Nacht's Herds

Nacht stood, antler covered in blood, flanks torn, waiting and watching as his ranks regrouped further up on the moor. They seemed shocked, horrified, frightened. No worries. Things would only get better from here. He had his doe, he had Lihua. He had his son beside him, so he may live on through him, and his son after him... Nacht's rein would be eternal. Braila, his head low, ambled up to him, eyes half-closed. Nacht was almost shocked: the buck's thick, muscular flanks had been torn apart and one ear was barely existant - rather, it had been ripped almost all the way off, the top half missing all together. Most shocking, half of one antler was broken off, now hanging in his face, but not hiding the jaw which had been twisted out of place. "Braila," Nacht greeted him mildly. "You look... badly beaten. More than your pride injured, I see? What have you done to yourself?"

"That large buck did this," snarled the large stag, his eyes flashing ablaze. His voice was slightly slurred. "The one with velvet antlers. He bit my ear off and hit me in the jaw. He needs no antlers, I can tell you."

"We'll get him next time," Nacht growled. He turned to Skander, who's eyes were massive. "Who was that buck?"

"That... isn't possible. That was Campion. He's really one of the best-natured bucks in the whole herd," Skander told the two in shock. "I can't imagine him doing something like that."
"Well," Braila snapped, "When you try and overthrow another's herd, they tend to do stop acting kindly, now, don't they?"

Skander shrank back slightly. Nacht grumbled. It bothered him that his son was this timid. He needed to brave up if he was going to help lead a herd. Suddenly, a brown buck - Skander's age - cantered up, bearing six points and one badly battered side. "Send us back!" he demanded. "I must avenge my father!! I will make that pale-coated buck pay for what he did!"

"Calm yourself, Kale," snapped Nacht. He was tempted to kill the buck - he sensed opposition in him. He wouldn't take kindly to Nacht taking over, that was for sure. "There will be a time. The rut has only started, and there are does to be bred and fights to be had yet. There will be more attacks before antlers drop." This seemed to calm the young son of Trar, though he still stamped and threw his head back. "Now go and figure up the losses of the battle, and bring my captains to me." The anger in Kale's eyes suddenly flashed into confusion. He had been a soldier up until now, when he was suddenly being given orders beyond 'kill every enemy you can'.

"Yes, sir," he responded in a moment, seeming to realize this was his chance to get on the proper side of Nacht. The large silver buck nodded as Kale made his way off, weaving between the bucks and distinguishing each one. He began rounding up the captains.

"My mother told me that you said you would have killed my brother and I had we been does," Skander began hesitantly after a few moments. "Is that true?"

"That I said it? Yes. Did I mean it?" Nacht turned his yellowish-green gaze onto his son. "No."

"Then why-" Skander was quickly cut off by Nacht.

"If the doe was frightened out of her mind to the point that she ran away, then what fawns she has may be the same way. Skander. Do you understand why I won't kill doe fawns, even if they are sickly?"

Skander stared at him. Was there moral about to be revealed? If he could, he would drag it from his father. "No."

"Because. No does mean no fawns. No fawns, no herd. Logic: This is a thing that fearful animals lack. I see you are more logical than your brother." Skander nodded, understanding what Nacht was saying. No, of course he didn't want to kill does - not out of the goodness of his heart, but rather because without them, there is no herd. Skander opened his mouth to speak, but Kale had returned with several bucks, Braila in the front, still looking badly beaten.

"You called?" Braila asked, looking distasteful. "Make it quick, will you? I have a herd to look after. And does to breed." Nacht snorted before biting the rangey buck's ear, five times. He jumped back with a yelp.

"If those heal over and don't scar, come back. It will be done again. You are now the general of the Pine forest herd. Find yourself camptains, and they will have four notches in their ear. The rank below them, three, and below that, two. All the other guards you choose will have one scar in the ear. The other bucks you reside over will not, nor will does. Understood?" The bucks before Nacht all nodded grimly. "Good. Then it's Vervain's turn... Where's Vervain?" Nacht pinned his ears back, frowning.

"The traitor Herla killed him, sir," one of the bucks said, looking nervous.

"I see," Nacht growls. "Be  sure Lyal hears of that. He should want to know. You'll be marked a captain first, then."

Once the marking was all over, and Nacht had carefully chosen his ranks, he decided they'd need names: In order from highest to lowest, they were General(Nacht himself and Braila), Major bumping Captain down - thus naming the old Captains Majors, Captain, and Officer. Nacht watched as the bucks milled about, telling their stories of heroism and death. All his puppets - every last one of them. He smiled wickedly. Of course Skander would one day take his place, but his eyes settled on a fawn-colored buck with ears pinned back and red eyes smoldering. That was Skander's competition - for the son of Herla, Lyal was a very loyal one. In fact, he was Nacht's other choice to become General after himself. Perhaps if both proved worthy, Nacht thought, there would simply be a fight to the death.

Bambi's Herd

Silence.

This was what met him when Birch walked back into the does' haven. Some of the younger bucks looked deflated and shocked when the deafening nothingness fell on them - as if they'd expected to  be greeted with cheering and joy. Too bad that isn't how it goes, Birch thought, staring at his daughter, who walked close to him, her flank touching his. His beautiful daughter. He didn't know how he could go on had Trar succeeded in his intentions. A large orange buck, six points, stuck his head out from one tunnel. His golden-brown eyes flashed with sheer relief when he saw the ranks returning and he retreated back into the tunnels to alert the does - all was well now.

Slowly, they immerged, eyes wide and searching for their fathers, brothers, and mates. Some, Bambi thought miserably, would find nothing. Salvia was one of them. He walked over to the doe, nosing her. "Salvia," he murmured, "Come over here." The two wandered over to the willow tree, where Salvia turned to Bambi, her eyes huge.
"Is Birch okay? And Maple?" Salvia asked frantically. Bambi tried to reply, but was not quick enough. "Bambi, is my daughter okay?"

"Yes," Bambi told her. He hesitated. "But... Fleetfoot isn't." slowly, relief melted from Salvia's gaze and her ears fell back. "He... He's gone, Salvia."

She immediately dug her face into the large prince's shoulder, and he felt warm tears in his fur. "My brother..." SHer muffled sob pierced Bambi. "My brother."

"I'm sorry..." Bambi choked back his own tears - Fleetfoot had indeed been Salvia's brother. They shared the same father, but had been close. Bambi thought of him not only as a good messenger but also a friend. He didn't even want to try to find another to fill the rank right now.

He simply wanted to comfort the wonderful doe who had lost her brother.

As the does milled around, blending with the bucks, Faline sifted through them, hunting for her sons, her brother, and Ronno. The buck soon pushed his way over. "Faline," he greeted her, licking her shoulder. "Kaiser and Gobo are fine."

"And Skander?" She asked, ears flattening. Ronno hesitated.

"He's not on the field," he bleated uncertainly.

"Meaning..."

"Faline, Skander's gone with his father." Ronno told the doe. She sank to her knees, eyes wide.

"I've been worrying this kind of thing would happen..." she whispered. "I... I hope he's okay..."

Gobo bounded over, nosing his sister. "Faline, you know that buck... I'm sure he's fine."

"This makes him a traitor," Ronno informed the two, eyes flashing.

"Not quite," Gobo responded, looking desperate in his eyes. He didn't want Skander to have turned sides. "You know him, I already said that. He isn't that way - he's up to something, I'm sure."

Kaiser watched the conversation. He'd seen his brother leave, and didn't want to talk to his mother right now. Instead, he stalked over to the entrance blocked by the lithe tawny figure of Korin. He knew Noir would be inside. The feline let him by, and Noir immediately met him. "I'm so glad you're safe," she bleated, smiling. "Is Skander okay? And the others?"

Kaiser's head sagged. "Everyone's fine," he told her, "But... Skander left. With Nacht."

Her reaction was easily expected, and the rest of the day followed a similar pattern. Inform of betrayal, shock and hatred. Over and over. Kaiser sighed, glad once it was all over. After awhile, Bambi jumped up onto a large boulder to address the herd. "With any hope," he began, "Life will go on as usual, as will the rut. Trar is dead... Nacht is not. The murder of my father has been avenged, but the battle isn't over. However," he added, "I can assure you that you will have another three seasons of peace. The head of the beast has been cut off... it will take time for another to grow. They can't attack us again until they rebuild. By then... We will be ready."

Kaiser found himself nodding. He turned to his den, tired.

He was burning up. It was blazing hot. Kaiser opened his eyes, standing up. He staggered, his vision squeezing into blackness, his head pounding. He closed his eyes, waiting for it to pass, and as it did, he staggered into the open, brathing in fresh air. He looked around, hearing a call. He bounded after it, finding himself on the moor. There was Death. He was walking about, head low, nosing the bodies. Their spirits awoke and stood up, looking rather horrified after Death spoke shortly to them. Eventually, Kaisr walked over to the great buck. He had large antlers - that hadn't changed. He looked at Kaiser, and the young buck jumped. He looked... tired. "Kaiser," the huge buck greeted dully. "You shouldn't be here. You should be asleep... you know does will be coming into estrus soon. In fact the rut has already begun"

"I couldn't sleep," Kaiser told him. "And... I think this is why." He looked upon the buck sympathetically.

"Indeed," he nodded. "Many of these bucks weren't to die yet. In fact, some were going to die later in the rut, during a skirmish over a doe. But not now. I dare say..." He shook his head. "It's tiring, and enraging. I trust that your father will be ended soon enough, though."
"How soon?" Kaiser asked.

 "That isn't for you to know," Death composed himself briskly. "Go back to sleep, Kaiser. But do me a favor and tell Rosehip her world isn't ending yet - let her know that she has a job to do yet." Kaiser frowned.

"What-"

"Good night, Kaiser." The buck turned and walked away.Kaiser sighed - there would be no answer from the buck. He went bck to his den, and crashed into sleep immediately.

The next morning, it seemed something in the air had changed. Kaiser opened his eyes, awakened very late in the morning by the clashing of antlers. He rolled to his feet, and found Noir, Leaf, and Maple outside. Kaiser was surprised to see how relaxed and - dare he say it - pleasant Leaf looked. Noir licked him on the ear in greeting. "I didn't want to go to the meadow yet," she bleated. "I'm not comfortable going alone, after all."

Kaiser smiled. "That makes sense," he assured her. "After all... the rut has begun."