He knew the day would come when he grew too old to lead his herd but the whole day felt surreal, moving way too fast and chaotically. Although past his prime the old stag still had sharp senses and his ears picked up the increasingly frantic buzzing of activity. The sun had barely begun to rise in the horizon when the humans began the preparations for the annual culling. Hakir was ready and even welcomed the thought of finally being released from his responsibilities as leader, as he thought this his gaze fell upon his many children and grandchildren. He had led this herd for many years and served the humans well in their time of need; he had the stories and the scars to more than prove his valour. The male's head rose proudly as he inhaled the crisp mountain air, his memories filled him with pride knowing he would die leaving behind a prosperous and respectable herd.

One of his eldest sons was the first to step forward from the whispering crowd. This young version of Hakir was sure to be chosen as the next leader. He looked at his father not with ambition or hunger for power but with sadness knowing today would be the last day he would be spending with him. "Father." He spoke with a firm tone.

"Ankh. Son." The older male embraced his eldest before addressing him further. "You will be a strong and fair leader. You've already proven that if left in your care this herd and its people will continue to prosper." He spoke with conviction holding his head up high. His gaze firmly planted upon his son's face filled with pride and joy. He felt no fear or regret and was at peace with himself and the ancestral spirits he believed guided his herd. The son stepped forth and once again embraced his father whom he knew had already made peace. He nodded at the old greying male and stepped back into the crowd. The herd came forth one by one each saying a prayer and giving the male a parting gift as was the custom on such days. Usually there were more than one male to be culled but Hakir found himself alone on his journey.

The humans had gathered inside the leader's tent to discuss what should be done to properly honour Hakir. There had been talk of how unfitting it would be for the old bull to be simply put down, after all he had sacrificed much of his life to protecting the growing tribe from the many dangers they faced. The elders bickered amongst themselves for what seemed like an eternity. The passing of time had been noticed by everyone even the herd of deer, they worried something might be wrong so as usual they turned to their aging leader for answers. Hakir strained his ears but was unsuccessful at picking up any words coming from the closed off tent, he turned to his herd and shook his head.

"Everything is alright. They must be bickering about something or another as is usual for times like these." His attention was brought back to the tent when he heard the sound of the old hide being peeled to the side to open the entrance. A young man emerged from inside and closed the door before beginning to walk towards the deer. Hakir knew him well as a friend and caretaker, the youngster often brought treats for the herd's youngest members and spent many days grooming and caring for everyone. He was well liked amongst the deer but especially by Hakir. The old bull snorted and lowered his head to touch the human's outstretched hand with his nose.

"It seems you've caused quite the fuss old friend." The human smiled. Hakir's ears twitched as they often did when he felt confused. "Well. You're such a special member that they just don't know what to do with you..." Said the youth as he ran his hands down Hakir's forehead and muzzle. The bull grunted and shook his head in disapproval. "I would have been happy with a simple ceremony, like my elders before me." He said to himself as he looked at the ground. He then turned towards the gifts that his herd had offered him, mostly food but some were decorative feathers. The old male turned towards his human friend and gently nudged him. They both walked towards the offerings and the young man understood; Hakir wanted to wear the gifts and have his last meal before being sent off. As the young man attached the few feathers with strips of leather Hakir busied himself with savouring every bite.

It was close to early afternoon when the matter was finally settled; Hakir would be the first in many years to receive the honour of being released into the wild. The ceremony went underway and the old stag was well decorated with a quilt made of the pelts and feathers of native creatures and his skull mask was repainted for the occasion as well. The humans prayed and chanted as the old male was made to imbibe a special drink for the purpose of aiding his return to nature. It made him feel strangely relaxed and as he was lead to the opening of the forest he thought of nothing but his family and all the good he had done for his humans and his herd. Hakir stepped forth into the thicket without looking back for he knew if he saw the faces of his children he would be tempted to return.

As he moved forward the sounds of his herd and the sounds of drums and chanting became more and more distant. Hakir had never been wild so this was a learning experience for him. "Frankly I would have preferred to get my eternal rest..." He huffed out a bit annoyed but also flattered by the honour he had been given. As far as the herd's collective knowledge went there had only been 4 others to receive such treatment; all great heroes, legends even amongst the many herds. The old male sighed and rubbed his cracked mask off so he could scratch his greying muzzle on a tree trunk. Once satisfied he began to lay his heavily scarred body down on a soft bed of moss. He felt surprisingly tired by the whole ordeal and the fact that he had been wandering lost in the forest for hours. At about midnight that same night he felt a strange tingling on his face and after trying his best to ignore it for about half and hour the stag forced his heavy eyelids open. He shook his head and pulled his body back startled by what he saw; it was a small blue flame. The thing had been sitting on his face for who knows how long, he didn't feel any pain so he assumed he had not been burned by it but his heart was still beating with such force it threatened to break though his old rib cage.

The little flame danced before his eyes casting a haunting glow on everything around it, the little thing seemed to beacon him forth with a silent voice. His ears ringed as he strained to hear it. Without words he understood that he was to follow this thing, whatever it was. He hesitated at first even pinching himself with his teeth to assure himself he wasn't dreaming. With a quick powerful push of his limbs he was off the ground and ready to follow the strange wisp. The blue flame jumped up and down happily before weaving through the trees almost too fast for Hakir to follow. "Hey! W-wait up little one!" He blurted out trying to keep up, his body was thick and heavy, fast but at the loss of maneuverability. Hakir found himself struggling hard to negotiate the tight turns the wisp made with such ease. Without warning the large male hit a root that had been unearthed by the rains, his momentum sending him forward into what would surely be a painful crash. He shut his eyes tightly and braced himself for the impact but it never came, instead he found himself floating in near total darkness; no sound, no wind, no smell, it was complete nothingness.

"Am I...dead?" He asked not expecting any answers. The deer righted himself or at least he thought he was upright, it was hard to tell with no ground beneath or above or anywhere to be seen. His limbs swung as if he were swimming he felt like he wasn't moving but still felt the urge to try. A small blue flame in the distance beckoned him once again and he quickened his swim through a river of darkness. At least now he was sure he was moving as the wisp became bigger and bigger the more he paddled. Once he was but a nose's distance away the little blue flame spun in a tight circle and off it went into the distance; calling to him. "Another chance?" He snorted not too pleased with the idea. A quick glance around him however convinced him he had no choice but to follow.

It had been a game of cat and mouse for almost an eternity the male thought to himself as he continued to follow the wisp through a tunnel of complete emptiness. It had begun to feel different however, more oppressive as if the darkness was somehow becoming thicker, closing in on him at a quicker and quicker pace. He struggled against the sensation of claustrophobia but in an instant he was overcome by it. A gasp escaped his mouth as his eyes shot open; he was back in the forest. "Was it all a dream?" He thought as he looked around with wide eyes. "No, it couldn't have been....it was, so...real." Hakir stood up in an instant, heart pounding and lungs begging for more oxygen. The male was hyperventilating as he began a panicked trot through the woods in the direction he had entered them. He wanted to return home, see his family, he didn't want freedom he wanted to rest. Fear began to fill him as he found himself back where he had begun. "Wh-what....impossible I...no." He tried again and again until exhausting overtook him. He laid down with limbs too scraped up and sore to carry him any further, his bones ached as did his lungs, his throat was dry and stung. "This damn forest....it's Endless....." We're his last words before sleep broke him, crushing him beneath is overbearing weight. Tired old eyes closed and he fell into a dreamless restless sleep.