"N....o......" Tamex said, but before he could say any more he was out.
I let him drop to the ground. He would bleed internally and end up fading in a bit. I walked off again towards Minx. I could see her and the fawns now. Part of me screamed to stop, but I couldn't.....Part of me wanted to tell Tamex how much I wanted to be free.....but I couldn't....Part of me.....no....all of me wanted to hug Minx and tell her how sorry I was.....but.....I couldn't....
So I just continued walking.
The first fawn stepped fowards while the second stood in front of Minx. I would have to go through them both......not hard......I jumped fowards with my antlers down. The first fawn dodged, but I made a side swipe with my antlers and she was knocked into a tree.
Suddenly I felt antlers hit the side of my ribs. I recoiled and smashed into some brush. I turned and saw a large buck far bigger than me looking down at me.
"What is this?" he asked sharply.
"My business," I glared back.
"You are the fire nobody that nearly burnt down the forest just now?" the buck asked.
"And if I am?" I asked glaring.
"I will keep order in this forest," the buck answered.
I froze......he had said it......he had said order.....this was his territory......and he would keep order....I wanted to break the pact just then and tell him how admireable it was, but the need to kill Minx was pulsing inside me.
I stood and bent my antlers down. We both clashed quickly and dangerously. His antlers were larger than mine, and I was brushed back. I dug my feet into the ground and clashed agaianst him again. Again he threw me back.
"I will protect....and I will keep order," he said calmly.
"Stop saying that!" I yelled sharply. It was no longer my voice....it was the Leader's. "I'll kill you."
we clashed and smashed and kicked. Suddenly everything froze. Five mirrors had surrounded us. I looked at them.
"What is this," I asked.
"Triskix......" Minx's voice said quietly. Suddenly the mirrors began to reflect me.....images.....thoughts.....fears...happiness....all of it was running through the mirrors. All the mirror melded into one and it reflected me....as I was now.....and a second image standing behind me.....it was....a younger me...he smiled and took my shoulder.
The mirror shattered in an instant, and I felt myself fall fowards, but I caught myself quickly. The buck was looking at me....and I realized....he was the Prince of the Forest.....He stared at me with solid brown eyes.
The need to kill him, the need to kill Minx, and even the Leader's thoughts at this point were no longer in my head. I stared at the Prince blankly.
"Triskix!" Minx's voice came from behind the brush. The two fawns followed quietly.
A white rabbit came up and hugged me around the leg. I looked down calmly now.
"Minx....." I said feeling completely relaxed. "What did you do?"
"I....I broke your pact......I...I heard when you were shouting at Tamex.....you....were forced...but I broke it....I...I...Triskix...I...." Minx said quietly.
I bent down to her and nuzzled her cheek. She looked up suprised. I turned my attention back to the Prince who was staring at this procession tiredly.
"I'm sorry for this," I said bowing. "I...was....."
"Under bad influence," The Prince answered. "But it seems now you are better. Good."
"Where is Tamex?" one of teh fawns asked quickly.
I turned my attention to her quickly.
"Tamex," I said turning back to where I had left him.
We all sprinted to the spot where the rabbit lay. His back was up against the tree and his eyes were closed.
