My hooves hit the ground. I was in hell, literally. I looked around the Realm Of The Dead, trying to remember the Moon God's Instructions. 'Swallow Your Fear'
The ground beneath was black like an obsidian rock, cracks split through it like vines, the orange glow of lava flowing beneath it. Dead plants, their leaves wilted and their stems drooping, were scattered over here and there. I seemed to be on a never ending desert, the sky was a flaming red.
I began to gallop forwards. My instincts seemed to be sending my body in that direction. I suddenly noticed shadows flittering at the corners of my eyes - was something behind me? It had not leapt yet, so I ignored it and carried on. I was then aware of my legs never aching and my breathe not quickening. The running did not tire me out and soon I had covered quite a bit of the Black Desert and a forest appeared in the distance...

The atmosphere in the forest was terrifying. Fear gripped my stomach but I continued to be brave and observed my surroundings. The trees had no leaves, they were as black as ash, their long branches entwined and the twigs looked like millions of spider legs. I trotted through it carefully. Thats when I spotted them!
In the shadows.
Red eyes and black pelts stood out clearer now.
Millions of dead deer, wanting to eat my soul.
I quickened my step and carried on when I heard a voice in my head, 'Go to the meadow..' it whispered. I found myself taking a narrow path and then into a meadow. It was full of long, black grass that tickled my belly as I trotted onto it. A waterfall flowed into a small river nearby and some dead fawns played by it. The water was grey, colourless, like the surroundings.
I noticed a small deer staring at it, she was on her own.
" Serenity...? " I murmered enquiringly.
The fawn turned and she gasped. It WAS Serenity.
Colour flowed onto her body, her fur became that pale brown and white, her eyes that bright sparkling blue. She bounded over to me.
" Sparx! Did you die? " She gasped. It was a weird question, half of the deer in the world probably never get asked.
" No, I came into the realm of the dead to look for you " I explained, " Let's go, We can get out of here! "
Her gaze turned to the ground, then up to my face, her eyes met my eyes. Thats when I knew - she didn't want to go.
" Sparx, I can't leave, it's so beautiful here. No pain. No bullies. A stag told me the living see it as a horrible place, but it's beautiful, trust me. " Her eyes lit up and she fluttered those long lashes " All you have to do is press your forehead onto mine, and you'll become apart of the dead. Imagine it Sparx, no worries. " She smiled at me.
I had to stay with her. I began to move my head in towards hers.
Closer and closer...
Then I snapped my head back.
" No! Serenity, you must come back with me. What about Latte? Don't you miss the forest? If you really love me..please see that I treasure life..and follow me " I turned, and trotted off. Then I felt her pelt brushing mine. She had decided to come with me!
" Sparx, you're right " She said gently " The illusions of this world shall fool me no longer, but, remember, as soon as we step onto the Black Desert all those ghouls will chase us. Along with Death. "
" I know , Serenity " I replied " I found we don't tire when we run. Just don't trip. "

We reached the edge of the forest and on the count of three, we broke from the trees onto the desert.
Our legs worked away as we gained speed, our hooves clattering loudly on the black, hard, ground. Then there were hoofbeats and calls from behind us. They seemed to echo in my mind continously.
The chase had begun.
We galloped on. At one point one of the ghouls slammed into my haunches, but I kicked at it and ran on.
At times, monsters popped up infront of us, blocking our path. A simple leap or a dodge around it's side and we were safe. I could see the triangle in the distance now, and the thought spurred me on.
We were so nearly there....
Then there was a roar, and the ground opened up.
Lava seeped out over the crack, flowing close to our hooves, and Death leapt out, flames curling around his body and forming a firey tail.
He crashed on behind us, followed by millions of dead deer and monsters.
Would I end like this?
We were a few fawn-lengths away from the triangle now.
One...two...I leapt.
Serenity landed safely inside the triangle, but I remained in mid air.
The sharp point of an antler spiked into my side, I twisted in the air, then landed with a thud in the circle.
And we were floating up!
The sky around us turned black, dotted with stars. Serenity nuzzled me and cried happily, her tears catching in the wind. I cried too, partly from relief, partly from happiness.
Then there was soft grass under my belly, and Serenity was lying asleep next to me. The smells of the endless forest flooded into my nostrils, comforting me. Then my head flopped down on the grass and I began to doze off.
As my vision became blurred and I entered the dream world I felt a deer nuzzle me and whisper into my ear
" Good night, my son "