#Chapter 39: Fireflies

Chris I tensed as the doe stamped her hoof again, her ears pinned back in a clear warning. My instincts screamed at me to shift, to bare my teeth and snarl back—to make myself as big and threatening as possible to scare this potential threat away from Ava. It was known, in the human world, that a doe protecting her baby could kill someone. But before I could act, Ava was already moving forward with slow, purposeful steps, her hands held up in a placating gesture. “Easy, girl,” she crooned, her voice low and soothing. “Easy now. We’re not going to hurt you or your little one.” Without entirely meaning to, I took a step forward behind Ava. In that moment, the doe’s eyes swiveled in my direction, her nostrils flaring as she stamped her hoof at me. A growl rumbled in her throat, raising the hair on the back of my neck. "Chris," Ava said without looking back at me. "Stay where you are. Let me handle this." Despite every fiber of my being screaming at me to protect her, to