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When he'd had the courage to search again, he glimpsed his sons walking the grove together - a sight accompanied by a heavy lurch in his chest. So Down was done with her...how was that doe now? Her name...Be Mine? It instilled a sense of urgency, and he broke into a gallop, seeking the girl that his blood likely wrecked.

He ran for hours, forced on several occasions to pause and gasp for air, for Filament, though earnest, was not much of a stud. He called, he pleaded with the Motherfather for him to find her, to find Be Mine.

And eventually the Motherfather led him to her: he saw her colours from the gaps between mangrove roots, and picked his way through the tangle to approach like he had once before.

"Be Mine?" He asked, hesitant now that he'd found her.

Filament had never been a particularly fatherly father, for his mate was a strong, enigmatic dreamwalker, and Filament was a kind, but aimless buck. He'd been an awkward, hooves-off parent when he discovered his children existed, and whether by nature or lack of nurture, they had turned out...variably. 

He believed, guiltily and regretfully, that he had no paternal instinct - but once faced with Be Mine's tragedy, a deep sense of pain, protectiveness and sorrow replaced the former dread in his heart.

With a visible cringe, he attempted to return the smile...then shook his head with shame. He let this happen. "Hello, Be Mine." He whispered gently. "It's me, Filament. I - I'm so sorry."

No, it was mine, he struggled, watching her rise. It was my fault. I should've warned you. It shouldn't have happened. It was my fault.

But again, he lacked the courage, instead lowering his remorseful gaze and said, solemnly and urgently "no, it wasn't. Please don't blame yourself - you were never at fault." He swallowed, concerned that he was worsening the situation, and instead offered clumsily: "if there anything I can do for you, Be Mine? Get something to eat? Bring you to a berry plant? Anything?"

Filament's glowing eyes were wide with dismay, then half-lidded with guilt as she responded in trails...and widened again as she requested this 'Vexed' - his connections did not reach far in the swamp, but the least he could do was try. She certainly didn't seem capable of going anywhere very well on her own. 

"I would love to, but I've not met her before..." He noted, and asked earnestly "how might she look like, Vexed? Or where does she roam, usually?" He'd get her there; it was the least he could do.

Both the doe and her living quarters sounded particularly distinctive - now that he knew the details, he could almost recall the romantic feather-tree in the distance (first scaring him, then captivating him from afar). Filament was greatly encouraged as she stood, and nodded enthusiastically (almost inappropriately so) at Be Mine. "We'll find her," he promised, and set off.

When the feather tree finally came into view, Be Mine was forced to stop walking as the wave of relief that washed over her made her legs go weak. The trek had felt endless, with Be Mine caught between endlessly reliving her last moments with Sideways Down and the embarrassment of being incapable of anything without Filament there to help her. He had been so very patient while she had been so very useless.

The sight of Vexed rushing towards them nearly broke her and she blinked rapidly to fight back tears. Be Mine took a moment to recover, resting heavily against Filament, and as Vexed drew closer, finally stumbled to meet her.

She silently sought comfort from the pale doe, moving forward to press her cheek against the others.

"It was a buck," he said quickly, and soon felt bad for trivialising her state, helplessly adding "a...a very bad one." With that, he looked away from her gaze, reluctant to admit his part in the sordid story.