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Betrayal of Shadow Wood Chapter One - A Guardian Born - © Cederwyn Whitefurr February, 2012 All Rights Reserved

Hidden beneath a thicket, the young Doe squealed; the agony of her labour making her slender legs kick against the soft loamy soil, disturbing the fallen leaves and dust. Again and again, she threw back her slender head and uttered a piercing squeal - the contractions coming faster and faster, forcing her to bear down as her swollen belly felt like it should surely burst. At last, after hours of almost unendurable pain, the fawn slithered from within and uttered its first choking cries - shocked by the entrance into the world and the exhausted doe wept tears of relief and joy - for her offspring lived, and from its cries, it was healthy....

*

Seasons come, and seasons went, the young fawn growing stronger and more confidant, for he soon run his mother ragged as she kept a watchful eye over her new stag - frequently chastising him for his mischievous nature and guarding his young life with ever fibre of her being. It had been a difficult time, when she had first found herself with fawn - she was young, almost too young to bear offspring - and her mate had bred her near the waterfall late one midsummer eve - and then had parted, as was their way. She never missed the young stag's sire - oh, he had been a proud, noble and strong mate - but his part in this Doe's life was done, he had given her his seed, and in the wonders of nature herself, the Doe had conceived on the first mating - and borne the young stag, who even now - showed all the strength and will of his father.

For months, the Doe taught her son all she knew - how to find food in the dead of winter, which tender young grasses and saplings were the sweetest in the new spring melt - where to find clean water and above all, never, ever, leave the depths of the forest. She had warned him time and time again, of the strange beasts that roamed outside the woods - how many a foolish young deer had gone to graze the fields - and never returned to the woodland home. Such stories were meant to frighten and intimidate the young stag - and they did they job, for he come to fear and despise the creatures - he eventually come to know - as man...

*

On his first birthday, his mother drew him aside, and under her licking and grooming, which he had begun to despise, she made his coat shine - until she was satisfied with her son's appearance, before she nuzzled him and again groomed his face, until he pulled his head away and snorted at her, his gaze one of intolerance and frustration.

"Mother - please, stop that!" He moaned, shuffling away from her over-enthusiastic attentions. "I'm not a fawn - so stop it!"

She looked at him her ears pricking forwards, before she snorted and nipped his right ear, sharp enough to make him cry out in pain and fear, before she stared him down and he dropped his head submissively.

"You have no idea who you're about to meet - I would never dream of introducing my only offspring, to the Guardian...looking like he'd just woken up!"

With a snort, he shook his head, his black tipped ears slapping from side to side. She snorted then stepped closer, before her ears flashed backwards and she gasped, before spinning about and kneeling; her front legs folding beneath her chest as she bowed her head until it touched the soft loamy soil.

All around them, the woodlands grew deathly silent, as the breeze itself seemed to stop its surrurations of the leaves, and a hush fell like a blanket over the glade. Striding imperiously, the branches brushing its silken fur, a Unicorn marched into the glade and tossed its proud and regal head; the sunlight sparkling off its ivory horn as it whinnied its defiance - yet not a single animal dared breathe, as they bowed their heads in honour to the guardian of the Shadow Wood. Receiving no challenge, the Unicorn tossed its head again, then scratched the loamy soil once - and the animals all began to breathe again - their whispered cries calls, chirps and whistles almost a whispered murmur, so in awe were they of the Guardian who stood at the centre of the glade.

Staring about itself, the Unicorn caught the down-swept eyes of its subjects, before it paused and locked eyes with the yearling Buck, who stared back in bewilderment and amazement. His mother risked a glance at him, before she snorted and bit savagely down on his left ear, making him shriek and turn his gaze to stare at her.

"What was that for?" He wept, tears streaking down his muzzle.

"Bow down before the Guardian!" His mother hissed, her body trembling with fear and awe.

"Kalaisina - enough!" Snapped the Unicorn, as it stepped closer, its eyes narrowing in rising anger at the insolence of one of its subjects.

"Forgive me Guardian - " Wailed the doe, bowing even deeper. "He is young, he knows not his place and..."

With a dismissive snort, the unicorn turned its gaze back to the crying Buck, who stood his round, staring back at the Unicorn, confused, hurt and frightened - but showing an inner strength his mother never knew he had. Slowly, the Unicorn approached the crying yearling, before it snorted at him; the hot breath washing over him, and it slowly began circling him - closing in tighter and tighter. Frightened, the young stag trembled, fearing this Guardian more and more, as it sniffed him here and there, inhaling the stink of his fear - and the yearling whimpered piteously - expecting to be punished for his insolence.

Nudging the young Buck with its velvety nose, the Unicorn made him squeal and he wet himself, so great was his fear, that the Unicorn pulled its head back and frowned, before nudging him in the flank with a strong head-thrust, that nearly knocked the yearling off his feet. He staggered, and again, the Unicorn charged - its shoulder striking his rump and this time, he staggered and fell - but quickly rolled over and stood upright again, glaring at the Unicorn with a look of rising distrust and anger.

With a snort, the Unicorn made a feint, and the Buck flinched, dodging to the left, but the Unicorn was expecting this, and once again, slammed its larger and heavier body against the Buck and drove him to his knees. He slowly rose, his anger showing in his eyes, as he lowered his head and began pawing at the ground with his front hooves - his blood running hot in his veins as he prepared to defend himself.

"Enough!" Roared the Unicorn, its voice nearly stunning the animals in the glade and shaking the very leaves themselves. "You have proven yourself young one...you have a temper, that is good - I respect one who will stand beside me, and become my companion and servant. You have proven yourself well - and your mother is to be commended; even if she neglected to train you to respect your Elders...."

Her heart leaping into her throat in hope and fear; the Doe blinked and slowly rose to her hooves, keeping her head held low.

"He is to be trained Mistress?" She asked.

"He is...young, and impulsive - but his spirit is strong and he will grow to learn his place at my side Kalaisina. He will serve me, as my eyes and ears of the woods - as all of you do, and it will take time, but he shall learn the secrets of our Woods; he shall move as stealthily as the wolf, be as the wind itself in the trees, and above all - shall he watch over you all, as I watch over you."

With a single nod, the Doe slowly approached her confused and bewildered son, then rubbed her forehead against his neck in a familiar comforting gesture, and he returned her affections, before glancing at the Unicorn who stood patiently waiting.

"Mother...I...I don't understand - " He whispered, looking into the Doe's dark, soulful eyes.

"You have been chosen my son - you are young, oh so young - but the Guardian has chosen you, to be her watcher. It is an honour I could never have dreamed for you my dear, sweet young Buck. Go, follow your new Mistress, for she will be your teacher now - I have taught you well my son, now...be true to what she teaches you, listen well and obey - for the rewards will be great if you follow her instructions and study your lessons!"

He turned his eyes to the Unicorn, who tossed her head and snorted through her nostrils, watching him, and as he turned back to his mother, he felt the bitter sting of unshed tears pricking his eyes. She nuzzled him again, then gently pushed him away, before stepping slowly backwards and bowing before the Unicorn.

"I give to you my only child; Guardian. May he serve you well and honour and obey, until we meet again in the glade in the Great Forest." Whispered the Doe, her own tears slowly trickling down her muzzle and dribbling onto the forest floor.

*

Winter turned to spring, and so the Great Wheel turned, season upon season, the Unicorn pushed the growing young Buck harder and harder - making him run the length and breadth of the woodlands; building his strength and musculature until he could run with great strides, his breathing coming easily, and cover the breadth of the woods in only hours - not the days it had taken him when he was first beginning his training. He learned the calls of the animals, the whispering of the leaves; all of it spoke to him in languages the unicorn taught him - until he could pause and flick his ears, listening to the thousands and thousands of whispered voices - and determine where he was needed most.

More than once, he would seem to flicker and vanish like a wraith - confounding and disorienting the Hunters who came to poach the woods - and more than one had felt his razor sharp antlers - their blood and corpses fertilising the new shoots that sprang from their remains. He despised having to kill; the unicorn often grew angry with him for these times, as she enforced her will on him - telling him of how she wished only peace for the wood folk, but understood when Humans hurt or killed one of the woodland creatures, and did not offer their prayers for the spirit of the slain - that they themselves, were unworthy of life.

Legends began to grow amongst the humans; for they become afraid and fearful of the ghost-stag who hunted the woods - appearing from out of the very shadows to harass and confuse, then melting away as suddenly as he had appeared, leaving them lost and confused. Sometimes, rumours whispered of dark magicks and foul creatures - but as the legends grew - and became more fanciful, people began to scoff and dismiss the stories of the ghost-stag - thinking him a myth - and their greed and avaricious natures grew - as they began to cut the great trees at the forests edge, arousing the Guardian's rightful wrath.

As they stole from the Guardian, more and more of the Human's were led into the darkest of the forest - their cries pealing forth - never to be seen again. Eventually, they grew fearful once again, and the legends told of the Ghost-Stag - grew to even more tremendous stories. Yet he was not without mercy, for once, he found a young human girl - lost, her dress torn and bloodied, and he had confronted the child, and kept her warm that long, long night - wrapping his legs around her and soothing her tears with gentle nuzzles and licks - before he guided her safely to the edge of the forest and with a snort, demanded she leave.

Many came to hunt the Ghost-Stag, for a bounty of his weight in gold was placed upon this demonic Buck's head. Many feared him; for every six hunters that braved the dark and dreary woods - only five would return, the other falling victim to the denziens of the forest, who would die to protect the Stag, who in turn, would lay down his life for the smallest of them. Those who feared him, knew not of his talent - for he would appear and dissapear, seemingly by some dark art - and rumours abounded some powerful Witch lived in the woods, the stag was not a stag at all, but some hell-spawn from the Abyss, who murdered and fed upon the humans who invaded the wood.

Again and again they come, from the lowest of the low, to the most valiant and noble of Knights - some were sent screaming from the woods, their minds all but consumed by the Ghost-Stag's trickery and deceptions, others - who dared to harm the woods or the animals - were never seen again....

Finally, the woods were declared haunted, and the legends grew and grew, but the Ghost-Stag remained ever vigilant, watching and waiting, for he knew the hearts of men, some who feared him, some who were in awe of him, and slowly - as the seasons turned - some come to worship him.

He knew not what to make of the humans; dressed in charcoal grey robes, who come to the woodland edge and prayed. He often lay watchful, hidden in the shadows, as they offered fresh fruits and grains from the fields; leaving their offerings as some sort of obscure gesture. He confronted the Guardian one mid-summer night, and in her wisdom, he come to understand. For his reputation had grown, for mostly the wrong reasons - and the Guardian soothed and comforted his fears, telling him it was the nature of humans, to revere such as he...

To Be Continued...