When Hunter Becomes Prey

The Lake

When I wake up at dark the next day, Dólar is gone as well as most of the bucks of the herd. This isn't surprising though, they have to patrol the area to check for predators before the does and their fawns go eat.

I slowly get to my feet and take a few steps. My legs are stiff and my side is scratchy. I need to sleep in a better spot next time.

I shake my fur out before shifting to human form. I brush the scratchy dirt off my side before taking a few steps. In this form my legs aren't nearly as stiff.

"Alpenrose!" Ma yells as I approach her. She's in human form too and talking to the lead doe. "What?"

"What did you tell Dólar?" The lead doe gives me a giddy look, I think she wants to announce whatever I have to say.

"By the full moon I'd tell him my decision." "You're going to say yes right?" Lead doe asks with excitement. "I don't know yet."

"Leave her alone Alonis, this is her decision alone." Ma scolds her. I give her a grateful look, the lead doe was starting to become a pain.

The three of us talk for awhile about nothing special, unless leaves concern you.

A loud grunt announces the bucks are back.

Three young bucks come running with glee on their faces.

The shocking part is they come running up to me and then they shift. They're all panting and looking at me with excitement.

"Ah... Al...." One starts to say before he pants more. "Duh... Dol..." The other pants. "Catch your breath and then tell her." Alonis says wisely.

A minute of panting and they have their breath back. "Alpenrose, Dólar has a surprise for you." One says. "You need to meet him at the lake." The second continues. "Go now! He's waiting." The third finishes.

I shift and go at a trot towards the lake. What could Dólar have as a surprise? And why couldn't he come get me himself?

When I'm almost to the lake I stop trotting. It's my turn to sneak up on him. He'll never know I'm there until it's too late!

I circle downwind of the lake and slowly walk towards it. I do my best to stay behind trees and not be seen.

As soon as I'm close enough to see him, I see him pacing back and forth nervously. Is he nervous because of me? I probably shouldn't scare him.

"Dólar?" I ask, walking up to him slowly. He immediately stops his pacing and looks at me with wide eyes.

"You're here?" He breaths. "Why wouldn't I be?" He doesn't answer and instead starts to move. Oh no, he's dancing! What part of the full moon did he not understand?

The longer I watch him the more I realize how bad his dancing is. All of a sudden he bows and then shifts. He continues his bad dancing in human form.

Once his dance stops I shift and approach him.
"Dólar why did you have to do this to me? I told you I'd decide by the full moon."

"Alpenrose, I had to. It's to protect you, danger is lurking. I can keep you safe if we're mates." He gives me a pitiful look.

"Please accept me Alpenrose. Please." I don't even hesitate when I take his face in my hands and kiss him. What's wrong with me, I don't even like him like that. Well it's too late to go back now.

He pulls away first and gives me a smile. "You've just made me the luckiest buck alive." He gives me another kiss then pulls something out of his pocket.

"I found this and immediately thought of you."
He takes my hand and places a crystal cluster in it.

"The red spots remind me of your dappling."

"Thank you. It's beautiful."

I stare at the crystal as he gently takes a section of my hair and starts to braid it.

"What danger were you talking about?" I ask, looking from the crystal to him. "Ther..." He's cut off by a deafening roar.

Narrator's Pov.

Dólar's hands immediately let go of Alpenrose's hair and he looks towards where the roar came from.

From the shadows of the trees, two big glowing eyes are staring. Within the blink of an eye Dólar is shifted and standing in front of his mate, well almost mate, he didn't finish braiding her hair.

The beast roars again and comes charging out. "Run Alpenrose run!" Dólar yells as he braces himself for the the fight.

Alpenrose doesn't hesitate to shift and take off. But for a brief second she looks back, and sees a horrifying sight.

The beast swipes its paw across Dólar's face and with a sickening crack his antler snaps in half.

Horrified, the young doe looks forward and runs like the devil is after her soul. In a way, the devil likely is.