*Noise*

A strange cry can be heard, weary and faint sounding. The sound comes from a thick stand of trees... Although it's hard to tell just what creature is making this cry, it certainly sounds like a young creature....

Fauve

Bay mare felt her harks perk at a strange call from some unknown animal. A small one, it sounded like. She headed toward it, her merciful nature guiding her, but stopping just short so that she could see the animal, but it could not see her. She peered carefully at it, attempting to determine its species.

*Fawn*

The cries stopped suddenly as your shadow fell over the creature. It was a white-lipped deer, and just a fawn. She had escaped from a canned hunting enclosure with her mother, but had gotten separated from her after being chased by humans. Now she was frightened and lost, hidding in the brush. Her large eyes opened wide and stared fearfully up at the horse.

Fauve

Smiling a little, she lay down so that she would be more at the small creature's level, and spoke quietly and soothingly to the little fawn. "Hello little one. I am Fauve. I mean you no harm. Come tell me what's troubling you." She smiled, but made no move toward the fawn, not wanting to frighten her.

*Fawn*

The fawn trembled in fear, but the mare's words and actions made her less daunting and the youngster calmed a little. "My mother and I..." she choked up as the images of what happened flooded back to her. "...humans came after us. We ran from them but they found us. My momma.." the fawn's words changed, from using a respectful 'mother' to a more emotional 'momma', "... she hid me and ran. She didn't come back. I could hear the dogs, so I ran too, but they didn't find me..." she was in tears now, resting her head down now, tired and afraid. At least it felt good to be talking to someone again.

Fauve

The little fawn was obviously terrified, and Fauve felt a sense of empathy for her. A similar thing had happened to her early in her own life: she knew how the little one felt. "Well, little one. If you like, you can stay here and wait for your mother, or we can look for her if you like. I can help. Against humans, I am quite a force to be reckoned with." And she smiled a little, remaining at the fawn's level as she could tell it made her feel better. She waited for the youngster to answer.

*Fawn*

Her little tail twitched back and forth and she brought her head up again, "I would like that." she whispered faintly, as if afraid of hearing the word 'humans'. The little fawn stood up on long legs, her tail twithcing again. She plopped down near Fauve and dropped her head once more. Then her eyes fell upon the silouette of a figure on a distant hill and up her brownish head came again. "Who is that?" she whispered, half alarmed and half curious.