Deer Family, I Will Avenge You | Forest of 5 Paths Short Story Contest

Deer family, I will Avenge You

By Swordmaiden

      Leaning around the dumpster Elfie sniffed the air, then frowned at his own stupidity. “Right, human noses suck.” Taking a deep breath he stepped out from behind the dumpster and walked around to the front of the building. The middle-aged human woman in the yellow dress was sweeping the front of her store like always. Trotting up behind her he hopped to a top, startling her.

“Elfie!” the human exclaimed, thudding a hand over her heart. “You scared me honey!”

Elfie smiled, cocking his head. “Honey isn’t scary.”

      The human laughed, reaching up and patting him on the shoulder. “You’re right. How silly of me.” The kind look on her face faded to one of concern. Elfie looked behind him, his danger sense prickling. But there was nothing there, just the street and buildings and people walking around. “Elfie, dear, when was the last time you ate?”

      Turning back to her, Elfie scrunched up his face in thought. “I don’t know. I had some grass this morning.”

The woman’s eyes saddened and she took him by the hand. “Come with me, dear.”

      Entering the café, the woman pulled him over to an empty booth and sat him down. “You wait here hon; I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” Elfie replied, folding his hands on the table top and tapping his bare feet together patiently.

      Georgie’s café was his favorite place in town. The old wooden bar and potted plants made him feel more at home. Georgie even had a little waterfall sitting on the counter that sparkled in the sunlight shining through the large window panes. The bell over the door jingled as it opened, admitting a human man and his fawn. She held tightly to his hand, bouncing on her toes. The little girl spotted him, smiled, and waved. Elfie waved back. Humans had such strange greeting customs, but he enjoyed them nonetheless.

      The man lifted his daughter onto one of the tall stools at the counter and rang the bell sitting there. “Georgie, you in?”

“I’m here Rustle,” the woman called, reappearing with a plate of corn salad and several slices of toast, “I’ll be with you in a jiffy.” Carrying the plate over to Elfie’s table she set it down and pulled his hat off, rustling his hair. “You want anything to drink hon?” she asked, pulling a salt shaker out of her apron pocket and setting it before him. He opened his mouth to answer but she cut him off. “You know what? I’mma bring you some water and Macey just baked us a fresh batch of molasses cookies. You eat everything on that plate and I’ll bring you one of those too.”

Elfie smiled up at her, having already filled his mouth with several spoon-fulls of salad.

      Turning her attention to her other customers Georgie left to take their orders before disappearing again. Licking the spoon clean once more, Elfie looked at his reflection in it. It had taken him weeks to learn to eat the way the humans did. It was so complicated, all their different utensils had specific uses and if you used them wrong people would look at you weird. He remembered the time he had tried to eat a carrot with a fork and all the humans had looked at him like he was crazy. Thankfully there were quite a few foods that he could eat with his hands, which was still strange, but not as strange as having to stab or scoop something first. Of all of them though, spoons were his favorite. Stabbing things with a fork made him uncomfortable and knives made him nervous. Finishing the salad, he moved on to the toast. He loved toast. It was like bread, but warm and crunchy.

      The bell over the door jingled again and a large bearded man stomped in. Elfie’s danger sense sang like a siren but he managed to keep his seat. He was a human now; he was safe. He didn’t have to hide. The man pulled out a chair and sat at an empty table, a bright orange vest over his camo jacket and pants. Mud clung to the bottoms of his boots and he smelled like…Elfie swallowed hard. It wasn’t real. It was a trick. He knew that. He’d just ignore it. But that smell…

      The man at the bar swiveled in his seat to greet the newcomer. “Hello Herald. When did you get back?”

“Just now,” The big man replied, his deep voice friendly, almost kind.

“How was your hunt? You get anything?”

“No.” Harold sighed, pulling off his cap and swiping a large dirty hand through his hair. “I had shot all lined up for a twelve-point buck but he got away from me.”

“That’s a shame.” The other man commented.

“Yeah,” Herold sighed. “Got a couple last week though. Should hold me over for the season.”

      Georgie reappeared carrying two plates and, seeing the newcomer, burst into a smile. “Harold! I didn’t know you were getting back today!” setting the plates before the father-daughter duo she hurried over and kissed the big man on the forehead. “Welcome home baby.”

“Hey, Mama.” The man replied.

“You want coffee?” she offered, “I can whip you up some eggs and sausage too.”

“Yeah, that’d be great Mama, thanks.”

      Georgie moved to leave and caught Elfie staring at them. “Oh, Harold, come over here, there’s someone I want you to meet.” Getting up from his chair obediently the man followed his mother over to Elfie’s table where he stood, towering over them both, his smell intensifying a hundred-fold. Elfie did his best not to shrink away from him but it was more that he could manage. “Elfie, this is my son, Harold. Harold, this is Elfie, the boy I’ve been telling you about.”

“Don’t worry kid, I don’t bite.” Harold grinned, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you.”

      Elfie swallowed hard and forced himself to shake the man’s hand. “N-Nice to meet you too.” He stuttered. The big man shook his hand firmly then, after a pause looked to his mother. “So, am I gonna get them sausage and eggs or not? I’ve starving.”

“Yeah, they’ll be ready in a minute baby. Just sit down, I’ll be right back.”

      scurried away again, leaving Elfie and the big man alone. “Mama says you come in here every couple of weeks.” Harold said, leaning against the opposite booth seat. “She says you come in, grab some lunch and then disappear again. You got family ‘round town? A place to stay?”

Elfie shook his head, averting his eyes.

“We’ll, I’ll be in town for the next couple of days. If you need a place to sleep, I’ve got an extra cot out at my cabin.”

Elfie nodded, still looking away.

      Harold looked down at him, feeling sorry for the dirt-smudged youth. “Mama says you’re a fan of molasses. My sister, Macey, makes the best molasses pie you’ve ever had in your life; and she always brings me one when I’m in town. Tell you what, I’ll have Macey and mama out at my place tomorrow night for dinner. Why don’t you join us?”

“I dunno. I don’t think I can make it.” Elfie said nervously.

“You sure?” Harold asked kindly, “not even for the pie?”

“I-I don’t know. Maybe.” Elfie said, pushing himself to his feet and grabbing the toast that remained on his plate. “I gotta go, bye.”

“Alright. Bye Elfie.” Harold called, turning after him. “Dinner is at 7:00, out past Slatner’s farm.”

“Bye.” Elfie repeated, pushing his way out the door out into the fresh air. Hurrying back the way he had come, Elfie dashed around the corner and slid behind the safety of the dumpster. Peeking around to make sure no one had followed him lay back against the metal and took a deep breath to calm his racing pulse. Opening his eyes, he saw an old pickup truck that had not been there before, parked in the back. Standing cautiously, he moved to examine it, taking a bite out of one of his pieces of toast as he went. Mud covered the tires, flecking up all around the sides, and patches of rust had eaten through the metal in several places. Walking round to the back he stopped, staring into the bed of the truck. Same as the sides mud and rust spattered the bed but other things were there too. Dark stains and a smell that Elfie knew all too well assaulted his senses.

His toast hit the ground as he whispered, “Mama?”

It couldn’t be.

      His heartbeat quickened, thudding so loud he could hear it. Shuddering, he shifted back, his hooves hitting the pavement with a loud clop. His sense of smell returned, he sniffed the air once more. There was no escape. It was her. His mother had been in the back of this truck. The places reeked of other scents as well. Some he recognized, others he did not. Rising up on his hind legs he looped his front into the truck and stuck his snout in. His brother had been in here as well, and one of his cousins. And his Father.

      Sliding back out of the truck Elfie stood, thunderstruck. He’d known, or, at least, part of him had guessed that they were gone. He hadn’t seen them in months. But he’d hoped…

      He backed away. His sadness turning to anger. He could smell him, the man who’d killed his family. His smell was all over the truck as well. Harold. Anger swelling to rage Elfie backed up further and charged, spiking his antler into the man’s back tire. Air whooshed and the truck sagged, off balance. Clattering back once more Elfie snorted, his rage subsiding. Clopping forward he picked up the toast he had dropped and turned away, munching on it in silent thought. Reaching the tree line just beyond he turned back to the truck, lowering his head.

“7 o’clock tomorrow huh?” he thought, “See you there.”

Congratulation Hannah!

I love the personality you put into this story. It makes the story distinct and fun to read!

It has a bright light tone throughout but then takes a dark twist at the end. The contrast is quite interesting and memorable.

I also like Elfie's sweet personality and his relationship with Georgie. It adds heart to the story, which I love!

This is a bitter-sweet piece of a story that has an ending that leaves you wanting more! Thank you so much for submitting this story, and I hope you end up writing an ending to this story one day! It deserves it. 🙂

This short story is a part of The Forest of 5 Paths Short Story Contest. To learn more about the contest click the button below:

Click the titles below to read the other Forest of 5 Paths Short Story Winners:

Tell Me about Tomorrow Until It Doesn't Exist

My New Roommate is a Mop