Her elegant bodice slowly stumbled along, weak and tired. However, as she carried on the trail, she felt a spark of hope. She raised her delicate head, and let her eyes search her surroundings, her new world. Those ginger swirls gazed at the tall trees, overgrown with years of wild and reckless abandonment. She was near the end of the path. She could feel it... And smell it. Finally the terrible scent of fire was gone. Fire. Oh how it terrified her. Before she didn't know what fire was. Now she knew better.An image of her home, the treetops streaked with flickering orange light, flashed through her mind and she started. Immediatly pausing, she stood for a few moments catching her breath. She felt her eyes watering, but the doe would not cry a single tear for her loss. No, for even one tear would bring on a sea of sadness. A sea, one of which she would drown in. She was tall, thanks to her long slender legs. Right now, in the semi-shadows, her pelt was a dark maroon, however every now and then when the sun cut through the canopy and beamed onto her, you could see the true color of her pelt: A rich mahogany that shone bright. Her tail was a small flap of fur, but was nonetheless cute, no matter the singed hair near the ends. Her neck was a bit darker than the rest of her body, like most other red deer. Down it was a small but deep scar she had gotten while fleeing the fire. A branch had snagged her, and she was forced to keep running, ripping it from her flesh. Along her chest was a birthmark, barely visible, that she thought was in the shape of a butterfly. I suppose it did look like one. Hmm. Cool. She had come through many lands to come to this place. It was like a huge animal eco-dome. She smelled the crisp clean air, the first breath of fresh air in weeks. How it soothed her lungs. She had a terrible cough and her body was very sick from the smoke. She would get help as soon as she found it. To tell you the truth, I'm pretty sure she was more curious about the Haven than she was about her own health. Her fears were whispered in her mind, and something told her to turn around, to flee. However, she stood fast and continued walking, a bit slower this time, cautiously glancing around every once and a while. She walked forward on delicate hooves, cloven. She shook. She desperately wished Vriaon was with her, but her fawn was gone. Out of his misery. He had survived the fire, yet not the flight. Daedranie had been devastated. Her first calf, dead. She hadn't a clue how, either. He just, collapsed, his legs buckled from under him, his eyes rolling back, his cry echoing as his heart slowly failed and his body quickly froze into a state of paralyzation and... Well, I don't want to go into too much detail. She was shaken from everything that had happened. She couldn't find anyone from her past herd. In fact, oddly she didn't see anyone. it was like she was crossing the protective tunnel on her own, no one else's shadow to go next to hers. She felt a bit of reassurance, yet somehow felt so vulnerable. Like she had arrived at the wrong place. However, as her feet crunched dead twigs the lay on the forest floor, she was sure this was it. This was The Haven. and this was Haven's Trail, the only way in and out. She didn't actually know it then, but she was finally safe. She was in the new territory now. As she walked, Her eyes suddenly met a bright light that nearly blinded her. Sunlight! She was so close to the end that all her senses were alive. Freshness met her with a gust of wind, and she could feel like all her accomplishments had just been topped, and immediately she knew that wishes do come true. All had come true right now. It was over. Her flight was over. Huh. However, her new life had just started. For this is the story of Daedranie.
And the story just began.


{ ï }


Drakkar Noir sat with his brow dipped. When he raised his head to face his small audience, a playful smile had stretched across his gray maw. Well? he asked expectantly. He was known for his stories of the old days... For stories of the beginning. A bold, young buck, about 4 months old, suddenly piped up. Is it true, Noir? he asked, and immediately all the ears of the fawns around his perked up, for the fawn had voiced their thoughts. A few of the adults that had settled to listen to Noir chortled at the innocence of the questions, however they all secretly wanted to know as well. Drakkar Noir chuckled. It's just a story, m'dearies. Nothing more than words strung together. He pronounced proudly, however his eyes betrayed him, and they twinkled with mischief. For he told more than stories. He told memories.

As she entered the clearing, a look of pure shock appeared on her face. She gazed out in happiness. Other deer grazed or talked with others, mixes of all breeds, come together by anger, agony, and misery. Trees were everywhere, and flowers blossomed here and there. Clover sprouted across the grass, and Daedranie's heart pounded with excitement. It looked different than what she pictured. Better. It looked like more than a home. It looked like hope. She supposed she must have looked silly, but she didn't dare blush. She walked forward, in a bit of a haze, and immediately a buck, perhaps just a smidgen younger than herself faced her. Her ears perked when she listened to him. He seemed bold, but she liked his daring voice. Uh, what? Oh. Umm, yes. Actually, it would be nice to have some company. I was beginning to think I was the only one here! she joked, and a small smile tugged on her mouth. The muscles in her lips were sore and stretched past their normal rate. She hadn't smiled in so long that it felt like a relief to actually do it. She tried to look confident. Sorry for my current state. I must look ridiculous. she said, yet was dead-serious. Her tail was the only thing burnt, and it had only gotten singed a month ago, yet she hadn't gotten a good wash for a long time. Her fur stood on end, and mud and dampness was lodged between the hairs. She would need to change that immediately. I must sound like an idiot, but... What now? she asked. They had been standing in silence, and her question seemed to echo. Yet she stood there, knowing that she needed to know this answer to go on. The flight was all she knew. Now that she had landed, she hadn't the faintest idea how to spend her new freedom. She wasn't used to this light feeling on her shoulders.


{ ï }


The fawns giggled as he told the story, and he stared at them sternly. Once they quieted, he decided he would tell them a bit more about the newcomer. Shhh, listen to the story, unless you don't want me to tell it! he scolded. A wave of satisfaction passed the bull as they immediately quieted and he was allowed to continue.

Hazelfury