Cedar awoke, his nostrils filled with suffacting  smoke. He coughed feebly, and got to his hooves, unsteadily.

"Mother? Father?" He called, his voice uncertain.

"Ce-Cedar!" His fathers vioce wheezed infront of him."C-c-Come here!" Cedar obeyed and inched forwards untill he cold see his parents outlines. Then a dazziling light flashed, the forest around them was a powerful mass of red and orange.

"Whats going on!?" Cedar yelped, as the flames danced infront of him.

"Darling, we have to get out of here! Man has set the forest on fire!" His mother yelled over the crackiling of the blaze. His parents turned to leave, and Cedar followed hastily. Even though Cedar was fully grown he stayed close to his mothers flank.

"Mother, im scared, what if-" But Cedar never got to finish that sentance, as the flames suddenbly leapt closer and  a burning tree fell infront of them. Blocking there path.Cedar turned his head."Where do we go now!?" He cried. He had never been so scared in his life, not even when Man had entered the field where he had been playing as a fawn.

"THIS WAY!" Cedars father called, his antlers shone in the fire light, like a guide of hope. Cedar and his mother followed quickly. His father led them through a small pathway, Cedar could feel sense the Flames casing behind them. They were fast, soon they would catch up, and when they did..... Cedar hated to think about it. " I dont want to die!" He whispered.

All around them the animals of the forest were fleeing, animals of every kind. Deers, rabbits, skunks,  birds, moles.All around him youung fawns and their families ran in blind panic. But Cedar's thoughts soon moved on from then as his only concern was getting his family out safely. Then a great roar rang through the forest, shaking it to its now burning roots. The roar of the fire was closer, much closer than before.

And then it happend, the flames jumped up, and sprang around Cedar and his parents, but before they trapped them intierly, Cedars father pushed Ceder out of the blaze.. Cedar landed hard on the ground , the blaze had his family trapped. Cedar was cut of from his family, by a burning wall of flames. Getting up he realized what was going to happen.

"NO!" Cedar yelled.

"Cedar!" His father commanded." Go! Go Now! Dont worry about us! Just get out!"

"We love you, now please go!" His mothers voice chimed in,begging with him, pleading Cedar was filled with confusion. He couldnt just leave his parents to die! But he had no choice, there was nothing he could do. He sadly turned and raced away, calling.

" I wont forgot you!" Tears burned in the corner of his eyes, he shook his head. he wouldnt cry, not now. The grief and loss sliced through his chest, as he heard the faint cries from his parents, fade away.

The fiery monster was fast, so Cedar had to be faster. It was strong, so he had to be stronger. His mind  spurred with the memory of the loss  his parents, he couldnt die now. Not after they had lost their lives, and forced him to go on. The flames were right behind him, he could barely see a way out.

There was no way out.

He was doomed.

Cedar looked around, his mind was panicking. He had to escape, yet how?

Then he saw his chance, nearby a cliff towered over him, it was a long leap.But Cedar had to jump, it was his only chance. And he took that chance.

With great determination Cedar leapt, he hung in midair for a few nerve racking seconds before he landed on his legs, on the other cliffs side. He had made it! For a few minutes he wandered around aimessly, wandering where to go. But then up ahead he saw water, and the small island at which where the surviving forest animals were residing. Fire couldnt follow him there.he had made it out of the flames. Cedar made the walk through the cold, refreshing waters that lapped at his legs.

Once he reached the island he collasped, not caring about anything else. He was safe, alive but not happy.

His mind wandered to his parents, they were gone. Long gone by now, there was no hope, that they had survived.Cedar was alone in the world. He was an orphan, no family, he never had any friends. Surrounded by his kind, he still didnt feel at peace.

Then he felt a respectful presence above him, he looked up and met the gaze of The stag in front of him. The Great Prince. The Prince looked down at him, in a calm voice he asked.

"Are you hurt?"

Cedar shook his head."Not pyhsically, No."

The Great Prince observed him in sadness for a few seconds then nodding, he moved away. To check on the other deer. Somewhat relieved Cedar noticed all the Fawns from the forest alive, only a few adult deer had been lost.

Cedar sighed, he murmering to himself."So... what do i do now?" With those six questioning words, he thought to himself. Firstly find yourself a Doe. Thats when he looked up and saw a doe not to far away from him, lying down, alone. Just like him. He met her gaze, and a odd fee;ling sturred within him. Then he gave a small smile. That one. All of a sudden his hert felt lighter, and the loss of his parents left his mind. It was time to move on, and he had a feeling that the Doe who he was watching now. Was the way to do that.

~The End~