Bambi shook all over. Even his antlers trembled in fear. Henry took a step towards the frightened king. 

" We'll find her sire" He attempted to reassure the frozen king. Bambi found it an effort to even nod. Henry and Swift tail rounded up all available scouts in the area and told them the plan. 

" The larger bucks will search on the ground, if they come into contact with any predators, that is if they do, because you never know, so be careful, and just in case then you should stay near the ground and, you might not do this, but , careful be warned, and perhaps smaller ones in the mountains?" Henry commanded. The bucks turned to leave. 

" WAIT! Who said you were going to lead? And no one understands you" Swift tail demanded. 

" Me so there. And as your captain, I should say if they understood me!" 

" So now your captain?" Swift tail put his 8 points threatingly close to Henry's 6. 

" Yeah, got a problem?" Henry pushed against the buck, his antlers barely impressive next to swift tails. 

" Guys, we have to find Faline!" Marron another buck tried to remind the arguing captains, who ignored him. 

" As a matter of fact I do!" Swift tail yelled. 

" Right" Henry barked, and rammed against Swift tail, pushing him into some near by mud. Swift tail stood up, a wild fire in his eyes. He swung his head, running full speed towards his ex-friend. Henry smirked bared his head and prepared for impact. 

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Sanft breathed out a long exasperated sigh. She had been walking with this Tricheur character for what seemed like hours. It was twilight, and the forest was alive with glowing crickets and luminous ponds. He boasted about how great he was, and how he had beaten the petty minds of humans many times. Sanft said nothing, for she remembered how she had set fire to the entire lab of the humans, and destroyed their work. She had done it for the powder, for Ka.........

THE POWDER!!!! She had left in the hoofs of her ex-crushes mother Lojalis. 

" That sounds really great Tricheur, but their is something I have to do, it can't wait... its worth more than life" She whispered the last part. 

" But I ...." Tricheur began, watching the does flank run as fast as lightning towards the powder. 

" Why didn't I stop her???!!!" Tricheur silently scolded himself. " Now she'll go out of her way to avoid me unless I..."

" Are you talking to yourself?" A harsh sharp voice from near by croaked out. 

 Tricheurs brain racked trying to find the perfect exuse for talking to himself, if he wanted to keep his false and real reputation. 

" Answer me!!!" The voice barked. It sounded like a thousand old chairs creaking or a huge bonfire crackling. Tricheur thought. 

" Well, it appers we have the silent treatment!" 

" No, I mean yes I was, kinda, I have problems" Tricheur blushed. 

" Tell me your problems" The buck stepped out and Tricheur found it a huge effort not to turn and run away. The bucks joints were old and knobbely, his antlers karled and crooked, his fur dull damp and greasy, but his eyes were different. His eyes were bright, and seemed to burn with all the fires of hell. Just then a dark cloud passed over head and the twisted buck became a fresh new stag. Tricheur realized that the moonlight reveled his true form. Tricheur was confused but did not pester. 

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The force of Swift tails antlers were one that could out power nearly any buck. Swift tail pulled back, then rammed quickly into his rack, throwing it about, not caring that this was just starting to get to Henry's head, and was giving him a head ache. Eventually, Henry realized that if he wanted to keep his position he would have to fight back. Both bucks pushed and turned against each other strength, both fighting to gain the upper hoof. Swift tail looked with his friendly blue eyes into Henry's green jealous eyes.

But as neither of the bucks were winning, Swift tail had pull off another trick. He pulled back and turned around. Henry charged, and as he did, Swift tail kicked him hard in the chest. Henry stagged back. The other scouts watched helplessly. This fight started over who got to be captain, and the fight got nastier. 

With one final effort, Swift tail locked sharply with Henrys' antlers, but they got stuck! Determined to carry on until they got unstuck, both stags realized something. They both meant this fight. Henry wanted to keep his self claimed position as Capitan, but Swift tail knew he would be the better captain, so was fighting for that. Faline would be found once he became captain, both stags thought. Just as both stags's necks became tired, Swift tail tried a new tactic, but one he would regret. He twisted his neck sideways, taking Henrys neck with him. There was a horrible crunching sound and the weight of his neck and head was gone from Henry's body, increasing the weight of Swift tails body. Swift tail pulled back, and Henry's corpse flopped on the ground, his eyes filled with stars, they could not see. 

Swift tail closed his eyes. A horrified expression was now planted on his face. He could have believed it if not for no blood. How can so much blood be missing from one dead body? The twisted neck told of a messy end.The scene spoke of rage and hate, and pointlessness Swift tail realized with a bitter frown. He was captain, but at what cost?

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" What are you?" Tricheur asked

" Come I'll explain along the way" The now refreshed stag told him. His voice was calmer and smoother than it had been. 

" So I'm stuck with you? No offense" Tricheur said. 

" None taken, for I am not all deer. I shall not leave your side, or venture any where else" The stags eyes fixed on Tricheur who smiled weakly. Just then the full moon came out, threating to send the stag into his old ways.

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Sanft walked up the hill with a satisfied smirk. She had the powder, she was not going to die. But all the deaths she had seen or heard of rolled into her memory. The humans, the wars ... Chestnut. Thinking about him Sanft realized it was time to let go of the past. She must not be scared of anything, expect the unexpected. Then the unexpected happened, and Sanft wasn't expecting it. 

A large buck lept in front of Sanft.

" Come, do not be afraid" The buck said. For some reason, the bucks voice calmed her, and she allowed herself to follow him. 

" Who are you?" She asked. The buck smiled mysteriously. 

" Who do you think?" he asked.