Fitting music: Lange Schatten by Faun

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It's that time of the year. Late November, it was already long ago that the leaves shifted colour and now most of them have fallen to the ground in large wet dunes. It's early afternoon but the daylight is already dimmed by the thick clouds above, casting the landscape in a grey colour tone. The air is moist, mist swirls slowly around the treeroots and there's that distinct smell of old wet leaves. But other than that the wind is cool and refreshing, and you take a deep breath and exhale, just enjoying the moment of solitude out here in the forest. And that's when you heard it.

A soft thump behind you. The noise was so small that it immeditely got drowned out by the wind brushing through the trees, but it had been just enough for you to hear it. You smiled and carefully turned around where you sat on a rock. It was hard to not make noise with your thicker clothing for the season, but you managed to, and there she was. Stepping out from the underbush and onto the overgrown field with its tall yellow-brown dried grass. She had often visited the surroundings and during the summer you had often seen her from the cabin window, strolling about and occasionally eating fallen apples in your garden.

You looked at her as she stepped out, she haven't seen you yet and just noses around in the grass, her big ears perked up and slowly turning. Slowly but surely she stepped further, coming closer and closer until she was a mere 10 ft away. That's when she suddenly lifted her head and looked right at you. The sharp gaze of the bright green eyes staring right into yours. Your heart stopped for a moment, you had never been so close to a live doe before. For a few seconds you just looked at each other, before you carefully reached out a hand towards her. She looked at it for a brief moment before she suddenly launched herself sideways and started running across the field; past you and into the forest on the other side.

Her movement was very elegant. Those long slim legs that still packed so much muscle, carrying that small body onwards in full speed. The air pressure alone from her run made the grass fold to the side away from her and a horrified bird shot up like a rocket from a nearby branch. She almost hopped as she ran, somewhat like an oversized bunny with her white rear bouncing up and down and that adorable little tuft of a tail that wiggled with every movement she made.

In the next moment she was gone and everything was calm again. But a wide smile still spread over your face, perhaps tomorrow you could come yet a little closer to her. Perhaps you should even bring an apple? After all, she was a very cute doe~

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A wonderful picture that my good friend and artist  furydraws made of my character Tacicala >>