The golden moon rose in the night. The creatures of the swamp were silent. All that could be heard was the gentle breeze as it carressed the softened waters. A quiet kimeti walked along the one path, waiting, watching. The one who promised himself to her was coming this night! She could not believe her luck. All this time, and it was finally her time.
The wind sang, and the silence from the other creatures only told her how the whole world held its breath as this was her moment. One step, a deep breath to gather her thoughts. Two step, a motion allows the wind to twist in her fur. Three step, a sound breaks into her thoughts. She knew her future, and it was full of love and care. A male to be hers, and she his. Together forever, without a care in the world.
But the sound on the path behind her did not belong to her beloved. Instead it was another, the one she didn't want... the one everyone wanted to have her. But she did not tend for her. He did not make her feel special and cherished. Not only that, but he hated her beloved, with a passion matched by no other. With him came to others, and she knew they were there to force her hoof - to do what she did not want, could not do. Through her, they would seize her beloved, and perhaps kill him.
She could not allow that to happen. She pivoted on a shaking foot and bolted down the path. The sounds picked up, along with the soft echoes of her hooves, as well as those of her followers. Birds called and mammals scurried. Calls rang through the swamp, and her pursuers added their own words. Such horrible things they said as they chased her along the footpath: how they would make her beg, she would watch her beloved call to her with his dying breath, and she would live with only her last memories of him. Her voice had been stolen from her throat.
This could not happen. They could not catch her, but her steps were starting to falter and her heart beat in her chest. It would not be long before the seized her, and her beloved would not be far behind. For this was the night that all her dreams were supposed to come true. Never, never would she see his face again as free and unchallenged as it was just the night before.
They were on her, and just as one lunged to n** at a flank, and force her to her knees, she gathered the strength in her legs and lept. She went to the side, into the lifegiving swamp. In her time of ultimate need, it would be the beloved waters that would give her release.
She dove as deep as she could, and her horns barely remained beneath the surface of the swamp. Her hooves she struck out with, catching the tangling vegetation below the waters. Her soul sang in triumph in love, for she would not be used against her beloved... but her heart shattered, not by the crushing waters as they seized her breathe and life, but for in the moonlight that wove through the ripples, she still saw the saddened death of her one true love.
