Deerly Departed

by Uzi_Doorman_Fiction-Kin (LunarCrystalWrites)

Summary:

-[this is set in an AU where the characters are deer/deer like creatures! So be aware of that!]-

Tessa, the future leader of the Elliot Herd.

A female deer fawn with a heart of gold and a fascination with the deer like creatures known as Silevanis, whom her parents hate.

Much to her parents, and most of her herds, disgust she befriends some and brings them into the herd.

Unknown to her, trouble is brewing.

Even as little Cyn weakens slowly, a terrible force awaits a new host.

And Tessa has no idea that soon enough, her happy life will shatter.

But for now, she gets to be a normal fawn.

[first couple chapters are a slice of life style lol-]

Chapter 1: Prologue [Heir of the Herd]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Nobody~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

 

It was a cold and stormy winter night, deep in the woods of the Terra Forest.

The pines groaned and creaked in the fierce winds, and even the greater oaks shook too.

Wolves howled in the distance, begging their pack members to hurry to shelter.

Birds flapped frantically to cozy nest to avoid waterlogged feathers.

Foxes hid deep in their burrows, not even a speck of their russet coats visible.

Rabbits and squirrels scurried away from the hoofs of the deer.

The members of the Elliot Herd made their way deeper into the Terra Forest, the sickly and weak making up the back, and the two leaders, James and Louisa taking point.

Louisa was shaking off her muddy hoofs at every opportunity, the round belly of the pregnant deer occasionally hindering her efforts, but she managed.

James’ ears were flattened as he walked, one antler missing two branches due to a spat with the leader of a local herd of Silevanis.

James kept walking, not necessarily searching for shelter, but rather leading the herd back to their home after having gone out looking for any signs of danger at the edges of their wandering range.

Louisa huffed in discomfort, shaking her head in an effort to shake off the freezing rainwater soaking her coat.

The doe felt an odd pinch within her, and she stumbled briefly, huffing forcefully, ears lowering as a ripple ran along her side.

James paused and turned around, his ears swiveling upright and he realized that his heir, the next leader of the herd, was well on their way.

James nipped Louisa’s scruff and forcibly led her to an overhang of earth.

Louisa sniffed the earth and wrinkled her nose in distaste, but James forced her to lay down.

Louisa snapped her teeth at him, before letting out a low moan, ears lowering.

The herd settled nearby, all staying out of sight, as they knew better than to get on Louisa’s bad side.

Another low moan.

Then a bleat.

And then a bugling scream.

And then yet another scream.

Hour.

After.

Hour.

Scream.

After.

Scream.

And then, a low bleating wail.

Louisa shook her head to clear it, before immediately beginning to groom her sweat stained fur, muttering under her breath about her messed up look.

James stood up from his sitting position, and sniffed the brown and creamish-brown bundle lying by Louisa.

“It’s a doe Fawn” James huffed, clearly dissatisfied with his daughter.

“Well, she’s all you’re getting. I will not be doing such a heinous act as carrying a fawn again” Louisa sniffed haughtily, lifting her head up and looking away from James.

The tiny fawn whimpered, lifting her head up and blinking open emerald eyes as she looked up at her parents.

“Ugh. I suppose we do have to name it. Whatever. I suppose Tessa could do” Louisa sniffed, and James nodded in agreement.

Little Tessa blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Before she lowered her head with another soft whimper, closing her eyes again.

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Four Years Later

The fawn blinked open her eyes to the dazzling light of the moon bathing everything in a soft silver glow.

Tessa slowly stood up, and glanced back at her mommy.

She would get in trouble for sneaking away, she knew she would.

But it couldn’t hurt.

She would be back before anybody woke anyways.

Tessa slowly crept out of the sheltered clearing her herd lived in.

She could see the deer’s of her herd all scattered about, the browns and greys and blondes of their coat blending right into the natural colors of the forest.

She crept out of the clearing, and picked up speed once out of hearing range.

She clumsily bounded over branches and twigs, cheerfully giggling as she landed in crunchy leaf piles.

A low sound, like a deers call, caught her attention.

Tessa slowly walked over to a ridge, where the trees cleared away, and she gasped softly as she stared out across the landscape.

She could see where the rolling grassy fields faded away into the snow of a tundra.

A clear divide was in the sky, the night sky of the tundra being so much more vibrant than the night sky Tessa was used too.

She hears another call, and she looked down, her eyes widening slightly as she noticed deers making their way across the tundra.

But these weren’t deers she knew, no, these ones looked funny.

They had manes along their head, neck and spine, and thick fur.

All had fangs poking from their lips, like weird versions of the teeth of the foxes Tessa occasionally saw had.

One looked in her direction, and she gasped softly as she realized their eyes were dark, near black in color, with vibrant irises and pointy pupils.

These were Silevanis!

Her mommy and daddy always said to avoid them.

They said they were dangerous beasts.

But they looked so much like deers, and their eyes were so pretty!

Tessa settled down among the brush, her ears swiveled upright as she watched the Silevanis herd make their way out of sight.

She wanted to meet one now, get to know them, ask them questions and figure out just how much their kinds had in common.

Tessa wanted to be friends with a Silevanis.

Maybe they wouldn’t outcast her for her weird quirks like her own herd did.

She knew she wouldn’t outcast them.

Chapter 2: Chapter 1 [a Silevanis Fawn]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa was a trouble maker.

At only eight she shouldn’t have been such a nuisance to the herd, but she managed.

Running through the trees, feeling the wind in her fur.

She liked to be free.

Her parents never approved, but she was a doe fawn, not a buck fawn, so they let her be.

Not without some consequences whenever she went too far out of line, but she generally was ignored.

Most would be distraught.

Tessa just didn’t care.

One day, Tessa ventured down to the stream at the very edge of her herds land.

It wasn’t too far from the Manor clearing, so Tessa knew she wouldn’t be yelled at too badly.

She bounded through the trees, examining each and every leaf, occasionally nipping off one or two and nibbling them.

The birds twittering and chirping was like music to her ears, and the fresh scent of the spring forest was everything.

The sound of running water reached her ears, and she quickly bounded over to the stream, jumping right in and splashing into the water.

Cold! Very cold!

Tessa laughed to herself and jumped right out, shaking each leg to rid them of the cold water.

She then leaned down and took a couple laps of the fresh spring water, it was icy cold against her tongue but that felt good.

A sound.

Tessa’s head shot up, the young fawn stiffening as she went on full alert.

Another sound.

Rustling.

Hoofsteps.

Tessa peered at the brush, before jumping backward with a startled yelp as a fawn bounded out of the undergrowth, before leaning down to take a couple drinks of the stream water.

This fawn looked funny, with a weird mane of fur down their head and back, and weird digits on the insides of their hoofs…..

Tessa’s eyes widened, this wasn’t a Deer fawn!

It was a Silevanis fawn!

Tessa took another step back, so her brown coat blended in with the ground better, and crouched.

It felt kinda wrong to stare, but Tessa had never been good at interactions.

The bluish grey-tan fur of the Silevanis fawn was so different then Tessa was used too, all marked with strange splotches and swirls and whirls.

The fawns hoofs and nose were even a yellow color, not like Tessa’s pink nose and dark hoofs.

Finally the other fawn finished their drink, and looked up.

Tessa’s breath caught in her throat.

The white pupils of the Silevanis fawn were like the snow, the stark contrast to the dark rest of the eye almost as enchanting as the tundra itself.

The other fawn startled, backing up and looked at Tessa with wide eyes.

Oh, right.

Tessa probably looked funny to them too.

They might not have ever seen a deer.

Not that Tessa was anything to look at really, her brown coat was average and plain, and her green eyes with their black pupils and whites were nowhere near as pretty as the Sevanis fawns eyes.

The fawn’s mouth opened slightly, and her eyes widened.

At least, Tessa thought it was a her, the fawn looked like a girl to her.

“Hi there mate!” Tessa said cheerfully, standing up fully and offering a smile.

The other fawn startled slightly, and her eyes widened, before she hesitantly returned the smile.

“H-hello” the Silevanis fawn said, and Tessa blinked a couple times in surprise, the fawn was a buck fawn, going by voice anyways.

A call sounded off in the distance.

The Silevanis fawn immediately stiffened, standing bolting upright, ears pricked.

“I must go” he said simply, before he bolted off.

Tessa could see him dart over to where two adult Silevanis stood at the very edge of the forest.

They seemed to scold the fawn, one even nipped his ear a bit harshly, before grabbing his scruff and forcibly leading him away from the forest.

Tessa simply watched, mind still filled with the sight of the Silevanis fawn, and the elation that she’d actually met and talked to a real, live Silivanis!

She let out a giddy laugh, before she dunked her head in the freezing cold stream for a moment, to drag herself back to reality.

She then proceeded to slide into the stream and sit in it, head resting on a rock, enjoying the feel of the cold water flowing over her body.

It was relaxing, the cold just sharp enough to keep her wake enough that she didn’t risk falling asleep and her head accidentally falling in the water, but the water being just relaxing enough that she felt blissful and ever so slightly sleepy.

The sun was also nice, the warmth bathing her head, and the gentle light bathing the land in its beauty.

Tessa was like the sun.

Warm, exciting, energetic, bright.

She was a Deer, Something everybody liked, like the sun.

She lived in warm places, where the sun could reach.

So she was like the Sun in way.

The Silevanis were like the Moon.

Cool, calm, cozy, soothing.

Not liked by everybody, but by some.

They lived in cold places, where the moon could reach.

So they were like the Moon in a way.

Tessa eventually reluctantly got up, and shook her wet coat off.

She then trotted back towards the Manor clearing, picking her way through the forest.

She did briefly look over her shoulder at the direction the Silevanis fawn and their family had left in though.

She hoped they could see him again sometime.

Maybe even be his friend.

Tessa could hope and dream after all.

Notes:

The Silevanis fawn is J btw, J is trans, MtF, in this AU! [Tessa’s a raging Bisexual/Pansexual lol-]

Thank yall for reading, please kudos if you liked it, and don’t be shy to drop a comment! I read and love them all, even if I don’t respond, so don’t ever worry about bothering or bugging me, even something simple as “I like this” is appreciated

Chapter 3: Chapter 2 [Fireflies]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

The soft moonlight woke her that night.

Tessa blinked open her eyes slowly, before she gasped softly.

The whole entire clearing was bathed in the silver light, casting everything in a gentle and regal glow.

She lifted her head up, eyes wide and mouth slightly open.

She’d never seen such a beautiful sight in her life.

Tessa slowly stood up, being extra careful not to disturb her mom.

She looked back briefly at her parents, at her dad’s brown coat and her mom’s jet black one.

She didn’t get along with them, they didn’t like her.

But that was fine with her, if they wanted to be distant then so be it.

She didn’t need them anyways.

Tessa crept out of the clearing, being careful not to wake her herd as she did so.

Once she was out of earshot she allowed herself to relax, admiring the landscape with wide eyes.

Something bright and small drifted in front of her face, and she took a step back in surprise.

It was like a glowing ball of light……

Like a mini star.

Tessa stretched her nose out to poke it, only for it to move away!

She stamped a hoof in surprise, before taking a step forward and attempting to touch it again.

It moved again!

With a gleeful giggle Tessa followed it, cheerfully attempting to touch it even as it moved away from her at every attempt.

She attempted to jump at it a couple times, but ended up near face planting into the bushes every time.

On the fourth or fifth jump she ended up slipping and falling right into the stream, which she hadn’t even realized she’d been near.

Tessa sat up, and shook herself off, spraying cold water everywhere.

“Hey! Watch it!” A voice snapped, and Tessa blinked, before looking to her side.

There, standing by the bank, was the Silevanis fawn from before.

Tessa now noticed he had a shirt fluffy tail, unlike the longer tails of male Silevanis’s, which was interesting.

“Oh, sorry mate!” Tessa said, standing up, simply letting the water drip from her coat instead of shaking off.

“So, um, I neva caugh’ your name” Tessa said after a minute, stepping out of the stream and taking a couple steps towards the other fawn, her head tilted in curiosity.

“My name is Juniper, Juniper Berry” the Silevanis fawn, Juniper, murmured, but the way he said his name made Tessa think he didn’t like it very much.

“Okay Gooseberry!” Tessa said cheekily, purposely getting the type of berry wrong in order to avoid saying the name Juniper seemed to dislike.

“It is- it’s Juniper Berry!” Juniper spluttered, looking Tessa a disbelieving look.

“Nope! I heard Honeyberry!” Tessa snarked back, playfully jumping to the side, landing in the stream with a splash.

“Why you- how hard is it to say Juniper?!” Juniper yelped, bounding towards Tessa, possibly with the intent to wrestle, only to jump back as Tessa slammed her hoofs down and splashed him.

“Nah, I heard no Juniper, only Dewberry!” Tessa said cheekily, taking another couple steps back, before dipping into a play bow, tail wagging from side to side.

Juniper paused, apparently confused by Tessa’s actions, before he seemed to process her words.

“JUNIPER!” He huffed, launching himself at her, only to yelp as she dodged, causing him to land in the stream, drenching his fur, the blue-grey color of it shining in the moonlight.

“Nope! Missed me Tayberry!” Tessa giggled, dodging to the side again as Juniper attempted to get her again, before she playfully took off down the trail, running at full speed.

She kept glancing back though, a wide grin on her face, watching to make sure Juniper followed.

“Keep up, Pineberry!” Tessa called, and Juniper huffed, quickly taking off after her, stumbling a little on the twigs and branches on the ground, but the larger Silevanis fawn managed to keep up.

Tessa whipped around and tackled him when they reached the head of the stream though, sending them both splashing into it, soaking both of them as they playfully wrestled, neither giving a care as to what or who the other was, simply playing like fawns did.

“Okay, okay! I yield! I yield, ya win, Kiwi Berry!” Tessa giggled, laughing openly, before she paused, batting at Juniper’s face with a hoof.

“What?- oh wow- you don’t see this in the tundra” Juniper whispered, looking up too.

Dozens of those little lights from earlier floated around them, their light entrancing.

Tessa looked back at Juniper, who also seemed entranced.

“Friends?” Tessa asked as Juniper let her up.

“I’d- I would like that” Juniper murmured, looking at her, his head slightly tilted and a hesitant smile on her face.

“Friends it is then!” Tessa declared, earning a soft snort from Juniper.

“Catch me if you can” Juniper said suddenly, taking back down the trail alongside the creek, and Tessa followed with a gleeful cackle.

Wind in their fur, coats wet and muddy from splashing in the stream repetitively, the two fawns kept playing.

Under the light of the fireflies above, they wrestled and chased each other.

Not giving two shits about the long feud between Deers and Silevanis’s.

They couldn’t care less about what the adults thought.

Both of them saw a friend, a familiar face in the other.

And that was good enough for them.

Appearances and species’ be damned.

Chapter 4: Chapter 3 [Terra Forest]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa and Juniper had stayed friends so far, through six whole months, sneaking away from family and herd to meet up in secret.

They’d stayed by the stream thus far, stargazing, roughhousing, chatting, and bonding.

But today Tessa wanted to explore.

She was restless.

The forest was calling.

And she wanted to show Juniper it.

Show him the world under the green pines and oaks.

The world she called home.

Tessa bounded out of the Manor Clearing as soon as allowed, and immediately made her way down to the stream.

Juniper was waiting there, eyeing the water, running his tongue along his teeth occasionally, like he was longing for the fangs teenagers of his kind had.

“Hi Blackcurren’ Berry!” Tessa said cheerfully, bounding up onto a rock and looking at Juniper with a cheeky grin.

“Still not my name, but hello” Juniper huffed, a soft smile on his face as he leaned forward and touched his nose against Tessa’s, a gesture he’d told her was one Silevanis did to greet friends and Herd members.

It was just one of many friendly gestures and vocalizations and actions that Silevanis did, and Deer didn’t.

Tessa was a bit pissed her kind, despite living in Herds, were so antisocial with each other that the supposedly savage Silevanis were more organized and civilized.

If anything, Deers were the savage ones, with how a Herd was ruled by a mated pair and all future leaders had to come from that bloodline……

That was just one of the many reasons Tessa could get away with shit, she knew the surrounding area too well, so if she ran her parents couldn’t find her.

Was it manipulation to threaten her parents with her running away if they didn’t listen to what she wanted or removed a punishment?

Probably.

But Tessa knew they would do it back, so she didn’t feel guilty doing it to them, she never did anything beyond go against stupid shit anyway.

“So, what is the plan today?” Juniper asked, pulling back, his ears perking up a little as he met Tessa’s eyes.

“Exploration! C’mon mate, I wanna show ya tha fores’!” Tessa said cheerfully, bounding towards the bushes, only to pause and look back as she noticed that Juniper wasn’t following.

“What’s wrong Cloudberry?” Tessa asked, tilting her head a little.

“I….. I am not supposed to go too far from the forests edge” Juniper said softly, scuffing a hoof across the ground.

“Well, Crowberry, who’s gonna fin’ ou’? I ain’t tellin’ no one! Now c’mon, I wanna show ya my home!” Tessa huffed, singing a little Stanley dance with her front hooves as she spoke.

“Alright.” Juniper said, slowly following after Tessa.

She immediately took off, bounding down the path at full speed, sticking to the clearer trails for now, so Juniper wouldn’t have as many issues following.

She bounded up several rocks, scrambling for balance a couple times but managing.

Juniper followed close behind her, managing the trail just fine, and scrambling up the rocks with roughly the same speed and balance, although his digit like extra hoof toes certainly helped him.

Tessa took off again once Juniper scaled the last rock, and she wholeheartedly pelted into a clearing, the forest floor covered with underside high grass, fuzzy and soft, tipped with flowers with star shaped petals.

Tessa stopped in the middle of the patch and looked back at Juniper, grinning wildly.

Juniper looked around, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, looking around in awe at the flowers, before reaching out and poking one with a hoof, sneezing as it sprayed pollen at him.

Tessa giggled, and flopped down, rolling onto her back and rolling around in the grass, not caring about the pollen all over her fur.

Juniper hesitantly copied her after a minute, before he started giggling in earnest, rolling around in the grass like a cat in catnip.

Tessa snickered, before she got up and shook herself off, before taking off again, Juniper following after a second.

“Hut! Hut! Hut!” Tessa called out as she darted right up a large branch, easily balancing on the limb of the huge oak as she ran along its length, Juniper following after a second, hesitant at first but gaining confidence.

Tessa jumped from branch to branch, the sunlight dappling across her pelt as she did so, leaves shaking to the ground and all around her.

Running like this was freedom, running through the trees like a squirrel, the wind rushing through her fur, the exhilaration of every successful jump.

It was freedom to her.

And it was something she loved with all her heart.

Tessa was wild deep down, too energetic and chaotic for her calm and controlled Herd.

They never understood her.

But Juniper did.

He understood her, he saw her.

And Tessa loved him even more for that.

He was her best friend.

And that was enough for her.

She didn’t need her Herd’s approval of understanding if she had Juniper.

“Hut! Hut! Hut!” Tessa called out again as she launched herself off a branch, landing firmly on a rocky outcropping, taking a second to regain her balance before continuing.

Running through the forest again, this time on the ground, flowery branches hanging down around her.

Tessa glanced back, and smiled at Juniper, who returned it, speeding up enough to catch up to her, so he was running beside her.

She grinned and tackled him over the edge, into the stream below, the water turning yellow with the pollen washing off of their fur.

Juniper yelped, before fighting back, playfully poking at her with his hoofs as they wrestled, before taking off again.

The sun slowly set over the Terra Forest, coming to rest down on the horizon as the two reached an outcropping overlooking the whole forest.

Tessa laid down there, folding her legs neatly under her as she stared at the setting sun, the moon rising just out of sight.

Juniper settled down beside her, lying in a sprawled out position despite how rigid he normally was about rules.

Tessa didn’t say anything, she didn’t need to.

They simply laid there, enjoying each other’s company before they would have to return to their separate Herds.

And that was enough for them.

For now.

Notes:

Song I was listening to while writing this [i kinda feel like it kinda fits the fic’s vibes lol-]: “Freaks” by Surf Curse

Chapter 5: Chapter 4 [Copper-9 Tundra]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~Juniper/Jade~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Juniper was never one for long friendships, the other fawns of his Herd never really liked how rigid he was about rules.

They never understood how he disliked being called a boy, how being told he would be a great buck made him feel weird, how his very name made his skin crawl.

But then came Tessa.

A Deer of all creatures.

An Australian accented deer with a disregard for rules.

A Deer who seemed to instinctively understand how Juniper’s name made him feel, who refuses to call him by his name because of it.

A Deer who understood him and didn’t reject him for being a Silevanis.

A Deer whom he’d managed to keep a friendship up with for a whole year.

To think, a friendship between their kind could even last that long.

But it had.

And it was still going strong.

Every day they spent time under the trees of the forest, and Juniper was always surprised at how lively and warm the forest was.

He felt alive there now, now that Tessa was there to make the Terra Forest feel alive.

Still though, he always would love his home in his heart, the cold but welcoming Copper-9 Tundra.

Juniper was trekking home one day, when he heard bootstraps behind him.

“Wai’ up Elderberry!” Tessa called, and Juniper’s head immediately whipped around.

What was she doing here?!

She was gonna give herself a cold!

“Tessa?! What are you doing out here?!” Juniper spluttered, immediately walking over to the shivering Deer.

“Colds no’ too bad! I figured I could spend some time with ya ou’ here, eh?” Tessa said cheerfully, giving Juniper a little smile.

Juniper sighed softly, shaking his head a little in exasperation.

“You are going to make yourself sick Tessa” Juniper muttered under his breath, but he didn’t shoo her away, just turned around and kept walking in the direction he had been walking in towards.

He then paused for a moment, remembering how Tessa had showed him around the forest before, exploring every nook and cranny.

Juniper then took off, running through the snow, allowing himself a soft snicker at Tessa’s surprised yelp.

“Wai’ up Wolfberry!” Tessa called, following right after him.

Juniper kept running right across the snow, enjoying the feel of the soft powder under his hooves.

He shot off across a frozen lake, purposely spinning around to face Tessa as he did so, his digits helping him grip the ice and stay upright as his momentum kept him sliding across the ice just as fast as he’d been running.

Tessa yelped as she hit the side, spinning several times and flailing about before she managed to get the hang of it, grinning wickedly as she slid.

Juniper kept up at the right time, twisting around and landing in the snow, before taking off again, followed quickly by Tessa.

He slipped down into the snow tunnels, skidding and sliding a little as he let gravity send him careening through the hidden underground passages.

Tessa followed close behind, whooping as she did so, and Juniper looked back.

His heart nearly stopped at how happy she looked, and he found himself staring a little too long, before he looked away quickly.

“Whoa…… I didn’ know all this was unda tha ice, Mulberry” Tessa whispered, and Juniper grinned.

“The best part is coming up now” he shot back, picking up speed as he started running again now that he was no longer sliding through the tunnels.

Juniper paused and stopped as they reached a spot underneath the ice.

Looking up there was dappled green and teal and blue ice, the light hazily filtering through, giving the whole area an almost unreal look.

Tessa gasped softly, and Juniper glanced to the side as she walked right up to the ice.

“Wow Juneberry…… you really are lucky to live here” Tessa whispered, her breath steaming a little due to the cold air of the tunnels.

“I guess I am, huh?” Juniper responded, walking towards an exiting tunnel and leading Tessa out of the snow tunnels entirely.

They then trekked across the snow, eventually stopping at a cave in an overhang to rest, before Tessa made her way home and Juniper had his way back to his Herd.

Tessa laid down first, and Juniper was about to lay down close to her, when he noticed her shivering.

Right, she was a Deer.

Not used to the cold.

Juniper laid down beside her, hoping his larger body and fluffy fur would help keep her warm and avoid her getting sick.

“Thank ya, Snowberry” Tessa whispered, nuzzling against him, breathing in and out a couple times, a soft smile on her face.

Juniper returned the smile, lowering his head, and relaxing, falling off into sleep quickly.

He really was lucky to have a friend like her.

Juniper hoped he would always have Tessa.

No matter what.

He would not let sickness and injury separate him from her.

Not if he could help it.

Juniper Berry promised it.

Notes:

Aight, since I did a song for the vibes last time, ima do it again here lol, idk if this one fits the vibes of this fic, but I like the vibes in general: “Half Life” by Livingston

Chapter 6: Chapter 5 [Under the Sky, Racing side by side]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa was laying flopped across a rock overlooking the stream, one ear twitching idly as she eyed the cliffs in the distance.

She wondered what it would be like to run all the way there, bounding across brush and plains.

Running with Juniper at her side.

Hmm.

But what if they raced?

Two years of friendship, and yet they’d never tested the differences of their species’s when it came to running and swimming and climbing.

Tessa knew that Deers fared better at camouflage, due to darker pelts and a lack of brighter purples and blue and yellows whose tones were not found commonly in hiding places.

and that Silevanis’s were better at combat due to their more robust bodies, sharp fangs and strong antlers no matter the gender.

And Deers and Silevanis’s were equal when it came to intelligence and problem solving.

But they’d never tested who was better at long distance running, endurance and speed.

Tessa glanced over at Juniper, who was casually laying in the stream, letting the cold water cool him down, since his thick coat wasn’t exactly the greatest for the hot summer of the Terra Forest.

“Hey Thimbleberry” Tessa said, and Juniper immediately lifted his head.

“Yeah?” Juniper mumbled, yawning a little.

“So, I was thinkin’. There’s tha’ cliff over there, past the river an’ the plains” Tessa said nonchalantly, sitting up as she spoke.

“Mhm. Yes. Where are you going with this?” Juniper asked, getting up and walking over to Tessa, his head tilted a little.

“Let’s race, all tha way there a all tha way back” Tessa proposed, jumping off her rock and turning to face Juniper.

“What if we get lost? What if we cannot make it back? What if one of us gets hurt? what if-“ Juniper started, but Tessa cut him off by poking his chest with a hoof.

“Relax Wineberry, it’ll be fine!” Tessa huffed.

“Alright….. when do we start anyways?” Juniper asked, only to yelp as Tessa whipped around and started running.

“Right now! Keep up Bearberry!” Tessa called over her shoulder, already pelting as fast as she could through the forest.

Juniper huffed, before quickly following.

He was slower here though, his bulkier frame hindering him among the branches and brush, while Tessa was able to expertly weave and dodge.

He was fast, but she was faster.

This was her home, her element.

She could win this if they stayed in the forest, easy.

Only problem was, she could see the plains coming up.

Deers were notoriously terrible at outrunning others while on flat ground.

So Tessa sped up more and more while she still had the advantage, seeking to build a steady lead, and hoping that Juniper would be just as shitty on open ground as she was.

They reached the plains.

And oh fuck was Juniper fast-

As soon as he no longer had to dodge and weave he sped up a lot, managing to overtake Tessa within a minute or so.

Tessa cursed under her breath, the foul word one she’d learned from her mother, before she attempted to speed up.

She was not letting Juniper win.

She would never live it down, or escape the teasing.

Then they reached the river, and Juniper hesitated, clearly unsure.

Tessa just plunged right in, immediately swimming across.

She quickly reached the other side, and paused, waiting until she heard a splash.

She then took off again as Juniper swam across, managing to cross with relatively the same speed.

Once back on the ground Juniper quickly overtook her again, and Tessa stuck her tongue out at him as he passed.

The ground quickly turned rocky, and Tessa stumbled a little at first before getting used to it, but she managed.

Quickly climbing up the rocks, bounding from ledge to ledge.

Juniper followed fairly quickly, about neck and neck with her, his digits allowing him to grip the rock better, but his size slowing him down.

Tessa was panting now, as she reached the top.

But she wasn’t stopping yet.

She managed to haul herself up onto the final ledge, right before Juniper did the same.

She glanced back at him, smirking in triumph.

“Heh, guess you are just the extra bit faster!” Juniper snarked, hauling himself up and sitting beside her.

“You have more endurance though Yewberry, you’re barely breakin’ a sweat yet I’m pantin’ like I’m in the desert!” Tessa snarked, and Juniper snickered.

“I guess it’s a draw then, huh?”

“Yeah, a draw.”

“I’m glad you’re my friend.”

“I’m glad you’re my friend too”.

“Friends forever?”

“Forever.”

Notes:

Another song for the vibes lol-: “Harpy Hare” by Yaelokre

Chapter 7: Chapter 6 [Jade Firefly]

Notes:

We support Trans rights in this household!

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa was surprised when Juniper wasn’t waiting at the stream like usual.

Her heart immediately stopped.

Did a three year friendship die today?!-

“Acai Berry!” No response

She darted around, looking.

“Tazziberry!” Still no response

Still searching.

“Golden Berry!” Still silence.

Still searching.

“JUNIPER BERRY?!” Frantic now…..

“Don’t call me that…… please”

There, a response!

Tessa spotted Juniper, curled under a low hanged fern frond, jade colored flowers growing around him.

“What’s wron’ Miracle Berry?” Tessa asked softly, going to lay down beside him.

“Don’t. Just. Don’t.” Juniper snapped through gritted teeth.

“I’m not goin’ ta judge you, but- I can’ figure ou’ wha’ I’m doin’ wron’ if you….. don’ tell me what’s wron’” Tessa said after a minute, speaking slowly and carefully, hoping not to cause more harm.

“Don’t call me by that name. Not even a berry” Juniper whispered softly.

“Okay. Then wha’ would y/ like me ta call ya?” Tessa asked, offering the other fawn a soft smile.

“You’re not gonna think I’m weird?”

“Nope!”

“Okay…… well, c-could you call me a girl? Like, actually- because I don’t think I’m a buck fawn,…… I think I’m a doe fawn”

“Well, you’re a lovely girl~. Hehe, what is your new name?”

“Jade. Jade Firefly”.

Tessa blinked, before smiling.

Jade, like the color of the flowers she lay surrounded by.

Firefly like the bugs they’d seen at their first meeting.

It suited the Silevanis fawn, more than Tessa ever thought it could.

Tessa realized she’d clocked Jade as transgender from the very start.

Realizing how she’d clocked that the name ‘Juniper Berry’ pained Jade, and thus playfully refused to call her it.

There’d always been something that felt off about Jade.

But now, Jade felt right to Tessa, no longer feeling wrong.

This was as Jade should be, both her and Tessa knew it.

And Tessa was willing to fight to support her friend.

So what if Jade was born a buck?

It didn’t matter, if she was she was a doe she was a doe.

No ifs ands or buts.

“That’s an awesome name! It fits ya!” Tessa said, smiling.

“Really?” Jade asked, looking up at Tessa with surprise.

“Yeah! It’s pretty, like you!-“ Tessa replied, only to cut off with an ‘oomph’ as Jade suddenly buried her head into her side.

“Thank you…… thank you for being my friend, for accepting me”

“Why wouldn’t I? Silevanis or no’, transgender or no’, it doesn’t matter! You’re a good person, an’ thats good enough for me! Nothin’ else really matters, true beauty is on tha inside anyway”

“Weirdo”

“Ya wouldn’t have it any other way”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t, your a weirdo, but your my weirdo”

“Ehehe, yeah”

“You’re my best friend, Tessa”

“An’ your mine, Jade”

Notes:

Sorry for a shorter chapter- TwT, but I hope this was enjoyable anyway!

More good vibes songs: “AlterHuman” by Autumn J.

Chapter 8: Chapter 7 [Welcome here, I Promise]

Notes:

Trigger warning: there is some Transphobia here, Jade’s old Herd isn’t supportive and are bitches, it’s not too graphic, and no slurs are used, but you can skip this chapter if it makes you feel really uncomfy.

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa was watching from the edge of the forest, crouched down and hidden.

Jade had finally decided to tell her Herd, the JCJensen Herd, about her new name and pronouns.

Tessa was watching, just in earshot range, because she wanted to be able to rush over if needed.

She watched as Jade slowly walked over to her Herd, approaching the leader, a black furred Silevanis with impressive green antlers.

“Dad” Jade’s words sounded hollow, and Tessa could detect a slight hint of fear.

“Juniper” the buck answered, Jade had told Tessa in the past that her father’s name was Corvid.

Jade’s ears lowered, and she looked away for a second, meeting the eyes of Tessa, who was silently cheering her on.

“That’s….. that is not the name I wish to be called” Jade said finally, looking back at Corvid.

“It is your name. Don’t be ridiculous, now come along Juniper, it’s high time you learned to be a proper buck” Corvid huffed, turning to leave, and lead Jade away.

“But it is not my name! And I am not a buck!” Jade spat, her mane bristling up and flaring, exposing its full length, making her look bigger and more intimidating.

To Tessa she looked badass and brave, standing up for herself, being willing to tell others what she was.

That she was a she, and that was who she was.

“Don’t be an idiot Juniper Berry, you are a buck fawn, it is what you are, no matter that stupid genetics fail of a tail you have!” Corvid spat, whipping around to face his daughter.

“No! I am a doe fawn! And my name is Jade Firefly!” Jade snapped back, curling her lips a little, even if her fangs hadn’t come it yet so the gesture didn’t look as intimidating as meant.

“You are not a doe! I don’t know who put these stupid thoughts of this silly transgender phase in your head, but you need to snap out of it!” Corvid growled, curling his own lips, exposing his long fangs.

“They are not stupid! And it is not a phase! It is who I am Corvid! And if you cannot stand that, I cannot stand to be around you!” Jade growled right back, her mane only managing to stand more on end.

“You dare-“ Corvid hissed, making a low angry trilling noise in the back of his throat, the likes of which Tessa hadn’t heard before.

“I dare! I’m done with you! I’m down with this Herd! I’m done with it all! I am not Juniper Berry, Juniper Berry is dead! I killed him! I’m Jade Firefly! And you’re just going to have to live with that fact!” Jade yelled, tears forming at the corners of her eye.

Corvid growled, and lunged, fangs flashing as he sought to grab Jade by the scruff, to drag her away, or worse.

Jade dodged, copying one of Tessa’s nimble moves form when their play fighting.

Corvids fangs just barely tore a small rip into Jade’s ear.

Jade landed, and as soon as all four hoofs were back on the snow, she bolted, running towards the Terra Forest’s edge.

Towards Tessa.

Towards safety.

Away from Corvid.

Away from the JCJensen Herd.

Away from danger.

“Come back here!” Corvid shouted after Jade.

But she didn’t listen.

And Corvid didn’t dare chase after her, not wanting to risk running into the Elliot Herd.

Tessa was waiting, she stood up and nuzzled Jade as she slowed to a stop in front of her, gently licking her bleeding ear.

“C’mon, let’s go. I think I can pull strin’s with my Herd” Tessa said softly, leading Jade further into the forest.

“But, your Herd hates my kind!” Jade protested.

“They do, bu’ I know enough abou’ this area ta run away an’ never be found. If I run they won’ catch me”

“And?”

“An’ they need me for their stupid leadin’ lineage. They canno’ afford ta have me run”

“Oh….”

“You’re welcome here, I Promise”

Notes:

More songs for good vibes: “Something Wild” Lindsey Stirling

Chapter 9: Chapter 8 [Left Herdless]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~Valkyrie~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Valkyrie was born to the Torrent Herd, a Silvanis Herd that lived on the riverbank of the Eastern Copper River.

Her life was normal, she had a mom and dad, Odin and Hera, whom’s names always amused her due to the mythical context Deers attached to the names.

She also had siblings, two sisters, Eni and Dema, and a brother, Mage.

Valkyrie’s Herd was kind and nice, and their leader, an old stag named Frey, was kind and sweet.

From the moment she opened her eyes life was good, running along the river with her siblings, swimming in the river while the sun beat overhead, and enjoying the various plants that grew alongside the river.

Unbeknownst to her, a storm was coming.

“Keep up!” Eni laughed, her tan pelt flashing in the light, blending in a little with the slushy snow.

“I’m trying! You’re just too fast sis!” Dema shot back, a mostly white blur on Valkyrie’s right.

“Oh please, she’s not that fast!” Mage huffed, his brown coat like a sore thumb out in the snow.

“Hehe, you’re all slow!” Valkyrie teased, darting past all of them, and launching herself across the stepping stones across the river before Mage or Eni could really react.

“Oh your on!” Mage shot back, darting across the stepping stones after her.

“Don’t go too far!” Their father, Odin, called from where he was grazing on the riverbank grass.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let them go too far!” Dema responded, only to yelp as Eni tackled her.

“You don’t let us do anything, we let ourselves do things!” Eni cackled, pinning Dema down.

Valkyrie shoved Eni off Dema, and rolled around with her sister’s, wrestling with them and running about, while Mage moved to stand beside their parents and watch.

Valkyrie startled as a loud thunderclap sounded, before a flash of lightning hit the snow in the distance, and thunder sounded again.

Valkyrie looked up at the sky, her eyes widening as she realized the clouds were pitch black.

“Everyone, to shelter! This is going to be a bad storm!” Frey called, immediately beginning to lead the Herd up to higher ground, the caves set in the hills that they stayed at in storms.

Odin and Hera immediately and swiftly rounded up Valkyrie and her siblings, Hera scruffing Eni and Odin scruffing Valkyrie, and followed after the rest of the Herd.

Valkyrie didn’t protest as she was moved, she just huddled under her mom when they reached the cave, Dema pressing against her.

The rain came down within minutes, a huge torrential downpour, thunder booming overhead and lightning striking the snow.

Valkyrie’s eyes were wide, but she slowly crept out from under her mom, and crept to the edge, peering out.

Thunder boomed, two seconds before any lightning.

Lightning normally came before thunder…..

Valkyrie took a step out of the cave, being extremely careful not to slip, and looking up at the top of the hill.

The brightest light she’d ever seen came down within inches of her, searing the light into her eyes.

She reared in a panic, bleating in alarm, and slipped, her head slamming against the stone as she was sent tumbling down.

As Valkyrie fell she got a look back at the cave, and she could see her Herd.

See the panic, the limp body of a Silevanis, hit by the very same monster lightning that nearly struck Valkyrie.

That struck Frey, the Torrent Herd’s leader.

Her Herd was leaderless now, and it showed.

Silevanis bolted everywhere, panicking.

In the fray Odin and Hera didn’t notice they were missing a fawn.

Valkyrie hit the water of the river with a loud splash, and she immediately started trying to swim to the surface.

But the current was strong, and she was weak.

Her head went under.

The silt and mud stirred up by the flooded and torrential river obscured her vision.

Everything went dark.

As Valkyrie was swept away from everything she’d ever known.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valkyrie coughed and hacked, dragging herself up onto the riverbank.

She frantically glanced around, but she didn’t know this area.

Everything looked strange, things closer up were blurry and hard to see, while things farther away were easier to see.

Valkyrie forced herself to stand up on shaking legs, her coat utterly drenched and dripping.

She glanced back at the river, and immediately scrambled away, panicking as she panted.

The water was evil, it had stolen her from her family and her home!

And it had hurt, her eyes stung and the various cuts and small lightning burns on her hurt too.

Valkyrie turned away from the river and limped away, stumbling up the rocks, still following the river a little since she only knew life by a river, but she wouldn’t go in it.

She couldn’t, not again.

Valkyrie was of the Torrent Herd, but she knew if she ever found them again, she couldn’t go back.

Not with how they lived, and not with this newfound hatred and fear of water.

So she kept walking, walking a fair distance from the bank.

Eyes damaged and heart broken.

Valkyrie was Herdless.

And she knew it.

Notes:

TwT, sorry for a bit of a break in between chaps, moved recently so had to deal with that stuff-

Song of the chapter lol: “Cybernetic Program” by Mike Geno

Chapter 10: Chapter 9 [River meeting]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

“Keep up Jaybird!” Tessa laughed, bolting up the rocks alongside the river as she spoke, looking back to make sure Jade was following.

“Oh, your on!” Jade huffed, following quickly, easily launching herself up the rocks.

Two whole years had passed, and they were both thirteen now, although neither’s fawn spots had faded, even if Jade now stood a little bit taller than Tessa.

It had been a fight at first for Tessa to even get her parents and the Elliot Herd to let Jade stay, but after threats, maybe some blackmail, and some pleading, a deal had been struck.

Jade was allowed to stay, but she had to sleep apart from the Herd, and basically act as a maid of sorts.

Jade didn’t grumble though, she’d admitted once to Tessa that she liked working, liked the structure and organization of it.

Tessa didn’t understand it fully, but eh, if Jade said she was fine and she genuinely seemed fine, then Tessa could partially believe her.

Course she couldn’t fully believe her, not out of distrust, but more so because a lot more people than one would think hid behind masks and walls and veils.

Tessa would remove any masks and veils and break down any walls if she found them though, Jade was her friend, maybe her crush just a tiny bit, and she wasn’t about to let her get hurt and hide it.

“This place is pretty” Tessa whispered as she reached the top, looking all around her at the view.

“I guess it is, Boss” Jade murmured as she moved to stand beside Tessa.

Movement caught her eye, and before Jade could react, Tessa had already leaped the river and bounded over to a small cave by the far bank.

“‘Ello mate!” Tessa said, peering into the cave.

The Silevanis fawn she’d spotted slowly crept out of the cave anxiously, eyeing Tessa warily.

The fawn had a striking tan and brown coat, with v shaped markings all over, and white pupiled eyes near identical to Jade’s

“……hello” the fawn whispered, glancing behind Tessa and giving Jade a nervous look.

“Oh! Tha’s Jade, don’ worry, she won’ hur’ ya!” Tessa reassured quickly, beckoning with her head for Jade to come over as she spoke.

Jade casually walked up to stand beside Tessa, studying the fawn carefully.

“What is your name?” The fawn asked Tessa, making an effort to stand up straight.

“Oh, I’m Tessa! Tessa James Elliot is my full name, bu’ tha’s a real bloody mouthful, so ya can jus’ call me Tessa or Tess!” Tessa said, waving a forehoof about as she spoke.

“…….I’m Valkyrie” the fawn, Valkyrie, said softly, before shivering a little.

Tessa frowned, noticing now that Valkyrie’s fur was a bit damp, like she’d been caught out in the thunderstorm last night and hadn’t dried off fully yet, although for her sake Tessa hoped she hadn’t gotten caught in the mother of all storms thunderstorm just two weeks ago.

That storm had scared the ever living shit out of Tessa, as her Herd had hunkered down in a cave, a first for them.

Her father even insisted on Jade being inside, even if he hated her and would rather her not be with the Herd.

But her father hated to have members of his Herd killed or severely hurt on his watch, it made him look bad.

That had told Tessa all she needed to know about just how bad the storm had been.

It had been the type of storm where being without shelter……

Meant the next crack of thunder and well aimed lightning bolt, you were seeing those you lost in death.

Yeah, not a good or very survivable storm to get caught out in.

The riverbanks were still a bit muddy and messed up for a couple lengths on either side due to how the storm has caused the banks to overflow enough to reach the trees.

Maybe that storm had separated Valkyrie from her herd somehow…..

“You’re freezing” Jade said simply, her words a statement, not a question.

Valkyrie paused, before nodding.

Jade huffed softly under her breath, and scruffed Valkyrie, dragging her back in the cave, before gently pushing her to lie down.

Jade then curled around Valkyrie, tucking the other fawns head against her chest in a sisterly gesture.

Tessa smiled a little, and came over and curled up into a ball by Jade’s shoulder, resting her head on her, there but not intruding on Jade and Valkyrie’s little moment.

No matter what had left Valkyrie stranded here, apparently away from Herd and family,

At least she had Tessa and Jade now.

Tessa wouldn’t abandon Valkyrie, and she knew Jade wouldn’t either.

Both of them knew what it was like to feel abandoned, alone.

It was a feeling they wouldn’t let anybody else suffer from, if they could help it.

Valkyrie was family now, Herd now.

And Herd stuck by each other’s side.

Notes:

Since I’ve been doing songs for every chapter, here’s the one for this chapter :3, : “Lycanthropy” by Jaylious.

Chapter 11: Chapter 10 [Easy to Slip]

Notes:

Whew! This kinda got dark in the beginning-

Guess it’s time to remind yall of this warning!: “Graphic Depictions of Violence”!

I have decided to have Tessa- not be so clean handed- er- hoofed in this AU- she’s still a gravedigger, but also, well, she’s definitely not squeamish about death, and she will take, Extreme measures to protect those she considers family, such as Jade and Valkyrie, when she believes them threatened.

Ngl, I was watching a comic dub of “Beneath the Trees where No one Sees” and got a bit inspired for bloodier, and less morally correct stuff, granted, I’ll only do a tiny bit, as I have no intentions of really writing a bloody murder mystery, but I do have some ideas for bloody scenes now- plus was in a bloody mood while writing this TwT-

[Also! The comic dub I watched is NOT for kids! The comic contains: uncensored gore, killing, blood, decapitation, dismemberment and more nasties! Granted, there’s no nudity and only minor cursing, but it’s still very bloody and definitely not child appropriate, despite its children’s book style art! Should I have been watching it? Possibly not, and no, this is not an age reveal, there’s like, two people who would read this fic and know why i said that lol- but I can handle gore ‘n stuff, as evidenced by my love of FNaF and Poppy Playtime-, so I was able to handle it. Still, NOT a comic for kids, and if you are squeamish, I’d advise not looking for it-]

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa was having an ordinary day, playfully gathering a bunch of Jasmine flowers for Jade since the start of flowers name had the same ring as the start of Jade’s name.

But when she trotted over to the tree hollow Jade stayed at, she smelled blood.

And it made her own blood boil.

“Jaybird?! Jaybird! Jade!” Tessa called, frantically searching around the area, only to spot Jade curled up in the tree hollow.

“I’m alright Boss. Just, one of your Herd members, got me with his antlers-“ Jade huffed, and Tessa froze as she got closer and realized Jade bore intense slices along her flank.

“……mate, who was it, exactly?-“ Tessa asked, her voice strained with anger as she leaned down and tentatively sniffed Jade’s wounds.

“I do not really know, it was a blue-grey furred buck, not that old since his antlers were still coming it, but they were certainly enough to hurt” Jade murmured, leaning over and beginning to carefully groom her wounds.

Prancer, an oddly named nineteen year old buck with a bad case of Silevanis hate and self righteous belief.

Tessa had never liked him, maybe she could give him a scare, take him to the cliff side and make a vague warning about how easy it would be to just….. slip.

Or be pushed…..

Tessa wasn’t sure where the intrusive thought to actually shove him over came from, he’d hurt Jade, sure, but he didn’t plan to kill her, so Tessa shouldn’t retaliate like that.

“Boss? Where are you going?” Jade asked as Tessa turned away and started walking back towards the Herd.

“Don’ worry abou’ it mate, jus’ gonna take care of some thin’s, I’ll be back soon with some medical supplies, just res’ an’ don’ strain yourself further” Tessa called, already slipping through the brush.

Prancer was easy to locate, the buck was chatting with his friends, showing off and telling them how he ‘nearly vanquished the beast in their midst’.

Tessa’s eyes narrowed, but she still forced herself to approach the group.

“Hey, Prancer? I was jus’ wonderin’, I was planni’ ta head up ta tha cliffs, bu’ Jade’s feelin’ bad so she can’t go with me, I was wonderin’ if ya wanted ta accompany me?” Tessa asked, offering Prancer a false smile.

The way she didn’t call him ‘Mate’ and the way she was approaching him as a supposed first choice should’ve raised his red flag alarms.

“Oh, absolutely. Finally decided to stop spending time with a monster and start spending time with a real buck?~” Prancer asked, quickly falling into step beside Tessa, clearly not caring that he was nineteen and she was only thirteen.

Tessa knew that the only thing that mattered in his eyes was that she was James and Louisa’s daughter and thus, if he mated with her, he’d be the next male leader of the Herd.

“Nah, like I said, she’s jus’ feelin’ bad, go’ some nasty cuts outa nowhere eh?” Tessa said, nimbly climbing up the rocks as she spoke.

“Oh, I get you, don’t worry, i did those, she won’t manipulate and abuse you anymore~” Prancer proclaimed proudly moving to stand beside Tessa as she stood by the edge of the cliff.

His words made Tess’s blood boil, but she forced her tone to stay level as she spoke “oh. Ya know, this place if awfully high up and the rocks pretty gravelly, would be easy to just….. slip”.

Sure he’d got the warning, Tessa turned around and leaned down at the side of the river, taking a couple quick drinks.

“Yeah. I could lead that Silevanis up here tomorrow and, well, like you said, it’s easy to slip. Easy cleanup too, just leave its body to the vultures” Prancer snarked, his very tone saying his words weren’t a thought, they were a plan.

He was going to kill Jade.

Tessa saw red.

Before she could even think, she kicked out, slamming both back hoofs directly against Prancer’s side.

He bellowed in pain as his ribs cracked, and he scrambled backwards, back hoofs slipping off the edge as his forehoofs flailed for grip.

“You were goin’ ta kill her for no reason? Murderer” Tessa hissed, walking slowly up to him, noting the blood trickling from his mouth in an almost detached way.

It felt like she was detached from reality, like this wasn’t fully her doing this.

She shouldn’t be doing this, it was wrong to kill.

But he’d already attempted to kill Jade, for seemingly no reason beyond hatred of her species.

“Oh please! Like you care, you’re just a fawn! Besides, I already had two of them picked clean by vultures, what’s one more?-“ Prancer asked, spitting blood as he spoke.

He’d already……. No- no- two Silevanis that never saw their families again, never got to say goodbye to loved ones….

What if they had been her age, or younger?-

They would’ve never had a chance to start a life.

How. Dare. He.

Tessa slammed her hoofs down on Prancer’s antlers, snapping them off and bruising his head badly as her hoofs thudded against it too.

Prancer bellowed loudly in pain.

His grip slipped.

Slam. Crack. Thud. Silence.

Tessa stared down at the broken blue-grey furry bundle at the bottom of the cliffs.

He’d had it coming, hadn’t he?- right? Tessa- Tessa wasn’t in the wrong here, right?

Eventually his habits would’ve caught up to him, right?

Yeah, yeah, they would’ve. Tessa’s actions were just the consequences of his actions catching up to him.

Guilty of murder or not, Tessa did need to at least bury the body.

It would be cruel to leave it out for vultures, and she wasn’t cruel.

So she slowly headed back down the cliffs.

Overhead the vultures had already started to circle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I’m back Jaybird!” Tessa called, trotting over to Jade’s hollow as she spoke, a first aid kit gripped in her mouth.

“Oh, hello Boss- why are you covered in blood?-“ Jade said, her tone turning alarmed as she noticed the blood coating Tessa’s muzzle and the front of her chest.

“Oh, I foun’ a foxes body while ou’ an’ abou’, decided ta bury it” Tessa said simply, dropping the first aid kit by Jade, before walking over to the stream and laying down in it.

The water was streaked with red as her fur was washed off.

“What did happen to Prancer? I thought you’d have to spend hours entertaining him, if you went to go talk with him, Boss” Jade asked, tilting her head a little.

“Oh, horrible acciden’ by tha cliffs really, I was lookin’ for him all ova tha place, but it appears he slipped, such a sad thin’” Tessa said simply.

“Well, I suppose he was just being an idiot too close to the edge then, there is a lot of gravel up there” Jade said, finishing dressing her wounds as she spoke.

“Yeah, really easy ta slip” Tessa murmured, walking over to Jade and curling up beside her, resting her chin on the Silevanis’ shoulder.

Tessa knew she should regret it, feel horrible.

But while she did feel horrible, and uncertain,

She didn’t regret it.

He had threatened to kill Jade, and had killed two other Silevanis’.

He had it coming.

nobody badly injured or killed those Tessa cared about.

That she would make sure of.

No matter the cost.

Notes:

So, for everybody reading this when it first posts: originally it was planned to post seven chapter at once, but after having spent a long fucking time in the middle of the night writing over 4,000 words for “No Angel of Ours will Fall”, I’m tuckered out, plus in a bit of a Poppy PoppyPlaytime writing mood- [wanna write Doey in my AU but have to wait till writing Chapter four- TwT], so I figured I’d post this chap and the two before it early, just in case I end up procrastinating on the next four chapters- TwT

Since I’ve been doing songs for every chapter, here’s the one for this chapter :3, : “Sing me to Sleep” by Alan Walker.

Chapter 12: Chapter 11 [Under the Stars, counting them one by one]

Notes:

Sorry for the bit of a more emotional chapter, as of writing/posting this I am in the mountains irl, and unfortunately just yesterday i, and some of my family, buried my own grandmothers ashes.

So, I was in a bit of a more angst and sad mood then fluff, the found family fluff will commence once again next chapter, I promise.

{———————\{P.O.V}/————————} ~~~~~~~~~~~Tessa~~~~~~~~~~~~~
{———————\{P.O.V}/————————}

Tessa’s grandmother on her dad’s side, Janet, was her favorite member of the herd growing up, the kind older doe practically raised her, teaching her the doctor and mechanic skills she knew.

Janet was brown and cream furred like Tessa, even with the same green eyes, so when she was a little fawn, she used to pretend the older doe was her birth mother, instead of only her grandmother.

Janet loved Jade, and was the only one of the Elliot herd to accept the Silevanis, Tessa had even told her grandmother about still wary and flighty Valkyrie.

Janet had even met Valkyrie, briefly, when she treated the fawns eyes, and while the diagnosis did include vision damage, the damage the light of the lighting did when it seared into Valkyrie’s pupils thankfully shouldn’t effect her day to day life too much.

Tessa was chatting with Jade as they both walked along one of the forest trails, heading towards where Janet had strangely been staying as of late, the normally sociable and talkative doe having been staying on the outskirts of the herd for the last couple days.

Tessa’s smile brightened when the small clearing came up and she saw her grandmother lying down in the middle of the wildflowers, clearly soaking in and enjoying the late afternoon sunlight.

“Hey gramma!” Tessa called out affectionately, stopping a couple steps away.

Normally Janet would get up at the sound of Tessa’s voice, even if it had seemed to take more effort recently, and greet her, but the old doe didn’t even stir.

“Gramma?” Tessa asked hesitantly, taking a couple more steps forward, slow and hesitant.

Janet’s ear didn’t even twitch, not even as a breeze blew by and a flower landed on it.

“C’mon, ge’ up, this ain’t funny” Tessa huffed, nudging Janet’s back with one hoof.

Her fur was cold.

Tessa froze, and took a step back, before stepping forward again, and lying down beside her grandmother.

“Please say somethin’, please-“ Tessa whispered, resting her head on top of Janet’s shoulder.

She let herself close her eyes, tears slipping out as she began to sob, nuzzling against her grandmothers body as she let memories overtake her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tessa was alone in the cold, her mommy and daddy had left her alone in the hollow again.

She was cold, it was very cold.

She was only four and a half, but they never seemed to stay for her.

Did they even care?

Did anyone care about her?

“Oh! Hello there Mate…… wha’ ya doin’ here all alone?” A gentle voice whispered, before a brown and cream doe poked her head into the hollow.

“…..mommy and daddy don’t like me” Tessa whispered, lifting her head to look up at the doe.

“Oh….. those bloody fools, I’ll have James’ ear for this late’” the doe muttered softly, before she crept into the hollow and curled around Tessa, her warm body soothing after being alone in the cold so long.

Tessa relaxed against the warm doe, her eyelids quickly beginning to droop.

“Your safe Mate, your safe with me, I won’ le’ anythin’ hurt ya” the doe whispered, her voice had a funny tone to it, but Tessa liked it, the….. accent? The accent- she liked the accent-

Really liked it…… maybe she could learn to do it……. She’d like that……. Could match with this warm and safe doe…..

Before she even realized it, Tessa had drifted off into sleep.

{~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-}

“Gramma, I’m- I’m no’ supposed ta be up this late-“ Tessa whispered, following after Janet as she calmly walked through the moonlit forest.

“I know ya aren’ technically, bu’ I wante’ ta show ya somethin’ tonigh’” Janet whispered back, smiling softly at Tessa as she spoke.

The eight year old fawn was about to say something, when she nearly bumped into Janet as the older die paused at the ridge.

Tessa peeked around her, and looked around at the dark landscape in confusion, before Janet used a hoof to tilt her head up to look at the sky.

She gasped, the stars were so bright, and pretty green and pinkish lights streaked the sky.

“Tha stars are our ancestors Tessa, an’ tha ligh’s are them tellin’ us it’s okay an’ lettin’ us know their watchin’ over us” Janet murmured, sitting down as she spoke.

“They’re pretty…… can tha ancestor’s see us righ’ now?” Tessa asked softly, sitting down beside Janet and leaning against her.

“Yes, anywhere anytime, they can see us, an’ whenever ya see these ligh’s, knwo their sayin’ hello ta ya” Janet whispered back.

Tessa looked back up at the sky, and smiled softly, feeling warm inside, letting the hours pass by as she sat there, sitting beside her gramma, watching the lights of their ancestors.

{~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-}

”I hear ya have a new frien’ there, she’s quite a pretty doe” Janet said kindly, smiling as Tessa led a hesitant Jade closer.

“…..thank you Miss” Jade murmured, lowering her head as she spoke.

“Oh, none of tha’ Miss business! Ya can call me Janet, or even Gramma if ya wan’, from tha way my gran’ daughte’s lookin’ at ya, I’ll have two gran’ daughte’s soon!” Janet said cheekily, grinning.

Jade immediately yelped and tucked her nose against her chest, Chelsey embarrassed.

“Gramma! It’s not like tha’! We’re jus’ frien’s!” Tessa yelped in protest, her face feeling hot.

“Jus’ frien’s huh?~, well, ya certainly picked a good ‘frien’ then~” Janet laughed, nudging Tessa’s shoulder with her nose.

“Ah, I’m jus’ teasin’, c’mon, let’s get ya frien’ a settled eh?” Janet added after a second, leading the two down a trail towards the outskirts of the herd.

{~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-}

“It’s okay mate, I know, nasty scare ya had an’ now you’re in an unfamiliar place” Janet whispered, laying down beside a shivering Valkyrie and gently nudging her a little closer.

“You’re okay mate, I promise, ya are safe” Janet added, beginning to gently groom the shivering fawns mane.

Tessa carefully laid down beside her gramma, on the opposite side of Valkyrie, and she rested her head on top of Janet’s shoulder.

Jade came over and laid beside Valkyrie, briefly gently nuzzling the younger fawn, before resting her head down on the ground.

“It’s all okay, I promise, ya all are safe, tha storm can’ ge’ ya here, I won’ let it”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Mother?!”

A shout brought Tessa’s attention back to the present, and she jerked her head up, briefly noticing as she did so that Jade was lying beside her.

“I don’ know wha’ happened! She won’ wake up!” Tessa sobbed, standing up and taking a shaky step towards her dad.

“Oh I bet you do! I bet that fucking Silevanis did it, Louisa’s always said she’s trouble!” James spat, raising to his full height and glaring down at Jade.

“JADE HAD NOTHIN’ TA DO WITH IT!” Tessa shouted, tears dripping down as her fur bristled, James moved to speak again, but she cut him off.

“THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I WISH SHE WAS MY MOM INSTEAD OF LOUDIA, I WISH YA WEREN MY DAD! YA HAVE DONE NOTHIN’ FOR ME, YOU’VE NEVER CARED!” Tessa added, she knew she was being loud, she could feel the tears practically pouring down as she spoke, but she didn’t care, not anymore.

“I HATE YA! AN’ I HOPE YA KNOW THA’! YA ARE A FAILURE OF A PAREN’!” Tessa finished, she sobbed again, before she whipped around and started to bolt through the forest.

Running, running, running away.

Around the trees, through the clearings, over the streams, onto the plains.

She could hear Jade running after her, but she wasn’t paying attention, not to anything besides the molten pain in her chest and the throbbing fuzziness of her head.

Tessa didn’t even realize she’d come up onto the cliff until she tumbled into the stream, immediately going down.

She flailed around in panic, before she felt somebody grip her scruff and haul her out.

It was Valkyrie, she was shaking and avoiding contact with the water, but the desire to help Tessa seemed to have overpowered her fear of water.

Tessa simply laid there on the bank, soaking wet and shivering, still sobbing, eyes wide and hollow.

Jade tucked her close, and Valkyrie moved to the other side, both Silevanis pressing against the young deer, both understanding the grief of losing a family member.

“Oh! I’ve never seen a night sky like this-“ Valkyrie whispered after a while, Tessa wasn’t sure how long, but it must’ve been a while, because the stars were out now.

Tessa looked up, feeling dull and hollow inside, only to gasp loudly, eyes widening.

Above were the lights of the Ancestors, the blues and greens and pinks streaking the night sky, making every star seem ever the brighter.

“…..I see ya gramma” Tessa whispered, looking up at the sky, at the stars that were their ancestors, and the lights that were their message.

She still felt numb, her chest still felt molten with pain, and she didn’t want to go back to her Herd again, even if she would have too

But, looking up at the lights, she knew it was all going to be okay in the end.

Notes:

Sorry for the long wait between chapters! TwT, was working on another fic for a bit, then moved, then vacation trip- so lots of irl interruptions lol-

Song for the vibes: “This is what it Sounds Like” by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI,

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Hoofed Murder AU