[h3]South End of town[/h3]

Farrest nodded as they headed in the direction that the doe had bounded off in. He was glad that Aldric realized that Laciels interest in the outside world was a respectable one. The ranger sometimes wondered if his sons love for Vale was akin more to a wolf and his territory than a boy and his home. As a father- his worries revolved around Aldrics growing up and out of the village- perhaps if he read of the wonders of the outside world, he would then set his sites higher than staying in Vale.

And it was then that Aldric had asked about a flower. Marianne was meticulous in keeping the wilds out of their home. She had been a city girl before moving out to Vale- and adjusting to the life he lead wasn't exactly easy for her. She readily accepted many aspects of his life- but she refused to have them bring the Angar into her Haven. And so much of Marianne's life consisted of cutting, uprooting, and clipping the encroaching forest that often threatened to overtake the walls of their cabin. So, to hear of such a breach in their defenses surprised him. No flower that he knew of could grow so fast.

However, before he could even think on it further, he heard it. The doe, screaming in Gareths voice on the road up ahead. Concerns about the flower fell away and the ranger tossed Aldric a sunflower,

"We'll talk about it later. Arm yourself with this- and be mindful not to spook her. Try not to hurt her, either." He reminded him- although it was unnecessary. No one knew better than a ranger how sacred the lives of the forest creatures were to them. Even when they killed- it was only for a purpose or if the creature threatened their lives. Never for sport. Never for play. Such acts were looked down upon and even condemnable.

The doe had its head poked into one of the bakerys windows- much to the dismay of the bakers son- who was trying to fend it off of the baguettes. The boy was 12- blonde bowlcut hair growing over his eyes- and he was screeching at the top of his lungs,

"Da! Da! It ate the Mayor and now its trying to eat me!"

Farrest motioned with his hands to Aldric, ordering him to circle around behind the doe while he went in through the bakery. His plan was to simply distract it while Aldric, gods willing, could hopefully get a hold of the doe. He tossed his son the lassoe before entering the bakery.

The ranger crouched just as the doe and the baker boy caught sight of him. She recognized him- by the way that her ears flicked forward. Her chewing intensified as he spoke,

"Hey girl. How you doin? You want bread- or this?" And he waved the sunflower at her. It reflected in her eyes.

The bakers son was confused and uncomfortable, while keeping an eye on Farrest he yelled for his father again,

"Da! Ranger Farrest is here and he's talking to this thing [i] I'm scared[/i]!"

Farrest smiled patiently at the boy,

"Hush now- she's scared as it is. We're trying to get her out of here."

"Hush now." It bleated at him in the Mayor's voice. Horrified, the bakers son looked as if he might burst into tears.

(last post, going to wait for the others until my next one)