After a few moments, Aydan decided to change the subject. As of then, not speaking of that any further was the best way to go, if she wanted to befriend the fawn next to her. Perhaps talk about something that nagged her in the back of her mind, perhaps... Something about herself? Hm, that could do the trick for now.

"Ah. Bruno, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why didn't you ask me the reason my fur is white?" A silly question - one she quickly regretted asking just then, but well, one had to start somewhere. His response was surprising, however.

"Oh, that. Aunt Nettla always told me about all sorts of different deer! Like those born all white or all black, those with huge ears and black tails, those in which does grow antlers as well, and those whose antlers are twice as big as a grown Prince!" The way he spoke of these things, so filled with enthusiasm, it didn't even seem like just moments prior he was frowning and silent...

"Wow! Guess she knows a lotta things!"

"A doe, growing antlers?!" A third voice joined in, and both fawns turned around to see Bran right behind them. He seemed aghast at the information he just overheard. "Wait, does that mean they'd enter in fights with other Princes as well?!"

Eurig let out a giggle, which made her brother look at her and tilt his head ever-so slightly in confusion, and perhaps annoyance as well.

"What? What're you laughing at?"

"In that case, if I had antlers, I'd defeat you right away." Her not-so-subtle smile made him shake his head while the younger fawns and the two rodents looked at the pair bickering at each other, turning their heads to Bran then to Eurig as they spoke back and forth.

"What? No! No way!"

"Yes way. I'm the older twin, remember?"

"But I'm bigger!"

"Doesn't make you smarter though."

"Says who?"

"Says me. Who helped you get out of that muddy pond the other day?"

"C'mon, it's not my fault it's been rainy!"

"And who helped you free yourself when your antlers got tangled in branches?"

"Uhhhh... Those branches weren't supposed to be there!"

"And who got you out of trouble when you made a skunk angry?"

Before long, Eike shook her head and brought her paw to her face, not amused in the slightest by the sight; Corin soon felt dizzy over looking back and forth at the deer before him, losing his balance and falling backwards on his tail.

"Are we gonna see this for the whole day...?" Eike merely shrugged at Corin's question, prompting Bruno to ask:

"... Are they always like this?"

"Yup, ever since they were lil' fawns. They talk n' talk but in the end they still stick together." Eike rolled her eyes then helped Corin up. "Imagine what would be happenin' if they were triplets... We'd be here till next summer!"

"Guess that's how siblings are to each other." Aydan gave a half-concerned half-embarrassed look at the duo before returning her gaze towards Bruno, who just gave quite a sigh and an eyeroll. What a day.

All of a sudden a loud, distant thunder-like noise echoed from somewhere.

Instantly everyone in the meadow froze in place, as if time had stopped. Both Eurig and Bran stood still and trembled while Eike and Corin stood up on alert.

"What was that?! Thunder? Is that a storm again?" Bruno looked up and Aydan did the same, only to find out most of the clouds had already mostly dissipated to reveal a vast blue sky, though still not fully clear of clouds.

If that wasn't thunder...

"MAN! MAN! MAN! MAN! MAN!"

Dozens of shadows flew in complete chaos from one end of the meadow to another, screaming His name nonstop.

In a matter of seconds, all hell broke loose.

Bucks and does running for their lives; crows flying and cawing above them; songbirds and other animals going into hiding as fast as they could.

"BRAN, RUN NOW!" Eurig hastily ran away from the group and into the woods.

"W-WAIT FOR ME, EURIG!" He followed her right after, leaving the younger fawns behind - Eike and Corin had already made a run for it.

"Aydan?! AYDAN!" A voice called from the commotion, and a doe appeared rushing towards Aydan.

"Mommy!" She rushed towards the doe, and both made their way towards the forest, having no time to look back at Bruno — he stood there near the tree.

As chaos came about everywhere, he couldn't move. Couldn't think. Couldn't understand what was happening.

Has Man returned to the woods?

Did anyone know He would return the next day?

How come nobody except the crows realized it?

Wasn't there supposed to be a Great Prince to warn them about the danger before it came?

"BRUNO! RUN!"

A familiar voice and a harsh nudge made him snap back to reality. Nettla nudged him again, beckoning him to move now. So he did.

The last thing they both heard before disappearing into the forest, was the nonstop cries of the crows, the familiar thunder-like noise coming from the other end of the meadow...

... And the distinct sound of something hitting the ground.


As they had reached the safety of the den, both deer stopped on their tracks.

While Nettla focused on catching her breath properly due to her age making it harder to do so, Bruno's legs trembled until he found himself collapsed on a patch of grass, unable and unwilling to get up. Once she felt better, Nettla looked back at the fawn before her, her usual stern and tired eyes giving way to utter concern and a hint of uneasiness.

Had his legs failed him back in the meadow, many a deer would've ignored him and fled for their lives instead. To leave a weaker being behind for your own safety and survival... That is how Nature was.

But Nettla, being the doe that she was, wouldn't let Nature have its way with the Young Prince she was raising now. That was her promise.

"... Bruno?"

He hesitantly looked at her, his body trembling all over, ears turned back, eyes filled with fear. The sight alone made her heart sink. She knew why he was reacting like that...

"Get up."

His legs were still unsteady, so his first attempt at getting up was a failure right away. He promptly shook his head, as if to say "I can't".

"Get up. We're safe now." She urged once again.

Taking a deep breath he tried again, this time being able to stand up before his legs were failing him again, except this time Nettla caught him with her muzzle to give him some balance. Lightly nudging him, she led him inside the den where he finally let himself lie back down.

She followed right after, sitting beside him. A long moment of silence followed, which turned into several minutes; she could've scolded him for not listening to her right away as everyone had fled. But as how things were, Nettla decided against it. Simply couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead she gave a brief lick on his forehead, the best way she knew to comfort a child.

As the day went on, the familiar scent of rain made its way to the forest, droplets falling down the sky and onto the leaves of the trees. Many animals had already made their way to their homes as the drip-drops grew stronger and louder outside.

For most of the afternoon, Bruno stayed in the den — as he still was far too shaken to leave — while his caretaker would sometimes leave and come back with some food for him. It took the fawn a while until he decided to tell Nettla what he had in mind.

"... I don't get it, Aunt..."

"Hm? What is it, Bruno?"

"Only the crows warned about Man... Why was there no Great Prince to help us?"

Nettla fell silent at the question, opening then closing her mouth as she tried to think of an answer. When she finally found the words...

"... The last Great Prince we had... Man took him away. It's been two years since that day."

With this, he didn't ask anything else. They both reached an unspoken agreement on not touching this subject, at least not right now — perhaps later, when they were both ready to talk about this. "Later"... It was always "later", never "tomorrow" or "today" or "now". Bruno couldn't complain, though. He's grown used to it. Ever since... that night, he's grown used to never being told anything right then and there, only "later on". What kind of fawn was he for daring to think of wanting to know now?

Maybe Nettla was right. When he got older, he'd understand everything...

From outside the den, taking shelter from the downpour beneath a branch, a crow watched from afar.