Walking the path of the forest fleeting images of shapes flitted forth across rock and grass. I started to look up to join the run, but something told me to watch the deer shadows instead. Positioning myself so the rays of the golden sun beaming through tree trunks, leaflets and stone could be seen easily, I opened my mind's eye to all the possibilities.

Depending where the others ran determined the size of their shadow. The shadow did not necessarily tell one its age just that it had a deer outline. Sometimes the antler shadow would hint of an adult life but often antler shadows playfully blended into the drooping tree branches. In shadow land the shades of grey did not distinguish flesh from shadow. If a deer so desired to have large antlers it could easily do so by positioning itself near a large branch shadow. Rutting out of season always allowed in the meadows.

If a deer wished for a short time to become a fawn frolicking one could do so. Better yet this round could watch its own fawn shadow in innocence play. Giant shadow deer happened when one stood on the ridge with the sun lower in the sky like evening. It would cast so far one had to stand on another ridge to see the whole shadow image. More fun if a deer had a mate and being exclusive one could cuddle in its shadow. Even lie betwixt its four legs and take a gander. After all it tis only shadow. No law on shadows.

Deer shadows lets one have its desires under the umbrella of grace. Once dark and no moonlight no evidence of the shadow or the action take exists. No shadow babies. No shadow sin. All in the grey areas right on the edge but never stepping past that moral boundary. Truly no rules just shadow.

I drift in and out of the ruins. I think of the fond memories I have of them, and I dig up one before I had a name. I had met a fawn, and we had been dancing together by one of the graveyards. When we said goodbye, tears sprang to my eyes, and I watched as the fawn trotted away into the forest.

There are other memories I have of the ruins, like the time I met 3 deer in the flower patch nearby. I still did not have a name, but all the same it was a great party.