The warm afternoon sun filtered through the trees of the old glen, lighting the path here and there as though some magical treasure could be found underneath.
   

Side by side two deer, a short stag with a stunted antler and a doe taller than he, took their time as they made their way down towards the village, Meadow, the doe, stopping to pick a flower, or commenting on which mushroom was edible or should be kept well away from.
   
Buck would smile and offer some passing comment, faining interest. In truth the little stag was nervous. He was fully smitten with the lovely doe, who somehow found his friendship enjoyable. No doe that was not his kin had ever given him the time of day, much less taken a stroll with him through the glen.

 
Meadow stopped to examine a small plant on the ground, sniffing appreciatively. “Wild mint!” She beamed, breaking off some leaves, one of which she handed to Buck. “I have plenty of mint in my garden, but I haven’t seen it in the wild for some time now.”
  
Buck chewed absentmindedly, his thoughts elsewhere. How to say what was on his mind
   
“Hello?” Meadow’s sing-song voice broke through his thoughts. She was standing now, waving the mint in front of his face. “Hometia to Buck! Do you want more mint?”
   
“Oh, er, I’m fine Meadow, thank you.”
   
“Suit yourself,” the doe popped the leaves in her mouth while kneeling to pluck a few more. “What’s eating at you anyways?” She asked.
   
Buck scratched at the base of his one good antler. “Oh just got a lot on my mind, is all.”
   
“Is that so?” Meadow said. “Mmm! This mint is so good!” She turned and saw the almost panicked look on Buck’s face. He was turning red. Slowly she got up, sensing something was up.
   
“I…I-” Buck was stammering, shifting his hoof in the earth awkwardly. His eyes seemed to look everywhere but her own. “I know well we’ve been through a - lot, and we’ve had our - differences-”
    “Buck,” Meadow spoke his name gently.
   
The stag tensed for a brief moment then seemed to relax a little.
   
“Look at me, Buck.”
   
He turned his head, eyes meeting hers. His face was nearly beat red, but his warm, innocent eyes were fixed on hers.

 “I like you, Meadow,” Buck said quietly. “ I- I think you’re - a one-of-a-kind doe.” He reached out and took her delicate hoof into his own, larger and far more rough.
Meadow felt her heart quicken, yet she did not withdraw from his touch. “Yes.” She whispered.
    “We’ve been real good friends, and I want to continue that. But I want much more. I-I think you do too.”
  
 “Yes,” Meadow whispered again. Her soft dark eyes fixed intently on his.
   
“You make me feel - wonderful.” Buck continued, breaking his eyes away. “I-I feel like a stag when I’m with you. I feel like I could conquer the world when you’re by my side.”
   
“Yes.”
   
“I want you to be mine.” Buck sank to his knees, leaving Meadow towering over him like an angelic being before a mortal. “I want to marry you, Meadow.”
   
Meadow was suddenly kneeling as well, covering his hoof with her own.
Buck wanted to look away but forced himself to meet her gaze. Those eyes! He squeezed his eyes shut “I don’t deserve you.” He breathed, letting a tear trickle down his cheek.
   
A warm hoof wiped it gently away. “Yes, Buck.” Came the soft voice he so loved. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
   
Buck suddenly stood up, his eyes wide. He looked down at Meadow, still kneeling, as he briskly wiped away the tears continuing to run down his face. “Y-you will? Me? Why?”
  
 It was Meadow’s turn to wipe away tears. She gazed up into his eyes. “Buck, I’d be the most blessed doe if you’d take me to be your wife.” She said. “No stag has ever made me feel so appreciated, so cared for" she choked back a sob, burying her face into his chest. “So wanted.”
   
Buck held her close, both weeping unashamedly, all the while Meadow whispering
“Yes!”

***

A quick story doodle of Buck proposing to Meadow. There's obviously more to their story, and perhaps this is not even how Buck popped the question; This was a random writing exercise that quickly got away from my initial idea.

Want a personalized short story? Check out my journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10746598/