SHADOW DANCERS

Mother deer’s sensitive nose sniffed the air. Button-black eyes tried to pierce the morning mist. She sensed danger nearby and stood up, shaking off the dew.

Mother deer forgot all about their morning snack of young shoots, and how tasty they would be.

She and young buck had rested peacefully through the night, on a thick bed of moss. Yet a stubborn October wind continued to chill their hideout at the edge of the forest.

Young buck stood at full attention beside his mother. Their camouflage of color within a stand of willow hid them like a painting on a canvas.

He pushed lovingly against his mother’s side.

Mother deer began to move silently along a favorite trail, followed by her young son. His first set of antlers looked like short sticks growing from his head.

They waited patiently before an open space where tall timber once stood. An aroma of cedar covered them with its sweetness.

Suddenly, there came another loud crack of deadwood. Something unfamiliar was moving cautiously towards them.

Both deer stood still as icicles. Fearful images swirled in mother deer's brain. She had met these intruders before.

Without hesitation, she swung her head against young Buck, knocking him off his feet, and out of sight. Mother’s muffled snort warned him to lay silent as a garter snake.

Like a ballet dancer, she sprinted away, creating a half circle using brush as cover then detoured to a secret trail. Her bold movements drew hidden pursuers to her escape.

Crashing sounds quickly followed mother deer’s flight.

Young buck’s last view of mother was watching her white tail, as a flag rising and falling. Her shadow soon disappeared into the safety of the deep woods.

New activity reached young buck’s ears. Branches moved aside, as growling headed in his direction. Young buck pressed tightly against a birch tree.

His ears heard animal talk from different areas. Even though young buck’s wood lore was limited he knew these were not friendly visitors.

Danger arrived in the form of an unwelcome scent.

Young buck's nose prickled. For the first time in his life, he felt fear. Browsing on bark and twigs no longer interested him.

Where was his mother? He missed the comfort of her closeness. He listened, unsure of whether he should immediately rise to his feet and seek mother’s trail.

A thudding settled upon the ground, a vibration, then stillness. Something was waiting, watching for any movement.

Young buck knew it was time to move. He stood shakily. His ears were on full alert, tuned to hear even a falling leaf.

Nervous bubbles of air blew through pursed lips. If only his mother could hear his heart beating a frantic message. “I’m coming,” it said.

His tongue licked moisture from the air. He placed each foot carefully in a straight line, heading in the direction his mother took.

During seven months of life his long slender legs, became strong. He brushed noiselessly against a poplar.

Young buck sensed mother would be waiting beyond distant ridges. She would also select a place where water and lush grass would be in plentiful supply.

His lean body began to lope forward as if in a musical play. It was time to scoot.

Not far away a hungry coyote looked forward to deer stew on his supper table. He inched forward on his tummy.

Not far behind, three shaggy members of his pack were copycats. They waited for their leader’s signal to attack. Only a short distance separated them from their victim, coming towards them.

Young buck halted suddenly, ears at full attention. His instinct said, “Whoa!” And his eyes bulged nervously. Something rushed quickly towards his right side.

Young buck exploded with movement. As his body changed direction and went soaring, snapping teeth leaping for his flanks.

A “Whoosh” of hot breath came very close.

The chase was on.

During the next several kilometers, meat-hungry coyotes crisscrossed young buck's escaping path. They rested often, his fleetness surprising them. With determination the pack of coyotes tried to keep up the pace.

Tongues lolled, and empty tummies ached for their meal. A growing family of pups demanded much food. Except this day was not meant to be theirs in victory.

A healthy young son was eager to find his mother. Fear was left far behind as powerful legs allowed him to run easily. His racing rhythm was meant to cover miles of territory.

Soon, young buck discovered the scent of mother’s trail.

Fallen clumps of brush tested his sprinting. Like his mother, young Buck’s white tail bobbed up and down. "Can't catch me," it teased. He had an appointment to fulfill. And somehow knew it was his destiny to lead a long life.

Majestic leaps across narrow brooks annoyed his sluggish pursuers.

Short-legged coyotes were unable to keep up to this jumping machine. Heavyset bodies met resistance from stands of raspberry bushes and deadfall.

Tired paws could barely scramble for a toehold scampering up each rocky ridge. After an hour's chase squinting eyes no longer saw their intended victim.

Nor did they care. Because young buck had disappeared.

**

Shadows began after dusk's last sunny dance. Indeed, young buck was no longer afraid. He passed his bravery test by surviving the chase.

He had left those coyotes far behind, in a mirror of confusing trails. In full flight, young buck traveled speeds up to 40 mph, resting often to listen for his pursuers.

A natural instinct for survival also lead young buck to this place. He sniffed the air carefully. There it was, mother’s scent. She called to him with soft bubbling sounds.

Young buck stepped forward.

What tales they shared with one another, as they grazed in the coolness of the evening. From the deepness of sky, stars gathered proudly in honor of his bravery.

The forest became a circle of peace. Tasteful twigs and a soft rug of fallen leaves waited.

Young buck and mother danced into the shadows.

* * *

© Richard & Esther Provencher 2008

Richard and Esther Provencher invite you to view their novels written during a recovery from a stroke, which gob smacked her husband Richard in 1999.

Direct links to these novels from www.synergebooks.com are below.

FOOTPRINTS is about Joe who receives an anonymous letter stating he has a 14 year old son he was not aware of. Will this affect a recent marriage to a wonderful lady with two children who love him? His desire to find his missing son puts a strain on everyone. Unknown to Joe, an angry son is also looking for him.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_footprints.html novel available now.

SOMEONES SON is about Sheldon who has overcome much hurting these past three years. He has been the man of the house since his father moved out. Now dad is back and wants to spend time with him. What about Larry, his neighbor who has been like a father all this time? And mom wants to marry again? http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_someonesson.html novel available soon.

INTO THE FIRE is about Troy who has no real friends, only an imaginary one, JC. Without him, Troy might not be able to cope with living in the country, since dad took up drinking. Troy has to be the man of the house because a terrible accident killed mom three months ago. Then a mystery changes everything.
http://www.synergebooks.com/ebook_intothefire.html novel available soon.