A Flower, a Deer, and a Hill

Her foot smashed the purple flower into the earth and she continued the swift march to her car. Sara’s movements were sluggish and slow, she fixed the mirrors and settled herself into the seat. She stared at the mirror, her eye bags were poignant and her face drooped down like mud. Her long black hair was messy. Despite her demeanor and look, her foot hit the gas. 

Sara could not tell how long she had been on the road. She could see that she was in a forest, but she had no idea where. Her GPS was turned off and she couldn’t recognize anything around her. Every blink she had was desperate in its desire to keep her eyes closed. Her eyelids shot up to attempt to go against this force. Her eyes continued to open and close, in time they would spend more time closed than open. 

In one of the short windows of time where her eyes were open, she saw a dark figure that stood in the road. Her feet bolted to the brakes and Sara shrieked in horror. Her eyes were shut now and the car came to a full stop. 

Her eyes were slow to open. They were met with the sight of a deer. It was light in color and stared up at Sara with squinted eyes. Sara exited the car and the deer opened its mouth. “Please, you must help me.” Sara’s eyes closed again for a moment. She opened them.

“Did a deer just talk to me? Yeah, I must be sleep deprived…” The deer ignored her.

“I need to get to the top of this hill, my family awaits my arrival. I just need someone to go with, please.” Sara sat on the ground beneath her. 

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t help you. I have somewhere to be. I have my own problems.” 

“Can you not spare some time with all the strength and youth you have? I need to get home, please. Before sunrise or else…” Sara sighed. 

“Look, things are tough enough already, I was on my way to an important doctor. I don’t need a whole detour with a talking deer. It’s a waste of time.”

“A waste of time…” the deer muttered. “What if I had a way to help you? I know the greatest healers around.” Sara’s eyes peered up. 

“Can these magical healers cure illnesses…? Better than human doctors that can’t help me anyway?”  

“Yes, I have seen them work miracles. Just help me and you’ll be cured of anything, I’m sure!” Sara sighed. 

“This is all so stupid. Fine, just stay close to me, I don;t want trouble..” The deer hummed in appreciation. 

They began to make their way up the hill. It was still dark out so Sara used her phone flashlight to see in front of them. The hill was filled with various logs and vegetation that they had to watch out for. She could see why the deer wanted a companion. Sara held in her other hand a stick that she used to prod at things with. “I hate this…”

“You could be gentler with the Nature…”

“Oh shut up, deer,”’ Sara retorted. “This’ll take forever at this rate.”

“You know, we could be more positive about the situation. Maybe even enjoy the adventure. All I’m saying is-'' The deer was cut off by the sound of a branch that snapped. Sara turned around to see a large bear who roared at them. It was ferocious and its shadow peered over them, Sara had never felt so small, she was frozen in place. The deer butted its head at Sara’s hips and pushed her away. She began to run with the deer. 

“This is what I get huh…” Sara struggled to breathe. 

“Don’t stop moving!” Sara continued to sprint away but her regret weighed her down. Her legs pushed one after the other and they shook as she attempted to continue. The deer was far ahead of her too, how could it leave her behind? After she tried to help it… She was alone now and she couldn’t dare look behind her. Her legs pushed through the plants in front of her and her arms wailed around, still holding her phone and the branch she picked up earlier. Her mind ran through every possible choice she could make–her foot hit something. Sara tumbled onto the ground. 

She turned her body to see the bear, it was close now. If only she could use the stick she had, or perhaps if she had run faster. If only she had covered more distance. If only. Her hand threw the branch as a last pathetic effort but it didn’t even reach the foot of the animal. Her eyes shut in anticipation for what would come, She heard the bear’s violent sounds again and again until it faded away. 

She opened her eyes to see an entire group of animals surround the bear. There were rabbits and foxes and birds alike. Next to them stood the deer from earlier and it hopped around its friends. “See, we’ll be alright. Now keep going up the hill, I’ll come after you!” Sara started to chuckle. Everything felt so surreal, but they were all small animals. What could they even do? 

All the animals began moving around the bear as fast as they could. It was like a tornado of fur and feathers. Sara couldn’t believe her eyes, they were somehow so coordinated. She didn’t have time to appreciate their movements for much longer, her legs began moving again. Her body ached with pain but her legs shook less than before. She slowed down and started to take her time as she scaled the hill. Each step was steep and she could feel it through all of her body. 

She heard a familiar sound. The deer trotted to Sara from behind her. “I thought you left me…” Sara spoke under her breath. The deer tilted its head. 

“After you agreed to help me?” Sara sighed. She had only agreed for her own sake, she didn’t think she was as human as even the animal in front of her. 

“I suppose…” 

“Well we must continue now, this was quite a detour.” 

They continued their journey up the hill, they weren’t as quick as before. She wanted to spend more time talking to the strange deer she met. “What’s up this hill anyway?”

“My whole community. They’ll love you, I’m sure.” 

“So optimistic…” They passed the time with more of their conversation, Sara began to smile. 

“You’re more silly than I thought at first,” she said. 

“Is that a good thing?”

“I think so,” she replied. Sara spent so long looking and talking to the deer that she didn’t even notice they were almost at the top of the hill. Her head glanced up to see the last stretch they needed to walk through. Her legs were filled with energy once again and the deer galloped with her to the finish line. When her body reached the top and her eyes could see the top of the hill, Sara stopped in her tracks. Her eyes widened. 

There were tens more deer that walked in an area filled with plants and life that left her speechless. The colors felt so vibrant to Sara and her eyes felt rested. 

“I am back!” the deer exclaimed. A few of the other deer came to greet them. 

“We were worried,” said one of them. 

“There was no need, I had this helpful human with me.” 

“I didn’t do much…” The deer glanced up at Sara. 

“I almost forgot, you must meet the elder deer. He can help you with anything.” Sara followed the deer to a structure of rocks placed on top of each other in which the older deer sat atop. His antlers were the longest among all the deer. He saw them arrive and made his way down, his motions careful and languid. It took some time but he got to them. 

“Please help this human, elder. She has helped me today.” 

“I will try, of course…” Sara stood in an awkward position and she waited for the deer to do something. Perhaps there really was some hope and there was something magical that he could do. What would it be? 

The elder deer came closer to her and he pushed his antlers up to touch Sara’s heart. She felt light and colorful for a moment before the deer paused and stepped back. “Oh, my child… What ails you has no cure. I am truly, truly sorry.” Sara frowned. 

“I thought as much… Even for a magical deer.” Her muscles forced a smile that acted as a mask over her face. “It’s alright, I’m glad to have met you all and seen this place. I think I will… take my leave though.” The elder deer bowed and Sara looked towards the first deer. 

“Thank you for trying to help me, and I’m sorry for being all weird at first…”

“I’m sorry even the elder couldn’t help. Maybe there’s someone else who can- I’m not sure or anything, but there must be some way. You deserve to be cured of whatever bothers you.” Sara’s smile was more full now, it reached the corners of her face. 

“There’s no need, you’ve done enough. Thank you, my friend.” Sara gave a slight bow and she went the opposite direction of the group. She gazed up at the sky, the sun was rising now and the world felt so large to her. The view of the forest and the sun over the hill she stood atop was breathtaking. It looked as if it was painted by a master. The colors all worked together to plaster her eyes with beauty. She let out a deep breath. 

In front of her, hidden behind vines, was an oddly shaped rock that had a singular purple flower sitting atop it. Most wouldn’t notice such a flower in such a remote place, but Sara’s eyes were enchanted by it. She stepped closer and her face shifted forward. Her movement was careful and gentle and she knelt down to smell the flower. Her nose took in the smell and took its time to release it back into the world. It was sweet. 

Sara placed the flower down and continued moving down the hill, forward, and beyond.