ENDANGERED SPECIES
by Molly F. McBride aka Cali_Sunshine
Inside the small cabin, a fire roared upon the hearth. On the table near a soft upholstered couch was the remainder of what had earlier been a full bottle of wine. The plate next to the wine had held an array of cheese, nuts, crackers, and fruit.
Alexa was comfortable with her back leaning against the couch as she sat on the floor in front of the fire's warmth with her long slender legs outstretched. She was holding a partially filled wine goblet gently in her small, feminine hand as Thomas lazily rested his head upon her thighs. He gazed intently into the soft features of her oval face.
Alexa's stare was focused upon that portion of the meadow she could view through the large windows on opposite sides of the stone-faced fireplace. She was thinking about how beautiful the meadow is now, covered with a freshly fallen layer of snow, and the moon at its fullest, washing the meadow in bright shadows. This night will be remembered always, she thought, as I sit here with this loving man, sharing the midnight hour.
Thomas' expression became one of concern as he saw and heard Alexa release a quietly spoken gasp. He asked, "Lexie, what is wrong?"
A pleasant smile of wonderment began to spread across her lips before Alexa replied, "Oh, Tom, there is a doe out on the meadow." Just as Alexa seemed to settle down again, Tom saw her chest suddenly rise and heard another gasp escape her gentle lips. "Tom! It is her buck! The doe has a buck!"
Thomas was always moved by Alexa's expressions of wonderment as the delights of nature captured her warm heart. Being a mischievous soul by his very nature, he could not resist the opportunity to engage Alexa's sense of intellect.
"Lexie," Thomas slowly began, "what would have you to believe that the buck is the inherent property of the doe?"
Alexa drew her focus from the meadow to Thomas' face and murmured a very confused, "Huh?"
"What if," he continued, now ready to yank on the hook he'd set, "the doe," Thomas paused here for effect, "belonged to the buck? What if the buck had ownership, instead of the other way around?"
Now a very cognizant grin appeared on Alexa's face as Thomas' woven web became fully apparent to her. "Tom, she asked, "would you like to hear the story of how the doe and buck came to be together? How he came to be the doe's buck?"
"A story?" Thomas mocked her teasingly, feeling quite satisfied that he'd provoked his beloved into spinning a yarn for his benefit alone., "I'd love to hear this story my dear Lexie."
Alexa was quiet for a few moments as she collected her thoughts, preparing to create a narration for Thomas. Setting her wineglass down on the small table, she placed her hands upon Thomas head so as to feel his soft hair between her fingers as she spoke. This was a ritual for Alexa, she loved to play with Thomas' hair while she shared with him, her prolific fantasies.
"Okay, she began, "I'll tell you why the buck," pause for effect, "belongs to the doe."
"You see, my darling Tom, they met in the early Spring, when the leaves were barely buds on the canopy of branches covering the forest stream where she stood with her delicate muzzle tasting the icy cold water. The snowcap had begun to melt and there was a rushing flow now, where there would be but a trickle in the Fall, well before the rains began to drench the woodland environment."
"The buck caught her scent in the air long before she first appeared in his sights. He had stepped silently through the wood and stood on the opposite bank of the stream, studying her. She became aware of him and was startled, just froze like a statue. Her first instinct was to run, but when her huge round eyes focused upon this magnificent buck, she lingered, although immobile."
"The buck sniffed the air once again, very aware that she'd been frightened by the apparent suddenness of his presence. As she stood there with the water flowing swiftly across her ankles, the buck studied her. He saw the long neck which led down to the fully developed muscular shoulders. His gaze moved along to the soft curve of her back which met her full, rounded hips. White fur defined her soft tail, which peered up from behind her rump."
Thomas now closed his eyes, the soothing softness of Alexa's voice taking him to the familiar trance, oft induced by her stories. Her fingers were still stroking his chestnut-brown hair while she continued to speak.
"As the doe began to recognize not an enemy, but another deer, she relaxed and let her eyes take notice of this grand buck before her. She took two steps back, so that her hooves were sure-footed on the banks of the stream. Her attention was drawn immediately to the full rack of antlers atop his ample skull. Next, she discovered the immense round orbs of darkness which peered back at her through his sharp-sighted lenses. His long slender, dark face had a small scar on one cheek, most likely from battles with other yearlings when he was a younger male, vying for the favor of females. She also saw that his physique was robust, a sign of a superior forager."
"Lexie?" Thomas interjected.
"Yes, Tom, what is it?" Alexa cooed.
"Do you think she liked him?" Thomas asked, knowing he was being naughty, but wanting to skew her attention briefly from the story, to be lavished on him once again.
Sensing that Thomas desired intimacy, Alexa bent forward to brush her lips softly across his, then sat upright again. "Tom," she said, "I think she loved him very much from that first moment. But not nearly as much as I love you, my cherished friend."
Pushing the envelope now, Thomas teased, "Oh, friend now, is it?"
Alexa's velvety feminine voice played delicately across Thomas' ears as she explained, "Sweet Tom, to be a friend, is to truly be loved. For, if we could not first be friends, how could we ever become as intimate in our unity as we are now."
"So, Lexie, tell me please, how does love at first sight prove ownership?"
"What?" Alexa asked incredulously as she sputtered, "Ownership! Who? Me? You?"
Thomas looked naughty as his lips curled up at the sides, indicating to Alexa that it was his intention to be ambiguous. He answered her, "Why, the doe and her buck, my sweet love." Then with feigned innocence in his voice he added, "Who did you think I meant?"
Alexa found that she could not be irked by Thomas' playfulness, and wore a wide grin as she kissed him once more, this time directly upon the tip of his nose. "Tom," she whispered, "I love you so."
Hearing Alexa declare her love for him once again had satisfied his emotional needs for the moment. He would now be attentive as she progressed with the story of the buck and his doe.
After clearing her throat, Alexa continued with the story. "The buck and doe could not remain there like statues adorning the banks of that woodland steam forever, and slowly, the buck took a step forward. Several long moments passed as he made each careful movement, so as not to frighten the beautiful doe before him. When he was barely inches away from her, he strained his neck forward to touch his very black, shiny nose to her soft brown muzzle. She didn't start, but stood there, letting him explore her face."
"She could feel his cold wet nose very close to her lips. As he was taking in her scent, she was breathing deeply of the aromatic fragrance which was definitive of his masculinity. The doe became familiar with the buck's touch and felt safe in his presence. When he stood, at long last, fully beside her, she rested her elegant chin on his back. The buck could feel her warmth and was comforted by the doe's affection."
"As the sun moved higher in the mid-day sky, the doe began to move in the direction of a wild berry patch she had discovered. The buck watched her maneuver through the thick undergrowth blanketing the forest floor and moved along at her side. Together they nibbled the plump berries until each was nourished."
"The doe was aware of the season, and knew it was time for the frolicking that signified the birth of the mating ritual familiar to woodland inhabitants. As she pranced across the open meadow to another dense wood, her buck was never distant, keeping her always in his sight. The buck recognized that she had chosen him and that she would accept his overture when the peak of her cycle was nigh. The dance they now paced through together was a preliminary preparation as they journeyed to a safe haven to bed down during darkness."
"At a remote section of the deep forest, the buck selected a thicket which was dense with vegetative growth. The doe followed him as they culled a location for comfort. In the thick grassy nitch, the doe kneeled, then folded her long slender legs beneath her delicate, yet well developed frame. Her buck walked the circumference of the site to ensure their safety. Certain that they were well isolated from view, and their scent undetectable by predators, he laid down next to the doe. Pressed together hide to hide, they rested until the light of dawn hinted that a new day had begun."
Alexa could feel a chill growing around her. She paused to ask Thomas if he would stir the fire. He aroused himself from the drowsy state of relaxation and rose to pick up another log and toss it onto the cooling embers. He prodded the ash a bit with a metal rod, and the flames were soon licking frantically at the fresh chunk of wood.
While Thomas tended their fire, Alexa scurried to the kitchen to set out fresh snacks on their plate. When she returned with crackers and cheese, Thomas gave her a smile of gratitude and stood next to the table where she would rest the plate. When her hands were free, Thomas eased his arms through Alexa's and pulled her close to him. His nostrils breathed in the pleasant scent with which she had adorned herself. Her frame felt so slight in his embrace, and her body delicately soft against him. Thomas could not imagine a life without the woman who had captured his heart with a fierceness such as he had never experienced. Thomas felt a moan rising in his throat as he formed the words, "Lexie, your love has reached the very depths of my soul."
Alexa stood against Thomas accepting each sensation he endowed upon her. His arms felt so warm as he embraced her. When his words reached her ears, she felt weak with affection for him. Her only response was to link her arms more tightly around him, with an overwhelming sense of emotion.
Thomas felt Alexa shudder, remembered that he'd fed the fire on the hearth, and slid his arm around her tiny waist as they returned to their warm stations in front of the blaze. His head once again, was resting peacefully in her lap. Thomas asked Alexa to tell him more about how the stout male deer came to be the doe's buck.
Alexa smiled gently as her fingers stroked Thomas' silken hair, and said, "As the sun appeared at the eastern horizon the woodland offered undertones of wild life stirring in all direction, even over head. The buck lifted his head and uncurled his grand form, moving his legs to stretch the muscles as he moved through the thicket which had provided them safety."
"The doe also arose, standing still for several long moments, her appetite making her sleepy thoughts give way to finding a patch of berries. Moving with slow, deliberate steps on unsteady legs, the doe retraced the path they had taken into the thicket. Finding the buck just beyond the entrance, in a clearing, she felt a spark of alertness and playfully ran past him, off in the direction they'd journeyed from the day before."
"The buck heard the doe, and felt the light vibrations of her hooves gliding across the clearing long before he saw her. He caught little more than a glimpse though as she darted past him. Her scent, not only familiar, but stronger now, compelled him to follow her again. The buck caught up with the doe only when she stopped to nibble the fresh sweet berries. His breath was visible as he puffed through flared nostrils, then he slowed to trot into the berry thicket. He ate the berries for nourishment, but found the doe's scent overwhelmingly attractive as she moved closer to him. He would ache with the urge to propagate her long before she would be overcome by her cyclic need for him."
"The doe needed to prepare herself, for she would be providing nourishment to another life before long. There was an urgency to store copious amounts of rich foods upon her carcass so as to hold up through the long winter, which would arrive at the onset of her pregnancy. The doe spent her days eating and peacefully resting lazily in the sun while her buck remained at her side, his desire to be fruitful growing stronger with each passing day."
"The Spring and Summer months passed just this way, and when the buck could barely withstand the pressure of his ambition, the days were noticeably shorter, and the doe's cycle had reached a peak. when she finally gave way to his need, they were inseparable for long periods each day. As the days passed, there was more assurance that she would carry the product of their union."
"Once again, the snow lay upon the ground, and the doe passed the long winter months with her buck beside her. Their fur had grown thick, protecting them from the cold. The fat layer they had each acquired during the warm summer months gave way now to more leaner shapes, as food was scarce, hidden by drifts of snow."
"After the passing of winter, the doe's abdomen swayed with the fullness of new life moving inside her. The fawn within kicked and turned, apparently eager to find her way in the world. Each day the doe moved slower, and the buck became ever more vigilant as she was now acutely vulnerable to predators. His prolific desires gave way to a sense of protection as he nurtured the doe who carried the product of his passion."
"The nest in which they had slept that very first night together, remained suitably safe and hidden when the time came for the fawn to escape the sanctuary of her mother's womb. She emerged into the soft sounds of the night as she crawled and kicked her way free of the shelter which had provided her life."
"The doe, panting through the birthing, was under the watchful eye of her buck. He softly nudged her with his long dark muzzle while she silently bore down when the contractions wracked her now oversized form. When she had fully expelled the young fawn, the buck looked on as the doe began to remove every conceivable trace of the birth. When she had completed her task, the fawn was dry, and her new fur powdery soft"
"The buck had witnessed the budding of a fawn from his mate. He was bonded to the doe now, for the remainder of his life. There would be no possible means of separating from her. As the fawn grew, the buck would safeguard her environment. He would shield the doe and fawn from harm as they traveled through the forest, across the meadows and through the glen."
Gently caressing Thomas cheek with the back of her smooth fingers, Alexa asked him what he thought of her story. He thought for a moment, trying to find the words to best describe his reaction. He began, "Lexie, if I were that buck, I'd never want to leave that doe either. She gave him a gift, made him immortal by giving life to their fawn. But I'm still not sure just how that makes him her buck." Thomas put extra emphasis on "her".
"Tom?" Alexa said his name as a question. "Because the buck will never take another mate, he is her mate, only her mate, and he will never have another. Even if the doe should die before the buck does, he will not have another mate. Therefore, he belongs to her. He is her buck."
"Lexie," Tom continued, "I don't think I agree with your philosophy, but, then, I guess I don't have to."
"No, baby," she encouraged, "you don't have to agree with me. I would be disappointed if you did."
"What?" he asked, now obviously perplexed. "You didn't want me to draw the same conclusion as you?"
"No, Tom, you see love, I challenged you. You and I share an equality in our relationship that doesn't leave any room for one-upmanship, or jockeying for position. We support each other in our endeavors, and we feel secure enough in our mutual love to disagree when one or the other fancies the notion."
"So, what are you saying, Lex?" Tom sat up now to address his love from an upright position. "Are you saying that you purposely spun a yarn about something you thought I would debate?"
"I couldn't predict how you might react, but I had a hunch. It offered me a chance to share another view with you, that's all. It doesn't matter if you bought it or not. What does matter though, is that you and I feel safe together emotionally. That is something wild animals can't have in their relationships, they don't know what emotions are."
Thomas looked at the hearth, and then back at Alexa. "Baby," he said, "the fire has died on those embers. Will you be my doe and bed down with me tonight?"
"Will you embrace me so that we might appear as if two spoons in the drawer?" Alexa asked.
Thomas muttered an unintelligible sound of approval as he stood up, and pulled Alexa to her feet. He bent slightly at the knees, and carefully placed his arm behind her legs, as he cradled her in his other arm, easing her back to lift her off the floor. Alexa's arms circled Thomas' neck as he carried her to the bedroom, the blankets already rolled back in preparation for this occasion.
Thomas carefully released Alexa's small frame when he had deposited all her weight on the mattress. Crawling in beside her, he pulled the blankets up around them. Thomas cuddled Alexa close to him as he pulled her warm back against his chest. He gently collected a long strand of hair which had fallen in front of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear.
Alexa responded by releasing a long sigh of pleasure as her toes snaked in between Thomas' legs and connected with the softness of his feet. Leaning over to Alexa's ear, he pressed his lips to the warm skin there and murmured, "Good night, my sweet Lexie."
And Alexa, unable to stifle an escaping giggle replied to Thomas, "Good night my handsome buck."
A grin began to appear on Thomas' lips as he closed his eyes and rested his cheek against Alexa's hair.
THE END
Endangered Species © by Molly McBride 1997
All Rights Reserved
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