The Exiled

Prologue

As the tip of the sun was vanishing behind the lush flat hills lining the horizon, a trickling stream caught it's crimson light, causing it to look as if blood were running through the lands. The stream faded into a river that had cut through the hills over many moons. Further down the river the water became treacherous. It flooded over rocks and around trees it had fallen itself; when the rainy season came and the greedy river took the rain and grew. Plentiful amounts of trees stood tall over the land. A handful of these trees were scarred with the marks of antlers, claws, and teeth.

A herd of white-tailed deer, perhaps a couple dozen, rise from their bedding place to go to the river. A proud, heavy-horned buck stood waiting for his doe. His silhouette was black against the warm sky. Soon enough his doe joined him, a beautiful young creature, she was. Her typically cream pelt was a grey-brown from the falling sun. A younger buck considers a challenge towards the older, stronger creature, but upon his calm, wise, yet vicious gaze, decided it could be saved for another day.

With a huff, the larger buck begins heading down the hillside, his steps full of grace and sureness. The doe follows immediately behind, her steps elegant. The foolish young buck tries to lead before the eldest, but is met by an angered stamp and lowered antlers. Discouraged once more, he falls in with the rest of the herd behind the large buck and his mate. The large group of deer make their way down the hillside, the sound of the running water growing louder as they near the river.

Not far off from the herd was a single beast with glowing eyes and ill intent. However, the beast's fur was well groomed and he wore a large, red collar around his neck. A bell that had been pried open so that the ball inside causing the ringing had fallen out hung from the collar, making the beast completely silent. Upon the destroyed bell was the engraved shape of a single tree. The beast's paws made quiet and steady progress carrying the heavy creature nearer to the river and nearer to the deer. Although a soon murderer, perhaps, of the unsuspecting creatures, most would see this beast as elegant and beautiful, a symbol of loyalty and spirit.

The wolf.

This particular wolf was extremely intelligent, it's eyes filled with knowledge but ignorance, just as a human. A young wolf it was, young and foolish, just as every child. But as it crept closer to the deer, who were now calmly drinking at the river, it's gaze became focused and it's instinct came quick. He picked out the weakest, a young doe who was drinking a bit off from the herd. Her ears flicked nonchalantly, as she was unaware of the gruesome fate she was soon to meet. Once near enough in his mind, he broke off into a run. The doe's head swung around to see the attacker, her eyes wide. She turned to run, but was few moments too late; the wolf caught her back leg in his maw and bit down.

From the sudden force at her back end, her front legs slipped in the muddy ground and buckled beneath her. She let out a cry, attempting to stand once more and escape the beast. The wolf lunged at her throat to take the life of the young doe, but his teeth only snapped on air as the large buck threw the wolf with a swing of his head. The beast met the muddy ground with a wet thump and traveled head over paws for a small moment. Upon finding his grounding, he hastily stood.

He stared at the far larger creature. It stared back, a challenge and immeasurable furiosity swimming in its gaze. The doe the beast had attacked called and struggled for help in the mud, each attempt to get up ending in failure. Blood flowed from the wound, mixing with the river and mud. The buck spoke.

"Give heed to my words, Wolf. Your assault was meaningless; for I see that you are well fed. You are supposed to be loyal and wise; but I see that you are a murderous beast. There is a code you must follow here. It seems you do not understand, although it has been sworn by beasts of your nature to follow them. Because of these rules, and because you are well fed, you may not have our doe. And because you have injured her leg, we can not bring her back to where we bed. If she is left here, on this bank, it is sure you will take her. But we mustn't taint the water we drink from by giving her to the hungry river; that will bring sickness to my herd and the other creatures who drink from it." He lowers his head to the doe. The wolf replied.