Raed | One Shots

Chapter 3 - The Beast with White Eyes

Beaming moonlight strikes to the crystallized ice rink, which in return reflected the beast beside the trees - it was a deer. Its coat is brown-like copper and its eyes are glistening white in the darkness.

It was thirsty but the lake was frozen because of the winter season.

Not long after, a little whoosh in the bushes of the opposite direction alerted the tall deer. A hunter. What will happen to the deer?

A slight whoosh again frightened the beast that made it run north, not looking back or not making the culprit catch for its speed. A sharp pain then engulfed its whole body making it collapse on the cold snowy ground. What's the matter?

Little did the deer know that a bullet passed its way to its both legs. In pain and paralyzed.

Footsteps are recognized by the deer whilst its ears lean back. It's the hunter's fault. Why is he selfish and what made him do this?

The deer is wanted as beheaded, it has piercing bronze eyes that are glistening white when struck by moonlight. It has a brown-like copper coat with taupe hoofs. Its antler is strikingly beautiful and different, making it extraordinary. The deer is called "the beast with white eyes" in town, everyone will receive a huge amount if the beast with white eyes is captured and beheaded. A great display in the bar of the town.

Goddess, please.

The environment changed, the deer felt confused when few faces greeted it with warm happy smiles. As days went by, the deer thought of something it never did. Was I always this light? After experiencing being lifted by a young woman who was always missing in the room full of noisy people.

"Max is the name they gave you, right? I sometimes think-- uh, do you have a true name?" The young woman asked the deer while petting it.

"Uh, nevermind, I asked you this because I feel like you can talk to me with your eyes," Then, she chuckled. She lifted Max, the name they gave the deer, again. "You know, I don't really want to keep you at first because I already have a dog on my own but since you're cute, I'll keep you," She added and giggled. What does she mean?

After months of being in this room with people going in and out, Max wonders about what happened, why does the environment look so big, and why are the people giants.

"You're the first one who always greets me everyday with a smile. I can't even get mad at you,"

"Look at yourself, Max. You look beautiful as always," The young woman they call Diana lifted Max and faced it in front of the mirror. At first, Max didn't know about it and what it was all about but after a few minutes of staring at the reflecting piece in front of it. What am I?

A loud cry from Max echoed in the room, Diana didn't know what Max aches. Max's condition got worse but there came a day when he got better but it was a false hope. Diana and her sister brought Max to a clinic and the doctor told them that he has a birth defect, it may affect his whole life permanently.

Shock covered Diana's body and pain crept into her mind. No tears streamed down her face but the pained expression was shown in her eyes. How can a beautiful and happy dog be like this? If only I can take his pain, I will.

"Max can walk again if he is given therapy. Swimming and massage can help his joint return to its place and his femur can be strong again." Another doctor gave them hope but it wasn't sure if the therapy will really give Max a chance to walk again.

Months have passed, Max can only lay down and feel pain. The second doctor gave them pain relievers and vitamins for Max to lessen the pain and strengthen his baby bones.

"Max is still a baby, his bones are still developing. We can still have hope," What Diana remembered from the doctor's advice and conclusions from the x-rays of the puppy. She feeds him and always wipes his discharge on his backside. It was messy to take care of Max but it didn't make Diana give up. She still continued taking care of him even if her siblings complain about the smell that's coming off from the puppy.

His progress hasn't shown, people told her that he will never grow that much or he may not walk again. Despite all of that, she still hoped for something to happen. Aside from the hard work of taking care of the puppy, the pain Max is going through has been getting worse. Every movement or vibration on the floor, he cries. Every touch of his backside or legs, he wants to bite and cries horribly.

"If he still continues to be like this, we can't do anything but to give him up to a shelter," Diana's mom said.

I can't but if it's for the better, I guess.

"We just have to wait, mom. Max is still a baby, he's still developing."

That night, Diana wished for the heavens. "Please, make him walk again. I don't want to give him up. If only I can take his pain away, I will but I don't know how. So, please." She cried herself to sleep. After a week or so, Diana's mom told her that Max is trying to stand and he did for a few seconds, it's a progress and a miracle.

All she did was smile and thanked the goddess for the wish granted.

Max did well and felt well everyday, he started to walk again but not in a normal way. His bones became stronger as his growth continued. "He looks like something else," Diana commented and her sister agreed.

"True, he doesn't look like a dog to me,"

"More like a deer, right?"

She gave me a new form.

Thank you, Goddess Artemis.