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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Inspirational
- Subject: Pets / Animal Friends
- Published: 01/28/2022
Grace
Born 1957, F, from Mesick Michigan, United StatesBaa! Baa! I'm jolted out of my peaceful embracing walk with God as I'm frozen in fear for a quick second or two. Listening intently, I hear it again. Baa! Baa! Startled, taking notice of where the sound is coming from, I steer myself toward that direction. As I slowly advance upon the soft beckoning cry, it spews again. Baa! Baa! Creeping through some thick brush and ferns I come to a low-lying pine tree. Under the tree lies an adorable baby fawn.
Staying my distance but yet close enough so I'm able to see her I remain hidden behind a tree. The precious little woodland babe lies upon a pile of bedded leaves. She is so tiny. So delicate. Her beautiful lustrous coat of soft reddish-brown fur bares splattered white spots across her back. A few tiny tears coat my eyes as I to gaze at this sweet pure wonder of the lush forest. Wanting a closer look, I approach her very very slowly and cautiously as not to scare her. She doesn't appear frightened. Perking up her ears, I prepare to turn and slowing walk away, but then she lifts up her head and sniffs the air as I approach. Kneeling down a few feet from her I'm filled with admiration for this little baby. After a few minutes I figure I'd better leave in case mom is waiting nearby and is wanting to get back to her young.
Two days later I find myself heading back to the spot where I originally saw the fawn, expecting her to be gone. She isn't. Her cries are louder and sadder. She looks so helpless. I don't know what to do. I was always told if you see a fawn in the woods leave it alone. Mom is probably very close by. So, to my better judgment, I didn't bother her. I left the fawn on her own in hopes that mom was nearby.
I couldn't stop thinking of the little young deer still covered in spots so two days after that I went back to the forest to check on her. Praying that she was gone. As I walk through the woods, high-pitched bleating cries penetrate the stillness. I knew it was her. My heart skips a beat. What is happening to her? She sounds so sad, in pain or in distress. Running through the trees, I stumble and fall but pick myself up and continue. As I get closer, I slow down and approach very carefully, because I don't know what is happening. Is she being attacked by an animal? Is she somehow hurt?
Not seeing any other animals around, I quickly dash to her. What I saw scared me and broke my heart. She was lying flat out on her side, her legs no longer curled up under her they were extended out to her side. Somehow, I knew this was not good. Her beautiful spotted body was listless. She looked so frail and fragile. I sensed this little one was in serious trouble. My eyes welled up with tears. Had her mama abandoned her, or had she been the victim of some cruel death? I couldn't let this little one perish. I didn't know anything about saving a baby deer, but I was determined to do what I could to help this little girl survive.
Grabbing my phone from my pants pocket I googled information on what I had to do to help this little creature. It stated I should call some rescue people to come and get her. There was no time for that. I'm her rescue person and I'm going to save her.
Without further delay I quickly went and purchased what was needed (warm goat's milk, special bottles and nipples). Then I rushed back to the fawn praying she was still alive. Not having done this before, it was difficult at first. Laborious for both of us. She was refusing to drink the milk. Refusing water. She was so very weak, but I somehow had to force her to drink. It took me a few tries to get the technique of bottle feeding her but once I did, she took the bottle and began drinking like her life depended on it, which it did.
In a few days she was standing on her own. For the next few of weeks I went back about every three to four hours to feed my newfound friend. I could see her slowly regaining her strength. Early one afternoon I went back to where I left her. She was walking around but didn't seem to go far from where she was born. This time joyful tears fill my eyes causing my vision to blur as I stand there and watch her. She must have sensed I was there because she raised her head and turned in my direction. I thought maybe she would run but she didn't. On little legs she slowly made her way over to me. Reluctantly I raised my hand to pet her. She bowed her head and gently nudged me. As I caress her soft cupped ears, she studies me with her wide-eyed dark brown eyes. My eyes instantly become fixed on hers. At that moment I feel magic happening. We connect in a way I never thought possible between a wild animal and a human.
With a great sense of joy in my heart this little one survived. I named her Grace. I believe in my heart, if not for God's great grace this precious animal would not be here. Day after day, week after week, month after month she grew stronger. This little one somehow sensed that I could be trusted to help her. I don't understand how it happened but I'm grateful it did. As she continued to grow older and stronger, I cut back on my visits for feeding. By around three months she was eating on her own. Although I still brought her a treat of warm goats' milk once in a while, which she absolutely loved. I also spoiled her with apples, grapes, carrots and corn.
Grace made it through the summer and the harsh months of the following winter. Now, a young yearling full of natural energy and playfulness she runs, jumps and frolics throughout the forest. For a wild deer she is very playful and curious. There are days when I'm in the woods and call for her, she doesn't come to me. Other times she announces her arrival by making soft low grunts. I acknowledge her presence by gently calling her name, While still other days she seems to appear out of nowhere. One thing Gracie (nickname) always does to show her affection is to nuzzle against my cheek or neck. Sometimes she even licks me! She is my silly girl.
I'm always in the woods. It's what I enjoy doing in my past time. There have been times when I don't see Grace for days, but I know she is still close by because I can feel her. I often wonder what she does on days I don't make it to the woods. Does she wander through the forest looking for me? Or does she romp about with her deer friends?
It has now been three years since Grace' birth. I've been blessed to nurture and watch a precious little fawn grow into a beautiful elegant, majestic brave doe. Her sleek body radiates strength, speed and agility. But yet it's amazing how this animal can walk beside me so gracefully.
One day while puttering along the trail inhaling the scent of the wilderness, and watching Grace eat blackberries from bushes that grow along the path, I suddenly hear a loud grunting growl noise. It doesn't sound good at all, even Grace halts instinctively causing me to slide behind her for cover. She huffs and stomps her front foot in anticipation of the approaching threat. The hairs on her back stand on end. My intuition tells me I'd better take flight and head into hiding somewhere. So, I sprint to a big oak tree and crouch down on my belly among a cluster of thicket and thorny bushes. There I lie quietly waiting for the onset of the impeding danger. Out of nowhere sprints a huge angry black bear, frothing at the mouth. What the hell, I screech. The bear lunges at Grace. Next thing I know, they are both on their hind legs. Their front appendages slapping and clawing at each other. Terrifying sounds of huffs, moans and snorts come from the bear and wheezes, groans, and shrill screams escape from Grace. I watch in horror as blood flies from both animals.
My heart cries out. “Run, scare off the bear, save Grace!” But my commonsense yells, “No! You can't help her now. Hold steady.” I knew if I tried to help her, I could get injured or killed myself. I watch as the fighting continues between the two with both animals weakening as the battle progresses. I hold back screams as I cry for her pain. My tears are unstoppable, flowing like a raging river. I'm filled with so many emotions of anger, disbelief, guilt. My heart is being ripped out of my chest, as I beg for God to intervene and stop this madness. Maybe I can still save Grace. As quickly as it starts, it's over. The bear limps off into the woods. A lump forms in my throat as I look over at a brown bloody heap on the forest floor. My body trembles, legs are like jello. I rise slowly, each step brings tormenting pain as I know what I'm going to face. I find the strength to run to Grace. I fall to my knees beside her. My chest tightens as wrenching nausea escapes me. Her mangled bloody body causes me to expel my previously eaten meal. Her flesh is torn open in numerous spots. There are deep claw marks all over her body. Huge bites spread across her neck. There is so much blood. Upon closer inspection I see that Gracie's' neck has been broken. I can hold it in no longer. Screaming I yell at God. “Why did you let her die! Why? Why? I don't understand!!!!!" Laying my head on her side, I cry and cry and cry. I cry for Grace. Oh my God, how she must have suffered. The pain she must have endured. I shed so many tears, I didn't know I had.
As I take a few deep breaths and begin to calm down, I softly whisper to Grace. “I love you, Gracie. I will never forget our times in the woods together. You put up a good fight girl. You held your own as best you could. That ole bear was just too much for you. I will always love you."
Breaking the sobering moments with Grace, I hear a soft bleat. What? What is that? Looking over my shoulder is a young fawn whose spots have just about faded away. It is purposefully approaching Grace and I. Taking steps backwards towards the tree where I had been previously hiding, I squat down and watch what was unfolding in front of my eyes. The young one strolls over to Grace. The next thing it did surprised me beyond anything I could have imagined. It laid it's body down next to Grace's and expelled soft whimpering moans and cries.
Could it be? Could this be Grace's offspring? The thought brought a gush of mixed emotions to my heart. One life lost- tears of immense sadness. A new birth - tears of immense happiness.
Gracie's baby.
The cycle of life continues!!!
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