Oh deer...

Mæva gazed out at the broad expanse of the battlefield. She was eager to explore and maybe even see if she'd be allowed to call for an opponent. Mæva's focus had long been on hunting but she was also interested in learning to fight so she could better defend herself and her family. Behind her, to the north, a blanket of dark clouds were gathering. For now the air was still and silent but that only made the growing darkness all the more threatening. At any moment autumn would lose its grip, turning the reins fully over to winter.

She settled down on her haunches, gazing at the sky. They were breaking in their travel and she knew she should probably start seeking shelter but her mind was already fixed on dinner. If there was a storm, what were they going to eat? She turned her gaze north ward again. She was too young to know how far off the storm was but she figured, she hoped, she had several hours in which to hunt. Mæva stood and started trotting along the northern border of the Battlefield. She doubted many prey would go right into the heart of it but there were tender grasses along its northern border, crisp and golden and waiting to be found beneath the snow.

Mæva paused as she spied a few areas that looked like they'd been dug up. She bent her head and caught the scent of white tailed deer. Her ears flicked forward and she started following the scent just as a few snow flakes began to fall from the sky. They twisted and spun but there wasn't anything too concerning yet and besides, wouldn't her dad be so proud when she brought back a deer for dinner? A light breeze, some snow, no big deal! She didn't find that the snow affected her sense of smell too much though as the temperature dropped and the wind picked up she could feel the skin beginning to sting. The sky above her was growing darker with each passing moment. It really had gotten a lot colder all of a sudden. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

Mæva was just about to go back when she spied a small herd of deer grazing nearby. What caught her eye in particular was a young deer. It was good-sized but was likely a summer fawn. Smaller, inexperienced, and struggling in the deeper snow. Or was it the snow? She couldn't quite be sure but it was moving oddly. The snow was falling heavily now, obscuring her vision. On one hand it clung to her fur, helping to mask her darker pelt but on the other it was making tracking by sight difficult. If she was going to do this she needed to do it now before the storm got to bad. She pinned her ears to her head for warm then leapt forward towards the deer. Mæva growled violently, sending the deer running. They turned sharply toward the northwest. She gave chase.

The deer bounded ahead with Mæva hot on their heels as the winter storm raged around them. She squinted her eyes against the snow and the cold just as they started to water. She kept in pursuit, putting on a burst of speed as she saw them heading for the Mile-High Woods. While the southern part of that territory was treeless once the deer broke the tree line she knew she'd never catch them.

The herd fractured. Mæva kept her focus on the younger deer which was quickly falling behind its mother. Suddenly, the fawn stumbled. Mæva leapt forward, viciously snarling as the mother fled and the fawn was left to fend for itself. It took off as fast as it could but it was burdened by the heavy snow and a defect in one of its legs. The fawn dodged to the left and then to the right and as it did so it fell face first into the snow. That was the moment Mæva needed to close the distance. In a moment she was on the deer, jaws around its throat. She held on as the pair struggled. The fawn kicked at her, striking her left shoulder but she held firm until at last her prey was dead.

Panting she sank into the snow as the wind cut into her. She could barely see but the forest was just ahead. Seizing the fawn she dragged it a half a mile into the forest. There she collapsed, shivering. Oh no, how was she ever going to get back to her dad? Panic started to set in and she howled for her father. Pausing only to listen for a response before howling again. Oh no, oh no, how could she be so stupid? Tears started to form in her eyes as what was to be a victory, a show case of her growing skill in hunting, turned into panic.