A Sudden Pursuit By The Creek
The small spotted fawn pushed its hooves hard into the damp soil, sprinting away from the rushing creek bed.
Right behind the young animal, a massive lizard lunged across the grass with its jaws wide open. The reptile dragged its heavy belly low against the earth, claws ripping through clods of dirt with every forward thrust.
The fawn stumbled into a patch of tall reeds, its ears flattened back against its skull. Its tiny legs kicked up flecks of moss as it scrambled toward the rough bark of an old oak tree.
With nowhere left to run, the fawn pressed its back into a deep curve between the tree roots. The lizard slowed its charge, raising its broad snout to flick a pale tongue through the damp morning air.
An Abrupt Stand Near The Roots
A mature doe burst out from the tree line, planting both front hooves firmly into the dirt between the reptile and the fawn.
The doe lowered her neck, flaring her nostrils as she fixed her gaze on the armored head of the intruder. Dry leaves scattered in all directions as she hammered the ground with a sharp, downward strike of her right hoof.
The lizard recoiled slightly, pulling its front legs back into an arched posture while keeping its mouth parted. It shifted its weight from side to side, testing the perimeter of the doe’s defensive stance.
Every time the reptile leaned forward, the mother deer drove her hooves into the turf, kicking sprays of soil directly into the predator’s face. Her ears stayed pinned, and her flank muscles rippled with sudden, sharp twitches.
The fawn stayed low against the oak bark, tucking its chin into its chest while watching the clash unfold inches away.
Turning The Tide Against The Hunter
The doe stepped forward, closing the distance rather than retreating into the safety of the deeper woods. She delivered another rapid series of stomps, sending loose gravel and pine needles bouncing off the reptile’s scaly snout.
The giant lizard lowered its head toward the mud, snapping its jaws once before sliding backward down the incline. Its thick tail swept across the tall weeds as it turned its body away from the tree base.
With deliberate steps, the lizard retreated toward the safety of the brush along the running creek. The doe tracked every inch of its movement, keeping her body positioned directly between the departing predator and the base of the oak.
Once the brush swallowed the dark shape of the lizard, the doe turned back toward the roots. She lowered her muzzle to the fawn’s forehead, licking away the dust that had settled over the youngster’s spotted coat.
A second yearling emerged from the timber, falling in line beside the mother and the rescued fawn. Together, the three deer turned away from the creek and walked into the bright morning clearing.
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