For Terabetha's
Great Jawbone Mystery Contest. Yes, this is a parody to
The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs
Slight gore warning
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There was a deep scent in the air. The deer was drawn to it, unsure what it was smelling. The forest was filled with strange smells, but this seemed...exotic.
The deer soon found an open place, and saw strange sights. There were giant metal things that spun, odd things made of fabric that rippled in the breeze, and a variety of scents that the deer had never smelled before.
It didn't realize it had stepped into a human's fairground.
The deer caught a whiff of it's own kind, and proceeded to approach the nearest tent. Peeking in, it didn't see anyone inside, but instead saw strange objects such as a crystal ball and other oddities. Nearby the scent of the deer was very strong, but it did not see a deer inside. It noticed something sitting on the table near the crystal ball, and as it approached, it began to see a strange deer limb laying there. It was dried, and upon further inspection, the deer noticed it had three toes on the hoof. The hoof was bent downward strangely, it seemed very unnatural.
"I see you found the three-toed hoof...", someone spoke to the deer. It nearly jumped, and turning, it saw an old woman there, staring at it with a strange look in it's eyes.
The deer tilted it's head here, "How can I understand you?", it asked.
The woman walked toward the table, before giving the deer a glare, "I understand nature. I know why you are here - you are interested in this hoof.", she spoke.
The deer slowly nodded it's head, "I've never seen a hoof like that. It is all very interesting!", the deer replied.
"Ah yes. This is no ordinary hoof.