Chapter 3

Bryn passed between a pair of mountain hollies, their round leaves kissing his bare fur. His short, tawny hide was shining where the sun touched it, thoroughly cleaned up in the nearby river. The water was crisp, especially now that the seasons were changing, but this only left him freshly invigorated. The narrow path, winding through trees and thick brush, brought him to a modest lodge, rows of neatly lashed sticks for walls and a roof of elm bark, one of several such dwellings in the village. A small bundle was already smoldering in the firepit out front when a young doe hopped into view, gathering sticks scattered on the ground.

"Bryn!" she waved standing on tiptoes, dropping several sticks in the process.

She really does need my help, he laughed to himself, jogging up to meet her. When K.C. was in high spirits, it was contagious; when she smiled, Bryn couldn't help but smile back.

"So, what have we got here?"

K.C. gathered up the sticks again. "I'm getting the kindling all together. Do you think you could find some logs? I really shoulda done this days ago, I just got so distracted." She clutched the twigs at her chest and ran a hand through her short, auburn hair, meeting Bryn's eyes as she spoke. "Thanks so much for helping me."

"Anytime!" He shrugged it off with a grin. "Hey, it's just nice hanging out again after so long."

"I think so, too," she batted very feminine eyelashes, then gestured with her short muzzle to the firepit. "There should be an axe over there if you need it."

Bryn set to it with a deliberateness in his step, eagerly gathering up fallen wood a short hike from the lodge. Just over a crest in the hilly forest, he came upon a fallen beech branch, probably a casualty of the season's rolling storms. He knew from experience it would be perfect for a strong, steady flame and large enough for a dozen or more manageable logs once broken up. During the summer, it was just him and his father, moving from camp to camp, village to village, and for the most part, only providing for their own needs. Something in his gut warmed; it felt wonderfully satisfying to be back home, helping provide for his clanmates as they helped in return.

With a proud posture, the young buck carried a pile of the roughly chopped beechwood back to the firepit, and arriving there he found K.C. kneeling and tying up bundles of kindling, enough to last several days. She shot to her feet in unabashed glee and seemed to bounce on her toes all the way up to Bryn, and the boy couldn't help but notice all the more how her body had grown. She moved with the unabashed vigor of a fawn, and seemed not to care at all how freely her new breasts bounced and jiggled. Bryn was holding the pile of logs in front of his chest with both arms and K.C. delicately removed the topmost.

"Thanks, Bryn!" she beamed. "Lemme just get a few of these on the fire real quick and we'll find a place for the rest."

The girl turned and sauntered with an exaggerated sway. From her narrow waist, K.C.'s hips swelled like a pear, swinging her juicy buttocks from side to side. Bryn was absorbed, watching the fluid movement of her developed body, clothed only in her short, tawny fur. You know, K.C. really is quite . . . pretty, the boy allowed himself to consider, but not without the heat of a blush rising in his cheeks. The young doe shook the thick white fur of her tail, revealing a broad, heart-shaped patch of pale fur beneath. Placing the log very carefully above the smoldering fire, she bent not at her knees but her waist, keeping her long, lithe legs elegantly straight. For a moment, Bryn caught a pronounced white mound pressed between those thighs. And--was that a flash of pink or just his imagination? His blush must have grown even stronger, and where he felt that warmth in his gut, an agitated tingling now also dwelled. He never deliberately tried to get a peek between a girl's legs (at least he didn't think so) but now he felt the unusual urge to indulge, at least for a moment. It couldn't hurt anything . . .

K.C. rose and turned back to Bryn. She walked with that same slow saunter, playing off the natural curves of her body. She really is like a woman now . . . the young buck drank in the sight. Shoulders back, her breasts hung like ripe fruit, swollen and temptingly sweet, and his tongue secretly salivated at the thought of exploring the firmness of those curves. Dark areolas begged for his attention against the soft, white fur; his lips pursed ever so slightly as he imagined taking one of those fleshy nipples firmly between them.

"I was thinking," K.C. interrupted his daydream, "if you're not busy tonight, you're welcome to stick around after dinner." She again combed a hand leisurely through her hair.

Bryn's eyes shot back to hers. "Yeah, I'd love to! I mean, I better check to be sure." He considered the situation and felt the guilt nipping at him. I really shouldn't be thinking of her like this. She's a friend. And, I mean, I can't have a girlfriend within the clan. I'm no dominant male, I'm just . . . Bryn. The tingling in his gut remained unabated.

"Fantastic! It wasn't the same around here without you. Y'know, I would wonder, 'when Bryn comes back, is he still gonna want to hang out, is he still gonna go swimming with us . . .'"

K.C. carried on gleefully, and Bryn took the opportunity to shoot curious, wandering glances over her. With every sharp movement, her new curves jiggled. If she knew what salacious thoughts were stirred at the sight of those full breasts, would she want to hide them? Her proud posture, her playful prance seemed to say that nothing could possibly make her shy of her body. It was all the world's to admire. Admire maybe, but from a distance, Bryn swallowed nervously. Cadogan is the dominant male, and . . . and I can't challenge him. This clan took me in when they could've just as easily turned me away. It would be like a betrayal.

". . . and picking mushrooms is fun and all, but I missed the little adventures we'd go on. Going out and exploring the lake, just sitting by the water . . ."

She clasped her hands behind her back, and shuffled imperceptibly closer to Bryn, the bundle of wood still held patiently in his arms. Behind her innocent enthusiasm, the unabashed doe seemed to be offering an unspoken invitation to indulge in exploring her naked body. Her nipples, though bathed in warm sunshine, were standing plump and erect. At least for the moment, Bryn found it easier to suspend his self-judgment and appreciate the sight.

". . . so, yeah, it's good having you back in the village. And it's real nice getting a chance to catch up, you know. Just one-on-one . . ." K.C.'s voice trailed off oddly, cuing Bryn to bring his eyes back up to her face. His heart was pounding way up in his blush-red ears and the strange uneasiness in his stomach was stronger than ever. The doe had to raise her eyes to meet his, and the buck's strong blush was mirrored in her cheeks. Was she looking over his body in the same way?

"Yeah," Bryn replied, softly, nervously. "I'm really glad we can hang out again . . ."

K.C. tried and failed to stifle a giggle as she spoke, hugging her sides in the first sign of embarrassment she'd shown all day. "Yeah . . . I can tell."

Huh? Bryn felt suddenly vulnerable. Noticing the girl's flushed ears and coy eyes, he looked down over himself. Raising that bundle of beechwood, he saw the gently-tanned pink between his legs, his whole soft-furred face burned red. The young buck's penis stood before her, bare and fully erect. His body betrayed the secret, visceral attraction he hoped K.C. wouldn't notice, and time seemed to stop for a moment as he saw himself wantonly throbbing in sync with his pounding heart. Curving gracefully upward from a tuft of thick white pubic fur, his penis pointed plainly and provocatively at the object of his animal desire. The tight creases, the supple curves of her grown-up body signaled, in a way Bryn had never experienced before, that she was ready to mate. And his body, unbidden, responded in kind. Were they just two deer, wild and free, the rest would happen naturally. But it was more complicated than that.

"I--I'm sorry!" Bryn stuttered, dropping the firewood at his feet and making awkward attempts to hide his erection. "I really shouldn't--"

"Bryn," came the exasperated reply. "It's okay! Really, I don't mind."

"No . . ." he looked around frantically. "I should go. Really . . ."

"Bryn? BRYN!" she called after him with mounting concern as he ran off into the forest, dodging holly bushes on the way.

No, no, no! What am I doing?! He bounded deeper through the maples. _I'll get kicked out for this kind of thing. K.C. is just a friend._This was too new and too sudden. The embarrassed young buck needed desperately to compose himself.

* * *

The waxwings filled the forest with their trills, the chickadees with their chirps. Breathing deeply, Bryn made a seat of the large, mossy stone that rested in the shade of an immense ash tree. He looked over the still, dark lake, the white reflections of birches lining its shores. The deer's muzzle dripped having lapped thirstily from one of the crisp streams that fed the wooded lake. He stretched out on the stone with a heavy sigh.

"What am I gonna do?" he asked the forest. "I've got no right to mate with anyone in the clan, and I could get kicked out if I'm even seen with them like that. Kicked out like Evan . . ."

He rested his head back on folded hands and wiggled into the plush moss. The birds above took no notice of his plight.

"K.C. . . ." he sighed, more wistfully, "I can remember her as a feisty little fawn. And now she's so . . . hot!" As Bryn struggled for multisyllabic words, he replayed the girl's seductive movements in his mind, amazed by how much that little fawn had grown. "She's really got the curves of a woman now. And those tits . . ." he drew a hand over his naked, sun-speckled fur, "those fat, plump tits . . ." He traced his fingers over his chest, rising and falling with heady breaths, down to his flat stomach, and lower. Safely alone, the boy's unfulfilled desire was already returning, and he felt himself swelling between his fondling fingers.

Bryn sat upright with thighs spread, his balls rolling to rest weightily on the carpet of thick moss. He longingly remembered K.C.'s shameless body and the long moments he allowed his eyes to wander over it; the bounce in her breast, that peek of the mound between her legs. And as he remembered, he watched his penis grow to full length, arcing skyward. "If I could slide this in her--" The buck tensed and a fat drop of crystal clear fluid beaded at his tip. He tested the precum, slick and stringy, between two fingers and rubbed it over his swollen head, pretending they might be K.C.'s wet lips pressing needily around him and his eyes shut slowly as he indulged in the fantasy.

Nearby, the creek gently bubbled, running its course over weathered stones. Above, the chickadees chased one another from branch to branch, through the leaves of the looming ash tree. The young male, feeling the urges of his first rut, sat naked beneath them and masturbated vigorously. Eyes closed, images of his friend flashed in his mind and he moaned out to her.

"K.C. . . . oh, K.C. . . ."

He stroked himself with a firm grip, more rapidly now, his sizeable balls bouncing in time. The moss tickled the delicate fur of his scrotum and he reveled in the sensation. He imagined K.C. presenting the snowy underside of her tail, and then, to his surprise, Clover's lithe figure appeared in her place.

"Oh, Clover--lift that tail . . ." She presented herself in an inviting pose, legs apart, and the buck reached a hand under that thick wool scarf to feel just how much her breasts had grown, pinching eagerly at her fleshy nipples.

Bryn huffed achingly, his heart pounding, stroking his shaft even faster as his muscles clenched in mounting desire. The hot stream inside him ran up his length and, as a wave of animal ecstasy washed over him, shot out in thick globs of milky seed. One spurt. Then another. And another, landing loudly in the leaf litter. The buck unclenched his eyes and saw the long trails of his opalescent semen draped on the forest floor, hand gripped around his penis, still pulsing and dribbling.

Spent, Bryn collapsed on his back, looking up to the shimmering leaves, and exhaled strongly. Well, he laughed to himself, maybe this is something I could get used to.

* * *

Cold water splashed over his face and he rubbed it into the short fur. Bryn scooped his hands and took several shallow drinks from the stream. He'd cleaned his genitals to hide the exploits of his self-exploration and now rose to find the trail back to the village. He realized the sun was sinking and the forest would soon be getting dark. He watched as the lake turned golden in the fading light, ripples fanning out where fish nipped at its mirrorlike surface. A long gust blew through the broad leaves, rustling them.

"Hey, Bryn!"

Startled, his ears shot to the voice that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Turning to look, he found another deer coming his way, a buck with small antlers and, getting closer, Bryn recognized the face.

"Welcome back, buddy." His clanmate called to him.

"Cad!" he greeted in return. Like the girls had said (and Bryn thought rather meanly) Cadogan was of noticeably stunted stature for his age. His arms and legs seemed thin, the limbs of a deer who might only rarely partake in strenuous activities, but the mass of his belly seemed to make up for it. They were bucks born of the same season, but adolescence had treated them quite differently. Bryn was glad to see him, nonetheless, and the two clenched hands, leading into a reserved, masculine embrace.

"I heard you got back last night, but I hadn't seen hide nor hair of you all day." The buck assumed a strong stance, back straightened to look as tall as he could.

"Sorry about that," he chuckled, rubbing his neck. "Surprising how much catching up and settling in there is to do. But hey, it's good to be back."

"You hear about Evan?" Cad's voice didn't carry the melancholy note his sister's did.

Bryn nodded, "I barely got to see him, but I guess I'm glad I did. I really wish he didn't have to go . . ."

"Yeah. Well, he did." The other buck punctuated the thought. His voice became nasally when he raised it. "It's really time he went beyond the village, made a life for himself. He's more than old enough for it. And if he hopes to get anything out of this rut, he might've even left too late!"

Solemnly, Bryn scuffed through the leaf litter and gazed out into the expanse of forest. The first maples were turning, and before long he knew they'd be all fiery shades of gold and red. On a breath, he offered Evan a silent prayer. He didn't care what opportunities the rut might offer his old friend, just that he be safe wherever his journey led him. And maybe he'd be taken in by a distant clan, just as Bryn was years ago.

"I know, it's sad not having him around anymore." Cadogan walked slowly up to his side, looking out into the same rolling forest. "But it'll be good for him to see the world. And, hey, life has to go on. Speaking of . . ." he paused, puffing up his chest, "you know who the next clan leader is?"

Bryn blinked and answered flatly with a sideways glance. "Well, you are. Right?"

He nodded, "Right."

"Congratulations," the pensive buck forced a smile.

"Thanks, Bryn. But it's a lot of work, you know? Honestly, it's a little intimidating. There's the whole herd to look after; they need to know they're protected for the long run, that they have food for the winter . . . And it's the first season for some of these girls," he added euphemistically, "they need to know they're provided for." He stood proudly with hands on his hips.

As Bryn recalled, none of the girls showed much enthusiasm at the prospect of being mated by the stunted buck, however much it was his right as the only eligible son of the clan leader. Hazel even vowed chastity if another male didn't rise to the challenge.

"There's a lot of responsibility that comes with being the dominant male." Cadogan's voice dropped, assuming a more masculine tone.

Just then, Bryn heard a pittering on the ground below, growing stronger, and looked over to the other buck. A steady stream of urine was flowing from the dominant male, openly exuding a warm odor that rose in the air. It was tinged with an unmistakably masculine scent that he only encountered this time of year--the mark of a rutting male exerting his dominance. It was a primitive show, but the message made it straight to Bryn's anxious brain. As Cadogan continued to relieve himself, his penis began to swell and the urine sprayed somewhat more erratically. Whatever he said about responsibility, the young buck seemed to get off on his newfound status.

"And, I know you've been away for a while," Cad picked up again as the last drops dripped, "but I'm sure you remember, the girls are off-limits to everyone but the dominant male." Between a pair of fingers, he squeezed a few more drops from his lengthened manhood. "Even K.C."

Bryn's heart sank at the mention of her name. Did he know? How could he know? "N-Nothing happened between me and--"

"Oh, I believe you, Bryn," he interrupted, starting off back to the village, "I believe you." And looking back to him, "Keep it that way."

He stood frozen, mouth agape, staring out into the darkening forest.

Cadogan called out from further down the path, "You're a good kid, Bryn. I'm glad you're back!"