“Boy, come here.” The old doe called to her fawn. The little calf had been staring at the grass for quite some time now. He watched the blades solemnly rock back and forth with open mouthed curiosity. At his mother’s call he slowly moved his head up and walked towards her, occasionally missing a step. His face wore a dull smile, his eyes vacant.
The old doe had known since his birth that he would be different. His mind was not necessarily blank, but it carried a certain amount of emptiness that any one deer could note. She had been warned not to carry anymore children at her age. However, despite her divine properties, she was still an animal. An animal that, like any other, had to carry on the genetic code, no matter what the cost.
The calf was now lying next to her, nuzzling against her shaggy pelt for warmth. Unlike many fawns, he was born with whitish pelt tinted with pale brown. The cream coloured deer looked at his mother with longing, trusting eyes.
“Who will care for him when I’m gone?” his mother thought with a sudden jolt of fear. She was getting to be quite elderly now. Casting spells had become more than tiring; it had become life-threatening. She knew her time was coming to a close. The fawn had already started to sprout little nubs for antlers, yet he continued to act as a newborn would. He was now staring up at the sky, watching two bluebirds circle overhead.
“Perhaps I’ll live long enough. I hope I do.” And with that fleeting thought the old doe went to sleep.
--------
Yes, I know, I've only just started yesterday. Oh well. I felt like writing. I'm not very good at it, but I felt like it. I hope doing this will help me to improve.
