Hello Stranger

Every forbidden touch from earlier today felt as though it had come back to choke her. Her mind reeled as she struggled to remind herself he was no longer here touching her, thrashing her, almost-

Something darted across her. She narrowed her eyes and watched as a little figure emerged from behind an old softwood. It had been Doe.

The baby deer cocked her head to the side nuzzled her boot in recognition of the familiar face.

Luanne knelt and hugged the sweet creature close to her. Cooing she asked, "Hello Doe. How are you today?"

Doe's head brushed against her chin in response. Luanne took it as an answer -clearly Doe was alright, only missing her.

Remembering the fruits in her pocket she offered the fawn some berries and spoke in a soothing tone to the animal, telling her all about her day.

Maybe that's why at first she didn't notice a stranger was watching her.

A few hours earlier

Leanne could finally say goodbye to her friend and she was happy to see her go after a carriage ride full of babble concerning Germaine.

Elisabeth waved as Leanne's carriage began its exit from the courtyard. After sighing Leanne sticks her hand out, waving back at Beth.

When finally far enough she -with great relief- rests her back against the cushion of her seat.

The day wasn't as boring for her as she had expected, and somehow she knew Ansel was part of the reason why even if not completely.

This was an unexpected change from her routine view of each day as monotonous. However she didn't know whether to embrace it or turn it away before anything changed further.

Upon deciding not to bother herself with figuring that out she let her eyes close. Yet to her great surprise all she saw when she closed her eyes were Ansel's pink lips smiling.

Those same lips from earlier today grinning without holding any joy back and turning up slightly at the corners when she said something.

Her heart fluttered a little and she caught its signal with alarm. Was this what friendship felt like?

Her hungry yet proud heart -that wouldn't dare to ask for more- once again tried to retrieve memories of spending time today with Ansel. She found more and as she reminisced on past events a burning desire for companionship made itself known to her.

Skkkrrrrr- BOOM.

She heard it before she felt it, but what she felt was enough to make her grip the plush cushion of her carriage seat on instinct.

"What in the world! Mr. Smithers what just happened?" she exclaimed from the back.

Her driver with great worry rushed to her side.

"The horse stumbled over numerous terribly large rocks and in an effort to regain his balance has gotten injured. It's nothing too bad but I'm afraid Necklemeyer cannot go any further."

Leanne comes out of the carriage ignoring his help and takes a look at the bruised horse sitting on the floor and her now dirty driver after the unpleasant tumble he took.

"Well, what do you suppose we do now?"

"Let me go get help Miss, I hopefully won't be gone too long, all you need to do is wait in the carriage and stay out of sight from any unwanted eyes. Or would you prefer to come with me so I might guard you?" Mr. Smithers asks unsurely.

"And suppose you fall into the hands of bandits what then shall happen to me? I'll just hide here. Don't be gone too long -though I suspect not much harm can come to me in what seems to be the countryside."

The driver nods and scurries off.

Time goes by and Leanne soon grows tired of waiting for him so she comes out of hiding.

"I wonder where he is. It's getting late and he may be lost in the woods, I suppose it is high time I go look for help myself." she says to herself as she looks around her trying to figure out where she was.

With little to no clue of her precise location she decides to go through the small forest hoping someone of help would be at the other side.

The path was manageable to walk in, but she had to watch out for any dangerous animals. She had been walking for a while when she thought she saw something with a coat of fur flash by.

Fear gripped her and she peered forward to her right in order to get a better look. "I come in peace whatever creature you may be..." she began.

All she got in reply was a swift movement and the feeling of eyes on her.

"Do me no harm and I shall reward you. Perhaps you are interested in chocolate pudding?" Leanne shakes her head after hearing her offer. What animal would want that enough not to kill her?

"How about fresh game that is not me?"

Still she heard nothing. Then snap. A twig snapped under the weight of the said animal. It came charging towards her and Leanne shrieked in fear shutting her eyes.

Only nothing came after that. She slowly opens one eye to see a baby deer peering up at her with curiosity.

Leanne let out a breath of relief and spoke. "Oh it's just you, a little baby deer."

The deer as if trying to let her know she was not little took a barely menacing step towards Leanne with a snarl. Leanne looks at her amused, but unwilling to infuriate the animal, raised her hands in surrender.

"Let's not act violent whatever-you-would-like-to-be-called; I still come in peace regardless of your stature."

The fawn surprisingly lowers its head like it were nodding and takes a step back as if calling a truce. The creature's ears perk up at a sound and she then bolts in another direction.

Seeing the young creature make her way to an exit, Leanne hurriedly follows.

Finally the baby deer stops and she halts midstep hardly believing what she saw.

The trees hid Leanne well enough to go undetected for a while and so she looked on at the mystery woman from today wishing to see the person's face from her place of hiding. Maybe then she'd be able to understand why she seemed so familiar.

At that very moment, the brunette snaps her head up and the color drains from Leanne's face.

This time not even believing her eyes she comes into clear view and the brunette finally notices her presence.

Shock overtakes the mystery lady's face as well.

"Oh my, you have my face!" said Luanne breaking the silence.

"Mind yourself darling, you have mine as well." says the disturbed Leanne.

They both gasp looking wide-eyed at each other as the truth sunk in deeper.

What was going on here?