With his newfound freedom, the pup made his way to the edge of the river. He was thirsty from his exhaustive escape and parched from the smoke that he had inhaled. He lowered his snout to the cool, rippling waters of the river, lapping up the liquid. The refreshingly cool water flowed down his parched throat, satiating his thirst and providing temporary relief from his hunger.

The act of drinking allowed the pup a brief moment of respite. His senses, which had been on high alert, began to unwind slightly. As he relaxed, an unsettling odor assaulted his senses. The metallic stench of blood and dirt, an unwelcome souvenir of his escape, clung to his fur.

Driven by an instinctual desire to rid himself of the blood that stained his fur, the pup cautiously dipped a paw into the river. The sensation of smooth, cool pebbles beneath his paw signaled a shallow spot, an ideal place for him to cleanse himself. With tentative steps, he waded into the water.

As he submerged his small body into the river, he watched as the remnants of the harrowing night washed away from him. His blood-stained fur began to fade, the once vivid red hue diluting into the water, staining the crystal-clear liquid a slight shade of pink. The soothing coolness of the water was a balm against his injuries, even as it stung his fresh wounds.

He was momentarily free from the horrifying memories of the blazing camp, having found a brief respite amidst the serene sounds of the flowing river.

However, just as he was beginning to enjoy the tranquility, a sudden rustling noise from behind him shattered the calm. His ears pricked up and his body instinctively tensed.

A peculiar creature emerged from the underbrush. It was somewhat reminiscent of an animal he recalled seeing on the shiny black box his human family used to watch.

'A deer?' he wondered. But this creature was unlike any deer he'd seen before. It had a lush green fur that shimmered in the morning light, and its antlers were more pronounced, appearing alarmingly sharp.

The green deer, seemingly unfazed by the pup's presence, offered him a cursory glance before confidently walking forward. To the pup's growing dismay, it was heading directly toward him.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Out of pure instinct and fear, the pup sprung backwards. However, in his panic, he misjudged his landing and ended up plunging into the deeper parts of the river. A sense of dread filled him as he didn't know how to swim. His paws flailed frantically in the water and each gasping breath he took filled his lungs with the icy cold liquid. His heart pounded in his chest, a chaotic combination of fear and desperation.

As he struggled against the strong currents, he caught sight of the deer growing nearer. He was trapped, stuck in the unforgiving waters with no way out.

Gradually, exhaustion started to creep in, causing his limbs to slow down. His desperate flailing gradually lessened, and his body sinking lower into the water. He was on the brink of surrender when he suddenly felt something scoop him up. A series of harsh coughs wracked his small frame as he expelled the river water from his lungs. Each breath he took felt like a precious gift as air flowed back into his lungs

His heart was still pounding with fear, yet when he opened his eyes, he found himself safely nestled within the deer's antlers. What he had assumed to be sharp and threatening were actually soft and gentle.

The pup found himself being carried to a patch of soft earth. He looked down, meeting the gaze of the unusual green-furred deer with wide, curious eyes. His rescuer placed him gently on the ground before returning to the river bank to quench its own thirst. Once it had drunk its fill, the deer turned back. Its large, expressive eyes settled on the pup again.

There was a brief pause before the deer made a motion with its head, an unmistakable invitation. The deer wanted him to follow.

With a renewed sense of determination, the pup pushed himself off the ground, his small legs shaking. He started to hobble toward the deer, doing his best to keep up with its pace.

The deer walked with a measured gait, seemingly considerate of the pup's size and condition. Despite this, after some time, the pain in the pup's paws returned with a vengeance. His wounds from the escape: the grating abrasions and the painful bruises, began to throb in rhythm with his heartbeat, each pulse sending jolts of pain through his body. His pace began to falter.

The deer paused and turned to look at him again. With an understanding gaze, it lowered its head. The branches of its antlers reached out to the pup once more. This time, however, the pup could see the antlers move independently almost like multiple arms. It scooped him up and cradled him in a soft nest.

With the pup nestled safely in its antlers, the deer resumed its trek, each step taking them deeper into the forest. The pup, safe and sound, was carried forth on the journey.

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Chapter 6: "The Unexpected Rescuer"