"This is amazing! Go see how close you can get to them!"
"What!?! But my shoes! I can't d-"
"Go!!!"
I stumbled from the car and stood there until Mother hissed at me again. 'Not even I like deer this much!'
My Mother and I had been in the car when she spotted a huge heard of deer across the meadow. I, of course listening to whatever my Mother said, was now trying to skulk across uneven terrain without alerting the deer to my presence. Not to mention I was wearing 6 inch heels at the moment.
I inched forward, trying to avoid the branches and leaves scattered across the ground. I was about 30 feet from the deer before they noticed me. Three of the little ones turned tail and ran into the woods.
I stopped and stared across the field toward the leaders, trying to appear less threatening. They stared straight back at me, slender necks craned around to look over their shoulders as they posed as if to run. Several does ran into the wood after the little ones. I slowed my pace.
I was about 24 feet away now. I honestly didn't want to get much closer. Most of the herd was standing close to the edge of the forest now, watching me warily. The leaders stood staring me down. The rest of the herd standing several dozen feet behind them as if watching a well-written play being acted out.
Now at 20 feet, something caught my eye. I jumped back and nearly screamed. At the edge of the forest, there was a wise-eyed creature watching me intently. Standing at the very edge of the deep forest, the creature could not have been visible from the road.
'Oh my God, Oh my God, is that a moose?' I was actually asking God this at this point. I was not an easily scared person by any means but this creature set every nerve in my body tense. Ill at ease, was the only way to describe it. I was now officially scared out of my wits.
Whatever it was, it was several shades darker than the warm brown of the deer. Its gray almost mold appearing fur blended well into the moss of the forest.
'Is it…a zebra?' I was unconsciously advancing and could now make out a horse shaped face around those almost human eyes. Dark antlers were apparent now but it was no moose. The creature grew stranger the closer I came.
I glanced back at the car. My Mother was struggling to see while remaining in the drivers seat but I knew her reactions well. She had not seen the creature. I turned my head back.
"HAHA! MOTHER *#$%^&!! GO DIE!!!" I flung myself around, half in anger, half in fear, in time to see a boy slightly older than me yelling out the window of a red cooper. 'Someone shoot him!!!'
The anger faded and my blood ran cold as I realized I had turned my back to the creature. I whipped around again, this time toward the forest; all the deer were retreating to the edge. 'Oh well…'
The bone chilling fear had almost faded as my eyes locked with the creatures before it returned full force. Those human eyes against that animal face meet my eyes once more and I couldn't stop myself.
I ran as fast as I could toward the car. My heels stopped me. I could feel the creature's eyes bearing into my back as the plastic, hollow heel caught on a small pine bush, sending me crashing to the ground.
I ignored the stinging pain of the hard ground and forced myself to continue running. I had to use both hands to propel myself forward as not to allow myself to be stopped running.
I almost cried out in relief as I stumbled into my Mother's car's front seat. I pulled my feet inside and slammed the door. My Mother sat looking as if I had just walked out to get lattes. I resisted the urge to glare.
"Lets go." I was surprised as to how completely emotionless my voice came out. As my Mother started the car and began to drive away, I forced myself to not look back. Hopefully…the creature was just the combination of a deer and my lack of sleep.
I didn't want to find out.
