"Father, you don't understand!" The cry came from a young doe, slim and lovely. She stood in a ring of deer who she had once considered her family, before a mighty stag, grizzled and grey, a champion of many fights and ruler of his herd. "He's a gift! Precious and perfect!"
"He's a monster!" She flinched back from the rage in his voice. She'd known he would not understand her sweet boy and the ethereal beast that had given him to her. He saw only blasphemy, not the wonder she had helped create.
"Don't call him that! He's only a fawn…" her voice trailed off, quiet and meek as she turned her gaze back towards a small thicket behind her. Inside was the most perfect thing she had ever created, the only mistake she never made. The thought gave her strength, "He's your grandson, your heir father! How ca-"
"He's a mistake! Your mistake and I'll not have that…creature here." He frothed with rage barely contained. That she, his first and most beloved daughter would betray him with some fae beast…he would not have it!
His face took on a calmer cast, a decision had been made and he would not have his mind changed by her foolish pleas.
"I will give you two choices, daughter of mine."
She trembled in fear and anger, knowing she would not like either.
"Your choice, and do choose wisely, doe, is the herd," her throat went tight, eyes showing white, he wouldn't…
"…or your traitorous spawn."
An icy grip clenched tight around her heart, "But father…!"
"No! The decision has been made." His gaze upon her was cold, there was no touch of her father there, the stag that had favored and loved her. He was gone, a monster had taken his place.
Panic filled her. He would take away the one good thing she had ever done, the most precious soul in her life… She was terrified. They would not survive without the herd! Her and her boy… He had given her the choice of death, or murder.
Tears filled large, soft brown eyes, she had no choice! His words were a lie! She would have to do the unthinkable…
Voice breaking, tears beginning to flow, "You know my answer." Her heart broke even as she spoke. She could not look back at the thicket that contained her son. Could not bear to think of what she would do to save her own hide. [To be continued.]
"Father, you don't
"He's a monster!" She flinched back from the rage in his voice. She'd known he would not understand her sweet boy and the ethereal beast that had given him to her. He saw only blasphemy, not the wonder she had helped create.
"Don't call him that! He's only a fawn…" her voice trailed off, quiet and meek as she turned her gaze back towards a small thicket behind her. Inside was the most perfect thing she had ever created, the only mistake she never made. The thought gave her strength, "He's your grandson, your heir father! How ca-"
"He's a mistake! Your mistake and I'll not have that…creature here." He frothed with rage barely contained. That she, his first and most beloved daughter would betray him with some fae beast…he would not have it!
His face took on a calmer cast, a decision had been made and he would not have his mind changed by her foolish pleas.
"I will give you two choices, daughter of mine."
She trembled in fear and anger, knowing she would not like either.
"Your choice, and do choose wisely, doe, is the herd," her throat went tight, eyes showing white, he wouldn't…
"…or your traitorous spawn."
An icy grip clenched tight around her heart, "But father…!"
"No! The decision has been made." His gaze upon her was cold, there was no touch of her father there, the stag that had favored and loved her. He was gone, a monster had taken his place.
Panic filled her. He would take away the one good thing she had ever done, the most precious soul in her life… She was terrified. They would not survive without the herd! Her and her boy… He had given her the choice of death, or murder.
Tears filled large, soft brown eyes, she had no choice! His words were a lie! She would have to do the unthinkable…
Voice breaking, tears beginning to flow, "You know my answer." Her heart broke even as she spoke. She could not look back at the thicket that contained her son. Could not bear to think of what she would do to save her own hide.
[To be continued.]
OuO -pops popcorn and makes a