"HOW IS THAT THING SO FAST?!"
Vastarael jogged forward on the next branch.
"Welcome to hunting."
The fawn blasted between two tree trunks with a golden flash, kicking up leaves like it was personally offended. Runner had to leap off the branch just to avoid losing it. She hit the ground in a splash of mu.
"Ugh... are you serious?!"
She yanked her foot out of a suction-pit of wet earth. Above her, Vastarael landed gracefully.
"Hey, tilt your torso when you sprint," he said, jogging beside her with effortless steps. "You won't slam face-first into a tree."
"I WASN'T GOING TO—"
She almost hit a tree after she turned to face him. He caught her collar with two fingers.
"Mmhm. Watch the roots too."
She growled under her breath and bolted forward again. The Golden Fawn zigged between two mossy boulders, then zagged up a slope. It kicked another spray of wet leaves into Shimmer's face on purpose.
"Stop laughing at me!"
"Don't yell at the prey. They get excited."
She almost slipped on a slick patch of moss. Vastarael guided her hips back into balance.
"Lean with the terrain and lift your knees higher so you're not planting your feet on every root—"
"Dad please, I know how to run—"
The fawn took a sharp turn, vaulted off a log and vanished behind a curtain of undergrowth. She followed the exact same path and the log broke under her weight. She flipped and landed in a puddle with a splash so loud birds took flight.
"OH COME ON!"
Her hair stuck to her face. Her clothes clung to her like wet moss. Mud streaked her from chin to ankles. Meanwhile Vastarael, landed beside her.
"Runner, do not use your Divinity."
She spat out mud. "WHY NOT?!"
"Because if you use Speech Manipulation, the fawn will panic and turn invisible."
"I'M ABOUT TO PANIC AND TURN INVISIBLE!"
"Good practice. Keep running."
She launched herself forward again with pure teenage fury powering her legs. Behind her Vastarael kept up with the relaxed stride of a man who had chased beasts before breakfast hundreds of times. The Golden Fawn darted between the trees so fast it blurred. Its hooves barely touched the ground. It leapt ten meters in a single bound. Every time Runner got within twenty meters, it accelerated again, just to rub it in.
She screamed in frustration.
"Why is it running as if it has a personal grudge against me?!"
Vastarael shrugged mid-sprint.
"It does enjoy bullying inexperienced hunters. Think of it as a lesson. You're doing great."
"I'M MUDDY!"
The fawn swerved left. Runner tried to copy it but slipped on a slope and skidded downhill like a runaway boulder. She hit a bush, popped out the other side and kept sliding. Vastarael casually hopped down the slope after her.
"Bend your posture—"
"Don't talk to me—"
She crashed into a tree stump and slumped over it. Vastarael crouched next to her.
"You're improving."
"I WILL CATCH THAT FREAKING GOLDEN RAT-DEER-THING AND COOK IT!"
"Runner."
"I know but still...."
The fawn poked its head out from behind a bush, it's eyes gleaming. It wiggled its ears like it was taunting her. Then it sprinted again.
"GET BACK HERE YOU SHINY MONSTER!!!"
She ran after it so fast she kicked mud up behind her. Vastarael followed, still coaching her.
"Angle your strides! Don't lock your knees on the downhill! And don't jump at the animal. Predict its route—"
"I know... AHHHHH—"
She nearly collided with another tree. He grabbed her hood and yanked her sideways in midair.
"See? This is why we practice."
"Why are you treating this like a family bonding moment?!"
"It builds character."
The fawn looped back around behind them, sprinted between their legs, and disappeared down a ravine. Her eye twitched so hard.
"Dad."
"Yes?"
"I'm going to catch it. And when I do..."
"Yes?"
"I want my present even if I only catch one hair."
"You'll get it, but only if your hands are the ones that grab it."
She let out a battle cry, wiped mud from her face with a vengeance, and took off again into the rain-soaked forest. Vastarael smirked to himself and followed, voice echoing behind her through the storm:
"Watch the low branch!"
"I—"
Thud.
"I hate this forest..."
"You're doing wonderfully, sweetheart!"
-------
Runner had been running for two straight hours of slipping, skidding, tumbling, screaming, almost swearing, mud baths and getting bullied by a deer that sparkled.
And the rain just wouldn't stop.
It hammered the forest canopy, turning every surface slick and every breath cold. Her soaked clothes clung to her. Her boots squelched with every step. Her legs burned. Her foot caught a hidden root. She pitched forward with no grace left in her body, hit the mud belly-first and slid like a sad, wet plank for several meters before stopping face-down in a puddle deep enough to drown an amphibian. She just stayed there. The mud was cold. The rain was cold. Her bones felt cold. Her heart felt worse.
Vastarael's presence was far. He must have leapt ahead somewhere or circled another part of the forest. She was truly alone for the moment, left with nothing but her exhaustion and the pounding storm. Runner pushed herself up slowly and sat back on her heels, mud dripping off her hair and face. Her hair stuck to her cheeks. Her breathing trembled.
Then it all cracked open inside her.
"I can't do this. I can't catch that stupid thing…"
Her hands slid off her knees and she hugged herself.
"I'm so… tired."
A few tears slipped out, mixing with the rain. They didn't even get the dignity of rolling down her cheeks. The storm stole them instantly.
"I've been rude to Dad all morning," she muttered, wiping her face with a muddy hand. "He's trying to help me. He's always trying to help me. And I just keep yelling. Gods…"
Her breath hitched again. She pressed her palms to her eyes.
"I'm a terrible daughter."
She choked on that last part. It was just a small, broken sound that the downpour swallowed whole.
"I just want to be good at something without messing up. I just want to be like Shimmer who adapts instantly to anything. I'm trying so hard and I still can't catch a deer. A deer!"
She let out a shaky, watery laugh that sounded more like a cry in disguise. Her head hung low.
"Dad's gonna be disappointed. And he shouldn't be. He deserves better than… this. Than me yelling at him like some stupid little kid. He's been patient and kind and I don't deserve him sometimes…"
Her voice cracked again and she curled forward, resting her forehead on her muddy knees. She didn't even hear the quiet crunch of small hooves in the wet grass. She only felt a gentle nudge against her side.
"Dad?"
She didn't look up yet.
"I'm sorry. I really am. I know you wanted me to learn and I'm really trying but I'm just not enough. I can't catch it without using Speech Manipulation and I know you told me not to but I just... I can't do it and I'm so tired…"
She didn't get an answer. She frowned, lifted her head and froze. A pair of huge, shimmering golden eyes stared back at her. The Golden Fawn stood at her side. Its ears flicked forward with gentle interest.
"What… what are you doing?"
The fawn tilted its head.
"No. Go away. I'm not... I'm not playing your little games anymore."
She weakly flicked her hand at it, shooing it like a stray cat.
"I'm done chasing you. Shoo."
The fawn didn't care. It stepped closer and gently pressed its warm, glowing forehead to her arm.
"Wha— hey no, what are you—"
The creature circled once, then folded its slender legs and sat beside her, glowing softly under the rain.
"You're… sitting with me? Now?! After two hours of—you know what? I don't even have the energy to be mad."
The fawn flicked its ear and bumped her cheek lightly, like a nudge of encouragement. She let out a tiny breath and wiped her face again.
"You're weird."
The fawn snorted softly as if offended. Runner hesitated, then slowly reached out. Her fingers brushed its neck. The Golden Fawn didn't flinch. It leaned into her touch.
"You're really letting me…"
She slid her hand along its glowing cheek, trembling slightly. The fawn closed its eyes. She gently cupped its face with both hands, fully holding it now.
"I caught you. I actually… caught you. Dad is never gonna believe this…"