Work Text:
Cervidae
Ben had had a long day at work. He had to work some stupid retail job nearly twenty minutes away from where he lived and working with people all day just sucked. So he was currently driving home, music playing softly on the radio. He was still relatively new to this area, he had only just recently moved out to these parts and he had to admit, it was different than he was used to. He never lived in the sticks so it was like a whole new world. Like for instance, he was vastly uncomfortable at how welcoming the people were. He knew none of the people in the town and yet they still waved at him and struck up conversation at any given chance.
The sun had gone down well over three hours ago, it made driving in the countryside a whole new feeling than it was when he drove through during the day. That in itself wouldn't be bothersome, but he had heard stories from his neighbors that there was a local cryptid. He didn't really believe in that shit but he was not about to find out if it was real or not so he glanced quickly at the locks on the doors, just double checking that they were locked. His neighbors seemed to avoid describing it, like maybe that would summon it or something? He scoffed at that.
He continued to drive, humming softly to the music. But suddenly, the station was crossed with static. He looked down at the radio and gave it a good thump, it didn't fix it. He grumbled and turned a random nob, hoping in vain that it would somehow fix itself. While he was distracted, he barely registered the flash of a large animal jump into the road. He cursed loudly but couldn't slam on the brakes fast enough, the car barreled into the animal and sent it skidding a good ways along the road before it finally came to a halt and flopped helplessly on the pavement. He brought the vehicle to a stop and let out a shaky breath, staring at the poor animal. It was a deer, one that was weirdly pale. Not like albino or piebald, just lacking the usual brown. It was a pale blond color.
He inhaled deeply and went to drive around it but froze. It kicked its legs out meekly a few times before huffing in defeat. Shit. It was still alive. He grumbled and reached over to the glove box, yanking out a flashlight before slamming it shut. He unlocked the doors and dragged himself out into the night air, turning on the flashlight and carefully making his way to the wounded deer. He slowed his pace as he got within range of it, he nervously called out to it as if it could respond, "H-Hey there, are you alright? Deer buddy?"
It made a guttural bleat but didn't move. He stepped a tiny bit closer, "Deer friend, you okay? Can you get up?" It flicked an ear before lifting its head. Oh. That is one hell of a rack. Why is it so bent out of shape though? His thoughts were cut short when it slowly, ominously turned its head and grinned at him. With sharp teeth, teeth no deer should have. This thing had three eyes and a smile like the Cheshire cat. "Holy shit." Was all Ben could say before he scrambled backward and made a break for his car. He tripped a bit when he heard that thing launch itself onto its hooves and give chase.
He threw himself into the car and yanked the door shut as fast as he could, locking the doors with shaky hands. It came trotting up to the door, staring at him. It leaned its head down to the door handle and pulled on it, only to let out a grunt when it didn't yield. It stood back to its full height, making eye contact with him. He couldn't really explain it but there were thoughts behind those eyes, sentient thoughts. It huffed at the window, blowing steam across the glass, before it skittered off into the night. Ben let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. That was the single-handed scariest he had ever witnessed and he never wanted to see that thing again.
Time Skip
It had been a few nights since the deer incident and Ben thought he was finally getting over it. Or at least pretending it didn't happen. Just some freak hallucination or something. He was currently taking the garbage can to the curb, letting it sway slightly as he let go of it just a tad too aggressively. He turned to go back inside, only to be met with this horrible sense of trepidation. His senses went haywire, screaming at him to not go inside. But he went inside anyway because he didn't want to be out at night. He didn't want to risk encountering that thing again. He locked the door behind him and made his way to the living room to watch TV before he went to bed. But he was met with that freakish deer inside his fucking living room. It was just standing there, grinning at him. He felt terrified and confused at the same time. He numbly realized that he had left the front door wide open when he took the trash to the road. This thing probably waltzed right in like it owned the place.
It walked over to him and he couldn't move because his body just decided that he was going to be the deer in headlights. It let out a ruffled noise that sounded astonishingly like a laugh, the glimmer of amusement in its eyes just proved that fact. He blinked and gained control of himself, he pushed at the buck's neck, "Get the hell out of my house, you shitty excuse for a deer."
It didn't budge no matter how hard he pushed, it simply leaned its head down to look at his hands. It then reeled forward and sunk its unnatural teeth into one of his hands. He yelled and stumbled back, yanking his bitten hand to his chest. Beads of blood squeezed out of the puncture marks and it stung horribly. The deer flicked an ear, leaning forward again. He lurched away from it in fear but it only came closer. It gave a tentative lick to the bite before turning swiftly and jumping through the window, shattering it without a care.
He sighed and grabbed his keys, going out to his car. Damn, I sure hope you don't have rabies or CWD or some shit. He drove himself to the the ER all while holding his bleeding hand. Over the drive, the bleeding had started to pick up and he was dripping it all over his clothes and car seat. He parked quickly and rushed in, immediately being ushered to a bed.
"So can you tell me what happened to your hand?"
"Um, I'm not sure you'll believe me."
They laughed, "We've seen crazier, spill," they said as they studied the wound.
"Uhh, well, I was bit by a deer."
They paused, "This isn't a deer bite, sir."
"I know. But it was a deer."
"How do you know?"
"Because it was in my living room, it walked over, and bit me. Okay, that's not exactly how it happened but still."
"Why was it in your living room?" They chuckled before cleaning and bandaging the bite.
"I think it was because I hit it with my car the other day. Maybe it wanted revenge?"
"...Deer don't seek revenge on people who hit them with their cars. Was it..." They glanced around nervously, "Was it The Deer?"
"Pardon?" He cleared his throat, interested at the idea of 'The Deer'.
"It's the local cryptid. It's a golden stag with three eyes and sharp teeth. The bite makes sense now."
Ben felt like someone just dumped ice water on his head. That's the local cryptid?
"Most people will live their whole lives without ever seeing him. And you've seen him twice? How long have you been here? You must've waited so long for that."
He chuckled nervously, "I actually just moved here a few weeks ago."
"AND YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN HIM? Wow, he must either really like you or really hate you. Considering you just moved here, I'm sure that's not the last you'll see of him."
"Oh. Great..."
Time Skip
After he was finally discharged, he made his way to his car. He fumbled with his keys, having a hard time with his heavily bandaged hand. Once he got the key he needed, he looked up at his car. "What the fuck?"
The Deer was standing on the hood of his car, grinning at him. It was fucking wagging its tail. He sighed, "I regret all my life choices."