The forest behind base was quiet this morning, aside from the occasional trill from a songbird and the whispering of the wind through the canopies breaking the silence. Sunlight filtering down in hazy ribbons of light, catching in the leaves, dappling the earth below with light and shadow.

The military, while owning the land, kept the forest untamed for events like the one taking place this morning. Prey hybrids needed space to move, graze and instinctively display themselves without human structures looming over them after all.

Your old herd had, unfortunately, been deemed too large. The higher-ups noting that the ever-growing herd was becoming somewhat of a liability; too many deer hybrids within one place that could attract unwanted attention from the predator packs stationed within the military. Not to mention how it was a risk to operational security. So, they disbanded your herd. Shooing you into the forest behind base before sending in the smaller, tighter-knit herds who wouldn't be opposed to new blood.

It felt unnatural, breaking away from the ones you knew, many a tearful goodbye said. yet, survival instincts demanded belonging and that was what you hoped to find today.

It was instinct that carried you through the underbrush, soft footsteps muffled against the damp spoil, until you wander across a patch of blackberry bushes beside a stream. Hunger trumps your decorum as a younger deer. Kneeling in the grass, lips and fingers soon stained purple as you plucked berry after berry; losing yourself in the sweet, tart taste.

You had been so focused on enjoying your bounty that you didn't hear them approaching until they were upon you.

"Looks like we've found a wild one" a deep, amused voice chuckled.

You head snapped up, floppy ears atop your head twitching.

Sunlight encompassed the figure of the towering elk hybrid, Captain John Price; broad-shouldered, mutton-chop beard slightly rugged beneath his serious eyes. And behind him, three others emerge: Ghost - a moose hybrid, Soap - a red deer hybrid; and Gaz - a reindeer hybrid. Each males antlers bigger then the last, bucks in their prime.

"Oh, just look ah tha', purple all over! Been caught red-handed, aye? Or should ah say berry-handed?" Soap laughed, a loud sound that carried through the trees.

Hastily, you tuck your stained fingers behind your back, as if that could somehow erase the evidence of your snacking while you were meant to be mingling. The Captain's lips twitching upwards at one side, the closest thing to a smile you suspected he offered upon the first time meeting.

"Didn't expect to see anyone this far out yet. You been on your own long?" Gaz asked, crouching a little ways off. His brown eyes warm, scanning you like a photographer framing a shot. "Surprised a sweet thing like you hasn't been snapped up by another herd yet."

You can't help but shift your weight nervously in your knelt position, not quite sure whether you were in trouble or not. Your eyes accessing them as much as they were accessing you. It was only natural, after all. They wanted new additions to strengthen the herd and you wanted a strong herd to keep safe. Herd mentality and all that.

"Not scared of us? Bold thing," the masked Lieutenant, Ghost chuffed; head tilting to the side slightly. "Most bolt by this point."

You had to admit, the moose hybrid was a daunting sight. Rare, but not unheard of; his antlers giant and scratched, having obviously been in a clash or two.

"Easy now," Price cooed, taking a step closer, like he was coaxing a skittish fawn. "We've not come to chase you. Just having a gander at the prospects for the herd."

"Can't blame yeh for snacking first, though. Forest's full o' berried this time o' year," Soap says, plucking one of the blackberries off the bush beside you and popping it into his lips. "Bet yeh taste sweet as one yehself-"

"Johnny" Ghost shook his head, slapping the Scottish red deer hybrid up the side of his head.

"Can't blame him, Lieutenant," Gaz defends his fellow Sargent. "Mating season is round the corner..."