I saw the oak tree in the distance again. I've been running the length of the endless forest over and over..I keep coming back to the oak.
I hate the oak.
Serenity and Tamerec are there, curled up together.
I stop. This is madness, I can't keep running.
I hear hoofbeats at my side, It's that doe Skuturz again.
" Sparx, are you ok? " She asks, concerned.
I look at the oak, gesturing to Serenity and Tamerec. Skuturz, I feel, has a way of knowing how deer feel and what they mean.
" This doe, you love her. Yes? " She says.
I nod my head, my eyes not straying from her sleeping body.
" Then tell her. "
" No..I can't. " I say back, I am too nervous. Afraid that she does not feel the same way.
" You can't keep burying your head in the sand, Sparx. " Then she trots off, to find her fawn.
I think about what Skuturz has said. I guess that comment meant I can't keep running from it, it's a stupid idea...I let out a mournful sob.
Serenity wakes up and stares at me with those beautiful blue eyes.
" Sparx...? What's the matter? " She asks, looking confused. I felt angry, how could she not know.
I say nothing, my face wrinkles up with hurt and I turn and run to the ruins. Serenity follows, she can run faster than me and she catches me up. We stand over the graves.
" Sparx, Please tell me whats the matter. " She sounds worried.
" No, Serenity. Just stay away. " I snap.
She looks hurt.
" Sparx....please, your the only thing I have left. " Her voice is pleading almost.
" What about that Tamerec. " I snort angrily.
" Who..? Oh. Is Tamerec what this is about? " She sounds annoyed.
" Yes. It is..he's a nasty piece of work- "
" How can you say that about him?! What does it matter to you anyway.. " Shes shouting now.
" Because....I...Well I, er. I love- " I was cut off by an amused voice.

" Well, well. This is a dramatic scene. " Said Tamerec. Serenity and I looked up to see him standing on a stone pillar. We did not hear him coming, he just...appeared. That's when I knew something was wrong. " Worked it out yet, Sparx? " He sneers. "I wasn't just going to let you take her from me again. I did it the easy way, I broke your heart so it would be easier to take Serenity back.."
Whatever could he mean? No one has ever 'taken' Serenity. Serenity looks confused, then shocked, then frightened.
" N-no , how c-could I not see? " She gasps, eyes wide with fright.
" What, what is it? " Then it hit me. The only deer that has ever taken Serenity was..Death.
When we were fawns Death started chasing me, as he was about to drag me to hell Serenity got in the way. So Death took her instead. I had to journey into the underworld to take her back, whilst being chased by Death. However, this Tamerec deer did not look like Death.
" Two foolish deer tricked by a simple illusion. " He grins. Black smoke is pouring from his mouth and his eyes, then swirling all around him. His black fur now torn and ripped, covered by a long flowing cape made form many different pelts of dead deer. Long spindly antlers with masks hooked on them, a necklace with hooves dangling off it. And the most terrifying feature, his mask. A skull, but not a deer skull. A human skull. As he shakes his head the jaw of the human skull chatters. The sound makes you shudder.

" Serenity, Run! " I shout and then we are tearing across the ground. " Head for the De drinkplaats! " Turning into a bird or a bat was the only way we could get away from Death. He can not fly. I tried this last time but I was turned into a frog, it was the only chance we had.

Deer turned and looked in horror as they saw Death, smoke pouring from his mouth, the jaw of the skull chattering hauntingly. I felt his breathe on my hooves, and pushed on further.
We leapt across the bridge, knocking fawns out of our way. I hear Death's hooves slam onto the bridge and the stone cracking on the impact. As we ran fog started to creep around the edges of the forest, blinding our senses. As we came to the birch forest Serenity suddenly stumbled on a fallen log, she fell onto her knees and struggled to get up. Death laughed and put his antlers down...I hauled Serenity up and we ran for our lives.
I could see the De Drinkplaats now. What if it went wrong? What if we didn't become a bird?
Then as we got to the edge of the drinkplaats a voice echoed in my head. The voice of Skuturz.
" You can't keep burying your head in the sand, Sparx. "
I slammed my hooves into the earth. " Serenity, go to drinkplaats on your own and be quick. "
It was time to end this, I put my antlers down and faced Death.
As Serenity was dragged down to hell there was fright in her eyes. Death's anlers could slice through your soul, only if you were afraid. If you weren't afraid he would be just a mortal deer with no powers.
I swallowed my fear, and charged at Death. We reared into the air.Hooves struck at fur, blood pouring from wounds. His antlers came down, ready to strike my soul. I ignored it, and his antlers crashed into mine, not through them. He looked suprise. Then chuckled: "I guess it is just a battle of strength now. "
We turned and twisted in the dirt, kicking up mud with our hooves. Muscle working to overthrow the opponent. I felt his antlers rake down my side, opening up a huge hole in my side. The wound sent pain through my body, I fell to the floor, gasping.
I could not fight well, I had no Feather to teach me to fight. And praise me as I clased my imaginary antlers against trees.
Death's antlers came down, further and further. He was going to slice right through my chest.
I was quicker. I smashed my hoof up into his throat, blood exploded from the wound and he fell back choking. I got up quickly, rearing above him , ready to deliver the fatal attack.
His body burst into flames. The flames coiled around him, dragging him into the ground into hell.
I'll be back... He chuckled.

I stood in the forest, blood seeping from my wounds. A dove fluttered from the de drinplaats and came to rest on the ground in front of me. There was a little cloud of blue smoke and the dove turned into a deer, Serenity.
" Oh, Sparx! I'm ever so sorry! " She cried, and nuzzled me my blood stained her fur.
" I'm just glad your not hurt. "
" This is all my fault! If only I didn't go off with him. Your hurt! "
" At least your alive. "
" Stop thinking about me, what about yourself you silly deer! " She said it in a kind way. I felt the blood leaving my body, my legs trembled weakly. I managed a smile then fell over onto my side. Blackness.

When I woke I heard Skuturz nearby with Serenity.
" He'll be ok, Serenity dear. He just needs to rest. " She said kindly.
" Thank you for your help, Skuturz. It was lucky you came along at that time. "
" It's nothing really. Maybe you could learn to treat wounds, too. "
" I'd Like that. "
I spoke now, my voice sounded weak. " S-Serenity? "
" Sparx, Your awake! " She helped me get to my hooves.
" You've been knocked out for two days, Sparx. " Skuturz told me.
"Two days? Woah... I heard that you treated my wounds? " I inspected them to find they had somehow been sealed with some strange ointment.
" Yes, that ointment comes from ground up petals of the flowers in the pond. It will get your strength back. "
I smiled at her. " Thank you so much Skuturz. For this, and for what you said to me .. "
Skuturz just nodded, then said she had to go.
I turned to Serenity.
" Serenity, I..- "
" Sparx, I..- "
" You go first. " I said to her.
" Sparx, I'm sorry. I shouldn't of gone off and just left you. It was so cruel of me... "
" I forgive you, Serenity. I am sorry for snapping at you and for running off. "
" I forgive you. "
We went and sat at the side of the pond for a while, saying nothing.
" Sparx, what were you going to say to me at the ruins? " Serenity asked.
Darn. I was hoping she wouldn't bring this up...But I couldn't back down, I had to tell her.
" Serenity...I love you. " The words came out all jumbled up and she laughed.
" I love you too, Sparx. You know that, silly. I've told you many times as a fawn. "
" I'm being serious this time, Serenity. " I said, thinking she didn't understand.
" So am I. " She replied, smiling.
We nuzzled eachother. Then watched the fireflies dancing over the pond, their golden gleam relfecting off the surface. They pirouetted, turned and leapt. Then I watched in amazement as they formed a heart-shape. Serenity laughed and rested her head on my shoulder.
The sun set.
Pure Happiness.