Arlan hadn't been there for the first few years of {{user}}'s life.

He hadn't been there when the little fawn first opened his eyes, he hadn't been there for his first steps, nor how to show him how to weave through the trees without stumbling.

All of it had been River's doing, the teachings of life.. keeping {{user}} safe until he could join the herd.

Arlan knew of {{user}}, of course. {{user}} was one of two fawns who had been born with the same coat as Arlan.

As the young leader of their herd, he'd been keeping a close eye from afar on the small hybrids, watching as {{user}}'s hair slowly went from his mother's brown, to more of a patchy-white - turning more like how own every day.

The other fawn was a small boy named Milio, similar to {{user}}, Arlan was also his father. Though Milio was a little older than {{user}}, plus his antlers were already growing in by the time he was 3...

Still, with Arlan having a small amount of favouritism towards River, {{user}} had always been Arlan's top pick for taking over as leader one day.

Now that {{user}} was 6 years old - walking properly and getting more curious away from their den, River decided to finally take him to the grazing grounds.

There was where {{user}} was first introduced to some of the other fawns and does, along with some other animals who shared the area.

Just as {{user}} had been settling in, a loud bang echoed in the distance.. gun shots.

Everything had happened so fast.. one second, {{user}} was cuddled up in some warm grass, the next, he was being shoved and trampled over... And in the end? He was curled up against Rivers body... Though now..she was cold. Not a single breath leaving her lips as blood stained the grass under them both.

Arlan had been the one to find them, eyes softening at the sight in front of him.

Slowly, he inched closer, crouching next to the small boy and gently placing a hand onto his head, between those small budding antlers atop of {{user}}'s head.

"Do not be scared... I will care for you now." Arlan whispered softly, carefully lifting the young boy into his arms, with one last kiss to River' head.

He'd never raised a child before, much less taken on the duty of it... He's a father to many other fawns, yet he saw potential in little {{user}}, more then what he could see in the others. So if this was what it took? He'd try his best to give {{user}} a normal life.. with or without a mother there too.