Steel Heart

I back up against a tree and watch the deer warily as I think up my next course of action. There are eight deer surrounding me, seven does and one stag, with the stag being the only one armored. The does are quite a bit smaller than the stag and their coats are different shades of brown and red. Some have a stripe of darker color in their coat and others have spots near their haunches, but all of the deer have huge eyes in varying colors. Five of the does have necklaces adorned with large gems that radiate magical energy, which worries me. The other two have strange intricate metal decorations on their hooves. They probably mistook me for a human hunter trying to land their kin. Which means there must be a human settlement nearby for them to be so acquainted with humans that they attack on sight!

"Hold on, friends," I say trying to come off as amiable as possible. "I'm not here to hunt you or steal your magical pendants. I'm just a humble traveler trying to get to the next human town. But I seem to have gotten lost and stumbled into your territory, so if you would kindly give me a heading I'll leave and never return."

"Hew-Man, is that a type of fruit?" the stag questions his head tilting to the side for some reason. "W-Wait! You're just trying to confuse me so you can get away! Who are you spying for, strange creature!"

Spying... Humans being a type of fruit.. Wait, perhaps humans go by a different name in this world.

"Ah, I apologize," I say with a bow. "What I mean is a settlement of creatures of my race. I'm guessing there's one close if you assume we are spying on you in an attempt to conquer your forest."

The stag seems unsure of himself. "What do you mean a settlement of creatures like you? Are you not a new type of summoned being that the ponies or zebras have been experimenting with? Wait... If you are a summoned beast how can you speak to anyone other than your summoner..."

"He's not a summon," a doe with three white dots on her haunches and a light brown coat replies. A look of concern on her face as her amulet stops glowing. "It's mana signature isn't marked and there's no pony or zebra scent on it."

"It is.... unusual," the stag says. "None of the signs of a summoned creature are on it."

Ponies?? Zebras?? Oh god, did I land on some planet who's sentient races are only herbivores... I guess there is the possibility that I ended up in a world where humans went extinct or never existed.. Oh well, if their magic amulets are any sign, these deer seem to have some form of arcane power. As well as their "enemies" if both have the capability of summoning creatures. Not what I planned exactly, but beggars can't be choosers.

"Umm," I say interrupting the conversation of a couple of does. "I'm not a spy for anyone and as of now have no inclination to side with your enemies. If you continue to attack me that will quickly change though.."

The stag seems to mull over his options, bringing a hoof to rest under his chin as he thinks it over. He waves over his comrades who immediately circle around him and begin murmuring, occasionally taking glances at me. They break the circle as the stag stands, he then walks over and stands before me.

"Fine, strange creature," he answers. "You have our leave but, you must exit our forest immediately or face the consequences."

"Perhaps you would allow me to accompany you?" I ask nervously. "See, I don't exactly have anywhere to go and I'm terribly lost."

The stag takes an aggressive stance again, lowering his body so he can pounce. "Why, would we trust you! Just because, you aren't a spy doesn't mean you're trusted enough to be allowed into Rohit."

"You can take my weapon," I say as I stab the spear into the ground. "Please, if you allow me into your village I will most definitely benefit your society."

"Benefit us?" the deer asks skeptically. "In what way could you benefit the great deer of Furfur forest?"

I lean against the tree behind me. "Well, I'm well versed in magic and-" oh god, I've got nothing else other than magic going for me. "-I can.... do manual labor like mining."

The stag looks me up and down before finally nodding. "Fine, as captain of the guard I'll allow you into our city. BUT, you will be under guard and if deemed unworthy you will be executed. Be honored! You shall be the first being in Rohit that is not a deer in over a thousand years."

The stag grabs my spear in his mouth, the six foot weapon sitting very awkwardly in his maw. I watch as the five does with amulets close their eyes in concentration. Tree roots burst up from the ground and encase us. The ground beneath us begins shifting and I feel us gather momentum as we move underground. Very interesting, I wonder if those amulets actually contain nature magic or amplify the deer's inherent magic. After a few hours trapped in the wooden cocoon, we resurface.

My jaw drops as I find myself standing outside a sizable medieval looking city on a hill surrounded by massive stone walls. Forest seems to be on every side with about a hundred meters between nature and the walls. We walk towards the huge gates the captain in front with the spear once again in his mouth. The gates open as we approach and on the other side await several more does with amulets escorting another doe with a grungy brown wizards hat and gnarled wooden staff. Her eyes widen as she sees us, she drops the staff and trots over a huge smile planted on her face.

"Brother! Brother, what is that creature?!" the wizard deer yells excitedly. "Is it another one of the ponies summoned creatures?"

"Ossia..." he says nervously dropping the spear in the process. "It's not a summon, it is a creature that has offered its services to our kingdom."

"Really?" Ossia asks as she circles around me. "What can it do? If it got you to let it into Rohit it must be useful."

"Magic and manual labor," I cut in. "I'm Dylan and i'm male by the way. Being called a creature isn't very flattering."

"OOooooh," Ossia says as she circles me one more time. "Lockhart, can I have him!! My last apprentice left after that spell that turned her fur into grass..."

Lockhart glances from me to his sister and then breaks out laughing. "He's all yours sis, honestly it was my plan to dump him on you to begin with. You're one of the few left who can weave spells anyway so a magically versed giant is all you."

She hops up and down in excitement. "Thank you! Thank you, bro!"

Ossia grabs onto the hem of my shirt and begins pulling me towards the city as I try to process what just happened. She drags me down the paved road where countless deer buy and sell goods in little stalls. Well, at the moment all attention is on us, my height drawing the gaze of all the market-goers. Ossia continues to pull me through the busy market, the does that were with her, now carrying her staff bring up the rear. Those in front of us part as the majority of the market continues to stare at me with interest.

We stop at a fairly average looking building that Ossia then leads me into. It's not what I expected from a student of magic. Rather than the books and tomes I had expected the living area, of what i'm assuming is Ossia's home, is filled with plants and other types of vegetation. Different types of tree bark and moss sit in assorted containers and on the table is a large mandrake. The does follow us inside and drop off Ossia's staff, then exit leaving us alone.

"Dylan! Dylan, now that you're here as my new apprentice I can get back to work instead of just waiting around for my bro," she says excitedly a huge smile on her face.

She uses her hooves to somehow pick up the mandrake that starts thrashing around violently and shrieking. "Let's begin," she yells her smile looks menacing with the suffering creature in her grasp.