Chapter 1: opening ( wip )
Chapter Text
Chapter One: The Hunter in the Snow
Once upon a time, in a land blanketed by an unrelenting winter, there was a hunter. A man hardened by the cold and tempered by the frost, he moved through the storm as if he were part of it. The wind howled and screamed, biting at his skin, but still, he pressed on. His name has long been lost to the wind, forgotten as easily as a footprint in the snow. But the world knew him not by his name, but by the sound of his bowstring and the sharp glint in his eyes.
He was the kind of man who could track a deer across miles of frozen wilderness, with nothing but instinct guiding him. But now, even he could not find his way. For this was no ordinary storm—it was a tempest of snow and ice that swallowed all who wandered into it. The hunter, who had once been so sure of himself, now found his steps faltering, his breath coming in shallow gasps.
He could no longer see the trees, no longer feel the familiar earth beneath his boots. The world was reduced to a swirl of white, with no beginning and no end. He had come to these woods to hunt, but now the woods were hunting him. And the forest was far more patient than he.
He pressed on, one foot in front of the other, though every step felt like it took him deeper into the cold embrace of death. His limbs were numb, his fingers clumsy on the hilt of his knife. But still, he moved forward, as all hunters do—always forward, always chasing something just out of reach.
Time ceased to exist in that storm. It could have been hours, or it could have been days, but eventually, the hunter could go no farther. He stumbled, falling to his knees in the snow, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His vision blurred, the world tilting as the weight of exhaustion pressed down on him like the snow itself.
The cold was in his bones now, a relentless gnawing that no fire could banish. His eyelids fluttered, heavy with ice, and as the darkness crept into the edges of his vision, he wondered if this was how it ended. Not with a fight, but with a slow, quiet surrender.
And then, there was nothing but darkness.
Chapter Two: something the same, but different.
The world had changed when he awoke. The cold was gone, replaced by something altogether different. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and though there was still snow, it was no longer a harsh and unyielding blanket. It was soft now, melting under the warmth of a gentle sun. He blinked, the light strange and unfamiliar to his eyes, and for a moment, he lay still, unsure of what had happened.
The hunter rose slowly, his limbs stiff but no longer frozen. His breath came easily now, the sharp pain of the cold gone from his chest. He looked around, confusion settling in his mind. The trees stood tall and green, their needles glistening with droplets of melting frost. It was spring—impossible, but true.
Had he been lost in the storm so long that the seasons had shifted? No, that couldn't be. Something was wrong. He had fallen in the heart of winter, and the storm had been fierce enough to freeze rivers solid. Yet here he was, in a world where the snow melted and the birds sang as if it were the first day of spring.
He turned slowly, taking in the unfamiliar landscape. It was similar to the woods he had hunted in, but not the same. The trees were taller, the sky a shade bluer than he remembered. And the air—it felt different. There was a weight to it, a strange energy that prickled at the back of his neck. It was as if the very forest was alive in a way it hadn’t been before.
The hunter took a deep breath and began to walk, his boots crunching softly on the thawing ground. There was no path before him, but his feet carried him forward nonetheless. There was a strange familiarity to the movement, as though he had walked this way a thousand times before. Yet he knew he had not. His mind, still clouded with the remnants of sleep and confusion, searched for answers, but there were none.
He paused at the edge of a small stream, watching the water flow lazily over rocks and fallen branches. The sound of it was soothing, a reminder of something distant and forgotten. As he knelt to drink, his reflection wavered in the water, and for a moment, he barely recognized himself. The man who stared back was the same, yet different. His eyes were sharper, more feral, and his skin—was it just the light, or had it grown paler? He frowned, splashing the water, as if trying to chase away the unsettling thought.
But the feeling remained, gnawing at the back of his mind as he continued his walk through the woods. He felt a presence here, something watching him. It wasn’t a deer or a wolf. No, this was something more ancient, something far older than the forest itself. It felt as though the earth beneath his feet was alive, breathing softly, waiting.
He was not alone in these woods. And the more he walked, the more certain he became that something was guiding him.
Chapter Three: return to the green world.
As the hunter made his way deeper into the forest, the feeling grew stronger. It was as though the trees themselves whispered in a language he could almost understand. A low murmur of voices carried on the wind, too faint to make out but unmistakable. He knew these woods should be silent, filled only with the sound of animals scurrying or birds calling. But now, there was something else—a hum of life that ran beneath the surface.
The hunter’s instincts told him to stop, to turn back. But something else, something deeper, compelled him forward. He could feel it in his bones now, a tugging sensation that drew him closer to the heart of the forest. His hands twitched toward his bow, a reflex more than a conscious decision. The weight of the weapon was comforting, even in this strange place.
But there was no prey here. No tracks to follow, no signs of life save for the trees and the undergrowth. Yet the hunter knew better than to trust his eyes. The forest was full of secrets, and not all of them could be seen.
The further he walked, the more the air changed. It grew heavier, thicker, as though it were filled with something unseen. He felt it pressing against his skin, a weight that made each step harder than the last. And still, he could not stop. The trees seemed to close in around him, their branches twisting and reaching like the fingers of giants.
At last, he reached a clearing, a circle of earth untouched by the melting snow. The sun shone brightly here, casting long shadows on the ground. In the center of the clearing stood a single tree, taller and older than any he had ever seen. Its bark was dark and knotted, its branches heavy with leaves that shimmered like silver in the sunlight.
The hunter stood at the edge of the clearing, his heart pounding in his chest. There was something about this place, something that made his skin prickle and his breath catch in his throat. He could feel it now, the presence that had been guiding him. It was here, waiting for him.
He took a step forward, his boots sinking into the soft earth. The tree loomed above him, ancient and silent, its branches swaying gently in the breeze. And then, without warning, a voice spoke.
"Welcome, hunter."
Chapter Four: Sylvian Dread
The forest grew silent. Not the gentle quiet of nature's slumber, but a suffocating, unnatural stillness. The hunter stopped in his tracks, every instinct screaming that something was wrong. No more birds called from the treetops. No wind rustled the leaves. Even the faint sound of water trickling through the nearby stream had vanished, replaced by a low, unsettling hum, like the static haze that filled the air just before a storm.
He felt it immediately—an odd pressure building in his chest, as though the air itself had grown denser. Hot and cold at the same time. A prickling sensation, like the charged tension of lightning about to strike. The feeling of walking underwater, his body moving sluggishly as if pushing through an unseen barrier. His ears popped painfully, and he winced, swallowing against the strange pressure in his head.
Then came the smell. Copper. Sharp and metallic, it stung his nose, filling his mouth with the taste of blood. The sensation was so sudden, so powerful, that he recoiled, his face twisting in disgust. He tried to breathe shallowly, but the scent clung to him, heavy and suffocating. His spine tingled, the hairs on his arms standing on end. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to turn and run, to flee back into the familiar daylight of the thawing woods. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t stop.
Something was drawing him forward, deeper into the shadows that loomed ahead. It wasn’t curiosity—no, it was stronger than that. It was as if his body no longer belonged to him. His legs moved of their own accord, carrying him into the deepening gloom. He knew, in some primal part of his mind, that he was crossing a threshold, stepping into a place where no human should tread.
But there was no turning back now.
The darkness thickened with each step, closing around him like a cloak. The sun, which had shone so brightly above him just moments ago, had vanished behind a veil of thick clouds, leaving the world in a strange twilight. The trees were mere black silhouettes against the fading light, their branches twisting in grotesque shapes that seemed to reach for him. Shadows danced at the edge of his vision, and for a brief moment, he thought he saw movement—a flicker of something just beyond the reach of his sight.
He was not alone.
The hunter's breath quickened, his pulse racing as he stumbled forward. He could hear them now—footsteps. Soft, deliberate, matching his own pace. A crowd of them. Moving alongside him, through the dark. They were close, so close that he swore he could feel their presence, brushing against his skin, like a crowd pressing in from all sides. He stopped, his heart pounding in his ears.
Slowly, his hand reached out into the blackness. There was nothing there. And yet—he could feel them. They were there, walking beside him, all around him. But when his fingers brushed through the air, they met only emptiness. His breath hitched in his throat, and his pulse thudded in his ears. His mind raced, trying to make sense of it.
Then, something cold touched him.
A skeletal hand.
It wrapped around his outstretched fingers, colder than ice, with a grip like iron. The hunter gasped, jerking back instinctively, but the hand held fast, its bony fingers tightening around his wrist. Panic surged through him as he tried to yank his arm away, but the grip was unyielding, pulling him deeper into the darkness. He stumbled, nearly falling, his feet dragging through the soft earth as the unseen force drew him forward.
It was leading him somewhere.
He wanted to fight, to pull away, but something deeper, more primal, kept him moving. His body his instincts his primal nature as an animal told him to follow the skeletal hand as it guided him through the shadowy forest. He couldn’t see where he was going, couldn’t make out anything beyond the thick blanket of darkness that surrounded him. All he could do was follow the relentless pull of that icy hand, his heart pounding in his chest.
Suddenly, a brilliant light exploded in front of him, blinding in its intensity. He shielded his eyes with his free hand, squinting against the sudden brightness. The darkness receded, evaporating like smoke in the wind. The hunter blinked, his vision slowly adjusting to the new light, and when he lowered his hand, he found himself standing in a clearing.
The snow was gone. The forest floor was soft and green beneath his feet, the air warm with the scent of spring. The sun shone brightly above, its rays filtering through the leaves in golden streams. It was as if he had been transported from the heart of winter to the bloom of a perfect spring day.
And in the center of the clearing, bathed in the radiant glow of sunlight, stood a figure.
It was a woman—or something that resembled one. She was tall and slender, her form delicate and ethereal. Her skin shimmered like light reflecting off water, translucent and pale, as though she wasn’t fully there, not fully part of this world. Her hair flowed down her back like silk, glowing with the same soft light that surrounded her. But what caught the hunter’s breath, what sent a shiver down his spine, were the antlers.
They sprouted from her head, curling gracefully upward, shining gold in the sunlight. And her eyes—burning, brilliant orbs of blue fire, glowing with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him. She was beautiful, in a way that was not human. Her features, though soft and delicate, were too sharp, too perfect. And her presence—it felt both serene and deeply unsettling.
A deer. A woman. A creature from the depths of a forgotten forest, older than time itself.
The hunter’s heart raced, his breath shallow as he stood frozen, unable to move. He could still feel the hand gripping his own, though now it was softer, warmer—no longer the skeletal grasp that had pulled him through the darkness, but the gentle touch of the creature before him. She held his hand as though they were old companions, her fingers soft and cool against his skin. Yet the memory of that icy, bone-like grip still lingered, sending a chill down his spine.
She smiled, but it wasn’t a smile of comfort. It was a smile that hid something darker, something ancient and unknowable.
"Welcome, hunter," she said, her voice as soft as the wind, yet heavy with something sinister. "You have come far. And you have seen what no one else has seen in a very long time."
The words echoed in his mind, twisting with an unspoken threat. There was something in the way she spoke, something beneath her kind, ethereal appearance, that made his blood run cold. He knew, without understanding why, that this being was not what she seemed. She was beautiful, yes, but beauty could be a mask.
And beneath that mask, something far more dangerous waited, something sinister, something evil.
Chapter Text
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the dense forest that stretched endlessly in every direction. Amidst the trees, a cabin stood—old, worn, yet sturdy against the wilderness. It had seen better days, but it was the kind of place that felt like an oasis in the untamed woods. And tonight, it would be filled with laughter, excitement, and the sound of feet pattering across wooden floors.
The narrow, winding road leading to the cabin was quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. The air was crisp, still clinging to the last remnants of winters cold breath faded away with the renewing warm air of spring. Somewhere deep in the woods, a hunter lurked in the shadows, his eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold. His breath was slow and steady, hidden behind the dense foliage. He was patient. He was always patient.
A car rumbled up the gravel path, its headlights piercing through the trees, briefly illuminating the hunter’s form before disappearing again into the deepening dusk. He licked his lips, the anticipation building in his chest, as the vehicle came to a stop near the cabin.
The door opened, and the sound of girlish chatter filled the air. Five figures emerged, each one beautiful in her own way, their laughter ringing out like music amidst the quiet of the forest. Deer—anthro deer, their bodies lithe and graceful, their antlers crowning their heads in delicate, intricate patterns. But these were not like the deer he had hunted before. No, these were something different. Something special.
His prey.
One by one, they stepped out of the car, stretching and breathing in the fresh air. The first was a red deer, tall and confident, with auburn hair that fell in waves over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she glanced toward the cabin, already calling out to her friends to hurry up. Beside her stood a reindeer, her antlers shorter but more solid, her cheeks flushed pink as she tugged her jacket tighter around her slim figure. The white-tailed deer followed, her large, dark eyes scanning the woods with a nervous curiosity, as if she could feel something watching them. Then came the elk, a little taller than the others, her figure curvier, with a soft laugh that echoed in the cool air. Last was the fallow deer, her coat dappled with white spots, her antlers delicate and curved, giving her an air of youthful innocence.
The hunter's pulse quickened. They were poorly dressed for the wilderness—perfectly dressed for his enjoyment. Each of them wore trendy, revealing clothes, the kind you’d expect to see in a glossy magazine, not in the rugged woods. Tight, form-fitting jeans, shorts that barely covered their thighs, cropped tops that showed off their slim waists and delicate curves. Though the air was cool, they seemed more concerned with fashion than practicality. Some wore oversized jackets or scarves to keep warm, but it didn’t hide their beauty. Not from his eyes.
the red deer, tall and confident, her auburn hair cascading in waves over her shoulders. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, her gaze darting towards the cabin. She wore a tight, black ensemble that hugged her slender frame, the jeans clinging to her hips and thighs, while her cropped grey rock band merch shirt revealed the slight curve of her stomach. A long, red and purple scarf draped elegantly over her shoulders, the ends trailing to form a captivating silhouette.
the whitetail deer, her white blonde hair, her chestnut brown colored body, a tight comfortable looking green sweater with perky points at the end of her chest from this freezing cold, and on top of it a yellow designer jacket, a long flowing dark blue dress that hugged her curves. and colorful socks warming her delicate legs.
the reindeer, was next. Her top was a tight cropped pink shirt, barely covering her small breasts. Her nipples were hard, the pink tips visible through the thin fabric. A red scarf was wrapped loosely around her neck, dangling over her chest and accentuating her delicate collarbone. Her jeans were dark blue, hugging her slender legs and her round, firm ass, she wore fashionable boots that weren't at all suited to the mud as they squeaked giving her location away for anyone with working ears.
the elk. Her breasts spilled over the top of her shirt, her large nipples pressing against the thin material. Her jeans were tight, showcasing her curvy hips and the sway of her ass. A long, brown patterned jacket covered her, the buttons left undone, revealing her cleavage and the top of her smooth stomach.
the fallow. her petite form clad in sports yoga pants that hugged tightly her large round ass. A red thong peeked out from the bottom, the lacy material contrasting with the soft green of the forest floor. She wore a tight, thin fabric dark blue t shirt that had an outline of her midriff and the indentation of her navel. A long, black trench coat shielded her hips and thighs, adding an air of shadow mystery to her youthful beautiful doe body.
The red deer, obviously the leader of the group, gestured toward the cabin with a sweeping motion, her voice filled with excitement. "Alright, girls, let’s get this stuff inside! We’ve got the whole weekend to ourselves!"
They started unloading the car, hauling backpacks and bags, filled with supplies, snacks, and whatever else they deemed essential for their little getaway. The reindeer, already shivering slightly, joked about not packing anything warm enough. "I swear, I’m gonna freeze to death out here!"
The elk nudged her with a grin. "You? Freeze? Aren’t you built for the cold?"
The reindeer rolled her eyes. "Not when I’m dressed like this! I thought we were going somewhere nice, not out into the middle of nowhere."
The hunter smirked, his sharp eyes following every movement, every sway of their hips, every flick of their antlers. They were naive. Too focused on their weekend escape to realize they were being watched. The thought sent a thrill through him.
He stayed hidden in the trees as the girls made their way into the cabin, the door slamming shut behind them. He crept closer, careful not to make a sound. From this distance, he could hear their voices clearly. They were busy unpacking, preparing for the weekend ahead. He watched through the windows as they moved about, the cabin lighting up with the soft glow of lamps and the hum of life within.
The white-tailed deer opened a closet, pulling out extra blankets and pillows. "There’s a bunch of old stuff in here. This place hasn’t been touched in years!"
The red deer shrugged, her antlers nearly brushing the ceiling as she stretched. "That’s what makes it fun! It’s, like, a total adventure. And hey, at least we don’t have to worry about anyone else out here."
"Except maybe spider," the fallow deer chimed in with a grin, causing the others to laugh.
The hunter’s grip tightened on the hilt of his knife. spider? No, they had something far more dangerous to worry about tonight.
After unpacking, the girls explored the cabin and its surroundings. The property was modest—a small clearing in the middle of the vast woods, with just enough space for the cabin, a fire pit, and a couple of overgrown paths that led into the thick trees. The reindeer stood on the porch, peering out into the twilight. "It’s so quiet out here," she murmured, almost to herself.
"Yeah," the white-tailed deer agreed, her voice hushed. "Kind of spooky, isn’t it?"
The red deer laughed, walking up behind them and draping an arm around both their shoulders. "Spooky’s the point, girls! Come on, it’s the last weekend before we go back to school. We should be having fun, not getting freaked out by some dark woods."
"High school," the elk mused, leaning against the doorframe. "I can’t believe we’re actually starting soon. No more middle school, no more baby stuff. We’re gonna be freshmen."
"Fresh meat," the fallow deer teased, hopping down from the porch. "Well, I’m not scared of some dumb woods. I’m gonna go check out the fire pit."
The red deer watched her friend with a smile, shaking her head. "Be careful! We don’t need you getting lost."
The hunter’s breath came slow and steady, his eyes tracking every movement. The fallow deer wandered away from the cabin, making her way toward the fire pit, where the remnants of past campfires lay in a blackened heap of charred wood. She crouched down, giving him a good view of her ass, plump, round, and soft, the impression of her ass cheeks highlighted the valleys of her curves as they descended into the impression of a tight thong under her knee high sports yoga pants. She was brushing away some leaves, and looked around, seemingly satisfied.
She had no idea she was being watched. None of them did.
The hunter's lips curled into a slow, predatory smile as he licked them, savoring the anticipation. They were young, beautiful, and utterly unaware of the danger that lurked just beyond the treeline. Poorly dressed for the wilderness, vulnerable in ways they couldn’t even imagine. Their warm jackets and scarves only highlighted the soft curves beneath, making them all the more enticing.
It was almost too easy.
The last days of summer, before their lives would change forever, and they were out here in the woods, playing at being grown-ups, blissfully unaware that something far older, far more dangerous than any spider or scorpion, was stalking them.
The hunter’s hand rested lightly on the hilt of his blade as he watched the fallow deer stand up and stretch, her form silhouetted against the fading light. Yes, this would be a night they would never forget.
Notes:
will insert an image here later.
Chapter 3: chapter 2 spring cleansing.
Chapter Text
Inside the cabin, the air was warm and thick with the earthy scent of pinewood and a faint musk from the place being unused for some time. The creaking floorboards echoed the excited chatter of the girls as they scurried around, dropping bags, unpacking, and exploring the space with giddy energy.
The red deer, tall and confident, was the first to clap her hands, rallying her friends in the cozy but slightly dilapidated living room. "Alright, ladies, let's get this place in order! We've got a whole weekend, but no one's gonna want to stay in this mess if we don't clean up."
Her voice was clear and commanding, a natural leader. She tossed her scarf onto the back of the worn-out couch and began pulling her hair into a messy ponytail, ready to work.
The red deer had found the cabin’s old radio, a relic from a past era, with a dusty dial and crackling speakers. "Let’s see if we can get some music going!" she called, turning the knob as the others gathered around her. Static filled the air, the radio searching for a signal in the remote wilderness. After a few tense moments, the static cleared, and a faint tune hummed through the speakers.
"There we go!" she said with a satisfied grin, bobbing her head to the faint rhythm.
The reindeer, already halfway into the small kitchen, was busy pulling out bottles and cans from her bag. "Food first! Always!" she chimed in, her voice slightly higher-pitched with excitement. Her fingers quickly sorted through the supplies, moving with a practiced ease as if she’d planned every meal in her head already. She tossed a can of soda to the elk, who caught it with a quick, graceful swipe, her face brightening.
The elk chuckled softly, her long arms reaching up to adjust her antlers after catching the can. She leaned against the counter with casual ease, her shoulders relaxed as she popped the top of the drink. She was the calmest of the group, her movements slow and deliberate, as if nothing could rush her. "You’ve got your priorities in order," she teased, her voice a low murmur as she glanced toward the white-tailed deer, who was fiddling with the old refrigerator.
The elk, with her laid-back demeanor, laughed and flicked a stray piece of dirt off her trendy boots. "Oh, come on, we're in the middle of nowhere! Who cares about dust? I care about snacks." She dropped a bag full of chips onto the kitchen counter and stretched, showing off her toned arms, before casually plopping onto the couch. She didn't mind getting dirty, but she definitely wasn't about to be the first to volunteer.
"Do you think there are any creepy crawlies in here?" the white-tailed deer joked, holding up a spiderweb-covered jar of pasta.
"Better not be," the elk said with a chuckle, wiping down the surfaces with an old rag. "I swear, if I see a spider, I’m running out of here."
the red deer stared, Her eyes briefly locked with the reindeer deer, who was already rummaging through her bag, pulling out sweaters and snacks, too distracted to listen fully. The red deer let out a small, knowing sigh, her hands resting on her hips. "Focus, alright? We’ve got time for snacks later." Her tone was firm, but her lips twitched into a slight smile, softening the command.
The white-tailed deer, more nervous than the others, fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, her eyes darting toward the windows. "Can we just make sure all the doors and windows are locked first? This place feels... off." Her voice trailed off, and she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I swear I thought I saw something outside earlier."
The white-tail’s fingers skimmed the fridge door, her brow furrowed in concentration. "This thing is ancient," she muttered under her breath, leaning in as if inspecting a piece of machinery from a different era. Her movements were precise, almost delicate, as if afraid the fridge might fall apart under her touch. She stood back and wiped her hands on her jeans. "It’ll take some time to cool down, but I think it’ll work."
"White-tail, you're always so jumpy." The reindeer nudged her gently, balancing a bottle of soda on her hip as she opened the fridge, wrinkling her nose at the musty smell. "It's probably just the wind or a moth or something."
Red turned toward her friend, offering a reassuring smile. "Relax, we'll make sure everything's locked up tight. Now come on, let's at least get the beds set up."
They split up, heading into the two small bedrooms to make the space more livable.
"Whoa—why do these cabins always have the weirdest stuff in their closets?" the fallow deer joked, kicking open the door to the first bedroom, a small cloud of dust puffing into the air. She waved her hand dramatically in front of her face, her nose wrinkling. "Smells like someone’s old attic in here."
White-tail reluctantly followed, her eyes still occasionally flicking toward the windows, her movements slow and deliberate, as though the room itself could come alive at any moment. Elk, on the other hand, shrugged off any lingering unease and started rummaging through the closet in the first bedroom.
"Yo, look at these ancient sheets," Elk joked, pulling out a bundle of faded quilts. "It's like my grandma's house, but worse."
Fallow laughed, grabbing a corner of the quilt to help her friend. "Hey, at least we don't have to sleep on the floor, right? Could be worse."
White-tail looked over, distracted. "I just... I don't know. This place gives me the creeps. I'm not a fan of old cabins in the woods, you know?"
"Don't worry about it," Fallow replied, her tone soothing but firm. "We're all here. You're safe."
in the first bedroom, the fallow deer had finally managed to spread a sheet over the bed, but she plopped down onto it with a dramatic sigh. "This is going to be the best weekend ever," she said, stretching out like a cat in a sunbeam. Her antlers tapped against the headboard with a dull thud, and she giggled at the sound. "We should have done this sooner."
The white-tail, less prone to lounging, was already pulling open the windows, letting in the crisp mountain air. "Maybe. But it’s a good thing we waited for the end of summer—the cabin would’ve been way too hot a month ago." She looked outside, her eyes scanning the treeline, and for a moment, she froze. Had she seen something move out there?
Outside, the hunter shifted, moving silently through the shadows. The sun had almost fully set now, the last slivers of daylight disappearing behind the mountains. His eyes locked onto the white tail deer as she lingered by the bedroom window, looking out into the encroaching darkness. For a moment, she hesitated, her gaze scanning the treeline, as if she could sense something lurking just beyond the clearing.
The hunter stayed perfectly still, holding his breath. She couldn’t see him, not with the light spilling out from the cabin, making her reflection more visible than the world beyond. Still, she peered into the night, her face thoughtful. But after a moment, she gulped, shaking her head.
It was nothing she told herself" and turned away, joining her friends.
the red deer moved to the base of the fireplace, her hands swift as she stacked old logs onto the iron grate. "Let’s get this fire going. I don’t know about you all, but it’s going to get chilly tonight," she said. She reached for the matchbox on the mantle, her brow furrowed in concentration as she struck a match and held it to the kindling. The flames flickered to life, casting long shadows over the room.
As the fire crackled to life, the group reconvened in the living room. The flickering flames cast long shadows on the walls, the cabin growing warmer as the light spilled across their faces.
"I bet there's some cool stuff in this place if we look hard enough," Elk said, kicking back on the couch with her arms behind her head. "Places like this always have secrets."
Just as she said it, Fallow's foot nudged something loose on the floor. "What the...?" she muttered, crouching down to inspect the uneven floorboard.
Red raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Find something?"
Fallow pressed on the board, and it lifted slightly. "Looks like there's a loose floorboard here."
The others gathered around, curious, as Fallow pulled the plank free, revealing a small, hidden compartment beneath the floor. Inside was an old rifle, worn but still intact, along with a couple of dusty, forgotten rounds of ammunition.
Elk's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! What's a rifle doing hidden under the floor?"
White-tail stepped back, eyes wide, her anxiety spiking. "That's... unsettling. Why would someone hide a gun here?"
Red carefully picked up the rifle, inspecting it. "Well, this cabin's pretty old. Maybe it belonged to one of the original owners, or maybe they just wanted to keep it out of sight. But I'll be honest, this thing doesn't look like it's been touched in years."
Fallow, ever practical, shrugged. "It's probably just an old hunting rifle. People in places like this would have needed protection or hunted for food."
Elk, always the one to ease the tension, grinned. "We should take it out back and see if it still works."
Absolutely not," Whitetail said firmly, her voice trembling slightly. "I don't like guns!!! ."she screamed.
Red set the rifle down on the table. "No one's touching it. Let's just put it back where we found it. We don't need any accidents."
The group agreed, though Elk couldn't help but glance back at the weapon with a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
As the girls returned to their tasks, the atmosphere shifted slightly, the discovery of the rifle lingering in the back of their minds. White-tail, especially, felt uneasy, her gaze frequently flicking toward the windows again, half-expecting to see something lurking outside. Elk tried to break the tension by throwing a pillow at Fallow's head, laughing as Fallow retaliated with a shove, but even their playful antics couldn't fully dispel the underlying sense of unease that had settled over the group.
Outside, the hunter stood in the shadows, watching as the girls settled back into their routines, none the wiser to the danger creeping closer.
Chapter 4: chapter 2 part 2
Chapter Text
chapter Seven: divide and conquer
The girls had worked tirelessly, setting up the cabin, preparing for their weekend escape. With the fireplace crackling, the beds made, and the kitchen stocked, they finally took a moment to breathe. The last golden rays of sunlight poured in through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. It was peaceful, a calm before the inevitable chaos of the evening.
The red deer stretched her arms over her head, her antlers nearly brushing the ceiling again, and glanced out the window. “You guys realize there’s still some daylight left, right?” Her voice carried a hint of mischief, her lips curling into a grin. “We’ve got everything set up, so... what now?”
The others perked up at her suggestion, curiosity sparking in their eyes. The cabin was ready, but their sense of adventure wasn’t quite satisfied. The elk stood up from her spot near the fireplace, brushing crumbs off her lap. “Well, we came out here for some fun, right? What do you guys say to a little exploration?” She raised an eyebrow, clearly eager for something a bit more exciting than cabin chores.
The fallow deer leaned in, her eyes twinkling with enthusiasm. “I heard there’s an abandoned farm not too far from here.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper, making it sound even more enticing. “They say it’s been empty for years. It’s supposed to be haunted, you know, or at least super creepy.”
The mention of the farm caught everyone’s attention. It had been one of the local legends they’d heard when researching places to stay, and the idea of visiting a supposedly haunted, abandoned farm seemed just the kind of thrill they craved.
The red deer grinned, clearly loving the idea. “That sounds perfect! I mean, come on—how often do you get the chance to explore a spooky, abandoned place in the middle of the woods? We should totally check it out.”
The reindeer, always up for a little adventure, nodded enthusiastically. “I’m in. It’ll make for a great story to tell when we get back. Imagine all the pictures we could take.”
The elk chuckled, throwing an arm around the reindeer’s shoulders. “You’re thinking about your Instagram, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little,” the reindeer replied with a cheeky grin. The fallow deer stood, adjusting her jacket. “I say we go. It’s still light out, and we’ll be back before dark. The farm’s not that far from here, right?”
“Just a short hike,” the red deer confirmed, her excitement growing. She looked around at the others, her expression expectant. “So, what do you think? Are we doing this or what?”
Everyone seemed on board, buzzing with anticipation. Well, almost everyone. As the girls prepared to head out, the white-tailed deer remained seated, her hands nervously fidgeting in her lap. Her large, dark eyes shifted uneasily from one friend to the next, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.
“I don’t know, guys,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
The group paused, turning their attention to her.
The red deer frowned, confused. “What do you mean? It’ll be fun, and besides, we’ll all be together. What’s the worst that could happen?”
The white-tailed deer shook her head, her fingers tugging nervously at the edge of her scarf. “It’s not that,” she said, her voice quivering slightly. “It’s just... that place creeps me out. I’ve heard some really weird stories about it. People have said they’ve seen things out there. Things that don’t make sense.”
The fallow deer laughed softly, trying to ease her friend's nerves. “Come on, those are just stories. You know how people like to make up stuff to scare each other. It’s probably just an old, run-down farm with nothing special about it.”
But the white-tailed deer didn’t seem convinced. She bit her lip, looking out the window as though the darkening forest was closing in on her. “Maybe, but I just... I don’t like it. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. It’s way too scary for me.”
The reindeer plopped down beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. “Hey, if you really don’t want to go, you don’t have to. We’re not going to make you do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
The white-tailed deer offered a small, grateful smile. “Thanks. I think I’ll just stay here. You guys can go if you want, but I’d rather not.”
The red deer, who had been so gung-ho about the idea, sighed but nodded in understanding. “Alright. But are you sure you’ll be okay here by yourself?”
The white-tailed deer glanced around the cozy cabin, the fire still casting a warm glow. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll just hang out here, maybe make some hot chocolate or something.”
The elk gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. “We won’t be gone long, I promise. Just a quick look around the farm, and we’ll be back before you know it.”
The white-tailed deer nodded again, though there was still a hint of worry in her eyes. “Okay. Just... be careful, alright?”
The others exchanged excited glances before grabbing their jackets and scarves, preparing to head out into the twilight. They were still giddy with the thrill of exploring the abandoned farm, eager to uncover whatever secrets the place might hold.
Outside, the hunter’s eyes narrowed. He watched from his concealed spot in the trees, his focus shifting from one girl to the next as they exited the cabin, laughing and chatting amongst themselves. His gaze lingered on the white-tailed deer, who remained inside, her nervous glances toward the window betraying her unease. She was vulnerable. Alone.
He smiled, his hand brushing the hilt of his knife. The others were heading out to explore, unaware of the real danger lurking in the woods. But the white-tailed deer? She would be his first.
The group started their walk, their excited voices fading into the distance as they ventured toward the abandoned farm. The white-tailed deer watched them go, her stomach twisting with anxiety. The cabin felt safer, but there was something about being left behind that made her skin crawl.
She stood there for a moment longer, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to ward off the chill that had settled into the room. Then, with a sigh, she turned away from the window and headed for the kitchen, hoping to distract herself until her friends returned.
In the darkness of the woods, the hunter remained still, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He would wait until they were far enough away, and then he would make his move.
The night was just beginning.
As the group approached the farm, the air thickened with the scent of earth and damp wood. The moon hung low, casting a silvery glow over the dilapidated structures. The farmhouse loomed ahead, its weathered façade covered in creeping vines and splintered wood. It stood as a ghostly reminder of what had once been—a home, a gathering place, now reduced to a mere shadow of its former self.
“Wow,” the red deer breathed, her flashlight beam dancing over the peeling paint and shattered windows. “This is more like what I imagined.”
The elk nodded, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension. “It’s... kind of beautiful in a creepy way.”
The fallow deer stepped forward, her heart racing with adrenaline. “Let’s check it out. I mean, look at that porch! It’s practically begging us to explore.”
They climbed the rickety stairs, which creaked ominously beneath their weight. The red deer was the first to push open the heavy door, the hinges protesting with a loud groan. Inside, the air was stale, thick with dust and memories long forgotten. A faint mustiness lingered, like the scent of an old book left to gather dust in a corner.
“Okay, let’s split up and search for anything interesting,” the red deer suggested, her excitement bubbling over. “Just stick together, alright?”
The girls nodded in agreement, though the darkness felt suffocating as they stepped further into the house. The rooms were filled with remnants of the past—broken furniture, faded photographs hanging crookedly on the walls, and cobwebs that draped like curtains in the corners. Each creak of the floorboards sounded like a whispered warning.
In one room, the fallow deer discovered an old, rusted tricycle lying abandoned, half-buried in debris. “Check this out!” she called, brushing off layers of dust. “Can you imagine a little kid riding this around?”
The elk stepped closer, her expression a mix of fascination and sorrow. “Yeah, but where did everyone go? What happened here?”
The red deer paused, her excitement dimming slightly as she contemplated the question. “Maybe they just moved away? Or...” Her voice trailed off, a chill creeping up her spine as she thought of the legends surrounding the farm.
“Or maybe they got eaten by monsters,” the reindeer chimed in with a teasing grin, though her eyes betrayed her unease. “This place has all the makings of a classic horror movie.”
They laughed nervously, but the sound echoed in the emptiness, amplifying their growing anxiety. They pressed on, exploring room after room, each one telling a silent story of abandonment.
In the back of the house, they stumbled upon a staircase leading down to the basement, the darkness below beckoning them.
“Should we?” the elk asked, glancing at the others.
“Definitely,” the red deer declared, her sense of adventure overriding her caution. “We came all this way; we can’t just leave the basement unexplored.”
They descended slowly, each step creaking underfoot, the air growing colder and more oppressive. The beam of their flashlights flickered over damp walls and forgotten tools, revealing cobwebs that danced in the air.
“Ugh, it smells down here,” the reindeer wrinkled her nose, moving slightly closer to the fallow deer.
“Maybe there’s something cool down here?” the fallow deer suggested, trying to shake off the discomfort.
Then, amidst the clutter, something caught the red deer’s attention—a strange shimmer coming from a dark corner. She moved closer, her heart racing with anticipation. “What is that?”
The others gathered around her, peering into the shadows. “It looks like... a box?” the elk said, squinting to see better.
The red deer reached down, brushing away dust and cobwebs to reveal an old wooden box, its surface intricately carved. “It must be locked,” she murmured, inspecting it closely.
“Maybe there’s a key around here?” the fallow deer suggested, her eyes darting around the dimly lit room.
“I doubt it,” the elk replied. “But we could break it open.”
“No way!” the reindeer protested. “What if it’s something important? Or dangerous?”
The red deer smirked, her adventurous spirit shining through. “Come on, where’s your sense of adventure? Let’s see what’s inside!”
Before anyone could protest further, she gripped the box and pulled. The lid creaked open slowly, revealing a collection of faded photographs and scraps of paper, their edges yellowed with age. The room fell silent as they leaned closer, curiosity piqued.
“What is it?” the fallow deer asked, her voice a hushed whisper.
As the red deer sifted through the contents, a chill ran down her spine. The photographs depicted families, smiling faces frozen in time, but something felt off. The last few images were dark and blurred, unsettling in their ambiguity.
“Okay, this is starting to get weird,” the elk admitted, glancing around nervously. “Maybe we should head back upstairs?”
“Just a little longer,” the red deer insisted, her excitement and intrigue overpowering her friends’ apprehension.
Suddenly, the eerie stillness of the abandoned farmhouse was pierced by the shrill ringing of the red deer's phone. The sound echoed ominously through the dusty air, making the girls jump.
"What the heck?" the reindeer exclaimed, glancing around nervously. "Who would be calling now?"
The red deer fumbled in her pocket, pulling out her phone. Her heart raced as the screen lit up with the name: White-tailed Deer.
“Guys, it’s her!” she said, urgency creeping into her voice. “She’s calling from the cabin!”
Without hesitation, she answered the call. “Hey! What’s going on?”
Panic laced the white-tailed deer’s voice, each word spilling out in a rush. “Oh my gosh! You guys! I don’t know what’s happening! There’s something in the cabin! I heard noises—it sounded like footsteps! Please, come back!”
“Footsteps?” the red deer asked, her throat tightening. “What do you mean? Are you sure?”
“I thought I was just imagining things at first,” the white-tailed deer continued, her breath shaky. “But then I heard it again, louder this time—like someone was walking around upstairs! I can’t shake this feeling, like something is really wrong!”
“Okay, just breathe,” the red deer urged, trying to keep her own fear at bay. “What else did you hear?”
“There was this banging sound! It felt like someone was trying to get in!” The white-tailed deer’s voice rose in pitch, filled with desperation. “I locked the door, but what if they break it down? What if they—”
“Hey, listen to me!” the red deer interrupted, her heart pounding. “You need to stay calm. Are you still in the living room?”
“Yes! I don’t know what else to do! The lights are flickering, and I keep hearing these sounds! It’s so dark, and I feel like I’m being watched! I can’t take it!” The static crackled, distorting her words, making the tension unbearable.
“Can you find something to defend yourself?” the red deer pressed, glancing at her friends who were listening in horror.
“There’s nothing! Just a lamp and some old chairs!” The white-tailed deer’s voice trembled. “I keep thinking I see shadows moving outside the windows, but I can’t tell if it’s just my imagination! Please, I need you guys to come back now! I don’t want to be alone! I heard a door slam, and it wasn’t from my side! I swear it’s not just my mind playing tricks on me!”
“Okay, okay! Just hold on! We’re on our way!” the red deer insisted, trying to mask her own rising panic. “Can you look out the window and see if anyone is out there?”
“I don’t want to! What if I see something? What if—” The white-tailed deer’s voice cracked. “I can’t do this alone!”
“Just a quick glance! You can do it!” the red deer urged. “You’ve got this! We’ll be there soon!”
“Okay, but—” A loud thud echoed in the background, causing the white-tailed deer to scream. “What was that?! Someone’s trying to get in! I think they’re here!”
“White-tailed? Are you there?” the red deer shouted, panic rising in her chest.
Silence hung heavy on the line, filled only with the sound of the white-tailed deer’s rapid breathing.
“What was that?” the reindeer whispered, eyes wide with dread. “Did she just hang up?”
“No! We need to move, now!” the red deer commanded, adrenaline surging through her veins. She shoved the phone into her pocket, the weight of their friend’s fear heavy in the air.
Once outside, the cool night air hit them like a slap. The moon loomed overhead, casting long shadows as they hurried down the path toward the cabin. Each crack of a twig beneath their feet felt magnified in the stillness.
“Did you hear her? She sounded terrified,” the fallow deer said, glancing around, her eyes wide.
Suddenly, they heard it—the unmistakable roar of an engine in the distance, reverberating through the trees.
“Is that... our car?” the elk asked, her voice trembling.
Chapter 5: chapter 2 part 3 first hunt (wip)
Chapter Text
Chapter Nine: Shadows in the Cabin
The white-tailed deer sat curled up in the old cabin, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of hot chocolate. The warmth from the fire should’ve been comforting, but unease gnawed at her insides. The cabin was too quiet now that her friends had left, the crackle of the flames and the occasional creak of the wooden beams doing nothing to settle her nerves.
Something wasn’t right.
Her phone buzzed on the table. She jumped, heart thudding in her chest. Her trembling hand grabbed it—finally, a message from the red deer.
Red Deer: “We’re still a little ways off, but we’ll be back soon. How’s everything?”
She hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. How could she explain the strange noises, the feeling of being watched, without sounding paranoid? As she began typing back, there was a sound—a soft jingle, like metal clinking against metal.
She froze.
The doorknob.
Her eyes shot to the front door. The handle was turning, ever so slightly. Her heart raced, and she backed away, feeling the cold sweat on her palms. The door was still locked, but someone was out there, testing it.
Her phone buzzed again.
Red Deer: “Everything okay?”
Without thinking, she hit the call button.
“Hello?” the red deer’s voice came through, but all the white-tailed deer could focus on was the jiggling doorknob. It stopped. Whoever it was, they were still there.
“Oh my God,” she whispered into the phone. “Someone’s here.”
“What?! Where?” The red deer’s voice sharpened with alarm.
“The door,” she stammered. “It—It just moved, like someone was trying to open it. I heard footsteps outside earlier. I thought maybe it was just the wind, but I don’t think so anymore. I saw something... someone by the trees!”
“Lock everything, now,” the red deer ordered, her voice hard with urgency. “Stay calm, we’re almost back. Don’t open the door, whatever you do.”
“I already did,” she said shakily, her eyes darting to the window at the back of the cabin. “But I saw something, Red. I swear I saw someone watching me.”
“It’s okay. We’ll be there soon,” the red deer tried to reassure her, but her voice was thick with tension. “You need to stay quiet.”
The white-tailed deer gripped the phone tighter. “I can’t do this! There’s something out there, Red! The lights are flickering, and I think... I think someone’s trying to get inside!”
Suddenly, there was a loud crash, like the sound of wood splintering. The back door. She spun around, heart lurching into her throat. “Oh no... no no no!”
“What was that?!” the red deer shouted over the phone.
“The door!” she cried. “It’s breaking!”
She moved toward the window, her breath coming in short gasps. In a burst of desperation, she threw it open and scrambled outside just as the door behind her shattered. The intruder was inside.
She didn’t dare look back.
The cold night air stung her lungs as she bolted through the grass, her legs pumping furiously. She raced toward the car, her mind screaming one thought: The keys. Where are the keys?!
She reached the vehicle, her hands frantically patting her pockets, but they were empty. No, no, no...
The keys were still inside.
She whipped around, glancing at the cabin. She had to go back in. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she ran to the door and stumbled inside. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw it—a tall figure, unlike anything she had ever seen, standing by the front table. Its pale skin, strange clothes, and flat face filled her with horror.
The white-tailed deer recoiled in shock. A monster.
The creature turned toward her, its beady eyes locking onto hers. She froze for just a moment, her mind racing with terror, and then it charged. She lunged for the keys, but the monster was too fast. She barely made it to the car when it caught up, stabbing her in the back. Pain shot through her, searing and sharp.
She screamed, her vision blurring, but she was determined. The car door was open, and she threw herself inside. Blood soaked through her fur as she slammed the car into gear and hit the accelerator, her body trembling with shock as she sped away with the door still swinging open. Her hand clutched her side, blood seeping through her fingers.
From the Hunter’s Perspective
He had been watching her from the shadows for some time now. The girl moved around the cabin nervously, her eyes darting to the window every few minutes. His heart pounded in his chest. He had never done this before. A kill.
His boot had snagged on the loose generator cord earlier, making the lights flicker. He cursed himself for the mistake, though it had only unsettled her more. Good.
It was time.
He moved toward the cabin, his knife gripped tightly in his hand. He heard her voice—was she talking to someone? His hand twisted the doorknob, testing the lock. Nothing. She had barricaded herself inside. Fine.
He circled to the back, where the door was weaker, and with one hard kick, it splintered. He was inside. The girl had panicked and fled through the window—he could hear her crashing through the grass.
His blood was pumping now, the thrill of the hunt consuming him. He spotted her running toward the car, but she didn’t have the keys. He grinned.
When she returned, their eyes met, and for a moment, he hesitated. He’d never seen anything like her before. But no. It didn’t matter.
He lunged, slashing the knife across her back, the blade sinking into her flesh. But she didn’t fall. What the hell? She wasn’t supposed to get back up.
She tore herself from his grasp and made it to the car. He watched in disbelief as she sped away, blood trailing behind her.
Damn it.
The hunter stood there, panting in the cold night air, watching the car speed off into the darkness, its taillights disappearing around the bend. His heart was still racing, his grip on the bloodied knife tightening. He cursed under his breath.
How the hell is she still alive?
He had stabbed her deep, right where he’d been taught would cripple a person instantly. Years of reading and studying anatomy had told him that a wound like that would’ve dropped any human. But this wasn’t a human—this was something else, something stronger. He hadn’t expected her to get up, let alone run.
He replayed the moment over and over in his head—the blade plunging deep into her back, right between the ribs. A wound like that should have dropped her. Any human would’ve crumpled to the ground, screaming in pain, unable to move. But not her. She had run, wounded, bleeding, but still moving, still alive.
What is she?
His mind raced as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. He had done everything right, targeted the spot that should’ve incapacitated her, but she’d kept going, as if the wound had barely slowed her down. He cursed again, louder this time, his voice filled with frustration and confusion.
They’re tougher than I thought. Stronger.
These deer-humanoids weren’t like regular people. He had heard stories, whispers about how resilient they were, how their bodies could withstand more than any human. But this? He hadn’t expected her to be able to survive a fatal wound.
He spat onto the ground, anger building inside him. He had wanted this to be his first kill, his initiation into something darker, something primal. But now, he was standing here, empty-handed, with nothing to show for it except the sting of failure. If only I had a gun.
He cursed under his breath again. A gun would’ve made this simple. Clean. From a distance, he could’ve taken her down in one shot, watched her collapse without a chance to fight back. Instead, he had relied on this stupid knife, thinking he could get up close and personal, make it more meaningful. But now he regretted that choice.
The knife felt useless in his hand, a weight that mocked him. He wiped it on his pants, smearing the blood across his thigh, but the frustration didn’t leave. If I’d had a rifle, she’d be dead. One shot, that’s all it would’ve taken.
Stupid, he thought bitterly, staring down at the knife. This stupid thing.
His frustration shifted to doubt. Was he in over his head? This was supposed to be easy—a quick, clean kill. But now she was gone, speeding off into the night, and he was left standing in the cold, wondering if he’d made a mistake. He had underestimated her, underestimated all of them.
Next time, he thought, anger and determination mixing in his chest. Next time, I’ll be ready. Gun or not, I’ll finish the job, i cant let them go, i have to follow.
His grip on the knife tightened, the metal digging into his palm as if it could somehow make up for his failure. She was just a deer, he told himself, i can handle them.
Chapter 6: cabin in the woods chapter 2 part 4
Chapter Text
chapter 10 no one left behind
The night air was thick with tension, wrapping around the group like a heavy blanket, suffocating and stifling. White-tail winced, her vision blurring as the pain in her side pulsed with each shallow breath. The world felt distant—voices sounded muffled, the way the light played with the shadows of the trees, and the flickering headlights of the wrecked car in the distance cast eerie patterns on the ground.
"What's happening?!" the red deer cried, her voice rising in pitch as she glanced nervously at White-tail. "Please, just hold on! What happened back there?"
Fallow deer pressed a makeshift bandage against White-tail's wound, her hands trembling. "We need to know what attacked you! Just tell us what happened!" Her voice was laced with urgency and fear.
"I... I don't know," White-tail gasped, each word laced with pain. "It was dark... I thought it was just a deer, but then—" She paused, trying to steady her breath. "It lunged at me. I thought I was gonna die."
Fallow's grip tightened on the fabric as she fought back tears. "We can't just sit here! We need to get you to a hospital. Like, yesterday!"
"Stop yelling!" White-tail coughed weakly, blood flecking her lips. The sight made the red deer's heart sink. "I can't... breathe…"
"We need to get out of here!" the red deer's eyes darted toward the darkened forest, anxiety etched on her face. "What if that thing comes back?"
"Calm down, calm down!" the elk yelled, pacing as she held her phone high above her head, desperately trying to catch a signal. "There's no reception here! What the hell do we do?"
"I'm not gonna just sit here and let her bleed to death!" the fallow deer cried out, her voice cracking as panic seeped into her tone. "She's getting worse!"
White-tail coughed again, and the red deer's heart sank further as she looked down at her friend's blood-soaked side. "We can't wait here any longer," she whispered, feeling despair close in around them. "We need to move. Now."
"We'll split up," the elk said decisively, pulling her jacket tighter against the chill. "We'll hike up to higher ground, see if we can get a signal and call for help."
"You can't be serious." The fallow deer turned to her, disbelief etched across her features. "We can't split up! Haven't you seen a horror movie? That's how people die!"
"We don't have a choice," the elk shot back, her tone sharp. "You stay here with White-tail. You've got the rifle. Red and I will go get a signal. We'll be quick. We have to act!"
The fallow deer hesitated, glancing from the rifle to her wounded friend. The weight of the weapon felt cold in her hands, "Just… just hurry, okay? Please."
The elk nodded, glancing at the red deer. "Let's go. We'll be back before you know it."
With one last, lingering look at White-tail, the two girls slipped into the forest's curtain of shadows, their flashlights casting flickering beams in the trees oppressive pillars in the darkness.
As they moved deeper into the woods, the atmosphere felt heavier, the trees looming over them like silent sentinels. The branches creaked in the wind, making the red deer shiver as she hugged herself tightly. "This is so messed up," she muttered, glancing over at the elk. "I told you we should've gone to the beach. But nooo, we had to go to some creepy-ass cabin in the middle of nowhere."
The elk sighed, fighting back frustration. "Yeah, well, none of us knew this was gonna turn into a slasher movie, okay? Just focus. We need to find a signal. This is serious."
As they trekked further, an unsettling feeling settled over them, a sense of dread curling in their stomachs. Each rustle of leaves and snap of twigs felt amplified, like they were being hunted.
"Do you think White-tail will be okay?" the red deer asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Of course she will," the elk replied, though her own uncertainty seeped into her words. "She's strong. But we have to hurry. We can't leave her alone for too long."
"Yeah, but… what if that thing comes back?" The red deer's eyes darted around the darkened forest, shadows dancing like phantoms. "I can't shake this feeling that something's out there, watching us."
"Relax. There's no one out here except—"
A sharp crack echoed through the trees behind them, sending adrenaline coursing through their veins. Both girls froze, their flashlights jerking wildly through the dark.
"Did you hear that?" the red deer's voice trembled, fear flooding her features.
"Yeah," the elk whispered, her heart racing. "Stay close. We need to keep moving."
But as they pressed on, the feeling of being watched only intensified. The shadows seemed to shift around them, closing in like a predator stalking its prey. Every sound felt like a warning, every flick of the light a sign of danger.
"Come on, come on…" the elk murmured, fumbling with her phone, waving it in the air as if willing it to catch a signal. "Just one bar. That's all I need."
The red deer shifted uneasily beside her. "What if we can't find help? What if we're stuck out here forever?"
"Don't think like that," the elk shot back, though her own fear was creeping in. "We'll find help. We just need to get to higher ground."
Another rustle echoed nearby, closer this time, and both girls jumped. The red deer's breath hitched as panic clawed its way up her throat. "What was that?"
"Just… a bug Probably," the elk said, though her voice lacked conviction. "Keep moving."
As they pushed forward, the branches overhead seemed to close in, making the forest feel smaller, more claustrophobic. The weight of the night pressed down on them, thickening the air with an unshakeable sense of foreboding.
"What if we don't make it back?" the red deer whispered, her voice trembling. "What if… what if White-tail doesnt get help in time?"
The elk shot her a glance, her own heart heavy. "We will. We're not going to let anything happen to her. We're in this together."
But even as she said it, doubt gnawed at her. The night felt endless, the darkness closing in, and every shadowy tree seemed to have a figure peeking behind it.
"crack"
Chapter 7: cabin in the woods chapter 2 part 5
Chapter Text
chapter 11, im just natural
He crouched down, staring at the puddle of blood glistening on the ground under the moonlight. The smell hit him—metallic, raw, almost suffocating. He took a breath, but everything felt wrong. The world around him blurred, like his head was spinning, his senses playing tricks on him.
The edges of his vision darkened, and then the blood on the ground seemed to pulse, a faint red haze forming and reaching out like a twisted line. It stretched forward, almost like it was showing him the way. It didn't make sense, but there it was, leading him toward her.
What the hell is this?
He blinked, rubbed his eyes, but the red haze stayed. It wasn't real—couldn't be—but something deep inside him knew.
Is this what instinct feels like?
deeper into the woods. Something inside him, some deep, primal instinct, seemed to click. His body knew what his mind couldn't grasp. She was close. Hurt. Bleeding out.
I can still catch her. There's still time.
He rose to his feet, eyes locked on the red haze, his heart racing. His hand tightened around the knife as he started to move, faster this time. He could feel the cold biting at his skin, but he pushed through, driven by the need to finish this. The terrain was rough, roots and branches catching at his feet, but he didn't care. She was close, and he wasn't going to let her slip away again.
His breath came in short, sharp bursts as he pressed on, the trail of blood glowing faintly ahead of him. His legs ached, his lungs burned, but the frustration kept him moving. She should've been down by now. He was better than this. He knew it. But everything had gone wrong, and now it was like the forest was laughing at him, mocking him with every step.
Damn it, why won't this end?
The storm raged above him, the wind howling through the trees like it was alive, like it was pushing him back. But the red haze kept him going, guiding him through the suffocating darkness. His senses were on overload, his instincts screaming at him to keep moving. He had the advantage now—she was slowing down, losing blood. He just had to push a little further.
Then, the trees thinned, opening up into a small clearing. He stopped, his chest heaving, eyes locking on the wrecked car sitting in the middle of the clearing, its headlights flickering weakly. His heart pounded in his ears as he took it all in.
There they were.
The deer huddled together, oblivious to him, too caught up in their panic to notice the predator creeping closer. He could see the fallow deer kneeling beside White-tail, trying desperately to bandage her wound. The red deer paced nervously, her eyes wide with fear, constantly glancing over her shoulder as if expecting him to appear any second.
For a moment, he hesitated. The sight of them—so vulnerable, so fragile—hit him like a punch to the gut. They looked so small, trapped in the clearing, surrounded by the dark woods
A surge of satisfaction washed over him. This was it. They were cornered. He had the advantage now.
He stood there, hidden in the shadows, watching them. He could hear their voices, soft and frantic, like whispers carried on the wind. The red deer's voice trembled as she spoke, panic thick in every word. "We can't stay here," she said.
Jackpot, this is exactly what he was counting on; they were splitting up.
He drew his knife from its holster. ready to shed more blood tonight.
He gripped the knife tighter, wiping the remaining blood from his hands onto his pants. The knife wasn't enough before, but now, with this heightened awareness, he felt his confidence surge. He would make up for his earlier mistake.
He could see the fallow deer now and the reindeer hiding in the corner with the white-tailed girl. The fallow had the rifle, but she didn't look like she knew how to use it. But her hands were shaking, her eyes darting nervously into the darkness, but it was just too risky; better to go for the ones heading to the woods. He would have the advantage of them being in the dark in unfamiliar, hard-to-navigate uneven terrain.
Pathetic, he thought. They're all scared out of their minds. This'll be easier than I thought.
The wound in his side still ached from where one of them had landed a lucky blow earlier. He hadn't expected them to fight back, hadn't expected them to be so resilient. The first girl—Whitetail.
One incapacitated. Then, with 4 others in fighting condition, he would have to be smart about this.
////
The air around them seemed to thicken with dread, an unnatural stillness settling over the forest. Even the insects had gone silent, as if the entire world was holding its breath.
Suddenly, the underbrush exploded with movement. Something barreled out of the darkness, slamming into the red deer with brutal force. She screamed as she was knocked to the ground, her flashlight skittering away into the shadows. She scrambled to get up, her hands clawing at the dirt, but terror kept her frozen.
The elk spun around, but it was too late. The hunter was already on her, a dark figure emerging from the blackness with a gleaming knife in hand. He tackled her to the ground with a bone-crushing force, the impact knocking the air from her lungs. She gasped, struggling to push him off as she felt his weight pressing her into the cold earth.
"Get off me!" she screamed, kicking wildly. But he was too strong, his grip like iron. The knife flashed in the dim moonlight as he brought it down, slashing across her arm as she threw it up to block the blow. Pain seared through her, hot and immediate, but adrenaline kept her moving.
The red deer, still on the ground, could only watch in horror. She wanted to scream, to run, but her legs felt like they were made of lead. She was paralyzed, frozen by the sheer terror of the scene unfolding before her.
The elk, her arm bleeding and her heart racing, fought with everything she had. With a burst of desperation, she grabbed a rock from the ground and swung it at the hunter's head. The rock connected with a dull thud, and the hunter reeled back, momentarily disoriented.
The elk didn't waste the opportunity. She shoved him off and rolled away, gasping as blood dripped from her arm. She staggered to her feet, clutching the rock in her trembling hands, her mind racing.
The hunter growled in frustration, wiping the blood from his face as he stood, unsteady but still dangerous. His cold, piercing eyes locked onto hers, filled with murderous intent. He hadn't expected them to fight back like this, hadn't expected them to be so tough. But he wasn't done yet.
"You think you can fight me?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice as he took a step toward her. "I'll gut you like a fish."
The elk backed up, her chest heaving as she tried to keep him at bay. She was hurt, exhausted, and outmatched. She knew she couldn't take another hit like that.
"Run!" she shouted at the red deer. "Get back to the others! Now!"
The red deer hesitated, terror freezing her in place for a split second. But then she nodded, scrambling to her feet and bolting back toward the wreck, her footsteps crashing through the trees. She didn't look back.
The elk braced herself as the hunter lunged again. This time, she was ready. She sidestepped, the knife barely missing her as she swung the rock at his head once more.
But he was quicker now. He ducked the blow, grabbing her wrist with a vicious twist that sent the rock tumbling to the ground. With a savage grin, he forced her arm back, his strength overwhelming her as he drove her to her knees.
"You should've stayed with the others," he hissed, tightening his grip until her arm screamed with pain. "But no, you had to play the hero. What a waste."
The elk gritted her teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg. "Go to hell," she spat, glaring up at him through a haze of pain.
The hunter's grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Tough talk," he growled, wrenching her arm even harder. "But you're not going to make it out of here."
She gasped as a sharp pain shot through her shoulder, but she wasn't done yet. With a sudden burst of adrenaline, she brought her knee up hard, slamming it into his groin. The hunter grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for her to shove him off and scramble to her feet.
With a sharp kick, she knocked the knife from his hand, sending it skidding into the dirt. She staggered back, clutching her injured arm, her chest heaving with every breath. "Not so tough now, are you?" she spat, her voice trembling with a mix of adrenaline and fear.
The hunter, clutching his side, glared at her, eyes burning with rage and something else—confusion. This wasn't going the way he'd planned. These deer weren't supposed to fight back like this. They weren't supposed to be this hard to kill. He cursed under his breath.
"You should've stayed with the others," he hissed, tightening his grip until her arm screamed with pain. "But no, you had to play the hero. What a waste."
The elk gritted her teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg. "Go to hell," she spat, glaring up at him through a haze of pain.
His grin faltered, replaced by annoyance. "Tough talk," he growled, wrenching her arm harder. "But you're not getting out of here."
A sharp pain shot through her shoulder, but she wasn’t done. In one desperate move, she slammed her knee into his groin. He grunted, his grip loosening enough for her to shove him away and scramble to her feet.
With a quick kick, she sent the knife flying from his hand, skidding across the dirt. Clutching her injured arm, she stood there, breathing hard. "Not so tough now, are you?" she spat, her voice shaking with a mix of adrenaline and fear.
The hunter, still clutching his side, glared at her. For the first time, there was confusion in his eyes. He hadn't expected this. These deer weren’t supposed to fight back like this. They weren’t supposed to be this hard to kill.
She eyed the knife on the ground, lunging forward and grabbing it. “What kind of animal are you under that mask?” she demanded, moving toward him with the blade raised. “You think you can threaten my friends and get away with it?”
He stepped back quickly, realizing he’d lost control. She was too confident now. He could see it in her eyes—she thought she’d won.
“Take off your mask,” she growled, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “So I can tell the cops exactly what you look like.”
A twisted smile crept across his face. She didn’t know. She had no idea what he was.
"Sure," he said, his voice low, taunting. He slowly pulled off the mask.
Her victory melted in an instant. She froze, the knife slipping from her hand and clattering against a stone with a sharp clink. A chill shot through her, her eyes widening in horror as her body began to tremble uncontrollably.
What stood in front of her wasn’t an animal. It was something far worse.
It had no fur. A flat face. Tiny, beady eyes. No ears on its head. It was all wrong—unnatural. A demon. A monster.
The elk couldn’t comprehend it. There was no name for this thing in her world. She was staring at a human—but humans didn’t exist.
Her mind went blank. Pure instinct took over. She had to get away, had to escape this nightmare. Her legs screamed with pain, but she didn’t care. She turned and bolted into the woods, her breath ragged, her heart pounding in her chest.
She was screaming, the sound primal and desperate. Her thoughts faded, replaced by a single, all-consuming command: run. Run for your life.
Chapter 8: chapter 2 cabin in the woods part 5
Chapter Text
chapter 12, human stamina,
The elk bolted, her hooves pounding against the dirt and rocks as the forest closed in around her. Branches tore at her skin, but she didn’t stop. The memory of his face—pale, monstrous, not like any animal—haunted her every step. It wasn’t just the pain in her arm or the fatigue pulling at her legs, it was the fear of him, the unnatural hunter who seemed to know every move before she made it.
Behind her, she heard him—his footsteps crashing through the underbrush, closer with every passing second. He wasn’t big, not like her, but he was fast. And worst of all, he was patient. He didn’t rush. He didn’t stumble. He knew she was tiring, that her strength wouldn’t last forever.
Think! she screamed in her mind. You’re faster in the open! You just need distance!
She swerved hard to the left, ducking under a low-hanging branch. The shift in direction threw him off for a moment, and she heard him skid to adjust. Good. She darted up a small hill, her large legs straining with the effort. At the top, she caught a glimpse of a stream glistening below, the steep bank on the other side offering a temporary barrier.
She leaped down the hill, sliding on the loose dirt, her heart pounding in her ears. Just get to the stream. If you cross, he might not follow. But as soon as her hooves hit the water, the sound of his footfalls echoed louder behind her, closer than she thought.
Desperation clawed at her chest. She couldn’t afford to look back. She could hear his heavy breathing now, the steady rhythm of his feet moving in sync with her every dodge and sprint. It was like he was in her mind, anticipating her every turn.
She splashed through the stream, cold water soaking her legs as she pushed forward, but the slick stones beneath her nearly sent her sprawling. She wobbled, catching herself just in time, but her hesitation gave him ground. When she scrambled up the opposite bank, he was right behind her.
Her heart sank. He’s not slowing down!
She pushed herself harder, sprinting along the rocky shoreline, zigzagging through boulders and trees, her hooves slipping on the wet ground. Every turn, every climb, he was there—always just a step behind. The forest twisted and coiled around her, the trees gnarled like claws reaching out to slow her down. She was bigger, but that size came with a cost. She couldn’t maneuver like him.
Ahead, the path narrowed sharply into a cliffside trail. The drop to her right was steep—nothing but rocks and jagged branches below—but it was her only option. She charged toward it, her breath ragged, her body screaming with pain and exhaustion. She could hear him still, steady, calculated. He wasn’t winded. He wasn’t panicking.
The narrow trail was barely wide enough for her, but she forced her way through, her shoulder scraping painfully against the cliff wall. The hunter’s footfalls slowed behind her—his bulk made it harder for him here, and she knew she had a slim advantage. She pushed through the tight space, her hooves slipping on the loose rocks as she climbed higher along the cliffside.
But the trail grew more dangerous with each step. The ground beneath her feet crumbled with every movement. A single misstep would send her plummeting into the ravine below. Her heart thundered as she navigated the rocky ledges, but every glance back showed him still there—calm, methodical, his eyes locked on her like she was prey in a trap.
She stumbled, her injured arm throbbing as she grasped for a handhold. The cliff face was slick with moss, and her legs were trembling with the effort. She could hear him now—his breathing steady and deliberate, his dark silhouette looming behind her.
The trail opened slightly ahead, leading into a dense thicket. I can lose him in there. I just need a few seconds. She bolted toward the trees, forcing her way through the thorny underbrush, the sharp branches tearing at her skin.
For a moment, the sound of his footsteps faded, swallowed by the forest. The undergrowth was thick, the shadows long and twisting. She slowed, breathing hard, trying to regain control of her frenzied mind. But then she heard it again—a branch snapping under his weight, closer this time.
Her stomach twisted in fear. He’s still coming.
Desperate, she darted to the left, weaving between the trees, trying to confuse him. She crashed through the underbrush, branches slashing at her face, her breath ragged and uneven. Her legs were growing weaker, the pain in her arm unbearable. Just keep running. Don’t stop.
But then she saw it—just ahead, a cliff drop, the ground falling away into a dark ravine below. Her heart stopped. There was no way out.
She skidded to a halt at the edge, her hooves dislodging loose stones that tumbled into the abyss below. She could hear him now, closer, just behind her. There was nowhere left to run. Panic surged through her as she turned to face him, her body trembling, the realization sinking in. This is it.
The hunter emerged from the shadows, his face twisted into a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with a dark amusement. He wasn’t even breathing hard.
“You almost had me,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. He advanced slowly, savoring the moment.
Her back was against the cliff edge, the drop behind her too steep to risk a fall. She had no weapon, no strength left to fight. The fear gripped her chest like a vice as he stepped closer, his hand reaching out toward her.
The elk’s legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She had run as far as she could, but it wasn’t enough.
“You should’ve just stayed with the group,” the hunter said, towering over her now, his shadow engulfing her in the pale moonlight.
As the hunter approached, the elk's heart pounded in her chest. Her breath came in frantic gasps, each one feeling more like a desperate gulp of air as the realization set in: there was nowhere left to run. She tried to drag herself backward, her nails digging into the dirt, she tried to run but her body was exhausted, this was the most she ran and the hardest she ran in her entire life, and it just couldnt handle the sudden strain. it screamed in protest, immobilizing her where she lay, she felt so small and defenceless, if she stood her ground. maybe she could have won, but she was too tired for that now.
The hunter loomed closer, the glint of his knife catching the moonlight. Panic surged through her like a tidal wave, her throat tightening as a sob forced its way out.
"No… please, please, no!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was high-pitched, cracking with terror as she started to beg. "Please don't do this. I'll do anything, just—just let me go. Please!"
The hunter's expression remained unreadable, his eyes dark and cold as he continued to move toward her with a slow, deliberate stride.
"I-I have a family!" she cried, her voice breaking into frantic sobs. "My mom—she works so hard, she's… she's gonna miss me so much. She's all I have! You can't do this! I have a little sister… she—she'll never see me again!"
Her words tumbled out in a breathless rush, her body trembling uncontrollably as she pressed her palms together in a pleading gesture. The elk's chest heaved with each sob, her face streaked with tears.
"I'm supposed to start high school!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with desperation. "I've barely even lived! Please! This isn't fair, my life… my life had just begun! You can't take this away from me!"
The hunter's boots crunched in the dirt as he stopped just a few feet away, looming over her like a shadow. His face remained impassive, his grip tightening on the handle of the knife as he crouched down beside her.
The elk choked on her own sobs, her body shaking as she reached out a trembling hand toward him. "I'll give you anything! Do you want money? My family has money, I swear! I'll—I'll get you whatever you want! Just don't kill me. Please, I'll do anything!"
Her voice rose into a frantic wail as she grasped for any way out. "Do you… do you want a girlfriend? I-I'll be your girlfriend. I promise I'll love you, I'll care for you… I'll do anything you want. Anything. I can meet your… your needs… just please, don't kill me! Can't we make a deal? Please… I don't want to die…"
The hunter's cold, unblinking eyes locked onto hers as she sobbed, her words dissolving into incoherent cries. He knelt beside her, the blade glinting in his hand as he reached out and grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back roughly. The elk let out a sharp cry of pain, her sobs turning into pitiful, panicked gasps as she stared up at him, trembling.
"No," he said, his voice low and emotionless. "You're not my type."
The elk's sobs hitched in her throat, the terror in her eyes freezing as the knife pressed against her skin. She whimpered,
Chapter 9: cabin in the woods part 6 in it for the long haul,
Chapter Text
Back at the wrecked car, the fallow deer was doing her best to keep White-tail alive, though panic was threatening to overwhelm her. She had the rifle propped up nearby, her hands trembling as she tried to apply pressure to the wound. White-tail's breathing was shallow, her face pale and slick with sweat.
"Stay with me, okay?" the fallow deer whispered, her voice trembling. "You're gonna be fine. The others will be back soon, and we'll get you out of here."
White-tail groaned softly, her eyelids fluttering. "It hurts," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I know, I know," the fallow deer said, choking back tears. "But you gotta stay strong. We're almost out of this."
Suddenly, a noise in the distance made her freeze. Footsteps—fast, heavy, and getting closer. Her heart skipped a beat as she grabbed the rifle, her pulse racing.
"Who's there?" she called out, her voice shaky but loud. "I swear to God, I'll shoot!"
For a moment, there was nothing but silence, the darkness of the forest pressing in around her. Then, out of the shadows, the red deer came stumbling into the clearing, out of breath and wide-eyed with fear.
"It's him!" she cried, her voice frantic as she rushed toward the car. "He's coming! He—he attacked Elk!"
The fallow deer's stomach dropped, fear twisting in her gut. "Where's Elk? Is she okay?"
The red deer shook her head, her eyes filled with panic. "I don't know! She told me to run! He's right behind me, we have to get out of here!"
The fallow deer's grip tightened on the rifle, her mind racing. They were out of options. White-tail was barely hanging on, and now the hunter was closing in on them fast.
"Get in the car!" fallow shouted, scrambling to her feet and trying to drag White-tail into the backseat. "We' have to hide!"
The fallow deer gripped the rifle tighter, her knuckles white as she tried to calm her racing heart. The red deer stood next to her, gasping for breath, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
"We can't stay here!" the red deer said, her voice rising with panic. "He's coming, and he'll find us. We need to split up again and run! It's our only chance!"
The fallow deer shook her head sharply, her face pale but determined. "No, that didn't work last time! We need to stay together. If we split up, he'll just pick us off one by one." She glanced down at White-tail, who lay on the ground, her chest rising and falling weakly, her face ghostly pale from blood loss. "And she can't run anywhere."
White-tail let out a weak, pained laugh, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm not going anywhere… I'm gonna die right here… probably before I even graduate high school."
"Shut up, you're not gonna die!" the fallow deer snapped, but there was a tremor in her voice. She was trying to sound strong, but deep down, fear was gnawing at her insides.
White-tail whimpered, her eyes filling with tears as she mumbled incoherently. "I'm gonna die a virgin loser... never even kissed a boy. Can't even… can't even post about it…"
The red deer, pacing nervously, shook her head as the others spoke. "Listen, we can't just stay here! He's out there, and we don't have time! If we split up again, he'll get confused, maybe—"
"NO!" The fallow deer's voice cracked as she cut her off, gripping the rifle so tightly it hurt. "That's what got us into this mess in the first place! Running didn't help! He's too fast, too smart. We have to stay together."
"I HATE THIS!" White-tail suddenly cried, her voice weak and slurred as she curled up in pain. "I'm gonna die, and I won't even get to—"
"Shut up!" the fallow deer snapped, her voice betraying her own mounting fear. "You're not going to die. We're going to get out of this."
But White-tail continued, her voice barely a whisper now, her eyes unfocused as she stared up at the stars. "I'll never go to prom… never even got to kiss anyone… I hate this…"
Meanwhile, the reindeer—who had been largely silent—was sitting on the ground next to the wrecked car, mindlessly eating ice cream from a half-melted tub she'd pulled from the cooler. Her hands trembled, and her breath came in ragged gasps as she shoveled the ice cream into her mouth, her eyes wide with panic.
"I don't care about any of this!" the reindeer suddenly wailed, ice cream dribbling down her chin as her panic overtook her. "I hate camping! I hate the woods! Why did we even come here?! I just wanted a nice vacation, but now we're gonna die out here!"
The red deer whipped around, glaring at her. "Are you seriously eating ice cream right now?!"
"I CAN'T HELP IT!" the reindeer screamed through a mouthful of rocky road. "I EAT WHEN I'M STRESSED!" She continued to shovel the ice cream into her mouth, but her face was turning green, her stomach making unsettling noises.
The fallow deer, still holding the rifle, whipped her head around, exasperated. "Stop! We need to focus!"
Suddenly, the reindeer doubled over, clutching her stomach. She gagged once, then twice, and before anyone could react, she vomited violently onto the ground, ice cream and stomach bile mixing in a messy puddle.
The others stared, momentarily frozen by the abruptness of it all. The sound of retching echoed through the trees, breaking the tense silence.
"I HATE CAMPING!" the reindeer screamed, tears streaming down her face. "WHY DID WE COME HERE?!
////
The fallow deer rubbed her temples, frustration boiling over as the panic in the group reached a fever pitch. "Can we all just STOP freaking out for five seconds?! We need to stick together and figure this out. We're not going to die out here if we stay calm!"
White-tail groaned softly, leaning back against the wrecked car, her face pale and slick with sweat. She was losing blood fast. The wound on her side had soaked through the makeshift bandage they'd tried to apply. Fallow deer bit her lip, glancing at her helplessly.
Red deer looked toward the treeline, her hands trembling as she hugged herself. "What are we even supposed to do?" she asked, her voice breaking. "We're sitting ducks out here. He's coming for us, and we can't even move White-tail!"
"We have the rifle," Fallow said, gesturing toward the gun leaning beside her. "I don't know how to use it well, but if he comes close, I'll shoot. We'll defend ourselves."
Red shook her head, her voice rising with anxiety. "You saw him! He's not just some guy; he's a psycho! That thing might not even stop him. And what then? We're stuck out here with no signal and no help. We should've kept running. We should've just—"
"And go where?" Fallow snapped, her patience thinning. "Into the woods where we can't see him? Where he can pick us off one by one? We stay here. We stick together. We wait until morning."
Red deer's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but she fell silent, chewing her bottom lip nervously. She didn't want to admit it, but Fallow was right. If they ran now, they'd only tire themselves out, and there was no guarantee they wouldn't run straight into the hunter's hands.
"Morning…" Red muttered, glancing at the dark sky above them. "That's hours away. How are we supposed to survive until then?"
"We can make it," Fallow said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. "We just have to keep our heads down, stay alert, and wait for daylight. He won't be able to hide so easily when the sun's up."
White-tail, her voice weak and barely audible, interrupted their conversation. "What… what if we use white ash…?"
The others turned to look at her, confused.
"What are you talking about?" Fallow asked, leaning closer to White-tail, who was fading in and out of consciousness.
White-tail's eyes fluttered open, and she grimaced, trying to sit up a little. "White ash… from the trees," she mumbled, her voice strained. "It's… it's an old thing my mom told me. The ash from certain trees… it keeps predators away. Maybe it'll keep him away too."
Red deer blinked, her panic momentarily giving way to skepticism. "Are you serious? White ash from trees? That's your plan?"
Fallow shot her a glare. "Do you have a better idea?"
Red hesitated, biting her lip again. "No, but—"
"Then we try it," Fallow said firmly. She looked at White-tail, who was barely able to keep her eyes open. "How do we get the ash?"
"We… we need to make a fire," White-tail whispered. "Burn the branches… collect the ash. It has to be from the trees around us… the white ones. Aspen… birch… I don't know if it'll work, but it might buy us some time."
"Great," Red muttered, crossing her arms. "So we just light a campfire and hope the psycho killer is afraid of some ash? That sounds foolproof."
"At least it's something," Fallow shot back. "Unless you have a plan to magically get us out of here?"
Red fell silent again, frustration and fear simmering beneath the surface. She knew there wasn't an easy way out of this, but the idea of sitting around and waiting for the hunter to strike made her stomach churn.
"Okay," Fallow continued, her voice steadying as she took charge. "We'll gather some branches and start a fire. Red, help me look for some dry wood. Reindeer… can you keep an eye on White-tail?"
Reindeer, still recovering from her earlier panic attack and ice cream binge, nodded weakly. She sat down next to White-tail, her face pale, still looking nauseous but determined to help in whatever way she could. She reached out, hesitating for a moment before taking White-tail's hand.
"I'll stay with her," she said softly, her voice trembling. "Just… be quick, okay?"
Fallow nodded, motioning for Red to follow her into the nearby treeline. The two of them moved cautiously, their flashlights casting eerie shadows through the trees as they searched for dry branches.
"I still think this is stupid," Red muttered under her breath, crouching down to pick up a fallen branch. "Like, white ash? Come on, that sounds like some old wives' tale."
Fallow sighed, glancing over at her. "Maybe it is, but what choice do we have? You saw how fast he took down Elk. We can't fight him head-on, and we're not going to outrun him in the dark. This is the only option we've got."
Red paused, clutching the branch tighter. "I don't get it… why us? Why is this happening to us?"
Fallow shook her head, exhaustion tugging at the edges of her expression. "I don't know. Maybe we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Red let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, well… worst camping trip ever."
They gathered as much dry wood as they could find and hurried back to the wrecked car. Reindeer was still sitting with White-tail, who looked like she was slipping in and out of consciousness again. The fallow deer quickly set about building the fire, using the dry branches to start a small flame. The flickering light cast long shadows across the forest floor, making the dark woods seem even more menacing.
"Okay," Fallow said, throwing another branch onto the fire. "We need to keep this going. Once the wood burns down, we'll collect the ash and spread it around."
Red sat down next to her, staring into the fire with a vacant expression. "You really think this is going to work?"
Fallow didn't answer right away. She glanced at White-tail, whose breathing was becoming more labored by the minute. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "But we have to try."
The fire crackled and popped as it grew, casting an orange glow across their small clearing. The silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant hoot of an owl. But underneath it all, there was a sense of unease—a creeping dread that they couldn't shake.
Red shifted uncomfortably, wrapping her arms around her knees. "Do you think… he's still out there? Watching us?"
Fallow swallowed hard, not wanting to admit that the thought had crossed her mind more than once. "Probably," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But if we stay close to the fire… maybe he'll keep his distance."
The reindeer, who had been eerily quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. "I hate this… I hate camping… I just wanted a normal vacation, and now we're stuck here, waiting to get murdered by some freak in the woods."
Her voice cracked as she spoke, and tears welled up in her eyes. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with quiet sobs.
Fallow glanced over at her, her heart aching with empathy. "None of us signed up for this," she said softly. "But we're going to get through it. We just have to stay strong."
Reindeer didn't respond, just kept crying quietly into her hands. Red shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say or do.
As the fire continued to burn, the group huddled closer together, their nerves fraying with every passing minute. The darkness seemed to press in around them, the forest alive with unseen threats.
Then, from the shadows, a distant noise—a twig snapping—made them all freeze.
Fallow grabbed the rifle, standing up slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Did you hear that?"
The others nodded, their eyes wide with fear as they scanned the treeline. The fire crackled between them, but it felt like a flimsy barrier against whatever was lurking just beyond the light.
"Stay close," Fallow whispered, her voice shaking. "Don't move."
For a long, agonizing moment, there was nothing but silence. The forest around them was still, as if holding its breath. But then, just as suddenly as the sound had come, it faded away, leaving the group trembling with adrenaline.
"I think…" Red started, her voice barely audible. "I think he's gone."
Fallow didn't lower the rifle. She kept her eyes trained on the darkness, her grip tight on the weapon. "I'm not so sure," she whispered, her voice tight with tension. "He's out there. I can feel it."
Chapter 10: cabin in the woods chapter part 7
Chapter Text
The fire crackled softly as the group huddled around it, the glow casting long shadows against the trees. The flickering flames were their only source of comfort, their only protection against the overwhelming darkness surrounding them. The perimeter of the small clearing was marked by a ring of white ash, a fragile barrier that they hoped would keep the hunter at bay.
Fallow, Red, Reindeer, and White-tail sat in a tense silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, the events of the past few hours weighing heavily on them. The air was thick with fear and exhaustion, but for now, at least, they were safe. Or as safe as they could be.
Fallow was the first to break the silence, her voice soft but steady as she stared into the fire. "If we make it out of here," she said, almost as if speaking the words aloud made it more likely, "I think I'm done with camping. Forever."
Red let out a dry, humorless laugh. "You and me both. I'm never going into the woods again. The closest I'll get to nature after this is watching a documentary on Netflix."
Reindeer, still pale from the panic and the nausea of earlier, chuckled weakly. "Yeah, I think I've had my fill of the 'great outdoors' too. Next time, let's just go to a spa or something."
Fallow smiled a little, the tension in her shoulders easing for a brief moment. "A spa sounds perfect. Massages, hot tubs, no psychos trying to kill us. I'm in."
They lapsed into silence again, the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of the trees the only sounds around them. White-tail groaned softly, shifting in her spot, her face pale and slick with sweat.
"I don't want to die…" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was supposed to go to high school… I was supposed to… get a boyfriend. Now I'm going to die a virgin…"
The group fell quiet at White-tail's words. The reality of the situation was crushing, and none of them knew what to say. It wasn't fair. They were too young for this—too young to be facing death in the middle of the woods, hunted by some maniac.
Fallow sighed, her heart aching for White-tail. She glanced at her and then back at the fire. "You're not going to die, White-tail. We're going to get out of this. We're going to survive."
But even as she said it, doubt gnawed at the back of her mind. How could they be so sure? The hunter was still out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for his moment to strike. And White-tail's condition was getting worse by the minute.
Reindeer, sensing the heaviness of the moment, tried to lighten the mood. "Yeah, White-tail, you're going to be fine. And when we get out of here, I bet you'll find the hottest guy in school. Some football player or whatever."
Red snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, and he'll be all like, 'Oh, White-tail, you're so brave for surviving that psycho in the woods. Let me carry your books for you.'"
Despite herself, White-tail cracked a small smile, though it was strained. "You guys are ridiculous," she muttered weakly.
The conversation lulled again, and they all stared at the fire, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. Fallow shifted uncomfortably, her thoughts drifting to life beyond this nightmare. "What do you guys want to do after high school?" she asked, trying to keep the conversation going. "Like, for real. What's your plan?"
Red shrugged, picking up a stick and absentmindedly poking at the fire. "I dunno. I guess I'll go to college. Maybe become a vet or something. I like animals."
Fallow nodded. "That's cool. You'd be a good vet."
"What about you?" Red asked, glancing at Fallow. "You seem like the type who has it all figured out."
Fallow laughed softly. "Not really. I mean, I guess I want to travel. See the world, y'know? Maybe go to Europe, backpack through the Alps or something. Find some adventure."
"Adventure?" Reindeer snorted. "After this, you still want adventure? You're crazy."
Fallow smiled, shrugging. "Maybe a little. But not all adventures involve being chased by psychos in the woods. I want the good kind of adventure. The kind where you learn new things, meet new people… maybe fall in love."
Red made a face. "Gross. Love?"
"Yeah," Fallow said, smiling a little. "Why not? Love sounds nice."
There was a pause, and then Reindeer spoke up, her voice unusually quiet. "I don't really like boys."
The others turned to look at her, and Reindeer swallowed, her eyes darting nervously around the circle. "I mean… there's no boy here protecting us, right? It's just us… I don't know, I think… I think I like girls."
Fallow and Red exchanged a glance, both of them clearly caught off guard. "Uh, okay?" Red said slowly, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you say that right now?"
Reindeer hesitated, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I… I don't know. I just… I think I like whitetail. She's kinda cute, and… well, when we were dressing for gym class, I saw her undress and thought, 'Damn, I wish I could get a girlfriend with a smoking hot bod like that.'"
The silence that followed was thick, and whitetails's face turned bright red as she quickly looked away, her heart pounding in her chest. "Ew, faggot! Reindeer, girls aren't supposed to feel things like that. That's… weird!"
Red was clearly uncomfortable, scratching the back of her head awkwardly. "Uh, yeah, that's… kinda weird, Reindeer."
Reindeer winced, shrinking back a little, but she forced a smile. "I just… I thought I'd say it. You know, in case we don't make it out of here. Like, no point in keeping secrets, right?" she began to cry, telling this to her friends in their final moments, only to be rejected.
white tail was still blushing, avoiding eye contact. "Yeah, well… that's definitely a secret you should've kept."
Red, seeing that reindeer was very hurt by that, tried to comfort her, saying, though still clearly uncomfortable, a hesitant shrug. "I mean… I guess you're kinda pretty too, Reindeer. If that helps."
Reindeer's eyes lit up, her smile growing wider. "Wow, thanks, Red! I think you've got a smoking hot body too."
Red's face turned redder than her fur, and she shifted awkwardly in her seat. "Okay, okay, let's… not make this weirder than it already is."
fallow, who had been listening to the entire exchange with increasing frustration, let out a loud, exaggerated groan. "Noooo, I'm going to die with queers!" she said mocking white tail distress.
white tail groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is so gross. I can't believe we're having this conversation right now."
The absurdity of the situation was too much. Fallow, despite her embarrassment, burst out laughing, followed by Red and eventually even Reindeer. White-tail just scowled, crossing her arms over her chest as she sulked.
"Sorry, White-tail," red said between giggles. "Guess you'll have to put up with us queers a little while longer."
The mood in the clearing lightened, and for a moment, they were just four friends joking around a campfire, the terror of the night temporarily forgotten.
But the laughter eventually faded, and the reality of their situation crept back in. The fire crackled softly, the white ash from the surrounding trees glimmering faintly around the perimeter. They could only hope that it would keep the hunter at bay until morning.
Fallow glanced at the rifle beside her, her expression growing serious again. "We'll make it out of this," she said, more to herself than to the others. "We have to."
Red nodded, her eyes focused on the flames. "Yeah. We'll survive. And when we do, we'll never talk about this again. Deal?"
"Deal," Fallow said with a small smile.
Reindeer grinned, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. "Deal. And when we're old and gray, we'll look back on this and laugh."
"Or cry," White-tail muttered, still pouting. "Probably cry."
The fire burned on, the night creeping closer with every passing moment. They didn't know if the ash would work, or if the hunter was still out there, watching them from the shadows. But for now, they had each other. And that was enough to keep them going, even as the darkness pressed in around them.
///
The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows over the anxious faces of the group. The tension was thick, and though the white ash circle was meant to protect them, an overwhelming sense of dread lingered.
Fallow, her voice trembling slightly, broke the uneasy silence. "Hey, Red... do you think Elk's dead?" The question hung in the air, heavy and brutal.
Reindeer sat a little ways away, absentmindedly scraping the bottom of her ice cream pint, trying to get the last bit of melted dessert. Without looking up, she muttered, "She probably ran off without us."
Red shot her an icy glare. "No, she wouldn't do that. Elk's tougher than all of us. She probably ran to get help."
Fallow glanced at her, eyebrows furrowing. "Then why is that thing circling us? If she went to get help, did he just ignore her running away and choose us instead? Or did he... catch her?"
Red's fists clenched, her face flushing with anger. "No! She can't be dead! She was fighting that thing off. She was winning. She probably scared it off and—" Red paused, her voice faltering slightly. "It chose us because it didn't want to mess with her anymore. Elk's a lot more capable than any of us."
Fallow raised an eyebrow, a dark skepticism in her eyes. "Then where is she?"
For a moment, no one spoke. The question sat like a lead weight between them. Reindeer's eyes filled with fresh tears as she whispered, "I'll miss Elk. She had such a nice chest."
Fallow snapped her head toward Reindeer, her patience at its end. "Okay, Reindeer, please shut up. I don't want to hear about Elk's chest right now."
Red, who had been tending to the fire, stood up, breaking the uncomfortable exchange. "Guys, listen," she said, feeding the fire with a handful of twigs. "Elk is going to find help. She's probably already running toward that gas station we passed earlier. It's only, what, five miles away? She's fast. She can make it. She's going to save us."
Fallow shook her head. "Yeah, but Elk doesn't look where she's going half the time. She trips on flat ground. I'm not sure she can navigate this forest in the dark."
Suddenly, Reindeer began to wail loudly, tears streaming down her face. "I'M OUT OF ICE CREAM! I'm going to die without more ice cream!"
Both Fallow and Red turned to look at her, exasperation written all over their faces. They exchanged a glance, chuckling bitterly to themselves. "So stupid, Reindeer," Fallow muttered under her breath, shaking her head.
Red let out a sigh, but there was a small smile on her face. "Well, maybe… maybe Elk is okay."
Chapter 11: cabin in the woods fire place
Chapter Text
Red stared into the fire, her eyes distant, her mind clearly elsewhere. She seemed lost in thought, barely acknowledging the others as they sat huddled together, the cold night air wrapping itself around them. The flickering flames cast dancing shadows across their faces, turning the forest into a shifting, ominous backdrop. "Maybe... Elk is okay," she muttered, her voice flat and unconvincing, like she was trying to believe her own words.
Her statement hung in the air, but no one replied. There was no point in clinging to that false hope anymore.
White-tail, lying nearby, was visibly weakening. She’d lost a lot of blood, and it showed. Her once vibrant face had grown pale, her breaths shallow and irregular. She clutched the crude bandage around her abdomen, soaked through with crimson. Every movement made her wince, but she was trying her hardest to stay composed for the others. The blood was flowing slowly now, but steadily, and it was only a matter of time before she couldn’t hold on any longer.
Fallow knelt beside her, gently pressing a hand to White-tail's shoulder, trying to comfort her, though the anxiety in her own trembling hands betrayed her calm facade. "We need to stop the bleeding," Fallow whispered. "You’re going to be okay, White-tail, we just… we just need to find something better to patch you up."
"No," White-tail rasped, her voice barely audible. She glanced up at her friend, her lips trembling. “I’m… not gonna make it.”
Fallow frowned, shaking her head. "Don’t say that! We’ll get through this. We just need to hold on a little longer. Help is coming. We’ll get out of this." Her words sounded like a mantra, something she had been repeating over and over in her head. But the cracks in her voice betrayed the truth: she didn’t believe it either.
Reindeer sat cross-legged a few feet away, nervously biting her nails, her eyes darting around the darkened woods like she was expecting something to leap out at them from the shadows at any second. The once confident and brash girl now looked utterly terrified. "What are we even doing here?" she muttered under her breath. "We’re gonna die out here, aren’t we? Just like the others."
Her words cut through the fragile calm like a knife. The silence that followed was deafening. No one wanted to acknowledge the truth, not fully. The "others" she referred to were their friends, scattered now, perhaps dead or worse. Whatever lurked in the forest had hunted them down one by one. Elk had run off earlier, thinking she could find a way to escape, but none of them had heard from her since.
"Shut up, Reindeer," Red snapped, though her voice lacked the venom it normally carried. She kept her gaze locked on the fire, her fingers nervously fidgeting with a twig. "You’re not helping."
"I’m not helping?!" Reindeer’s voice was incredulous, rising with panic. "Look at us, Red! White-tail’s bleeding out! We don’t have a plan, and that thing is out there, waiting to pick us off, just like it did to the others! How the hell am I supposed to be calm right now?"
Red didn’t answer, her expression tight. She could feel the tension mounting, but what could she say? The truth was, Reindeer wasn’t wrong.
Suddenly, White-tail let out a soft gasp of pain, her face twisting in agony. Fallow quickly leaned over her, her heart pounding as she watched her friend’s condition worsen by the minute. “White-tail... you need to hold on. Please, don’t give up.”
But White-tail’s eyes were growing unfocused, her breathing ragged. She let out a shuddering breath, her voice weak. “Guys… please… just leave me,” she said, her words slurring slightly. “I’m slowing you down. You won’t make it carrying me. Just… let me go.”
“No,” Fallow said immediately, her voice firm. “No way. We’re not leaving you. Don’t even suggest that.”
“You have to!” White-tail sobbed, her voice breaking. “I’m not going to make it, Fallow! You know that! We all know that!” She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. "Just… let me die. It’ll be easier if you run.”
Fallow shook her head, her own tears threatening to spill over. She pressed her hands to her face, trying to stop the sobs that were rising in her throat. "No... no, White-tail. Don’t give up like that. Don’t ask me to leave you behind." Her hands trembled as she reached for White-tail’s hand, squeezing it tightly. "Please… I can’t lose you."
White-tail looked up at her, her eyes wet with tears, her face pale and contorted in pain. "I’m not gonna make it. I’m just… slowing you down. You have to let me go." She smiled weakly through her tears, the corners of her mouth trembling. "I don’t want to die a loser... a virgin loser."
Her words hung in the air, awkward and devastating. Fallow's face twisted in disbelief. "No... stop. Don't talk like that."
But before Fallow could respond, Reindeer, who had been quietly weeping, suddenly perked up, her eyes wide and desperate. “Wait… you’re a virgin, right?” she asked, her voice trembling. “White-tail… if you’re gonna die, can we... can we kiss? You won’t die a virgin then, right?”
White-tail stared at her, utterly horrified. "What the hell, Reindeer?" she croaked, her face scrunched in disbelief. "Are you seriously asking me that right now?"
"Please!" Reindeer cried, her hands shaking as she scooted closer to White-tail. “I just… I don’t want to die without kissing my crush. And I’ve liked you for so long, White-tail. Please… we’re both going to die, right? Just one kiss. I’m begging you.”
White-tail let out a strained laugh, though it quickly turned into a wince of pain. "God, Reindeer... you're so messed up," she muttered, shaking her head weakly. "No. That's not happening."
Reindeer’s face fell, and she turned away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Sorry… I just thought…" she trailed off, biting her lip.
The group fell into an uncomfortable silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound. Red stood abruptly, walking a few steps away from the others, her hands shaking. She couldn’t listen to them anymore. The panic, the fear—it was suffocating. "I’m leaving," she said, her voice flat. "I can’t do this anymore."
Fallow’s eyes snapped to Red, the betrayal hitting her like a punch to the gut. "What?" she whispered, her voice shaking. "You’re not serious. You can’t just walk away like this."
Red didn’t turn around, her back stiff as she stared into the dark forest. "I am serious. This... all of this... I can’t take it anymore."
Fallow's breath hitched, her hands shaking as she reached for the rifle. Her fingers wrapped around it tightly, her face pale with fear and disbelief. "If you fucking leave," she said, her voice cracking as tears spilled over her cheeks, "I’m going to blow your head off."
The others froze. Reindeer looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with horror, while White-tail's breath came out in shallow, ragged gasps. The firelight flickered ominously, casting long shadows over Fallow as she raised the rifle, aiming it at Red's back.
"What the hell are you doing, Fallow?" White-tail rasped, her voice weak, but laced with fear.
"I’m not letting her leave us!" Fallow cried, her voice cracking with desperation. "We’re all sticking together. If Red walks away, we’re done for. I won’t let it happen!" She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her grip on the gun tightening. "I won’t let you walk away from us, Red. I swear to God, I’ll do it. I’ll kill you."
Red didn’t move, her body stiff with tension as she stood facing the woods. She could feel Fallow’s eyes burning into her back, feel the weight of the rifle aimed at her. But she didn’t turn around. "Do it," she said, her voice low and calm. "If that’s what it takes for you to feel better, go ahead. Shoot me."
Fallow’s finger hovered over the trigger, her breath ragged as sobs wracked her body. "I don’t want to hurt you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But you can’t leave us… you can’t leave me, Red."
White-tail let out a pained sob, her voice trembling as she gasped for air. "Guys... please... stop. This isn’t worth it."
Reindeer crawled over to Fallow, grabbing her arm and sobbing hysterically. "Please don’t do this! We’re falling apart. Please, just put the gun down!"
Fallow's grip tightened as she fought back more sobs. "Why?!" she screamed, shaking her head violently. "Why is everyone ready to give up on each other?! Why are you all abandoning me?"
Suddenly, a chilling sound cut through the air—the unmistakable sound of footsteps crunching on the dry forest floor. The hunter.
The sound of footsteps in the distance made them all freeze. That low, guttural laugh echoed through the trees, a mocking sound that sent shivers down their spines. "You’re all so cute," the voice sneered, hidden by the darkness. "Fighting… arguing… it’s like watching a little soap opera. I’m really enjoying the show."
Fallow’s hands were still shaking as she held the gun, her teary eyes locked on Red. But before she could react, Reindeer darted forward. With a sudden, frantic burst of energy, she ripped the rifle out of Fallow’s grip, her eyes wild. "NO! No shooting friends in the head, Fallow!" Reindeer screamed, her voice shrill and panicked as she aimed the rifle at her friend. "That’s wrong! We don’t kill each other!"
Red turned slowly, her face grim as she took in the chaotic scene. Fallow was frozen, her expression one of pure shock, while Reindeer stood trembling, the gun now shaking in her hands. White-tail, already weakened and on the brink of losing consciousness, let out a broken sob. "No… no, please, not you too, Reindeer. Don’t… don’t you hear the monster?" Her voice trembled as she tried to make sense of the situation, tears streaming down her face. "He’s… he’s laughing at us."
whitetail, knowing she had to act fast before things escalated further, Her voice was steady but soft, her tone surprisingly calm. "Reindeer," she said carefully, "put the gun down. No one needs to get hurt. Fallow is just stressed… we all are. It’s not worth it." She paused for a moment, her brow furrowing as she glanced at White-tail, then sighed. "Look, I’ll kiss you if that’ll help calm you down."
Reindeer blinked, her tense posture suddenly deflating at Red's words. "Wait… you’ll kiss me?" she asked, her voice almost childlike, as if she'd forgotten about the danger looming around them.
"Yeah," white tail muttered, rolling her eyes a bit. "Just… put the gun down first."
Reindeer, now smiling and no longer in fight mode, quickly tossed the rifle aside and rushed over to White-tail’s side. Her excitement was palpable as she knelt beside her injured friend, puckering her lips eagerly. "Okay! Okay! I’m ready!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement.
White-tail, exhausted and half-delirious from blood loss, sighed deeply. "Fine… but you have to kiss me like a boy," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "So… say some boy things first."
Reindeer giggled at the absurdity of the request, but she was all too eager to comply. She cleared her throat, doing her best to deepen her voice as she looked at White-tail. "Hey, uh… babe," she said, her voice awkwardly gruff. "You’re, like, super hot. I’ve always… thought you were the hottest girl in school."
White-tail snorted, despite herself, and Red and Fallow couldn’t help but chuckle at the ridiculous display. Even in the face of danger, Reindeer’s goofy attempt at being "a boy" was enough to break the tension, if only for a moment. Fallow wiped her tear-streaked face, shaking her head at how absurd things had gotten.
White-tail, sighing again, closed her eyes. "Fine. Just… let’s get this over with."
Reindeer, far too enthusiastic, leaned in for what was supposed to be a quick peck. But as White-tail tried to lean in for a small, soft kiss, Reindeer went all in, planting a sloppy, overly-enthusiastic kiss on her lips, complete with an unwanted and overly aggressive tongue. White-tail let out a muffled protest, her eyes flying open in shock as Reindeer, clearly enjoying herself far too much, continued the wet, messy display of affection.
White-tail pulled away with a loud, disgusted gasp, wiping her mouth furiously. "Ugh! Reindeer, what the hell?! That was supposed to be a peck!"
Reindeer just grinned sheepishly, clearly not understanding the issue. "What? I thought it was supposed to be like in the movies. You know, like, really romantic!"
White-tail groaned, shooting a glare at Reindeer. "That was not romantic. That was disgusting. Never do that again."
Red and Fallow were doubled over in laughter by now, the sheer absurdity of the situation overwhelming them. For a brief moment, their terror had been replaced by the bizarre, ridiculous scene playing out in front of them.
Even the mocking voice of the hunter, still somewhere in the dark, seemed to have fallen silent. It was as if, for just a second, even the lurking danger had been thrown off by the absurdity of it all.
June (Guest) on Chapter 11 Mon 04 Nov 2024 04:52PM UTC
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frostgear on Chapter 11 Fri 08 Nov 2024 03:40PM UTC
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June (Guest) on Chapter 11 Fri 08 Nov 2024 11:44PM UTC
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Maki12 on Chapter 11 Wed 13 Nov 2024 12:26AM UTC
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frostgear on Chapter 11 Wed 13 Nov 2024 03:27PM UTC
Last Edited Wed 13 Nov 2024 03:28PM UTC
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Maki12 on Chapter 11 Thu 28 Nov 2024 06:00AM UTC
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