Couper however, was not as fortuante. She was able to feel every drop of rain as it hit her, and with the negative bounus of her ingured leg, she was in no better situation as she was in the lab.Corection, she was in a worse situation here. A hard, heavy raidrop landed on her wound, opening it, and allowing her blood to cover the streams again. Eventually the blood and rain got to her, and she fainted in the river. Strangley, she thought she saw he ex-best friend Luid running towards her. 

She woke up. Her indigo eyes scanned the small space she was in. It was dark and musty, and cobwebs hung from the roof of the den. Coupers nose crinkled at the smell, and at the cobwebs. She had never been much of a fan of spiders, big or small. Looking at the entrance, she saw the transparent fawn identical to Luid. Perhaps...

She scuffled around, looking for food. The fawn turned and smiled. He was happy to see his friend awake. Couper's eyes were also healing,as well as her leg, although her left eye would be a bother. 

" Couper it's me" Luid smiled, waiting for his friend to speak. But the sheeoat had not used her voice for weeks now, and it had all but gone. More to the point, she was mute, and now unable to speak. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Her friend was back, dead, but back. She smiled, her being a mute would have to take care of it's self. Luid realized she was mute. Now she would have to have help from better deer, ones who would know what to do. 

" Come with me, we'll find some other deer that can help" By the next week, the journey seemed pointless. No deer were willing to take in a strange muted mutant and a ghost. Couper and Luid decided just to be travellers. But the meeting with some other travellers gave them two last potential herds. At night, in the part of the forest they were in, every night the sky was lit up by thousands of bright stars. 

" There beautiful arn't they!" A happy voice came from near by, and a strange doe emergred from the thickit. She was light creamish, and had brownish hair. Part of it was swept forwards. She had socks that went down in a zig zag pattern, each layer in a diffrent colour. She had creamish-whiteish undersides. She had bright green eyes. She was not like anyother deer These two had seen. She had fallow deer spots, so Luid thought she might be a fallow deer. Couper looked at Luid, hoping he would take over.

" What type of deer are you?" She bounced infront of Couper. 

" Hey, leave her alone, she's not a deer she's a sheeoat , a sheep crossed with a goat, and shes mute, so stop all this hyperactivness!" Luid sighed. The fawn stopped. 

" Sorry, mabye that was a bit off. I'm Kya, nice to meet you!" Kya smiled, he dazziling emerled eyes refelcting the stars above. 

" I'm Luid, and this is Couper" Luid blushed, for up close, and now she was calm, Kya was actually quite pretty. 

" I'm a fallow deer she's a sheeoat" 

" You already told me about the sheeoat " Kya was now fully calm, but her chest was rising with all the exess energy that had not gone away. 

" I'm ... a ghost, and no I do not want to talk about it" Luid turned away. 

" Your a nice ghost" Kya smiled. Luid blushed futher. 

" I'm a Vita deer, there half red deer, half fallow deer, although I'm just two Vita deer, I never knew my father" Kya thoughtback. 

" Good job really" An adult doe stepped out of the Thickit. She looked quite similer to Kya in the socks, hair and spots. Her fur was light orangey, but darker than Kya's. Her eyes were blue. 

" Mom, these are my new friends Luid, who's a ghost, and Couper who's a mute sheeoat, sorry if I offened you by mentioning the mute part Couper" 

Couper shook her head, she was not offended. 

" Hi Luid, hi Couper, I'm Kya's mother, but you can call me Asante." Asante said. 

" And I'm Tumaini!" Another Vita deer came out. He was much darker than Kya or Asante, but not to dark. He had a very dark brown head and tail. He had no spots, but Luid and Couper both thought he was more Red deer. His Tumaini's antlers were lager than any antlers Luid had seen. 

" May I ask what you are doing here?" Tumaini inquired. 

" Looking for a herd to stay in, hopefully fallow deer" Luid told the three vita deer. 

" I dont know of any Fallow deer, but there are two white tail deer herds just over that hill " Asante told them. 

"Oh, ok" Luid was dissapointed, but did not show it. 

" Bye!" he called. 

" Bye!" Asante and Tumaini walked back into the thickit, anc Couper started on her way to the hill, leaving Luid and Kya to say good bye. 

" Bye Kya" 

" Bye Luid" 

The ghost fawn looked into Kya's eyes, still reflected by the stars, so full of life. Luid went into a trance, wondering what being alive would feel like again, and looking into Kya's star lit eyes. 

" Kya!" Asante's words focerd Luid from his trance. 

" See you round" Kya smiled, then followed her bother and uncle. 

" See you" Luid sighed, before remembering his promise to help his best friend Couper. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Palugit slowly opened her bright blue eyes. She gasped as natures wonderful sunrise refelcted in her eyes, sending them into all the right colours of nature. Tiny hints of extravagant shades of orange and pink appeared in the sky. Shortly after, The sun peaked over the hills. came out over the horizon. The sky was now no longer the dark shadowy colours of night, but lit with bright colours that made Palugit feel warm and comfortable. The sun was only half way over the distant hills, sending the earth and grass into bright colours, but leaving the sky going up in pinks and oranges, until it reached a layer were there was still night, and the sky was purple and blue.

Palugit smiled. She was happy here, but she felt guilty, guilty because she knew something the other memberes of the herd did not. And if she had to kill every single deer in both herds, and others, she would make her way to the top. She felt guilty about this, but she mostly felt guilty about Trotzen. How can I? She asked herself. She stood up and made her way to the entrance. She would make a new plan, a slightly less violent one, if only there was a buck she could use to help her in a nice way, someone she owed a dept to. She came forwards out of the den. A surprise met her. A buck, worn and cut was standing there. His antlers had been dameged, and only one of them still remained, but the other was a splint. The buck had many scars. 

" Who are you?" Palugit nervously asked. 

" It's me ... Ronno" The buck, Ronno claimed.

" What happened?" Palugit felt relif wash through her. Ronno shook his head.

"It's a long story, Swift tail is to blame" 

Palugit nodded. She understood, well she wanted to know what had happened, but still... Mabye this was it. She could help Ronno, Ronno would side with Trotzen, and if Trotzen trusted him, he would ask for Ronno's advice on does, after all, even Trotzen needed a doe. But what about her mate? Palugit sighed. Looks like there would be a bit of murder. But worth the effort. Palugit narrowed her eyes. This plan could work. Just then she remembered something. Cervola, Sterk and Poza, they would see Trotzen today. She had two chocies, become leader of Trotzens herds by tricking Ronno into gaining Trotzens trust, or let Trotzen meet a bunch of weird Vita deer? The answer was obvious. Trotzen would meer the Vita deer, for they would also prove to be useful, and Palugit ccould quite easily trick them, and set them up .... 

Ronno stood, watching the confused doe. Who knew, his plan had worked, but mabye Swift tail had over done the scars.....

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Palugit had also noticed the sun rise, and sat watching it. 

" Your magisty, three new deer are here to meet you" Palugit forced a sweet smile. 

" Palugit call me Trotzen, as you all may" He added, interupting Sterk, who was just about to speak. 

" I'll leave you alone Trotzen" Palugit turned and left. 

Trotzen turned watching the doe with intrest. Even he needed a doe, and he had picked out severel possibilitys. 

" Begin your story" Trotzen gestured to three deer to sit and let them begin. 

After all three deer finished their stroy, Trotzen agreed to let them stay in the herd, as long as there was no fighting for

" There is already one war going on, I don't need another. " He commented. The Vita deer agreed, and went to the  meadow to mingle with the other white tails. 

Palugit saw this as her chance, and made her way towards Trotzens den, where he stood. However, large bucks stood guard at the bottem of the den.

" HALT!!! Who goes there?" The largest guard asked. 

" Palugit" 

" Not royalty, get out of here!" The guard pushed with his antlers as a gesture for Palugit to leave. She felt offened, but she left. Now she meant it, it was time to unleash her master plan. Palugit ran across the meadow, her hoofs barley touching the wet grass that made her hoofs cold and muddy.

I'm doing this for you mother ... and you Swift tail. Palugit worked for Swift tail and had a crush on him, and Swift tail promised to make her his doe if she desrtoyed the other side, so she would become leader of one herd. And If Trotzen fell in love with her, then It was a bounus, and she would rule both herds, although she did not care in love about Trotzen, but fancied Swift tail. Whislt mulling over these thoughts, Palugit stopped short. There was a glint in the distance, a gun. That meant man. Palugit ducked down in the grass, the wet drops of rainwater brushing against her dry fur. Man had torches. Perfect. Palugit let out a loud whiny, and ran back to Trotzens herd.  Half way there she tripped on a rock, and cut her face, leaving a scar on her nose. Man pursued until she reached the meadow. Ronno was onto Palugits game, and later knew this was no accident what Palugit did. Man saw all the deer, including Vertrou, Lojalis and Bukuri as silver backed deer. They also saw Cervola, Sterk and Poza and knew they were Vita deer, the rest were white tails. White tail's pelts they could sell for 35$ Vita deer's pelts would be worth 550$ and Silver backed deer??? 5070$ !!!! With this in mind, man set fire to the entire herd, leaving the deer running in all directions. Trotzen tried to work out what was going on, how had man come here? In the smoke, a white tail vanished at the sound of a gun, that left all the animals scattering. Trotzen shuted to any deer that could hear him

" Make it to the nearest meadow!" And all the deer exept those that had been shot ran off towards the meadow. When he was sure all the surviours were here and safe he asked;

" What started this? This was no accident! WHO LEAD THE HUNTERS HERE?!" 

At the back Palugit smiled, she thought she was safe, but she was not. Ronno knew what Palugit was up to and saw this as a chance to destroy her. 

" Your magisty!" He called. 

" Yes?" Trotzen turned to Ronno. " Was it you, or do you know who did it?" He asked. 

" Sir it was...." Ronno paused then turned to the crowd.

" Palugit, I saw her!" Ronno shouted with a satisfied smirk. All the deer gasped. Palugit felt crushed, how did Ronno know it was her?

" Palugit is this true?" Trotzen roared at the angry doe. Palugit said nothing.

" You have lead half this herd to their death, and now we have less than a quater of a herd to beet Swift tails. " 

Palugit rolled her eyes.

" You are no longer my mate!" A buck shouted. 

" I dont care! I love Swift tail!" Palugit yelled. All the deer upon hearing this began to move closer to Palugit and try to force her out of the way. Palugit looked at Trotzen hoping he would stop her. Trotzen shook his head, he could take no risks. 

" EXILE!" Trotzen shouted. He had no choice. His voice rang out across the whole meadow, bouncing of nearby rocks and streams. Palugit gasped. The deer looked at her, the buck's trying to scar her, or kill her with their antlers. Trotzen turned, and walked out of the picture, his outline fading into the fog. The deer all began to sing an exile song, to put Palugit in an unhappyer postion. 

" Deception

Disgrace

Evil as plain as the scar on her face


Deception (an outrage!)

(She can't change her ways!)

Disgrace (for shame!)


(You know these outsider types!)


SHe asked for trouble the moment she came


(see you later, Palugit!)


Deception (an outrage!)


(just leave us alone!)


Disgrace (for shame!)


(traitor, go back with your own!)


She asked for trouble the moment she came


Born in grief
Raised in hate
Helpless to defy her fate
Let her run
Let her live
But do not forget
What we cannot forgive

And she is not one of us
She has never been one of us
She is not part of us
Not our kind

Someone once lied to us
Now we're not so blind
For we knew she would do what she's done
And we know that she'll never be one of us" 

" She is not one of us" Trotzen shighed. 


" Deception

Disgrace,  evil as plain as the scar on her face." 

Trotzen thought about what had happened, then he decided he would find Palugit even if it meant betrey his herd. 

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" How did you become at war?" Sanft asked the patroling buck Swift tail. 

" It's Trotzens falut." Swift tail lied. 

" Who? I'm sorry, I don't know who these deer are, exept Chestnut of course." Sanft added, looking at Chestnut. Chestnut smiled. 

" But you can stay in this herd, we need a silver backed deer in this herd any way." 

" This herd?" Sanft repeted. 

" Yes, they have silver backed deer in Trotzens herd, including a larger buck than any of us in this herd, with massive antlers! We need all the help we can get" Swift tail tried changing his personality to a softer tone to get Sanft and Chestnut to join his side. Sanft was none the wiser to his true personality, but she knew he meant her father Vertrou. Sanft sighed. 

" Do we have to be at war, half my family is on that side of the forest. I mean is this rivalry nessercariy?" Sanft questioned, trying to pursuad him to let her go. 

" We are at a war that needs to be finsished, and this side needs to win" 

" WHY? Why does it need to win? Is this hatred between you and Trotzen so horrible that you can't help each other? " Chestnut suddenly stood up for Sanft and asked the question that he wanted answers to.  

" It is a hatred going back years ago" Swift tail told him. 

" Can you tell us?" Chestnut calmed down. Swift tail paused. 

" All in good time" He smiled, then left Sanft and Chestnut alone by walking off to attend " Business". 

" I don't trust him Sanft" Chestnut followed Swift tails movments with his great golden eyes. 

" Neither do I Chestnut, and he's at war with my family, not personally but you know what I mean." Sanft sighed. For once Chestnut wasn't listening, he was too busy thinking about what was so bad and what had caused Swift tail and Trotzen's hatred. Chestnut was still thinking about this when the moon came up. Chestnut looked at the sky, it was dark blue and a full moon shone out over the sky, illuminating the outline of everything. He got up and made his way to the entrance still thinking over these things. Sanft woke up and tried to follow him. 

" Give it a rest Chestnut, mabye it was nothing, but they both remember it, Like perhaps Swift tail and Trotzen got into a fight, and both are STILL determind to end it." 

This time Chestnut allowed himself to make sense of what Sanft was saying. 

" Right, I better get some sleep. You're probably right anyway" Chestnut lied, for he still suspected that it was something more than that. 

Little did they know that a traitor ,a buck, was watching them, eager to betrey both sides, and rule them both. 

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" She was nice" Luid commented, turing to see if he could still follow Kya, Asante and Tumaini's steps from up on the hill. Couper smiled. She wanted to laugh, to tease him, but her mouth would stil not make the words. Her leg was healing, and there was now only a faint scar on one of her leg. Her left eye looked normal, but she was still half blind. Man did also not know this, but were looking for something to shoot. Couper seemed like the perfect target, and man decided to set a trap. It was almost like a bomb, and it killed the animal, but did not blow them up. Man carefully placed the bomb trap under a pile of leaves , then waited for something to come. 

Couper and Luid were not aware of the danger, although only Couper was in danger, since Luid was already dead. Half way through the trees, Luid stopped. The full moon shone through the leaves of the trees, so tiny specks of moonlight scatterd the ground randomly. Couper moved her head upwards, silently asking what the matter was. 

" I sense danger" Luid whispered. Couper moved her large Violet eyes from side to side, but she could see no danger. 

" Mabye I was mistaken" Luid thought, and the two carried on walking. Man was to clever though, and sat silently, whilst Couper took the bait, and stepped on the leaves the bomb was under. Luckily, Luid noticed the lump in the leaves, and pushed Couper out the way as the bomb exploded. The noise was defening, and there was a bright light that made Couper turn around. But the nosie was too loud. It deafend Couper temporarily, but for now she was deaf. When the two made it to saftey, Couper glared at Luid trying to tell him it was all his fault shw as now deaf, even if it was temoariy. 

" Well waht do you want? I can't see through leaves from a mile off!" Luid shouted. Couper wouldnt listen, she turned on her hoof and made her way in the oppiste direction, towards Trotzen's herd. 

" FINE!!! WELL WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH YOU CAN COPE WITHOUT ME THEN SHALL WE???" Luid yelled after the retreating sheeoat. And with that, Luid turned and made his way towards Swift tails herd, the rain never once wetting his transparent fur. 

Meanwhilst, the deer these two had just met, Kya, Asante and Tumaini also went towards Trotzens herd. Tumaini sensed a presence he did not like at this herd however. 

" Tricheur" He growled, and vowed to destroy him. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trotzen fled through the rain. Why was there so much heavy rain nowadays? He thought, for Storms and heavy rain were now commen. Were would Palugit have gone? Swift tails her would seem the likely answer, but that felt like a trap. Insted just before coming to the border of Swift tails terrortry, there were two paths. The right path led towards  Swift tails herd, so Trotzen took the left path and it worked. Trotzen saw her from a mile off, and rushed towards Palugit, not noticing how hevy the rain was. 

" PALUGIT!!!!!!!!!!" The doe turned round to see Trotzen pelting towards her. She backed up nervously, but saw that Trotzen meant no harm, so looked at him closley. He did not seem wild, so had not been kicked out by his own herd. Insted, Palugit ran towards him, and pulled him inside the cave she was sheltering in. After Trotzen had explained his story, and the two white tails sat in silence for a moment, Trotzen got up and walked towards the entrance of the cave. 

" Can I ask you one thing?" Palugit asked. Trotzen nodded. 

" How did you know Swift Tail from before?" Palugit wanted to know. Trotzen wondered wether to lie, and after thinking he decided to tell the truth.

" The truth or a convincing lie?" He joked. Palugit took it seroiusly. 

" Truth please." 

Trotzen sighed, this was the first deer he would tell, and that would hear about this. He hoped Palugit could keep a secret. The scars ran too deep to confess to any deer ... up until now. 

" He's my brother" Trotzen confessed.