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Blacktail Sanctuary

Chapter Twelve

© Cederwyn Whitefurr

10th June, 2019,

All Rights Reserved.

“It -" Stephen pleaded, before Kelly looked over her shoulder, then slammed the bathroom door hard enough to splinter the lock.

“Go – away - “ Come the vicious growl from the other side of the door, sounding more feral and filled with disgust and rage, than Stephen had ever heard his beloved Kelly.

“Honey, please - “ Stephen begged.

“Just – go - “ Kelly shrieked at him. “If you don't – I'll – make – you away..."

Stephen's hands lowered, and he hung his head, before he left the cottage – thankful the other Keeper's had returned to their work...

*

He slumped onto a fallen log in the deer enclosure, his grief palpable and self-sustaining, as he grieved for his foolish mistake and what it had cost him.

His beloved doe partner, Kelly, possibly his job...

How would Jasmine learn to live without him? He had known her all her young life, they were friends – lovers –

Jasmine was hugely popular amongst the staff and visitors to the park, almost the unofficial mascot of the park..

Now, it all risked coming crashing down around him, because his love for Jasmine, and hers for him – was it worth risking everything, throwing away a rich, vibrant and fulfilling career?

What would happen to Jasmine? Would she be put to sleep, because of what he had done?

He didn't have the answers, only grief, suffering and heartache, as he buried his head in his hands and cried helplessly, lost in his own world of misery and self-loathing.

*

He doesn't know?...oh my, how wonderfully delicious – that memory tastes so good to me, little doe -

“Shut up!" Kelly squealed, clawing at her temples, her blunt hooflets gouging at the fur and flesh.

My, my, my – oh, how this will, to borrow a phrase, st the fox amongst the chickens!

Hysterical, Kelly baked out of the room, her tail flat against her rump as she wailed and thrashed in hysteria – her paws smashing the television, paintings, tearing at the sheets on the bed – rending them into strips and patches, before she fell muzzle first onto the bed, clutching her pillow tight against her chest, her heart feeling like it would surely burst from her chest.

The irony of it all – all the more wonderful, that foolish human has – no – idea, does he? Not even the slightest clue... Oh, you act all self-righteous and valorous, putting up that facade you show him and the others in the park – but I know your little secret little one – after all – I'm – you – you can't run from your own mind, no matter how much you wish for it...

*

Stephen writhed in helpless dismay, fears piling on fears, until he feared he would surely die. Having cried himself out, his stomach in more knots than he ever imagined possible – he come to a conclusion – there was really only one, but even that, didn't really help his disturbed, frightened mind.

How could he kill himself – leaving dear Jasmine – and –

“No!" He gasped, as he stood and slapped himself sharply across the cheek, then the other side. “Kelly is my love, my partner, my mate – Jasmine, she is – my friend, my very good friend, whom I love, trust and share a special bond with...I will not allow her to come to harm, not now, not ever..."

Resolute, he left the deer enclosure, marching to the storage shed, where he hunted around until he found a deer halter and a ten foot long lead rope. Going back to the enclosure, he politely exchanged words with a group of tourists, who were hand feeding some of the deer, before he whistled piercingly.

A furred head snapped up, then the deer's eyes blinked, before it squealed and come galloping across the paddock, skidding to a halt on its cloven legs.

“Good girl," Steven smiled, as he stroked Jasmine's neck, then reached into a bag that hung off his hip and fed her a handful of the pellets. “Stay still now sweetheart, I need you to help me with something - “

Jasmine nuzzled his fingers, licking the last of the crumbs off his hand, before she snorted softly, her tubular ears twitching as she looked at the halter, then took a timid step backwards.

“Easy girl," Stephen spoke soothing, as he stepped closer, then slipped the halter over her head,

As he adjusted it, tightening a few buckles, Jasmine squealed and pulled back again, before she tugged sharply, not liking the harness that had been placed over her muzzle and head – and usually – this meant she was going to the veterinarian, something she didn't enjoy at all.

“Hey - “ Stephen grunted, as he gripped the lower part of the halter, then stared at Jasmine, until she barked at him and settled, her favourite humans calm, gentle demeanour doing wonders to soothe her. “You're – not – going there, I promise!"

Jasmine looked at him, her back swept ears slowly rotating forwards, before she frowned then blinked, uttering a series of barks and grunts at Stephen.

“No, I'm not lying - “ Stephen told her. “I – please honey, just follow me, okay?"

After a moments further hesitation, Jasmine quivered, then watched as Stephen clipped the lead rope onto her harness, and began walking beside him, looking here and there, content and trusting in her beloved human.

*

Laying sprawled on the bed, somehow, Kelly had silenced that voice in her head, her pillow and cheeks wet with her shed tears, when she heard the unmistakable clip-clop of cloven hooves – a sound she knew all too well herself. Listening with half an ear, Kelly rolled over onto her side, then pulled the pillow back over her head. Still lost in her world of anger, resentment, misery and anger she tuned it out, thinking one of the keepers was taking one of the many cloven-hoofed animals to the veterinarian clinic, so she didn't give it a second thought.

It was only when the clip-clop changed cadence and become louder, did Kelly frown, pulling the pillow away from her muzzle and head, then clutched it tightly against her chest, before she began to roll over – and heard the hoof steps clicking on the stairs.

“What the - “ Kelly began, then her nostrils flared, as she caught the hint of a scent. Her mind mentally frowned, as it struggled to remember the scent.

Closer, the hoof steps come, then they froze and there was a frightened bleat, before a gentle slapping sound and the hooves moved further into the half-destroyed cottage.

“No..." Kelly gasped as she rolled over onto her side, her pale brown eyes widening, as she seen the whitetail doe standing about four feet from the bed, a halter on her muzzle and head and a lead rope trailing out the door. “No, it can't be - “

Blinking, the shy doe sniffed the air, took a few quick glances around, before she blinked again, then bleated like a fawn and rushed towards Kelly. Kelly held her paws out in supplication, trying to stop the charging doe, before Jasmine leapt and landed on the bed, quickly kneeling down and lathering Kelly's muzzle in licks and nuzzles.

“No...stop – stop it!" Kelly snapped, trying to push Jasmine away. “NO!"

Jasmine paused, pulling her head back and bleating again, her black tipped tail flagging.

“You, you can't do that..." Kelly grunted, before she pushed Jasmine away, then sternly slapped the doe on the shoulder. “No, stop it – not – not here..."

“Not here what - “ Stephen asked, as he timidly peered around the corner, then his eyes widened, as he seen Jasmine nuzzling at Kelly's furred breasts, the young doe's tail flagging wildly, as she bleated and bumped her head against Kelly's breasts again and again.

“Stephen – I - “ Kelly whimpered, as she forcefully pushed Jasmine's head away.

Stephen come in, staring at the destruction Kelly had wrought in her fear and anger, before he timidly sat on the edge of the bed, as Jasmine glanced at him, then resumed nuzzling and licking at Kelly insistently.

“I – owe you an apology love," Stephen began, tears welling in his eyes.

“No, you don't - “ Kelly sighed, then pushed Jasmine away again, giving the doe another slap, this one with more force, then Jasmine squealed and leapt off the bed, kneeling down between the bed and Stephen – but her eyes were firmly fixed on Kelly – it was as if Stephen no longer existed in Jasmine's mind.

“This is - “ Stephen stammered, then placed a nervous hand on Jasmine's rump.

“I know who she is - “ Kelly sniffled, then sat back hard on the edge of the bed, as the tears burst from her eyes and she began sobbing hysterically. “Steven? This – is my daughter...."

To Be Continued...