The morning sun shimmered over the Emerald Forest, painting the leaves gold. Birds chirped cheerfully, unaware that destiny—and chaos—were about to walk straight into Aru's hooves.
Aru strutted toward the lake, humming proudly."Ah yes, another day, another reflection to admire," he said, lowering his head dramatically toward the water.
His antlers sparkled. His smile widened."Truly, the forest is blessed to witness such beauty."
A frog beside him rolled its eyes so hard it nearly fell into the lake.
But before Aru could compliment himself further, a strange sound echoed in the distance.
CRACK!Something stepped on a branch.
Aru's ears shot up."What was that? A fan? A predator? A jealous admirer?"
Then came the unmistakable metallic click.
Tch—chk!
Aru froze."That… was not a fan."
From the trees, rough voices whispered:
"Tracks are fresh. The antelope's close.""Move quietly. Don't let it escape."
Aru didn't wait for a second hint.His heart launched into panic mode.
"Hunters! Actual hunters! Why me? Why today? Why while I look this gorgeous?"
He bolted like lightning.
Leaves flew. Birds screamed. A squirrel fainted dramatically as he zoomed past.
Aru's legs—those long, thin legs he always insulted—powered him forward with incredible speed. The wind whipped past him, and for the first time, he wasn't admiring himself; he was praying for survival.
Behind him, the hunters chased, shouting and crashing through the underbrush.
"Don't let it get away!""It's fast! Keep up!"
Aru zig-zagged through giant trees, skipping over roots and leaping over fallen logs.
"I take back everything bad I ever said about my legs!" he gasped. "You two are heroes! Keep going—don't fail me now!"
But then—
SNAG!
His glorious, oversized antlers hooked onto a low tree branch and yanked him backward so hard he nearly swallowed a leaf.
"No, no, no! Not now!" Aru cried, twisting desperately. "You useless decorations!"
He struggled wildly, but the branch held him tight.
The hunters' footsteps grew louder.Closer.Too close.
Aru swallowed hard. This was it. His pride—his beautiful, shiny, ridiculous pride—had trapped him.
For the first time, tears welled in his eyes.
"I don't want to die looking fabulous… I just want to live."
He closed his eyes, bracing for doom—
Then with a loud CRACK!, the branch snapped.
Aru stumbled forward, free at last.
"No time to thank the forest—RUN!" he shouted to himself as adrenaline kicked in again.
And he ran.Harder. Faster. Desperate.
Behind him, the hunters cursed loudly as he burst out of their trap and disappeared deeper into the forest, hooves pounding like thunder.
Aru didn't stop until the voices faded, until his lungs burned, until he collapsed under the shade of a giant fig tree.
He lay there, trembling.
"My antlers nearly killed me," he whispered shakily. "My legs saved me. Everything I believed… was upside down."
For the first time in his life, Aru felt small. Mortal.And just a little bit wiser.
But the forest was far from finished with him.
Because someone—or something—had been watching his escape… and was quietly waiting to make an entrance.