The Forest on Elk Ridge (Always Open)

[Misiziri]

Vesir stood there, shocked. The memory had struck him again.

He loved Elyara and planned on mating with her in the spring. She was the kindest and most generous doe he had ever had in his herd. On the second day of true spring, she was frolicking in the meadow joyously and Vesir lay there watching her, eyeing for any predators. He had dozed off when he heard a wretched squeal. A puma had chased Elyara to the edge of the meadow. As the Elyara looked behind her shoulder, she unwittingly dashed off a cliff into onto a bed of jagged rock. All in front of Vesir's eyes. All because he fell asleep. The puma ran off before he could do anything, although he was too devastated to move at the time.

Cliff... he mouthed...

[Zoketi]

Aleeni could faintly see the elk's expression. It looked quite horrified, and Aleeni felt a tinge of pity, though she had no clue why the elk was upset. She stepped back, not wanting to interfere. Her hooves carried her back against a tree, where she halted. Her long ears flashed constantly, picking up the woodland sounds. Her eyes watched a robin flutter nearby, and then she glanced back at the elk and wolves down the hill.

[Misiziri]

Vesir snapped back into reality as the unfamiliar scent of a female elk was smelled.

"Is anyone there?" He questioned.

[Zoketi]

Aleeni's gaze locked on the elk. She stepped forwards, body sliding into view between the trees. She blinked at the male from a few paces away. "Greetings!" She spoke sweetly with a tinge of uncertainty.

[Misiziri]

"Hello." He replied sternly. "And who might you be, little elk? A newcomer to this neck of the woods?" he chuckled.

[Zoketi]

Aleeni smiled. "Correct." She replied lightly. Her tail twitched. "This forest is quite beautiful, and drew my attention." She explained, stepping out from behind the last tree. Her yellow-green eyes peered at the elk and the wolves with interest.

[Misiziri]

Vesir smiled, "Hm, well it may look pretty, but this place is harsh. Only the strongest and most fit survive here, this forest. Some have come here because of that stupid rumor. It holds no truth. I'll bet someone made that up just because he'd get thrills from seeing animals venture up into these forbidding woods and-" He stopped.

"Woops, hahaha, I ramble. I must asky you, though, have you come because of the rumor?"

[Zoketi]

"Rumors?" Aleeni snorted. "Why should I listen to those tales of spiderwebs?" She flattened her ears in mock anger. "I know the ways of the woods." She continued, stepping over a rock. "And don't ever think I'm some pretty little deer that can't take care of herself." She finished with a stamp of her cloven hoof.

Zaru sidled into her den, keeping the herbs neat in the grip. She spat out the leaves and placed the juniper berries on the ground, careful not to press anything. She began to place the plants in the correct cracks in the rock that forms her den.

[Misiziri]

Vesir gritted his teeth. "Oh... I misjudged you, then. I apologize. But you have heard this ridiculous rumor, yes?" He jokingly stated, trying to forget about misjudging her.

"Some animals think there's a whole nother forest inside the mountain, Mt. Barrier."

[Zoketi]

"Really?" Aleeni asked, losing her slight anger. "Isn't that a little overdone?" She raised an eyebrow (Pretend elk have eyebrows lol). She glanced around at the trees, wondering on earth what other stories there were.

Rzu hissed softly, uncurling from the tree limb. He shot down the trunk, landing slightly dizzy on the ground. Flicking his tongue, he slithered underneath a bush.