move me... My hoof is stuck between the stones. I don't want to break it." The warning was clear as the doe tried to shake the reeds from her other foot and steady herself. She motioned to the spot where her forehoof was caught in the rock of the bridge. "I need to get it loose first." The reed-thin and quaking voice, though trying to be confident and strong, was betrayed by the weakness the doe was feeling and the pain that attacked her with each movement.
Jupiter's mud-caked hair dragged through the mud as she turned herself to one side in an attempt to gain leverage to free her trapped hoof, and ultimately get herself out of the water.
Upon hearing Jupiter's leg
A wince crossed her face, but
"Alright, Oura, watch out. I don't see where your body is so I don't want to hurt you too." With that warning, the doe began the process of standing. Much slipping around like a fawn later, she managed to gain balance. Pain shot up her leg from the injured foot, but the deer managed to stand on it: a good sign.
"Now for the hard part, yes?" A look of "oh is it good to be free" crossed her face as she peered toward the top of the steep bank.