Prytariel looked at the fawns. She looked at herself in the Pond. She glanced up, and bellowed. Yes, it was a sweet roar. Soon, soon.. a fawn, dancing too near, tripped....

...and they went crashing into the Pond.

Water. Everywhere. Where? No...Fawn..swimming, surfaced..dark. It's certainly dark down here.... she thought, smiling contently. The water tasted clean and fresh. But why did her lungs hurt so much? Why did they ache so? And why was it becoming darker...and darker...and darker......


---

Cloudy eyes opened, head snapped back. Watching deer sprung back as the heroic fawn, having dragged the doe to safety, stepping catiously forward....who was this? A friend? That face did not look friendly....did it? It was smiling, true. The unfortunate fawn happened to have a defect, causing that mouth to twist downwards when a smile grew.

But she knew, just knew it was not a friend. It was IT. She must run. Away. Now.

Bowling over watching and frightened spectators, she began running. What happened? Mind..foggy. Too much effort to think. Hoofbeats. Too much effort to think. Getting closer...

Just act.

Whirling, lashing out, in full flight. Running as if the gods themselves were behind her....

Mist shrouded the Forest today.