Stacy sat by the window of her cozy little home, her delicate white antlers brushing against the curtains as she leaned forward. The crackling fire in the hearth filled the room with a soft, comforting warmth, casting flickering shadows that danced on the wooden walls. Her blonde hair fell loosely around her shoulders, and she absentmindedly twirled a strand between her fingers, her large, amber eyes gazing out into the darkness beyond.It was late, later than she usually stayed up, but she couldn't sleep. Something in the air felt... off. The usual comforting sounds of the forest—the gentle rustling of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the soft whispers of the wind—seemed muted, almost like the whole forest was holding its breath. She felt a shiver run down her spine, a strange unease settling in her chest.Then, she heard it—a faint noise, just outside her window. Stacy's ears perked up, twitching slightly as she listened. A branch snapping? Maybe an animal? But it didn't sound like any animal she knew. It was a dull, heavy sound, like something moving through the underbrush with purpose.She stood slowly, her heart beginning to race. Her hooves made a soft, tapping sound on the wooden floor as she moved toward the door. She felt foolish for being so nervous—she'd lived in these woods her entire life and had never been afraid of the dark. But tonight felt different. Tonight, something felt wrong.She hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the latch. Her breath caught in her throat. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe she was just being silly, letting her imagination run wild. But the noise came again, louder this time, closer. A strange curiosity sparked within her, mingling with the fear. What could it be? A lost animal, perhaps? Or something else?With a deep breath, she unlatched the door and stepped out into the cool night air. The chill brushed against her skin, and she wrapped her arms around herself, her breath visible in the moonlight. She could see her breath form little clouds that quickly disappeared into the night. The forest around her was bathed in pale silver light, and everything seemed strangely still. Too still."Hello?" she called out softly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she didn't want to break the fragile silence. "Is someone there?"No answer came, only the soft rustle of leaves swaying gently in the breeze. She took a cautious step forward, her eyes scanning the darkness. The forest loomed around her like a great, silent giant, every shadow seeming deeper, every sound sharper. Her heart beat faster in her chest.Stacy moved toward the edge of the clearing, her hooves crunching softly on the fallen leaves. The noise she'd heard was somewhere in the trees just ahead. She could feel a pull, an urge to find the source, even though every instinct screamed at her to go back inside, to close the door and hide under her blankets until morning.Another sound—a low rustling, and then a faint metallic clink. She stopped, her ears twitching. Her eyes, wide and curious, searched the shadows. "Who's there?" she called again, a little louder this time, trying to sound braver than she felt.Then she saw it—a flash of movement, a glint of something metallic in the moonlight. Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes narrowed, trying to make sense of the shape that was slowly emerging from the shadows. It was tall, taller than any of the creatures she knew, with strange, sharp angles and a face she couldn't quite make out. It seemed to be watching her, studying her.Her heart pounded in her chest, a wild drumbeat of fear. She took a step back, her instincts screaming at her to run. But her legs felt heavy, her hooves rooted to the ground. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the figure."Who... who are you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.The figure didn't answer. It moved closer, slowly, deliberately, and Stacy felt a cold wave of dread wash over her. She had never seen anything like it before, had never felt fear like this. Her breath quickened, her hands trembling as she tried to steady herself.Then, without warning, a sharp, deafening crack split the air. Stacy felt a sudden, searing pain explode in her chest. Her eyes widened, her mouth opening in a silent scream as she stumbled backward. She looked down and saw a dark stain spreading across her dress, felt the warmth of blood trickling down her fur.She fell to her knees, her vision blurring, the world around her spinning. The figure stepped closer, its features still obscured by the shadows, but now she could see something—a long, metallic object in its hands, pointed directly at her.Stacy's mind raced, panic and confusion flooding her senses. What was this creature? What was happening? She tried to speak, to scream, but no sound came out. Her strength was fading fast, her breaths shallow and desperate.She collapsed onto the cold, damp ground, her white antlers lying against the earth, her blonde hair splayed out like a halo around her head. Her eyes, once filled with life and so much potential, stared blankly into the darkness as the forest around her seemed to close in.The last thing she saw was the figure standing over her, the gleam of its weapon catching the moonlight. And then, everything went black.The forest fell silent once more. The hunter lowered the rifle, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. The hunt had begun.