The encounter

When I first opened my eyes, a sharp smell of sulfur hit my nose. I couldn't hear right away and my vision was blurred for a few minutes. I don't know where I am and I don't remember how I got here.

Here, on this wet and muddy ground.
A few leaves fall down on me, suddenly reminding me that the yearly decease of the land has begun. It's an unfortunate time for creatures like me to persist on these cold grounds. Unfortunate, indeed I am. But I have fought my way trough continuously, year after year.

Why did I cross this godforsaken land when I knew wich danger it inherits?
I try to lift my guilty body off the ground but stumble right back onto it.
"Why did you do it? Why did you take the risk?" I hear a voice mumble inside my head.
Foolish, I must have been.
But I can't stay, I must continue, I think to myself as i try again to raise my old bones once more.

"It is hopeless". A soft voice, appearing out of nowhere, suddenly whispers. "Who are you?" I dared to utter under my breath. I hear sticks breaking behind a tree then a tall manlike creature approaches me.

Usually, seeing manlike creatures would shoot the adrenaline of a thousand coneys into my veins, pushing me to run with the force of a jaguar.
Absurdly, I feel calmness taking over my body.

Without the intent to answer my question, the creature comes closer until it finally rests beside me. "It is time, they will soon be here" the creature softly says, as it takes my head to rest on its cold yet comforting lap.
And I knew that it was right.

What a strange being, I thought to myself. I recognise its strong smell. A smell I've noticed before on these grounds, yet mostly during this cruel season.
A sudden thought occurs in me, leading the well known adrenaline to finally come over me.

"I can't" I achingly say as tears begin to rush down my face and I try to stand up once more.

The creature seems unbothered by my unsuccessful attempt to tear me free.

"Do not be fearful. Your fawn won't face the danger you had faced" It simply yet softly says, as if it would know what kind of burden I would leave behind for the land to take care of.

"It is my fault. I have crossed the forbidden grounds in search of shelter for them" I mumble under my tears. How can I forgive myself?

I hear footsteps in the distance, bringing along the sharp smell of sulfur. A man, yelling at his accompany. I know, they're almost here and my body begins to feel weightless, almost drifting away.

It is a rainy day.
It has been a rainy week and the land exposed its dark and greyish colours.
I have always loved the rain. Mostly because it usually kept the men from crossing the ground. But not this time. This one and only time I dared to step onto the godforsaken land.

"Foolish deer" I hear the voice in me mumble once more.
The creature did not dismiss my sorrowful thoughts as my head falls back onto its lap and I finally close my eyes, letting the smell of muddy rain take over my nose, it softly says:
"it is not your fault."