{"sf1_id":1723071,"sf2_id":"3egQjZPn","title":"Antler to Antler - Part 5","author":"rgii55447","words":1013,"posted_at":"2021-05-28T19:52:00.000Z","tags":["Buck","Deer","Doe","Fighting","M/F","Romance","competition","rut","screenplay"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1723071-antler-to-antler-part-5","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/3egQjZPn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/99/b2/99b219e7-5d25-432d-9f99-f6f6b61c0f9a","description":"#6 of Antler to Antler","content":"EXT. FOREST - DAY  \nBracken stares at a tree truck. Shifting his hoof through the dirt, he charges. He collides with the trunk, RAMMING it again and again. Wood SPLINTERS, sweat rolls down his face.  \nFinally, the trunk gives way, and the tree falls, CRASHING into the forest floor. Bracken stares at the empty trunk, BREATHING HEAVILY.  \nEXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY  \nBracken marches into the clearing, tall and proud. Eyes turn toward him. Fern watches from the distance.  \nBRACKEN: I am Bracken, and I declare Fern as my doe.  \nSILENCE.  \nThen CHUCKLING. Bracken turns to see Stag marching up to him. Stag shakes his head.  \nSTAG: I see. Decided to claim my doe for yourself. (Eyes darkening) Back down now. Or prepare to be pulverized.  \nBracken stares Stag straight in the eyes.  \nBRACKEN: Like I said, I declare Fern as my doe.  \nStag glares back. Something rekindles in his gaze, long confined.  \nSTAG: A real buck, I see. Okay. I accept your challenge.  \nStag CHARGES! He's across the clearing in seconds, antlers locked with Bracken's.  \nBracken and Stag stand head to head, eyes alight with fury.  \nSTAG: Fern is mine.  \nBRACKEN: Never!  \nThey drive each other back, twisting heads from side to side, throwing each other into the dirt, only to have them recover with renewed effort, neither willing to back down.  \nFern watches from the sidelines, guilt filling her expression.  \nMAPLE (V.O.): Look at them. Filled with so much masculinity. It's like they've lost their minds.  \nFern turns her head, struggling to watch.  \nBracken, filled with such aggression, rams Stag full force, causing him to stumble. Stag looks down at his hooves, shocked. Before he can recover, Bracken drives at him again, and Stag is thrown off his feet.  \nBracken stands over Stag, nostrils FLARING, his EYES FILLED WITH FURY. Fern CRIES out and has to look away.  \nFERN (V.O.): If you can't fight for me, then maybe I deserve a buck who will.  \nThe voice ECHOS across the clearing.  \nECHO.  \nECHO.  \nECHO.  \nAll the way to Bracken, still standing over Stag.  \nSTAG: Do it. Show everyone you've won. Show everyone you've won your doe.  \nBracken goes still.  \nFERN (V.O.): Nothing more than a prize to be won.  \nECHO. ECHO. ECHO.  \nThe fury drains from Bracken's face, his expression softens. He pulls his attention away from Stag, and finding Fern in the crowd, meeting her gaze. She bows her head.  \nInstantly, STAG'S ON HIS FEET. He rams Bracken, driving him into the ground, throwing up dirt. Bracken CRIES OUT.  \nThe dust clears. Bracken looks around dazed, his pelt all shredded. Stag stands over him, Fern watches in horror.  \nSTAG: You shouldn't have hesitated. Now get up. Finish what you started.  \nWeakly, Bracken positions his hooves under him, raises himself up slowly, stiffly, his joints CRACKLE...  \nAnd then he looks at Fern.  \nFERN (V.O.): All I can do is stand on the sidelines. (Echo, Echo) Nothing more than a prize to be won.  \nECHO, ECHO, ECHO.  \nAll the energy drains from Bracken, he slumps back down to the ground.  \nSTAG: I said, get up!  \nInstead, Bracken just lays there, breathing slow, shallow breaths.  \nBRACKEN (V.O.): It does seem ridiculous that we have to let a competition choose who we love.  \nECHO, ECHO, ECHO.  \nSTAG: Now!  \nStag rams his antlers into Bracken, throwing him tumbling across the clearing.  \nStag steps up to him once more.  \nSTAG: Are you a real buck or not? Fight!  \nYOUNG BRACKEN (V.O.): I'm gonna be the strongest buck ever.  \nECHO. ECHO. ECHO  \nFATHER (V.O.): Son, it's not about being the strongest, it's finding a doe who you love and being able to stand strong for her.   \nECHO. ECHO. ECHO.  \nAnd again--  \nFERN (V.O.): If you can't fight for me... (echo, echo) then maybe I deserve a buck who will.  \nECHO. ECHO. ECHO.  \nBracken looks at Stag, standing over him, strong and tall.  \nBracken puts a hoof under him.  \nSTAG: You're better than this. Now prove it!  \nAnd Bracken puts down another hoof...  \nFERN (V.O.): All I can do is stand on the sidelines. (Echo, Echo) Nothing more than a prize to be won.  \nSILENCE.  \nAnd Bracken just falls back to the ground, lowering his head.  \nStag EXPLODES IN A FRENZY OF FURY, ramming Bracken again and again. Bracken CRIES out as he is sent rolling once more. Fern cries in horror.  \nStag steps up to Bracken.  \nSTAG: You're pathetic. You will never be the strongest buck.  \nBracken struggles to look up.  \nBRACKEN: Maybe I don't want to be.  \nHe finds Fern in the crowd and looks her in the eyes.  \nBRACKEN : It's you who can fight for her.  \nStags eyes ignite with pure rage.  \nSTAG: You will fight me like a real buck, and I will win this fight like the buck I am!  \nStag is about to ram Bracken again when Fern leaps in the way.  \nStag stops. Fern looks him straight in the eyes.  \nFERN: Enough.  \nStag taken aback, watches as Fern turns to Bracken and helps him to his feet. Bracken staggers a little on uneven legs, and she helps support his weight.  \nThen Fern looks at Stag.  \nFERN : I choose Bracken.  \nThe clearing goes still.  \nFinally--  \nSTAG: Wha-? You can't do that.  \nFern just ignores him and turns to Bracken, still uneasy on his feet.  \nFERN: Come on Bracken, let's go.  \nStrengthened by her presence, Fern leads Bracken limping across the clearing. The other deer watch them go in utter befuddlement.  \nStag puts a hoof forward, but Fern turns to face him, shielding Bracken with her own body.  \nFERN : It's over Stag.  \nAnd Stag steps back into his place.  \nAs Fern and Bracken reach the treeline, Stag regains one last breath--  \nSTAG: You're a disgrace of a buck Bracken! A weakling and a cheat!  \nBracken looks at Fern gratefully, then glances back at Stag.  \nBRACKEN: I didn't come here to earn your respect.  \nWith a HUFF, Stag turns his back on them, shaking his head.  \nAnd with that, Fern and Bracken enter the treeline, disappearing into the forest beyond.  \nFADE OUT  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Antler to Antler","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1722811-antler-to-antler-part-4.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1824318-antler-to-antler-part-5-revised.json"}}