*Red Deer*

A fraction of the large herd of deer had split up, ready to investigate the new land. A group of 17 elk-like deer with reddish coats came mincing through the woods. There were 5 stags in the group with velvetine antlers still growing in. 7 were hinds, and 5 were young fawns.

The group spread out a bit in an open area, nosing about for good grazing. The fawns stayed near their mothers, then began to play together.

The stags grazed further out, keeping alert for danger. If this and the other small herds weren't killed off, a population of Red Deer would begin to live in the Valley. This would give wolves more to prey on. But the deer were very vulnerable to humans... let alone their natural preditors.

Hollow

The young wolf saw the deer and was somewhat uncertain on what to do. Seeking out one of the fawns that had strayed a tad bit to dar from its mother he made a leap for it ready to take food back to Moon Spirit and Azul.

*Red Deer*

A sharp bark cut through the air, coming from a stag who had spotted Hollow. "Wolf!" the bark sounded out again and all the deer tossed their heads up and looked to the alerting stag. He was charging down a knoll, head lowered as he did so.

The hinds called for their fawns as they began to run. The fawns began to run as well, jostling each other at first and then running swiftly for their mothers. Hollow was very near his targeted fawn, but this fawn had no apparent weakness. He could not pull away from Hollow, but Hollow couldn't quite catch him yet.

The stag was heading for Hollow now, swinging his head as he went in warning to the wolf. His antlers were only in velvet, but they were hard enough to do some serious damage. And then there were his hooves...