Grazing in the meadow, Everen raised his head, scanning the surrounding forests. His white pelt stood out against the backdrop of flaming leaves. November had come, and with it, the rut. He felt the itch in his muscles. He had long since shed the velvet on his antlers, leaving behind the glistening points of a twelve-tine buck. He had earned his title of Prince, through age and long battles.
Now, it was his duty to protect the forest.
Certain that whatever he had heard was not a threat, he lowered his head to the grass once more.

Mina stood in the meadow, several meters away. She saw Everen stir, and she too raised her head, but when he relaxed, she did not. She was Everen's daughter from several years past, and as such she did not interest him.
He had no need to defend her against the stag lurking at the edge of the meadow.
But she was ready to mate.

Dasher walked into the meadow and saw the Prince , walking past the Prince he gave a friendly nod that told the Prince he didn't want to fight. he stopped to graze , he picked at the flowers and decided to walk on. Stopping at a tree he scraped his horns against it and began to walk around the meadow again , not wanting to stur trouble.

Maya leaped onto the meadow and danced around it with joy , nothing special was happening she was just happy. she ran past the prince and his daughter , she ran past Dasher and said hello before stopping to graze.

Raenie leaned against a tree, in the shade.
The sun bothered her light eyes, and she tended to stay in the shade.
Her eyes followed the Prince and Dasher as they caught sight of each other.
It was rare for two males not to instantly fight in the presents or does.
She lifted her head high and perked up her ears, watching the two.

Mina lifted her head, watching Maya run.
"Hi," She called out softly, flicking her tail and moving closer to the other doe. She virtually ignored Dasher, "How are you?"

As more deer gathered in the meadow, the Prince stopped grazing. Nervous, Everen raised his snow-white head to the sun, scanning his surroundings for any sign of a threat.

"Hello , nice to meet you." Maya walked around Mina looking at her and stopped infront of her. "My names Maya , this is my friend Dasher." Maya tossed her head towards Dasher. she jumped and kicked playfully and watched as others came in.

Dasher nudged Maya before he started running , she caught up with him and he played with her till she went back to the other doe Mina. He didn't want any doe to be his Harem , he wanted Maya who had been his best friends since birth.

Mina nodded slightly to Dasher.
"Hi," She greeted him shyly, "I'm Mina." She turned her neck, gazing at the Prince, "Father?" She called, "Any danger?"
"No," Came Everen's deep-throated response, "Only your mother."
Sabrina ducked under the branches and into view, blinking her golden eyes at Everen. She scanned the meadow, analyzing the rest of the does and stags there.
No... none of the stags bore battle marks. None had been brave enough to challenge the Prince.
Until they did... she was still his doe.

"Hi , im Dasher." he grumbled a bit." don't know why , im so dang slow." he laughed a bit and charged at a tree. he knocked into it and proudly walked around , he was ok with fighting trees but other stags worried him.

Maya kicked and greeted other stags and does , she kicked happily and finally layed down on the ground next to a tree.

Raenie left the shadows, her fur gleaming in the sun.
The sun's rays brightened her bright coat and almost made it look golden.
Her head loward to the grass and she didn't seem to notice the others.
When Dasher unknowingly came near her she moved so she could see him better.
"Hello." she said softly.

"Hello , You must be Raenie?" he lowered his head to were yours was , "Im dasher."

Maya jumped and bumped into Raenie and she apoligized and went on running.

Raenie was about to respond when Maya bumped into her, but kept on running.
Her bright blue eyes followed Maya for a few moments before looking at Dasher again.
Bowing her head in respect, her blue eyes searched his for a moment. "Nice to meet you, Dasher."

"Prince," Olen's voice was deep, but strong, as the big stag approached the white royal. He dipped his head, his ten-tined antlers brushing the grass as such was the depth of his bow. "The rut is soon approaching," the stag rumbled with a hint of dry humor.

"Perhaps this is the year we meet again in battle?"

Everen raised his head so that his twelve-tined antlers towered high over Olen's.
"Perhaps," He agreed, "But which of my does would you be seeking, Olen? There are few you would have a chance at winning."

Riyan led his sister through the forest as an escort. He had warned her about wandering off and had quite scorned her when he had noticed she had disappeared. After running through the forest in a panic he had found her eating some of her favorite flowers unconcerned. "Avelane. You remember to stay in the meadow. What if you had been mated! You need to stay in a place where I can protect you. I am your brother after all." He snorted and stepped out of the brush making sure to glance over his shoulder at his sister. She had a sulking expression of that cute face. His sister would always be beautiful, at least to him. He wasn't interested in her though, that would be sickening, but he did have his interest in one of the other females. "Riyan. Stop worrying about me and get a female. I have my own plans." He heard Avelane say.

Riyan slowed to stand at her side and gave her side a sharp nip. "I will stop worrying about you but only when I know you'll stop trying to get yourself killed." "I certainly are not." "You are. Now run along and go play." Riyan watched as she trotted off to go graze on her own. He figured it was okay since she never really spoke to many of the other females unless it was Raenie or Mina. Riyan turned his gaze away from her to watch Olen speak to the Prince. A strange sight. He began to wonder where Sabrina was and watched her appear all of a sudden. He wouldn't be surprised if Olen was after her. Himself on the other hand had eyes only for one doe. That was, Mina, who was currently speaking to Dasher. Riyan began to approach then figured he would sharpen his horns. This didn't please him. Mina would be his if he could get her to agree. He stepped up to the tree grazing his horns over the rough bark. He kept his gaze trained on Dasher. This was war.

XxxX

Avelane trotted off into the meadow leaving her brother behind. She had had enough of his silly speeches about her being in danger and what not. She was perfectly fine on her own and perhaps was even safer than he would ever be. Her tail quivered, the fluffy white brushing her hindquarters. Avelane looked to Mina and saw that she was with Dasher. This ruined her chances of speaking to the doe anytime soon. With a sigh, Avelane passed Mina and stopped on the far side of the meadow. Giving a quick glance around she spotted Olen. She favored the large, handsome buck but knowing Olen, he was probably after Sabrina. Sabrina herself, was a pretty doe.

Avelane leaned down tearing her gaze away for a few minutes to graze silently. She did enjoy the small silence before chaos broke loose. Horns clashing and grunts emanating from chests heaving from exertion. Oh, the rut was a time where all had there risks. She moved forward a few steps to eat the petals off a sweet flower and continued her grazing eying the other stags in interest. She sized them up and considered who she favored once more. She would have the final say in her mate and she was determined to pick only the best.

Olen's eyes scanned the does in the clearing. "They are not yet your does, Prince," he murmured, acknowledging the other's height and strength. He looked over at where Mina was talking to Dasher. "Ah, but it seems another has their eyes on your daughter."

He then swept his gaze over the others, settling on Avelane, before flitting over to where the doe's brother, Riyan, stood sharpening his horns.

"This year will not be as easy as the past," Olen remarked, sounding older beyond his years.

Everen gave a deep-throated chuckle.
"No," He agreed, "There are many bucks. More than usual have survived to full-tine." He gave his massive rack a confident shake, "Sabrina!" He called.

Sabrina looked up from her grazing, eyes calm.

"Stay closer to me," He ordered, "I will not have you stolen away."

Sabrina rolled her eyes, but moved to stand in her mate's shadow.

__________________

Mina felt eyes on her and looked up. There were two of them who had looked at her; Olen and Riyan. But Riyan was sharpening his antlers now, and Olen was gazing at Avelane. She wondered if she had imagined it.
Pawing restlessly at the ground, she scanned the meadow. She was ready to mate.

Gloria grazed close to Mina, before the young doe raised her head. She headed over to where her friend was, nodding a greeting. "Hello," she murmured, her eyes scanning the thick trees for the bucks.

She spotted her father, Olen, talking to the Prince and a small shudder passed down her spine at the sight of the white stag.



"Unfortunately," Olen grumbled under his breath as Sabrina came up close to them. He looked over at the other does, sighing softly. Which ones did he want this year?

"Hello," Mina returned, stretching forwards to nuzzle Gloria's muzzle affectionately, "Excited?"
________________________

Everen, too, scanned the meadow. But the only doe he spotted that really caught his eye was Sabrina...
And then he noticed another.
Gloria.... she was new to the mating season. The same age as his daughter. A beautiful young doe.
He gazed steadily at her.

Raenie shook her head before walking over to Mina.
Her light eyes trailed over to Everen.
She quickly looked at Mina again, and flicked up one ear.

Mina looked to Raenie, too.
"Are you thinking about catching my father's eye?" She asked softly.

Gloria nodded a greeting to Raenie. Oh? Was the other doe eying the Prince? She did a strange little kick with her hind hoof, returning to grazing. She wasn't sure who she wanted to be her mate.

The Prince would be nice but.....She felt eyes on her and turned, somewhat surprised to see the Prince staring at her.

-x-

Olen lowered his head to the grassy forest floor, grazing lightly. "Have you found another doe you like?" he rumbled, flicking his tail.

Raenie snorted out a chuckle. "possibly." she told Mina lightly.
Her blue eyes then fell on Olen.
He seemed brave, challenging the Prince.
After watching for a few seconds, her eyes flittering between the Prince and Olen, she shook out her light coat.

Everen, still gazing at Gloria, gave his head a light shake.
"Some," He murmured, "There are as many new does in the forest as there are new stags."
___________________

Mina butted her head against Raenie's shoulder.
"Go!" She urged, "You'll never catch the Prince if you don't try. He doesn't just go to does he likes, he goes to the does that choose him."

Reanie jumped to the side and took a backed up instinctively when Mina shoved her.
"I said possibly." She snorted at the doe, not realizing that she was now just a few steps away from The Prince.
Her white, grey, and light brown coat didn't seem as abnormal next to the Prince's white coat, but her eyes certainly did.

Blinking slowly, Everen turned his gaze to his daughter's other friend. Raenie. And interesting doe.
He stepped forwards, using his daughter as cover. He gave the back of her neck a gentle rub with his muzzle, marking her as his.
"Ah! Dad!" Mina yelped, bolting out from under his attentions. Everen watched her go, laughing softly to himself.

Gloria laughed, watching as Mina bolted away. She turned to look at Everen. "Prince," she smirked, half bowing.

She spotted her own father approaching from behind Everen, but pretended she didn't see him.

"Gloria," Olen greeted his daughter. She flicked her ear in acknowledgment, before heading over. He nuzzled her gently. "How are you doing?" he asked in low tones. Gloria glared at her father.

"I don't need protecting anymore," she muttered.