Late Spring, Year 751 of the New Age
Point Danger, Windborne

The young doe fiddled with a beetle, not paying much attention as her mother spoke, "Léi, did you hear what I just said?" Her mother's voice rose, breaking through her concentration on the shiny blue bug.

"What?" She lifted her hand, drawing her eyes to her mother's pale face.

"I was telling you to stick close to the herd, there have been some strangers lurking around our woodlands." Her mother spoke with concern.

Léi blow out hard in a sigh, "Okay."

Her mother's face turned to anger, "I mean it Léi, the herd can't be constantly worried about where you are while we are busy scouting for danger."

"Okay!" the young doe rose her voice.

Her mother gave her a look of disappointment.

"Okay," she told her mother in a less harsh tone, "I will stay close, you don't have to worry about me."

Later that evening, Léi was practicing her sneaking skills with a passing frog. She followed the frog down the path, through some wooded areas and down to a creek. As she prepared to jump on the green amphibian, it leaped into the creek. Léi following. Now wet and cold, she looked up to get her baring. She was much farther from home than she should have been. She began back hoping she could get home before her mother realized she was missing, she knew that she would be getting a lecture if she found out, she hated lectures.

Soon, the sky began to blacken, the young doe could hear thunder in the distance. She hurried faster, she hated thunder and lightning. She could see the herd, coming over the hill, she could tell something was noticeable wrong. Several of the does were circling a large stag. Léi sunk down into the grass, her mother always told her if trouble arose to hide, and she would come find her when it was safe. The rain started lightly then it fell harder. The lightning flashed and the thunder struck. The young doe shook from cold and fear.

The storm moved on and the small spotted doe, peaked her head over the tall grass. She saw the other does standing in a circle, the fight was over. Léi rushed to the herd, as one of the members tried to stop her. The doe stood in front of her, "Hold on a second little on..." But Léi ran through her long legs. She could see the body of a pale doe laying perfectly still, she knew instantly it was her mother.

She called out, "Mother", softly but her mother didn't move. She stopped, staring for a moment.

The leader of the herd, Etain, turned to the young doe, "Little one, your mother was a brave doe, she fought hard but the stag was too much for her. She is..." The large doe stopped, she could see by the tear soaked face of the greying fawn that she understood her mother wouldn't be coming back.


Poor little Léi, her mom is gone! Mommy Ket and É will have to take care of the baby.