The air remained cool throughout the night. The hints of the warming weather from the day had long disappeared as the sun was swallowed by the ever hungry night. A large moon hung high above the earth, looking down on the slumbering world with its silvery stare. The rays of light cast a faint glow but the storm clouds that the wind carried were bound to steal away the night's light.

The fresh scent of rain lingered on the breeze. Spring's signs were appearing almost daily now. For many, the promises of warmer weather and the sun's longer stay was a welcoming. Their hearts fluttered at the thought but for others, it only caused their heart to sink deeper into a growing abyss.

In the fading silver shine, golden flashes glistened as a heartbroken stag walked slowly with a hung head. His giant antlers that once rose high now hovered inches from the ground as he continued to stare down, watching the blades of grass pass by with each step. His gray eyes were clouded just as much as his head, What is happening...?

In the distance, the low rumble of thunder shook the peaceful night. Paavo rose his head, looking in the direction of the sound. The clouds flashed as lightning bolts jumped from cloud to cloud as if they were playful fawns dashing through the meadows. He turned away, showing his back to the storm, as he continued onward remembering the days of his fawnhood.

Fate had proven to be a cruel master. He had beaten Paavo down since his birth and only chased after him after his attempts to escape the painful grasp. Yet each time that he had felt that he broke free of life's leash, he found himself only get tangled once again. The weight of the chains pulled him down, causing him to weaken as he struggled until eventually, he gave in. Now he felt as if he was cast into the middle of an angry ocean waiting to drown. His motivation to want to swim was slipping away and no land or rescue boat was within sight.

A deep, low sigh escaped from his frowning lips as the night grew darker. The thunder's roar grew louder as if it were a beast sending a warning to any who stood before it. As Paavo looked up once again to face the snarling beast, he realized that he had made his way to the pond edge. The wind picked up, blowing his golden fur side to side, while he stood motionless beside the weeping willow tree; both of them silently mourning. In the middle of the pond, the lily pads bobbed as waves were created from the gusts of wind. For a brief moment, Paavo could have sworn that he heard the distant, faint echoes of laughter that he and his friends once shared. Though the once blissful memories had turned into torturous hauntings.

His legs shook beneath his weight. The events from the past few days had begun to drain him. The lack of sleep and of appetite caused his movement to be a strain on his body. Groaning, he collapsed to the ground, resting his head on the side of the willow tree. For an unknown reason, feeling the bark rub against his face comforted him, perhaps because it had come the only form of contact he received now.

The long leaves swayed back and forth in the wind around Paavo. He watched quietly as the moon's reflection was eaten alive by the storm clouds. Occasionally he would catch a glimpse of lightning dash across the water's surface. The sky broke open, causing the rain drops to fall just as he had; not even nature as free to do as it will. He continued to lay quietly as he watched the drops splash into the pond. It was in the rain that you had fallen for each other, wasn't it...? He thought to himself as he closed his eyes, remembering the breaking of the news and of his heart. It seems that it was so recently yet happened so long ago...I had been so bitter and selfish back then. Perhaps if I had remained quiet- sealed myself as Lady Kumiko had - maybe you would be happy today...

He opened his misty eyes as he blinked away a few tears. Crying only made him feel weaker, for a "prince" should not shed them. Yet, as the days moved slowly by, he found himself hiding it hard to keep it all closed away. Everything he had once known...Everything he had cared for...Everything he had wanted...Was now gone...One friendship seemed to have ended so bluntly and on horrible terms; another ended without even a good-bye. And now the last one that seemed to remain- and the one he had once held deer - felt as if it were slipping away.

Flash backs from the day before returned uninvited to him. The visions of Shyla's tear-filled face and her spotted pelt disappearing into the Forest's lush green bush only filled him with more emptiness. How badly he wanted to be beside her, to remind her that he truly asked for nothing more than friendship and would always be there for him, yet he seemed to be more of a burden than a comfort. He felt so foolish to think that she would accept his presence at a time like this after all he had once said, and how foolish he was to stand there and beg Wyvern for help when not even she knew what to do.

"The rain is always beautiful at night," a whisper came from behind.

Paavo knew the voice well and did not need to ask for an introduction, "What brings you here?"

From the darkness, a lean doe appeared. Her twilight-tinted coat hid her well in the shadows, except for the slashes of purples and blues that mixed on her back. The brightly painted designs on her antlers caused her to stick out, but her face remained hidden behind the bird beak mask. She stepped up beside him but kept her gaze forward, "Much like you, I could not sleep."

"Oh?" his ears twitched with curiosity. "I thought things were well."

Kumiko sighed as she watched a drop of water fall from the beak upon her face, "As did I but ghosts of the past are not easy to get rid of."

"Sounds like you have a story to tell."

She shook her heard, causing the fur on her neck to fluff as it began to dry, "I always seem to have one but it is not worth retelling. Just know this...Reality seems to have slipped away from under my feet without me even knowing."

"So you feel distant from them as well?"

Kumiko tilted her head to the side as she looked over at Paavo, "From who?"

"Your friends," he now rose to his feet, trembling from tiredness, "I am not stupid, Lady Kumiko, I can see the distress in your eyes just as well as you can see it in mine."

"I...I see..." her voice was low as she pulled her eyes back. "Things...They just don't feel as strong as they use to be...I know that they care for me just as I do them but...I feel as if I miss so much from their lives." Kumiko took a step forward trying to avoid Paavo's gaze. "I try to be there...To be apart of it all all the time but destiny likes to play tricks. I can't always be there and it seems like everything important happens when I'm gone. I just feel like dead weight..."

"I'm sure that is not true."

"Perhaps...But who am I to complain? Especially to someone like you with the situation you are in."

Paavo grew quiet as he turned away. His eyes fell upon the lilies again; oh what he wouldn't give to feel innocence again. "My problems should not matter...Nothing can be done about them anyway..."

Kumiko looked over at him with sorrow in her eyes, "I'm sorry that I do not have an answer for you this time..."

He shrugged but said nothing. He only stared out into the night, wishing he could run freely.