Damn, I'm writing like mad! I already finished chapter two, I never wrote a story this fast. More danger in this one. And you'll finally find out who Fenqua's friend is, although that didn't take to long. It kinda connects two stories on TEF with each other ^^

Enjoy!

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CHAPTER TWO

‘AWAY FROM THE EDGE!’ A strong, black stag with huge antlers shouted. He was running in circles around a group of panicking deer, preventing anyone to wander of. His emerald green eyes scanned the group, to see if everyone was there. He was missing one of the younger stags, but he had already been away for weeks, so it wouldn’t be clever looking for him now the herd was in danger. The black stag stopped in front of the herd and bellowed loudly to get their attention. Immediately the deer stopped panicking and looked at him.
‘Listen up everyone, there is no need to create a chaos here. We’re going to stay calm and leave this place together. There is no need to panic if we all stay together and away from the edge of the woods.’
A fiery doe stepped forward and bowed politely, meaning she wanted to ask him a question.
‘Go ahead Nimlin, you don’t have to bow for me.’ The stag answered with a slightly irritated voice.
‘Sir, I was just wondering what we’re up against. You’re saying we have to leave our territory and stay away from the edge. But I think me and the other deer would like to know what the threat is. And if it’s worth fleeing for.’ After hearing this, other deer nodded and the crowd started to shout things like: ‘Yeah, tell us!’ or ‘Why don’t we fight?’
‘Calm down everyone. This is a serious threat, after a few months of peace, humans have entered The Dark Forest again and are trying to infiltrate this area. I heard they are with many and have brought weapons. Unfortunately we’re not up against those weapons, so it would be useless to fight them. However, if they break through the borders, me and a couple of our soldiers will defend the herd.’
‘So others are going to give their lives for the herd?’ Nimlin asked.
‘That’s correct. But that is our job, we soldiers have to protect the herd and it’s future. If we have to die to save it, then we will.’
‘But who will…’
‘This is not an interview Nimlin, I suggest we should hurry now. I haven’t heard their terrible bellows in a while, but they can be here any minute. Let’s go everyone! Just follow the five stags with the fanlike antlers, I’ll catch up later!’
And after that, the herd started moving, with a few of the soldiers leading them towards the Twin Gods their statue, a place where they definitely would be safe. The black stag ran around the herd and bellowed a few times, calling out his soldiers with the skull masks. They spread and hid in the bushes.

Fenqua and Nimlin were walking side to side, following the herd like everyone. Nimlin was ticked off, because she was rudely interrupted. If the black stag was going to die, she needed to know who would be the new Alpha and if does would make a chance this time. Fenqua was still too young, but Nimlin thought she would make a perfect candidate as well. Being the Alpha’s mate and the fastest doe in the herd, her position was strong.
‘It’s not fair, why are there only male soldiers. Like we can’t fight, we have antlers as well.’
Fenqua sighed, this was already the fifth time she started this. What was she going to answer?
‘Well,’ she tried, ‘probably it’s because we need to take care of the fawns.’
‘What a stupid argument, stags can take care of fawns as well.’
‘That would be a waste of the stag his strength. Even though most does are swift and fast, stags are a lot more powerful.’
‘You’re discriminating! I can’t believe you’re like that Fenqua. I wish you remembered your mother, she was a true heroine!’
And with those words, Nimlin left the herd, searching for the Alpha and his soldiers. Fenqua tried to stop her, but the stubborn doe just wouldn’t listen.

The black stag noticed something coming from behind, a small figure was approaching fast. His eyes grew wide, when he saw it was Nimlin, running fast like the wind. He had seen the humans and she was going straight at them. There was no fear in her eyes as she lowered her head to charge.
‘NIMLIN! What are you doing?!’ He shouted, but she ignored it. She was running at full speed now and nothing was going to stop her. Even though it would ruin the Alpha’s plan, she would prove she was worthy.
Suddenly the black stag jumped out of the bushes, right in front of her. Surprised as she was, she had no time to stop and bumped into the stag at full speed. His hoofs scraped the ground, but he didn’t fall. But then he caught something in the corner of his eye and out of nowhere he smacked his head against Nimlin’s. Once more she was surprised and she immediately hit the ground. Before she had the chance to stand up, she heard the horrible sound of multiple gun shots. She saw her mate being hit in the chest one, two, three, four times. The few seconds it lasted looked like hours, as she saw him hitting the ground and the blood streaming from his wounds. Tears welled up in her eyes as she cried out his name.

‘ORPHRITE!’

The one who dies in battle.


A week later…

It seemed like peace had been restored in the forest. The human beings had left the borders. At least, for now. But they weren’t the herd’s main concern. The death of the Alpha, Orphrite had been a shock for everyone. They held a ceremony for him and he was buried in front of the Twin Gods statue, next to the other two deer who were killed some months ago.
It was also the first time in months Fenqua visited their grave. She knew those deer were her parents and that was exactly the reason she avoided the place. Although she like to pray, she always went to the other side of the statue, so she wouldn’t have to look at them. But since Orphrite was buried, she decided to visit the place more frequently.
She lay down in front of the graves and just stared at them. Even though she didn’t want to, she started to think of her lost friend. She had realized she could lose him, just the way Nimlin lost Orphrite. The doe hadn’t been the same ever since. Not that she had become friendlier, she actually wouldn’t even look at Fenqua now. Somehow that bothered her, but she was glad Nimlin left her alone. She sighed and scraped her hoof a few times in the ground. And she was shocked when she saw she was accidentally writing her friends pictogram in the sand. A few tears burned in her eyes and she let out a soft cry. It was hard to admit, but she felt so lost without him. Missing the days they played together by the pond, the way they decorated each others head with flowers and seeing the look on his face while he was trying out a mushroom. She’d never forget the way he spitted the mushroom out and looked at it as it was a demon. That was the first time ever she laughed so hard she couldn’t stop.

‘Hey what’s so funny! I hate these things!’
‘I just didn’t know you could put on a face like that! You looked at that mushroom as if it was the spawn of evil.’
‘Well, it tastes like it. I’ll probably never do mask spells.’
‘I hope not, I’ll need you if I want that pretty Orca mask!’
‘Don’t worry, there are lot’s of nice deer that would gladly cast that spell on you. But not me, not if I have to go through eating those horrible mushrooms.’

Fenqua sighed as she woke from her daydreams. Why would she still waste her time on him? He had left her and everyone, for no reason. No reason she knew about, because he never told her. And still he was on her mind, after he had suddenly disappeared. After not seeing him at the Playground, where he usually slept, she searched the pond, the statue and even the main graveyard. She knew he loved the poppies and a lot of them grew there, but still he wasn’t found. Until she finally gave up and drew the conclusion he had left her. Maybe he had already found another friend to play with. Or maybe he had already found a mate, a pretty young doe, probably one without ugly scars.
Fenqua stared at the small scars on her left front leg. She had a big one on her neck too, all caused by Nimlin. When she would make a mistake, Nimlin would bite to correct her. She said the other does did the same, but Fenqua never saw any of the other fawns with bite marks. Also, Nimlin had hit her multiple times with her hoofs which had left several bruises and a scratch on one of her hind legs. She knew none of the stags would like her the way she was now, so she would probably remain without a mate. But she didn’t care, looking for a mate had never really interested her anyway. All those young does talking about handsome stags, it was nothing for her. She’s rather play with the young stags instead of discussing their looks at a short distance.

After thinking for a while, Fenqua stood up and decided to go to the pond. She felt really thirsty and decided to drink until she was full. After finding the right tree, she rubbed away her nasty itch. She flinched when something fell on the ground in front of her. Luckily, it was just a tasty pine cone and she decided to eat it. Fenqua looked around if she saw someone to cast an antler spell on and a small fawn caught her eye. The golden pictogram on her head started to shine as she cast the spell on the fawn. A few seconds later, the fawn had almost turned into a mighty stag, as he was now wearing huge, white antlers. Though, the weight of the antlers had surprised the fawn and he fell, not able to get his head up anymore. Fenqua tried not to laugh as she approached the fawn.
‘Hey, you okay?’ She chuckled.
‘Help me! I can’t get up!’ The fawn cried. Fenqua could see he was just a month old. She didn’t know why she kept meeting young fawns the whole time.
‘Just sneeze them of, the magic will disappear automatically!’
The fawn did what she told and sneezed as hard as he could. The antlers disappeared immediately and he let a sigh of relief. Fenqua still had trouble not to laugh.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘You are, you’re such a cutie’ She nuzzled the fawn and almost kissed his forehead, when she remembered the dream about her friend.

'What did you do to me?’ he screamed, looking terrified at Fenqua.
‘I…I didn’t do anything!’
‘You hurt me Fenqua. I’ll never forgive you for this!’ His whole body was burning and he was slowly turning to ash. ‘NOOO!’ Fenqua cried and she shouted his name.
‘Skokey! Don’t leave me! I’m sorry!’

Somehow she felt she had to find him, and fast. Before it was too late.

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EDIT: Omg, so many stupid mistakes!