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This is my first furry story ever! It gets very yiffy, but not until several chapters in. I have a rather developed story line outlined, so if you are looking to read for the yiff alone you may want to skip the first few chapters. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks of the story, so please leave comments.

**Chapter 1: The Passing of a Legend

By TheOther**

Snow fell silently from the pale gray sky and drifted slowly down through the stands of pine and spruce. It had been coming down for only a day, but already a blanket several feet deep covered the ground in brilliant white. Every exposed branch in sight was encrusted in growing lumps of snow and frost. The streams and ponds scattered through out the nearby wilderness were all frozen solid, and even the waterfalls had been transformed into beautiful chandeliers formed of ice. A frigid wind was blowing lightly, causing the snowflakes to swirl and dance as they drew close to the forest floor.

It was December; the middle of winter, and the forest was quiet except for the whistling of the wind through the trees. But unlike most winter days, when most of the animals would have been hibernating in their burrows or huddling together to avoid the bitter cold, today the forest was alive with activity. Rabbits, skunks, foxes, and other kinds of creatures emerged from their homes and made their way into the forest, all heading for the same destination. None of them made any noise, and all but the very young had a look of sadness in their eyes.

Word had spread through the forest quickly, mostly by Owls, who had long served as the messengers and scouts of the Wisened Herd of deer. The message that prompted this sudden migration of animals was one that almost every creature of the forest had dreaded receiving for years. The Great Guardian of the Forest, the longtime protector of the Wisened Herd of deer and, indeed, of every good-natured creature of the woods, was dying. The Great Guardian was the most revered figure in all of their lives. Noble, courageous, and wise: tales of his great deeds and great strength had inspired generations of forest creatures of all kinds and earned the old buck the status of a legend. But now, after some 93 years of life, most of which had been dedicated to protecting their lives and happiness, The Great Guardian was finally succumbing to old age. That he had lived so long was incredible in itself: no other deer in memory had lived half as long as he had. Indeed, many of the forest animals had suspected him to be immortal, especially the species such as mice, who could not even begin fathom 93 years alive with their own short life spans.

But today, that illusion was shattered. With the news that the Owls and other messengers had brought, the animals left their hiding spots to visit the Great Guardian and pay their final respects. So greatly did the creatures of the forest wish to honor him that species that would normally be mortal enemies today put aside their eternal struggles of survival. Rabbits could be seen being led through the woods by a family of foxes, and the owls that normally preyed upon mice today offered to carry them gently in their talons to visit the Great Guardian. The journey was not easy with the deepening snows drifts and plummeting temperatures, but all the animals felt it was the proper thing to do.

From miles around, the animals slowly began filing onto the snow covered meadow where the Wizened Herd had gathered around their fallen leader. About 40 deer, all of them does, stood in a wide circle in the middle of the meadow. In the center of the herd, lying on the ground, was the dying Guardian. The smaller creatures took up positions among and between the deer's legs, hoping to get a better view of the old buck. In only an hour, the meadow was filled with many hundreds of mourning spectators of all shapes and sizes. Such a large gathering was an extremely rare occurrence, but then again it wasn't everyday an event of such magnitude occurred. Nobody talked, though it was obvious that emotions were running high as muffled sobbing could be heard from many of those present. Even the young fawns had put their usually playful behavior on hold today, opting instead to stay near their mothers in this sad time.

The deer were especially tearful, and had good reason to be. Not only was their beloved leader dying, but their whole race was likely dying with him. For not only was he the Wisened Herd's noble protector, he was also their last hope for the continuation of their kind. This was because The Great Guardian of the Forest was also the last male Wisened deer left in existence. Everyone knew that when he passed away, never again would a fawn be born to the Wisened Herd. The does would live out the remainder of their lives without being mated, and when the last of them died, the forest would be forever without the presence of Wizened deer.

This extinction scenario that was being realized before the deer's eyes had come to be by a fact that nobody in the forest could explain: not a single male deer had been born in the last 38 years. There were many speculations that the deer and other animals had came up with: something in the air or water, a backlash of the Wisened Herd's use of magic, and angry ancestor spirits, among others. Almost all of these theories, and their possible remedies, had been heeded by the deer, but nothing they tried had produced a new buck. It was a profound mystery how this affliction had come upon the Wisened Herd.

For the past 5 years, The Great Guardian had been the sole surviving buck. Though he was a powerful protector, without the help of other bucks the Wisened Herd had dwindled in size from nearly 300 to the 40 that remained. Wolf attacks were the primary culprit, though cougars and bears had also recently increased their contribution to the steady decline. The old, the sick and the very young had been the most frequent targets. Due to this predation, not a doe lived who was older than 23 years.

The Great Guardian simply couldn't be with every doe at all times. He had done his best to repopulate, but his aging body produced relatively few children for the Herd. All of the fawns he did father turned out to be female, despite his hopes for a male heir. On top of that, most of the newly born fawns were taken by predators. Nobody knew how long the remaining does of the Wisened Herd would last without a buck watching over them, but the estimates were not good.

The Great Guardian slowly lifted his large antlered head from the cold ground, obviously struggling with the simple movement. Even in his current humble condition, he was a regal figure to behold. He was one of the largest and most powerful deer that had ever lived. The great strength he was famous for was evident to all who saw him and the great masses of muscle that bulged beneath his long, dark fur. It was truly a tragic sight to see one so strong and so noble brought so low. His labored breathing caused his snout to generate puffs of vapor as the warm air from his old lungs met the cold air outside. In a frail voice that was but a shadow of its former glory, he called to the congregation of mourning animals.

"Karen? Where is Karen? I must speak with her."

With these words a green-eyed adult doe, one of the few that had lived to the age of 23, stepped forward from the circle of deer and drew close to the Great Guardian of the Forest. Obviously, the old bucks eye sight was going fast, as Karen had been standing directly in front of him not more than 15 feet away.

Karen had always felt she had a special connection to the Great Guardian. She viewed him as a fatherly figure, in addition to his being her loving mate. To see him in such a diminished state broke her heart. Even worse, his passing meant that the fawn she was carrying in her womb would never have the chance to meet it's father. She felt a tear run down her face as she looked upon his dying form, but she managed to maintain her composure and addressed her beloved leader with dignity.

"I am here, Great Guardian. How can I aid you, my protector?"

"I am afraid there is no way you can aid me, Karen. My time in the Forest has come to its end at last. However, there is something you can do to help me aid the Wisened Herd after I have gone. I want you to pay close attention to what I have to say. It may mean the difference between the survival and extinction of our kind."

Karen doubted that there was anything she could possibly do that would prevent the Wizened Herds extinction, but trusting the Guardian's great wisdom, she listened intently, interested in whatever he might tell her.

"I am listening. Speak your wisdom, Guardian."

The Guardian gathered his strength and spoke words that shocked Karen. He spoke loudly enough so that most of the deer present could hear his words.

"I am naming you, Karen, as my successor. You will become the new protector of the Herd once I have passed on, until a buck is strong enough to take over your responsibilities."

A murmur of excitement quickly spread through the crowd, and a million questions raced through Karen's mind. How could she, a female, become the Wisened Herd's protector? Why had the Great Guardian chosen her out of all the other does? How could she be expected to defend the other deer when she was pregnant with the Great Guardian's offspring? And most importantly, where in the world would a new buck come from that could take her place? Was the fawn in her womb the male that the Herd had been hoping for over the last 38 years? If so, how could the great Guardian tell this early in her pregnancy? Perhaps, she thought to herself, the Great Guardian's mind was starting to fade along with his eyesight. Karen needed answers to these questions.

"Great Guardian, how could I possibly take your place? I am neither as strong as you nor as wise. I can't fight off a pack of wolves or defend the herd's fawns against predators. Now that I am pregnant with your child, I am certainly one of the most vulnerable does in the herd! Surely there is another doe who would be a better protector than I would?"

The Great Guardian of the Forest smiled at her weakly, and then spoke in a reassuring voice that was quiet enough that only she could hear.

"Karen, I have always felt a special love for you. Of all the does I've loved over the many years of my life, none were as strong or as wise as you. And none had such a talent in the use of magic. Your mother Salira was much the same, if I remember correctly. She caused us quite a bit of trouble before she came over to the Wisened Herd's side. You have the blood of great leaders running in your veins, and I know I am making the right choice in making you my successor."

"But there has never been a female protector of the herd before. You said I am to be the herd's protector until a buck is strong enough for the task. Is there a buck that is coming to take my place? Is my fawn going to be a male?"

"I don't know for sure what gender the fawn in your womb will be born as, but likely it will be female. However, over the last few years I have been devising a plan that may produce a male heir. I was hoping that a buck would be born naturally before I passed on, but it seems that the mysterious forces that have been preventing male births for the last 38 years have not relented. You Karen, are going to help me carry out this plan to save the Wisened Herd."

The old buck stopped, closed his eyes and caught his breath before continuing on. Karen took the opportunity to lie down in the snow in front of him so she could better hear his faint words. When he was ready, The Great Guardian continued explaining his plan to save the Wisened Herd from extinction.

"A few years ago, I was in the forest experimenting with a new form of magic that would allow me to teleport instantly to the place of a doe in danger. The magic was too powerful to control, and I ended up knocking myself unconscious. However, the failed spell must have opened up some kind of portal, because in my mind I saw another plane of existence. In this new world, which I later learned was called Earth, lived creatures that I had never dreamed of before. One particular race, which called themselves humans, proved to be sentient. I recreated the portal many times over the next couple of months, and I learned much of their history and behaviors in my visions. Many of the humans were cruel and warlike, but a few seemed to posses souls that are not so very different from our own. I believe that among these humans a savior for our kind might be found. I spent 2 more years developing a new spell which can bring one of these souls from Earth to our plane. Now that I am passing on, I am leaving the spell to you, Karen, to perform. However, the magic is too powerful for any one deer to handle by themselves, so you will need help from the other does. This is why I am making you the leader of the Wisened Herd."

Karen was truly amazed by the Guardian's story. He had discovered a whole new plane of existence and found another intelligent race! But as impressed as she was by this discovery, she was even more impressed with by his unending dedication to the Wisened deer. Even as he neared death, The Great Guardian's only concern was for the wellbeing of the herd. Karen also felt apprehensive at taking on such a huge responsibility, but she was determined to perform whatever task the Guardian had planed for her. But first she needed to understand what exactly he wanted her to do.

"How could I perform this magic? I haven't learned how to perform your enchantment, and I doubt that you have enough time left in this world to teach it to me."

"I will show you all that you need to know. You simply need to relax your mind and look into my eyes."

Karen, confused by the odd instruction, lifted her head and stared into the Great Guardian's deep brown eyes. Trusting his wisdom, she took a deep breath and cleared her head of thoughts, which was not easy with all the pressing matters. For what seemed like an eternity, she peered into his bottomless gaze and wondered what was supposed to happen. Slowly, the world outside his eyes faded to Karen. The Guardian stared back at her unflinchingly, and concentrated on building and focusing the magical energies in his body. Suddenly, he let it all go and cast a spell into Karen's mind. Two thin beams of light shot from his eyes and into hers. Karen saw the world flash blindingly white and then fade to black, but then The Great Guardian's mind flooded into her own and her vision was filled with color. In an instant, she experienced everything that he had seen and felt over the last 3 years: his discovery of Earth, the nature of humans, the spell that opened the portals; all was revealed to her. Most importantly, she saw the whole of the Guardian's plan and how to perform the spell that could bring a savior to the Wisened Herd. When her mystical vision was over, feeling rushed back into her body and she was aware of the world around her once again.

The expenditure of magical energy had visibly put a strain on the Great Guardian, and he struggled to catch his breath. He nearly passed out from exhaustion, but an affectionate lick across his nose from Karen brought him back from the brink of unconsciousness. He again took a minute to rest and gather what was left of his strength before continuing on. Karen noticed that his voice seemed even weaker and more strained than it had been before he used his energy on her.

"You now know how to perform the spell, but keep in mind that it is very dangerous. I only want you to use it if it is the only hope for the Wisened Herd's survival. Wait until after your fawn is born. If our offspring turns out to be a new male, there will be no need for the spell."

"I will do as you say, my Guardian." Karen again looked into the eyes of the old buck. "You will always be in my heart." He took this comment in with mixed joy and sadness, and then whispered softly into her ear.

"I have one last gift to give to you and the herd before I die. I am going to cast a powerful protection spell over every member of the Wisened Herd. The magic will hide our kind from the sight of any who wish to do us harm. It will greatly aid you in your new role as protector of the herd, but be mindful that the effects of the spell will only last for one year. Hopefully this will give you the time you need to raise a strong new buck to take your place in defending the Wisened Herd."

"But how could you possibly cast a spell that powerful, especially in your weakened state? The amount of magical energy needed for such an enchantment would surely kill you!"

The Great Guardian smiled and answered "I am already dying, my love. The spell will only shorten my life by an hour at most. For the Wisened Herd, and for you Karen, I am more than willing to sacrifice myself. I need you to be strong for me, and for our fawn. Now, please move yourself and the others a distance away from my body. I don't want anyone getting hurt when I cast this spell."

Karen didn't say anything for a while because she knew that her next words would be the last she ever spoke to The Great Guardian of the Forest.

"I love you, and I thank you for all the love you have shown me during my life. I promise to do my best to carry out your plan, and I promise I will be a good mother for your offspring. You will be missed greatly, by me and all those who were fortunate enough to know your kindness. Good Bye, Great Guardian of the Forest."

With those words spoken, she lifted her body out of the snow and turned from the Guardian. Tears were flowing freely down her face as she rejoined the other does, but she was determined to be strong as he had asked. In a strong but solemn voice, Karen announced to the gathering that the Great Guardian was going to be passing soon and that he needed more space. Hundreds of tearful eyes looked up at her and found some comfort in their new protector. The other does backed away from the Guardian, giving him the room he needed to perform his sacrificial spell. When he was ready and saw that the does were at a safe distance, The Great Guardian began the final contribution he would make to his plan to rescue the Wisened Herd of deer from fading into history.

With every ounce of mental strength he possessed, he focused on charging his body with magical power. He could soon feel the warmth flowing through his body, easing the shivering that the snow had caused. But soon the gathering magical force was so great that the soothing warmth turned to searing heat, which caused him great pain. It took all his willpower to maintain focus. The crowd gasped in surprise when sparks began shooting from the magically charged air around the Guardian. After a minute, the sparks grew to random arcs of electricity and the bucks eyes began to glow white. Many of the animals cried out in terror when they saw that the old buck's fur was starting to smoke. Karen and many other does had to look away from the horrific scene.

At last, the Guardian knew he had gathered enough magic for the protection spell, and with a loud final yell he let it all go in a mighty surge of power. Instantly, white hot flames burst from his body and consumed him. The air was quickly filled with the scent of burning flesh. A small shockwave raced out from the burning Guardian and into the animals, knocking many of them onto the snowy ground. All the Wisened deer present in the meadow felt a magical field envelope their bodies, and amazed spectators saw them all glow briefly with the colors of the rainbow. Most of the more skittish forest creatures turned and fled into the forest to escape the scene of fiery death.

In a matter of moments, the flames died out and left only a pile of smoldering ashes sitting in a pool of mud and melt water where the Great Guardian had lain. A thick, black cloud of smoke drifted upwards into the gray sky. The Great Guardian of the Forest was dead at last, but Karen knew that his spell had been successful. She and the other does could almost feel the protection spell in their bodies, and it gave them a strange sense of peace and security.

After the initial shock of the Great Guardian's bizarre death had had worn off, the forest creatures that had not fled in terror commenced in showing their final respects. Some retold the familiar stories about his ventures to groups of younger animals, and others left tokens of the appreciation next to the pile of ashes: an acorn, a colored pebble, and other such trinkets. Most would have preferred to leave flowers, but those were nearly impossible to find this time of year. Slowly but steadily, the forest animals finished with their rituals of mourning and began to make the journey back to their homes. By dusk, all the does and forest animals except for Karen had retreated back into the relative safety of the woods.

Remembering the plan the Great Guardian had shown her with his mental magic, she had stayed behind to look for something important. When she was certain she was alone, she began nosing through the pile of ashes the Guardian had left, which by now nearly covered in snow. The ash made her sneeze and cough, but when her nose bumped against something small and metallic, she knew she had found what she was looking for. She took the item in her mouth and headed into the woods to find her den. As the last rays of sunlight faded through the trees, Karen found herself wondering if it was possible for the Great Guardian to hear her thoughts in the afterlife. If so, she wanted to say just one thing to him: thank you.

By the time Karen arrived at her den, it was nighttime. She hid the metal object in a corner and made sure to bury it with branches from the thickets that surrounded her home. Hopefully, she thought to herself, she would never need to remove the object from its hiding place. But if she did, she promised herself that she would do whatever necessary to protect the Wisened Herd, just as the Great Guardian had always done. She then fell into a restless sleep, feeling the first movements in her womb of her unborn fawn.

**********

Some 50 miles away, and half way up the face of a jagged, barren mountain where few ventured, the Shadow Beast sat contemplating the day's events over the carcass of a freshly killed deer. Not a Wisened deer, they never roamed close to the mountain, but the taste of its flesh was almost as satisfying to the dark creature. The evil carnivore had started the day feeling almost triumphant, but now, as the sun sank below the horizon far out over the snow covered forest below, it was feeling frustrated and angry.

For the past few days, the beast had been sensing that the Great Guardian of the Forest's life force was fading. It was sure the Guardian had been near death this morning, but in the middle of the day the Shadow Beast picked up a huge surge of magical energy from the old bucks location. Now it was sensing that the Guardian's life force was just as strong as it had ever been, and it hadn't faded in the last few hours at all. The Shadow Beast was genuinely perplexed at the Guardian's sudden turn of fortunes. How could one as old as The Great Guardian that close to death make so sudden and so complete a recovery? And what was that strange pillar of smoke it had seen rising from the Wisened Herd's territory? The Shadow Beast had spotted it over the distant forest shortly after it had felt the resurgence of the Great Guardian's power. The beast knew it must all be interconnected, but it couldn't imagine how.

The Shadow Beast tore out a hunk of flesh from the mangled deer's abdomen with it's sharp teeth and swallowed it down. The feel of meat sliding into it's belly and the coppery taste blood on it's tongue calmed the storm within the beast's savage mind. No need to fret, it thought to itself, the Great Guardian of the Forest was 93 years old and would have to die sometime soon. It was best to simply lie low and bide its time. Yes, the beast assured itself, it's time of ascension would surely soon be at hand. The Shadow Beast smiled a toothy, blood stained grin at the thought.

It then sunk a massive clawed paw into the side of its prey's face and dragged the upper half of the severed deer's body into the cave it called home. There, it could feed free from the cloud of buzzing flies that was beginning to gather over the carcass. As it ambled into the darkness, it left behind only a bloody trail of intestines and tufts of shredded deer fur.