the bucks he was fighting against. He couldn't let himself fail now. He charged into the fray of Fleetfoot and three bucks, slashing and kicking, clearing them off. Fleetfoot raised his head where he collapsed. "Leave me here, Huckleberry. I'll bleed out shortly." He coughed, his throat and sides ripped apart. "Nothing you can do with me now." Huckleberry hesitated. "Go!" Suddenly, he realized Fleetfoot was right.

He couldn't be saved.

Huckleberry nodded. "You've done well, Fleetfoot," he nosed the buck sadly before turning and taking off.

Birch flew about in a rage. He was almost happy, excited in battle - this was rutting! But suddenly, he turned. A doe had flashed by. She crashed into a large buck, and immediately, Birch recognized her. He couldn't care less about the buck - only the doe mattered.

It was Maple.

She shook her head, staring at the buck she'd crashed into. He turned, the buck he had been fighting laying on the ground. Maple's eyes widened. His antlers were knarled, his one eye gleaming coldly. His ears were shredded. She backed up. "Trar," she whispered.

He sneered. "Indeed, sharp little girl." He advanced on her, coralling her toward the sheer edge of the ravine. She had no choice, unsure, she simply backed up.

Maple! No!! Birch beat off the buck who he had been fighting, staring in terror. His daughter. Trar reared up, and all the world seemed to almost stop moving around Birch. He reared into the air, twisting, and running toward Trar, but it all felt like moving through honey. He lowered his head, only thinking to save his daughter. All went silent. He charged, and as soon as he realized what he was doing, Birch made contact with Trar's flank.

Suddenly, the world erupted. Trar fell sideways, almost immediately recovering with a sneer. "Brave hero, eh?" he snarled, slamming into Birch with his hooves. The pale buck was thrown back. He turned, aiming to get away from the edge.

"Run, Maple! Get out of here!" Birch yelled. His daughter only stared in fear. He tried to retaliate as Trar beat him back, but could not muster the strength to get away. He locked once, being swung around and feeling his foot off the edge of the ravine. "No!" He barked out, forcing his way back. Turning back again, he swung his antlers, connecting with Trar's and locking, shaking them as best as he could, shoving the buck back. But he suddenly jerked up, throwing Birch down. The air was pressed out of his chest as he opened his eyes, seeing Trar looming above him, ready to fall into a crushing blow on the head. Again the world slowed.

I can't... How...? No... Salvia... Bambi... Campion. I saved Bambi...  I can save Bambi again.

He rolled over, to his feet, then reared to match Trar, but didn't. He felt his antlers connect with the beast's stomach. The force of his blow threw Trar back, and he struggled to keep his balance, teetering on the edge of the ravine for a moment that felt like eternity. Trar's eyes flashed in anger as suddenly, his hoof slipped. He fell, scrabbling to get back up, but his upperhalf slid off. Suddenly, the fighting nearby quieted. Slowly, the entire battle seemed to freeze as Birch approached the edge, where Trar was already gone.

"Trar is dead!" the thin wail finally went up. "Retreat!" The enemies took off, to confused and dazed to possibly continue.

Skander looked around, eyes wide. Nacht seemed to flash with shock, but it suddenly faded to pleasure. "You have done the job for me," he growled. He turned. "I will be back, Skander... and I will win."

"Wait!" Skander scrambled after him. Nacht turned. "Take me with you."