Clock's father awoke, hearing a nearby voice. Again? He lifted his head and turned to see his mate. It was well into the night, almost every deer was now asleep. Stopwatch wasn't too far away, but he was a hard sleeper. His father got up and walked over to his mate, nuzzling her.

"Crying won't help, love..."

She sniffed a few times. "I know... I just want to know what's wrong with him..."

Before them lay the motionless body of their youngest son, Clock. He had been asleep for so long now. His parents had lost track after eight months, and that was a long while ago. All this time, they had taken care of him. They even had a way of feeding him. They had moved to the Old Oak, knowing that he couldn't protect himself from the rain anymore. Stop was forced to keep him warm during the long cold nights. In truth, he didn't mind. Stop was starting to mature a little.

But with every day came a weary hope that he might open up his eyes. He would stand up, a huge smile on his face, his tail wagging, instantly ready to do what he did long ago. His parents would be happy again, and Stop wouldn't have to worry about him anymore. But with every passing night, that wall of hope died a little. It was close to falling completely.

"You say that every night..." His father cuddled her, forcing her down to sit. "And I don't think we'll ever know."

"The Gods won't say, that's for sure... Even though I keep asking... He still just... sits there..." She broke her last sentence up with a few more sobs.

Clock was now pretty much fully developed. His antlers had fully grown, spiking, and curving downwards like wings. His pelt was full, a rich chocolate brown with vibrant golden stripes slashing down vertically. His face bore no mask, but was now a pale, creamy color. Every night he slept, occasionally twitching, but that was about all the movement he put himself through.

"I wonder how much longer we can keep this up..."

"Are you sure he's not.... Not.."

"Dead?" His mother glanced at him for a second, then returned her red, wet eyes to Clock. "He isn't... He still breathes, he twitches sometimes. I've heard him grumble once... No, he's still alive... I just wonder... How alive..."

"Are you worried he might wake up... Half there?" He tried to find the right words.

"Yes..."

***

It had been about a full year, maybe a few months more. The day was misty and cool. Stopwatch awoke from his sleep, realizing he was next to Clock. The night before was very cold and rainy, and he needed to be kept warm.

Stop sighed, standing up. He stretched out a bit, and wandered out into the open. It was quite early, very few deer were awake, but the sun was above the horizon. He just stood there, staring off into the distance.

"Stop?..."

He turned to find his father. "You're already awake?"

Stop hesitated, but nodded slightly, "Yeah."

"What's wrong? Something happen?" He glanced back at the Old Oak, where Clock was still sleeping.

"No... Nothing happened..." Stop looked down for a moment. "... Clock said something last night..."

His father perked his ears, "He did? What did he say?"

"He said..." He paused. "He... He said, 'Don't worry'."

"Don't worry? But..."

"I know... I don't really get it myself... "

"Stopwatch.. This might be good. Maybe Clock's telling us that he's okay. Maybe he'll wake up soon, don't you think?"

Stop turned around again, staring gloomily. He didn't answer, except with a muffled, "I hope so..."

Stop spent his morning at the Pond. He remembered all the times he ganged up on Clock, and other younger stags, and beat him up. He remembered how Clock always complained, always limped around with fresh bruises. How goofy he looked when he tried to fight back. It all seemed... pointless now. What was the point in beating him up? What did he do to deserve it?

His thoughts had changed dramatically the last year. He had matured quite a bit. Enough to abandon his so-called "friends". The group he used to be leader of. He knew they all still did what they did so long ago. They still pick on deer weaker and smaller than them. They didn't change at all. Stop learned not to care, he was better off without them. It made him wonder why it took something this dramatic to make him realize this.

He was a different deer now. Someone with a little more respect. After a while, he had managed to gain some true friends. They understood what he was going through. Stop looked at his reflection, noticing how small his antlers were compared to Clock's.

"Isn't that ironic?" He asked himself, smirking faintly. "Oh well... Not like it matters anymore..." His smirk disappeared. He sighed, "I guess it's time to feed Clock..." He mumbled, lifting his head sadly.

"Talking to yourself, eh brother?"

Brother? Wait, who said that? It sounded familiar...

"'Ey! Can you hear me over there?"

Stop turned around to see who it was. Wait... Was that-

"'Bout time, Stop, I was beginning to think you were deaf!"

It was... There he was. Brilliant, chocolate brown pelt with golden stripes, large, wing-shaped antlers, a cream face, and bright, happy blue eyes. There he stood, with a big smile on his face. There he was. It was Clock.

Stop stood there, his mouth open slightly. All he could do was stare.

Clock trotted up to him, "What's up, you big dope, can't speak now?"

"I-I... How did... You're..."

"Awake? Uh, yeah, duh? I'm not dead."

"B-but... you..."

"Hey, Stop, you look different... And why aren't you threatening me, that's new. Did something happen last night?"

"Last... Last night?"

"Yeah. Last night? We were all asleep? Did something happen?"

"You don't... know..."

"Know what?" Clock's eyes stared at him in growing fear. Something terrible happened.

"...... We should find Mom and Dad..."

Stop trotted away, Clock following a few feet behind him. Not too far away were their parents, grazing. They looked up, meeting Stop.

"Stopwatch, came to feed Clock?" His mother asked.

"I.. Don't think I have to..." Stop said, a grin forming slowly on his face.

"Why, you want him to sta.."

She was cut off by the sight of Clock coming up the slope. He trotted up to them half-heartedly. "Hey, Mom. Stop's acting weird, did something happen?"

They just stared at him for a few moments. Their mother charged at him, "Oh my gods above, you're awake!" She embraced him, crying and laughing at the same time.

"Uh, yes, I'm awake..." He looked to Stop with a confused look, "Did I miss something?"

Stop smirked, chuckling silently. "You missed something."