Even before morning arrived, the rumors were shared among all crows, who then shared it with each songbird as soon as one after another woke up. And just before the sun rose, all birds were chirping in a cacophony of shouts and cries.
There really was a fox in that part of the forest, so all the smaller residents had to be careful where they walked or stood. Now, deer didn't need to concern themselves with the intruder, as they weren't its prey.
It was far more likely a fox befriended a dog than it was to hunt down a buck or even a fawn.
At least for now, only one victim was made that night. So there was the slight chance of the intruder leaving the region before any larger predator, or even Man Himself, would catch wind of its presence...
It's been particularly uneventful for Ava these past few weeks, aside from learning the names of things -and- learning how to speak. Her mother always made sure she was secure in thickets whenever she left to find food.
Not that Ava minded, of course! But sometimes she wished she'd join her on her trips and see more places.
Well, it seems her wish would come true soon enough...
"Stay close, Ava. Don't fall behind, alright?"
"Okay, Mama!"
Another day of walking with Mother, another bright and sunny morning for Ava. It's been, what, a couple weeks since she learned how to walk, and now she was getting better at keeping up with her mom's pace!
Now today she was taking the fawn to a place she's never been to, what could be waiting for them?
"Where are we going today?" Ava asked as she followed close behind, still looking at her new surroundings.
"We're going to the meadow." Her mother answered, glancing behind to make sure Ava wasn't far off. And it didn't take long for the fawn to start asking questions and her mother answering each as they were reaching their destination.
"What's that?"
"It's a place where there aren't trees, only fields of grass and a view of the sky. You'll like it, I'm sure!"
"Are there animals too?"
"I believe so. Maybe we'll see more of those like us."
"There's more like us?"
"Indeed there are." The doe halted, prompting the fawn to do the same. Both could see a large grassy field with no trees, sunlight passing through the clouds far in the sky. That was the meadow, wasn't it? "Stay here. I'll go check if it's safe, and if it is, I'll call you."
Ava gave a nod as her mother went past the bushes at a slow pace, looking at every direction each step she took until she was a distance away from the thicket. After a couple moments passed, the doe turned to look back and motioned her fawn to follow.
Despite her brief hesitance, Ava quickly went towards her mother, and soon enough both were gleefully trotting along the lush grasslands of the meadow.
It was much, much bigger than how the fawn imagined; the field looked like it went beyond the horizon in her eyes, bright sunlight passing through the drifting clouds far in the sky, songbirds flying into the open air, and several animals could be seen in the place.
Such as local ducks making their way across a lake, several bunnies feasting on clovers and blossoms, a few frogs hopping away and a couple skunks drinking water.
And as how Ava imagined, there were animals much like her and her mother, a group of deer scattered about. A few her age, some a little older, and grown ones with and without those branches on their heads (which Ava's mother clarified were antlers, that only male deer had them).
And then there was a pair of deer leaving the meadow, mother and daughter (not unlike herself and her own mom); unlike all others, their fur was white all around and they seemed wary of their surroundings, not seeming as happy as the rest. Ava couldn't help but ask:
"Mama, why are they leaving?" Her question was simple, very simple in fact. The answer, however, wouldn't be anywhere as simple.
"They're what older deer once called "pale ones". They're beautiful, but they're also born sick." The doe spoke solemnly, sparing a glance of pity towards the departing pair before turning her attention back to Ava. "Others often avoid them as result, so they never stay for long."
"Oh..." The fawn said in a sad tone; such a lonely life for those deer, wasn't it? But before she'd ask anything else, something back in the clover bushes caught her eye.
Among the light brown bunnies eating, there was a very familiar blue-eyed one -Amelie, wasn't it?- sharing some leaves and petals with the smaller ones. With one nod from her mother, Ava walked towards the group having their snack.
Amelie's ears perked up and she saw the fawn approaching, a big smile quickly shown on her face.
"It's you! Already talkin' and walkin' around the meadow aren't ya?" The bunny spoke as she munched on a leaf. "You remember my name? You're Ava, right?"
"Yeah! And you're, uh... Um..." Ava made some effort to remember, which earned her a giggle from the bunny. With a defeated look she shook her head, but just as the bunny was about to speak-
"It's Amelie!"
"That's our big sis alright!"
"We're havin' snacks!"
"Mama 'n papa went drinkin'!
The other siblings chimed in all at the same time, just like the other day when Ava first met them. It took her stomping her foot and clearing her throat for them to stop chattering, which they quickly did.
"Oh what am I gonna do with all of you..." Amelie spoke; her words could've easily been seen as a reprimand, if not for her smiling shortly after and pulling all the others into a big and fluffy hug pile, which Ava giggled to. "Tch, siblings."
Now while the siblings were doing their thing, only then did Ava noticed something else at a pond from a distance. Or rather, someone else. As the bunnies waved her bye-bye, she made her way to the pond in question.
Another fawn just like her, only a little lighter in color and with leaf-green eyes, staring at a frog who casually croaked and hopped around the water. They carefully lifted a hoof to nudge the frog - only to jump back startled by its loudest croak as it leapt into the water.
The scene looked so silly, it made Ava laugh; only she stopped as soon as the other fawn turned to her with a look of surprise.
She blinked, the other blinked back and tilted their head a bit to the side. She curiously approached and they did the same. She turned her head to look at her own spots, then turned back and walked around the other to see their spots, earning her a look of confusion from the other.
"What're you doing?" The other spoke - by the voice alone, a little doe just like her as well!
"You've got spots like me!" Ava exclaimed with a big smile on her face, her tail wiggling in turn. Prancing around the other fawn with a few more giggles, she asked: "I'm Ava! You wanna play?"
The fawn blinked a few times before nodding, returning the smile.
"Sure!" And so both little does pranced and raced each other, splashing some water in the process and startling away the frog that made its way there.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Mena!"
That day was far from uneventful, Ava knew for sure!
On top of having seen the bunnies again, she met another fawn! Mena wasn't as playful at first but they both warmed up to each other quickly. Only later on before they had to leave the meadow, Ava's mother went to introduce Mena's mother to her.
And explaining that both she and Mena's mom were sisters, and therefore it made Ava and Mena cousins. That possibly meant they'd meet a lot more often, from what the older does spoke.
Which sounded great! More company, more fellows to talk to and play with, could the day get any better?
Of course, the fun part was cut short as they had to leave. Sure, Ava was a little upset by that, but there's always tomorrow, right? So as she followed her mother back into the thicket, a noise made both of them stop on their tracks.
From a fair distance into the path they were supposed to go, something stepped out of the bushes.
It was slender and no taller than Ava herself, all covered in red fur and a long fluffy tail with a white tip, its orange eyes briefly stared at the pair, then its pointy ears perked up and it swiftly disappeared back into the shade of the bushes.
"Mama! Did you see?! What was that?" Ava could barely hold her excitement over seeing a new animal around, although it was somewhat diminished by how bothered her mother seemed by its presence.
"It was a fox. We better stay far from them." The doe's voice, while calm, was also firm.
"A fox? Why stay away?"
"... They're unpleasant company. And they chase away any and all small animal they can find."
And with that, both continued their walk, with Ava quickly stopping and apprehensively looking at the direction where the fox went, before hurriedly running to keep up with her mother. So perhaps not all animals in the woods are friendly, she thought...
Watching the two deer disappear into the woods, the fox continued on their way. Hiding into the bushes, they spotted a duck resting on its nest without a care in the world; its mate must've went away to fetch food.
... It was a cruel thing to do, but it was necessary. They did try making as few victims as possible, but... They were starving.
Ever since their previous home was burned by Man, they've been fleeing from Him multiple times. Fruits and acorns were enough for a while, but now they were starving.
With a swift motion, the fox lunged at the bird. Caught unaware, it had no time to scream for help.
...
Being careful as to not get caught by other predators, the fox carried their meal towards the place where they made their den. They made sure to not leave any tracks leading to it, and thus burrowed into their den, unaware of the crows watching from above.
The birds could only whisper with each other and wonder which animal would be next...