Thomas

The scent of rain filled the air as Thomas ran through the forest, confused and afraid without his mother by his side. As the young buck struggled to flee from the dangers behind him, Thomas crashed, tripping over his own limbs and falling to the ground. Disoriented screams filled the forest, crying for his mother.

His cries for help echoed through the trees, a warm hand wrapped around Thomas' chin. "I got yah, little buddy," a man said, gentle and kind, lifting Thomas into his warm and safe arms.

The man took care of Thomas, giving him a home and a new life. He was there watching Thomas grow bigger and stronger every day. Thomas trusted the man, loving him with every fiber of his body; he knew that this man was not of the same species, but loved him as a father. What started as a tragic night turned into a new beautiful life.

That was until one day when there was an intruder. Not a threatening one, but a tiny stray black cat that had wandered beyond the fences of the man's property. As Thomas stood watching the animal, he heard an ear-piercing sound penetrate the silence. The booming echo filled Thomas's ears, and suddenly he remembered. Thomas recalled that same sound before watching his mother fall to the ground in front of him. He watched as the cat fell back, screeching and passing before Thomas' eyes. He turned his head, seeing the man, his best friend, his father, with a shiny metal tool walking toward the now deceased cat.

It was him.

Furious, Thomas charged toward the man. He stood on his back legs, kicking and thrashing at the man. It was the same tool, the same sound that took his mother's life. There was no question. It was clear: the man was a hunter. As Thomas cried his bellows of betrayal, he heard it once more. That terrifying sound, then complete silence. As Thomas slipped into a deep sleep, his heart pooled with pain, watching images of his life flash before his eyes. All his happiness soiled, his soul filled with black clouds of dismay.

That night, the man dragged Thomas' body to his shed and began to do what humans do best: destroy. He hung Thomas' body, then started to skin the buck as though he was nothing more than the catch of the day. When he peeled back the skin of Thomas's face, he trembled, and his heart sank to his stomach. Falling to the ground, he sobbed, staring at the crooked bloody smile filled with serrated teeth.

Hollow black eyes stared lifelessly back at the man. Thomas' body fell from the gut hook, still maintaining his unsettling gaze. His back cracked and twisted, slow and loud like mangled roadkill, as Thomas rose to his hind legs, standing over six feet tall. Deep-throated growls rumbled through the creature's long neck. Blood covered the floor, wafting the smell of iron and rotten flesh into the man's nostrils as Thomas began to walk toward the hunter. With every step, Thomas' mouth opened wider. The man could hear snapping of bones in the deer's jaw as his mouth grew, revealing more and more rows of teeth tunneling down his throat. The man sobbed as he felt his soul rip from his flesh. With his final words he pled for forgiveness, but the damage was already done.

To this day, Thomas roams the woods, searching for those who have wronged others. He searches for those who have been betrayed to give them peace. Though his appearance is scary, Thomas is a good and kind spirit. He appears in his beautiful young buck form to comfort those in need. He leaves trails of new growth and luscious greens where he walks, bringing food and shelter to those who deserve it. Thomas is followed by black cats; they find comfort in his presence because they, too, have been betrayed and neglected over hundreds of years. They help guide Thomas to those who call for his help.