The feeling of warmth on my nose brought me round. A dash of sunlight had penetrated deep through the trees and scrub to me. I embraced its glow and warmth with my eyes. Slowly I moved my ears around listening for the smallest sound. All I heard was silence.....deep deep silence. I struggled to my feet as quietly as possible not knowing what might be listening, my sides burned where the plants thorns has slashed me. I licked the cuts as best as I could remembering mother advice to keep cuts clean. At first the cuts bled more but soon they began to dry. The pain seemed to go to a dull throb. The taste of blood filled my mouth, what for a pool of cool clear water to wash the taste from my mouth. Instead a nibbled at some bramble leaves though they were not very nice either. I sniffed the air, there was a slight whiff of decay.... yes that was what it was called decay. I knew this was old. For an instant the images of the doe in the glade entered my mind, I banished them with a shake of my head. Tears though still filled my eyes.

So with my nerves shaking I stepped from my safe place in to the forest. My journey was slow. I was not going to be caught unawares. Yet the feeling of being followed had begun to nag at my mind. It was not the monster, but something as dangerous yet not mad. I stopped and stared in to the gloom of the trees. ... Nothing but shadows.

The sound of running water came to me, I followed it feeling that a drink my calm me and wash my mouth out of the taste of blood.. Drinking was not that important to me as most of my fluids came from my food, So when I drank I would drink deep and continue on. I soon noticed other deer slots on the ground as it became softer. I decided to skirt round and use the bushes to help break up my shape. I soon saw the water a small creek winding through the trees. A strange new smell entered my nose. The smell of water & earth and something else. The banks of the creek were furrowed as though many heavy creatures had passed through it, churning up the earth, leaves and moss with the water and leaving a slimy mess. I decided to drink from where I had emerged half hidden by the plants.

Once refreshed I stepped backwards and turned...My head hit something, Blinking and stepping back I looked and found myself nose to nose with the monster.

It's eyes where blood red, It's pelt still stained with blood from the poor doe, now faded to a pink hue. I looked harder and gasped! I was shocked this Monster, This stag, was a White stag! Well it would be if he bathed! The stench of it was gut wrenching a cross of faecal matter, mud, blood and urine. It opened its mouth to reveal broken sharp teeth. Without a word of warning it lunched at me. Its body pushed in to the bush trying to catch me but the bush was strong and thick he bounced back from it causing him to lose his footing and slip. I turned and leaped, I landed in the creek and stumbled on the pebbles below the glassy surface, tottering for an instant I lost my balance and crashed on to my side. Water went everywhere. I raised my head spluttering and gasping from the cold water to see the Red monster burst through the foliage its eyes blazing, mouth open as it roared, hooved sharp and carrying death rushed through the air towards my fallen body................
I was helpless
I was weak
I was lost

My death came hurtling at me from above and I with no power to stop it. Eyes open I could only stare in to the Red eyes of my killer.. I would not shut them I would face it.
The world went still…. silence

A shadow passed over me .....

Sound came back to me as a great crashing thundering smashing sound. I was young & had never witnessed or heard the sound of the Golden Rut the sound of the antlers clash the bellows of the stags and grunts of exertion and power. But it was all now happening in front of me.

In front of me stood a stag His pelt blacker than the darkest night. His black antlers where smaller than the monsters, but by all accounts as strong. If not stronger. As I laid there behind this black stag a small voice reached my ears "Run Fawn, run!" I got to my feet hooves tripping over the stones of the creaks bed I jumped up the side of the bank where the stranger had come. I dug in the bushes, and turned to see what was happening. Part of me still screamed to run from the scene, yet I stayed, This stranger had saved me I had to know why! Could this be my father? It had to be I was a black fawn and he a black stag. I found myself hoping the monster would not crush him hoping desperately for him to be the one. To have lost mother, but to find my father, to have a protector.

The two stags had broken off from their duel, the white monster paced back and forth stamping his hooves in the creek churning up water and mud. The smaller yes smaller black stag stood firm his head lowered and feet firm. The Monster lunged and the shadow stag met his antlers with his own. Twisting his head and pushing forward the monster lost his footing and was forced to disengage. The water around his hooves was turning pink. I stared, he was injured badly his left brisket was torn open and blood oozed from it down his leg to the water. His body was trembling with pain or rage I did not know. Then with a turn and leap he was gone with only the sound of crashing foliage as he stormed through the woods.

My heart leapt! I was free of him. The Shadow stag turned and came to where I hid. He spoke in a silver like voice came and gentle "Well my little one are you not a lucky buck this day?" As I went to reply he leapt over the bush I was in, on landing he turned to me "Come now little shadow, Come with me and learn what you are to be". I stepped alongside him looking to his face I saw Kindest and wisdom I felt I had known at some time. One word slipped from my mouth as I looked in to his deep black eyes....."Father"....

A smile played across his features as he looked down at me,... He began to walk forward....I began to step after him....


... "No not quite.........


......Brother"


Part 5
http://endlessforest.org/community/part-5-closer-truth