Ignoring the child's distress to prioritize their escape, the Mithrilcrest Deer surged forward, its muscles straining as it pushed itself harder. Its silver coat glimmered faintly, almost as if trying to vanish into the light itself, but the poachers were tenacious. Another volley of arrows sliced through the air like a war cry.
THUNK!
A pained cry tore from the deer's throat as one of the projectiles found its mark in its hind leg. She stumbled but pushed onward, determination blazing in her eyes.
"Oh no! Please hold on!"
At the desperate sound of the girl's scream, the Mithrilcrest Deer regained its stride despite the blood trailing behind it. But the predators were just as passionate in their pursuit as the prey was desperate in their escape.
FEWP-FEWP-FEWP!
More arrows came. One struck the deer's flank, another pierced its shoulder, narrowly missing the girl atop its back. The Mithrilcrest Deer faltered, its legs giving way beneath it. The girl tumbled from its back, landing hard on the forest floor as the deer crashed to the ground in a swirl of dust and agony.
The fawn skidded to a halt, bleating in panic as it nuzzled its mother. The Mithrilcrest Deer turned her head, her eyes filled with both pain and urgency. With a trembling motion, she nudged the fawn toward the girl.
"Take her," the deer seemed to say, her gaze firm despite her faltering breaths.
The girl, tears streaming down her face, scrambled to her feet. "No! I can't leave you!"
The deer released a low, commanding cry, and the fawn, propelled by a blend of instinct and its mother's final instruction, took a step forward. Its legs quivered with uncertainty as it lowered its body, offering the girl a fragile, trembling back to climb upon.
The girl sobbed, clambering onto the creature's small frame. Despite its size, the young fawn stood tall, its resolve mirroring its mother's. With one last glance at its fallen guardian and her majestic antlers that glittered like blue crystals, the fawn turned and bolted with a morose cry, its slender legs carrying them deeper into the forest.
The chase resumed, but this time, the fawn had something the hunters didn't anticipate—the unyielding will to honor its mother's dying wish. Its tiny body burned with determination, and though it struggled to carry both the girl and the weight of its grief, it leaped over fallen logs and twisted through the trees with surprising agility.
Behind them, the jeers of the poachers faded, momentarily distracted by the fallen Mithrilcrest Deer. The girl glanced back, choking on her tears, but the fawn pressed onward, its small heart beating with the strength of a creature far beyond its years. It sprinted with everything it had, the wind slicing through its fur as the girl clung desperately to its back.
But they weren't out of danger yet.
FEWP!
A sharp whistle pierced the air.
THUNK!
The girl screamed as the fawn stumbled, an arrow embedded deep in its neck. It staggered, its body convulsing in agony, and for a horrifying moment, its legs buckled as if it would collapse under the weight of the blow.
"No, no, no! Stay with me!" the girl cried, clutching the creature's blood-slicked fur, tears streaming down her face.
The fawn's eyes rolled back, its body shuddering in the throes of pain. But then, impossibly, its gaze snapped forward, sharpening with resolve. It took a shaky step, then another, its hooves striking the ground with renewed determination, each step fueled by its mother's final wish and its own desire to protect the girl who had become a part of its family.
The girl sobbed, holding on as the fawn pushed itself beyond its limits, racing toward salvation. With a final burst of strength, it leaped from a ridge, the world tilting as they plummeted into the gorge below.
SPLASH!
The icy rapids consumed them instantly, the force of the water pulling them under and tossing them like leaves. The girl clung desperately to the fawn's neck, her breath stolen by the cold as the rapids dragged them into chaos. The water roared around them, a relentless tide of merciless power.
Above them, the poachers reached the cliff's edge and scowled into the churning river. "They're gone," one spat, frustration lacing his voice. "There's no way to recover anything from down there!"
"It's a shame," another muttered. "That fawn would've fetched a hefty price, too."
"Forget them," a third man said, already turning back. "The mother's enough. She's a fine trophy."
"What was up with that kid, though? I've never seen anything like that before."
"That was strange for sure."
"Monsters aside, it's not all that strange for tranquilids to adopt orphans. That kid must've been a demihuman."
"…I guess that makes sense."
"Damn. In that case, we could've made a killing off that kid, too."
"Greedy bastard."
The men shared a merry laugh, their voices fading into the forest as they retreated, satisfied with their cruel victory.
Meanwhile, the fawn kicked furiously against the raging rapids, its small body battered by jagged rocks and the unrelenting current. Its breaths came in shallow, desperate gasps, but its resolve held firm. Protect the girl. That was its only purpose now.
The river eventually loosened its grip, and the fawn kicked its way toward the shore, collapsing onto the muddy bank with the last of its strength.
The girl slid off its back, her body trembling with exhaustion and dread. "No!" she sobbed, pulling the fawn's head onto her lap. "What should I do? What should I do?"
Blood seeped from the arrow wound in the fawn's neck, staining her hands as she stroked its fur, wishing she had the ability to heal. The creature's breaths came in uneven bursts, each one weaker than the last.
"P-Please don't leave me alone," the girl whispered through her sobs. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."
The fawn's breathing slowed, its chest rising and falling in weak, uneven patterns. Its glassy eyes looked up at her, full of a quiet peace and acceptance, as if to say, I did what I needed to do, and that their sacrifice wasn't her fault. Then with a final shuddering breath, the creature went still.
The girl clutched its lifeless form, her tears falling freely, her sorrowful cries echoing above the churning river. "I'll never forget you," she whispered, her voice trembling with heartbreak.
Above, the sun surrendered to gathering storm clouds, casting the land into a somber twilight. A single column of golden light pierced through the gloom, enveloping the fallen fawn in a radiant embrace before narrowing its focus entirely on the brave creature. It was as though the world itself paused to grieve its sacrifice. The wind carried a mournful wail, echoing like a prayer, while the trees swayed gently, their leaves rustling as if whispering a solemn farewell.
***
SWAAAHH~
The girl stood motionless before a crude grave, her eyes hollow, her head hanging low in silent grief. The world around her seemed draped in sorrow, painted in muted shades of gray as if reflecting the weight of her despair. Rain battered her form, the cold seeping deep into her bones like a thousand tiny needles.
Yet she remained unmoving, her heart numb. Her existence, it seemed, was cursed—only bringing pain and loss to those she held dear. Once again, she had failed to protect the innocent and left alone to bear the crushing weight of guilt and isolation.
Turning her head, she spied the imposing silhouette of a sprawling city far in the distance. With one final glance, she regarded the lonely grave before reluctantly taking her leave.
Pressing her lips into a thin line, the grief-stricken girl traversed a wooden bridge above a moat, her footsteps also inaudible on the slick planks. Despite the relentless rain, the city ahead remained alive with movement—wagons rumbled along the cobblestones, their wheels splashing through the growing puddles, while carriages rolled in and out, their occupants wrapped in thick cloaks. The sound of hurried voices and creaking wood filled the air as the bridge shook beneath her.
The gates leading into the city stood wide open, the hustle and bustle of trade in the nearby thoroughfares making the entrance feel like the heart of a living, breathing entity. As the girl neared, she could feel her chest tighten, a knot of anxiety winding in her stomach. The guards at the entrance were unnerving, their armor gleaming under the gray skies, their faces set in hard lines. When the girl approached, her small, wet figure barely registering among the throngs of people, one of the guards stepped forward, blocking her way.
"ID," he grunted, his eyes scanning her without the slightest trace of compassion.
The girl hesitated, instinctively clutching the fabric of her cloak tighter around her. She didn't have an ID. She didn't even know what that meant.
"I… I don't have one," she stammered, her voice small against the noise of the crowd.
The guard's eyes narrowed, and he snorted. His gaze flickered over her, sizing her up with an air of disdain. "Another one of them," he muttered under his breath.
The other guard, a burly man with a scar down his cheek, stepped forward, his lip curling in disgust. "We've had enough of your kind in the city," he sneered. "Demihumans aren't welcome here." He gestured dismissively toward the exit. "Move along, girl. We don't have time for this."
The words stung more than the cold rain against her skin. The grief-stricken girl could feel the weight of their hatred press down on her, each syllable sharp and cutting. She hadn't even done anything wrong, but it didn't matter. To them, she was just another burden, another outsider.
The girl hesitated for a moment, her small voice trembling as she spoke up, "Please… I just need to get inside. I… I have nowhere else to go." Her words fell like fragile raindrops in the storm, lost in the noise of the bustling city.
The guard's face twisted with irritation at the annoying plea, his eyes hardening. Without a second thought, he raised his hand, delivering a sharp backhand across her cheek. The force of the blow sent her sprawling to the ground with a cry, the wet cobblestones scraping against her skin.
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze—rain pattered, people continued to pass by, oblivious—but the cold steel of reality rushed back all too quickly. Her vision blurred, but she forced her eyes to focus on the towering guard who stood over her, the contempt in his eyes like a blade itself.
Livid, the guard's hand gripped the hilt of his sword, his knuckles white. He drew it with a sharp, metallic hiss, the blade gleaming in the dim light as he leveled it toward her. "I said scram," he snarled, his voice low and dangerous. "If you don't get up and go now, I'll fucking cut you down where you stand."
His words rang with venom, the terrifying threat another weight pressing down on her fragile shoulders. The girl winced, but didn't dare to cry out, her hands trembling as they scraped against the wet stone, pushing her back up. The cold stung her cheek where the slap had landed, and her legs felt like they might give out, but she stood and immediately ran away.