NyjerSokar was awake. Night had fallen on the forest and his resting place. He stretched and yawned. Blinking he looked around to the familiar trees. The beech, roan,oak,hazel,ash,chestnut, and so many more. There colours starting to turn as Autum drew near. He raised his head and nosed the night air. Damp, earthy and ......and something new a sharp sent on the tip of his nose then....gone. Shaking his head he put the strange sent to still being half awake.
He stepped out from the over grown ruins in to the trees. The night air was slighly chiled but not unplesant. Letting his instincts guide him. He stopped near a patch ground where someone had scrapped and trampled. He sniffed the ground. The sent of a rabbit and fawn came to his nose.He had no idea what had been happening, but it was clearly nothing bad. He paused and thougt who it might have been. The fawn smelt young. It must be Hazel and her fawn little Mela. Not his but still a fine doe and pretty fawn. He would not be a father for several more years so he had no worries as such. Mela had been the last fawn in the forest to be born and was small for her age.Hazel had mated almost 2 months after the rut. not one knew how her body did it but she had carried her fawn to full term and Mela was prouth of that. Nyjersokar smiled and felt proud that they felt safe in his area. The new rut would soon be in full swing,hazel would not be in season, but it was best for her and Mela to stay hidden till the madness had passed the stags.

He wondered along through the trees following the sent of the hind and fawn. The forest seemed quiet and at ease the wind had picked up a little making weak leaves float down like golden snow. He felt he should check to see how they were both doing. Hazel had lost her mate of that year after the rut. He had been called Whitetip and had won her several times.