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Vixen milled amongst the failing snow. It was right between season changes, not cold enough for winter, not new enough for spring, though hints of both kept appearing everywhere. It had seemed like such a long winter, and for her it was quite lacking in anything eventful. However, anlach was soon coming up and many females would be approached by bulls.

The pretty reindeer knew she was lovely and though she didn't let it get to her head she was realistic about it. She knew that she would be wooed by at least one male. Pushing some snow away with her hoof she found a few fresh sprouts of grass and nibbled them up, then lifted her head to watch the rest of the herd.

Just as she was looking down again to kick more snow away she hesitated when she caught sight of one of the bulls, separated from the group. She recognized him as Dasher, one of the fastest in the whole herd. He didn't look happy and though that concerned her, what worried her more was that he had moved so far from the group. Exposing himself like that left him as easy pickings for any predators that may decide to stalk them. This late in winter they were hungry and desperate.

Trotting over to the male, she made no effort to walk quietly over. She didn't want to startle him so she made her hoof beats heard.

"Hello there." She said quietly, "Is something the matter?" She looked up and around, scouting for any dangers that might be approaching before once again looking at him.

Vixen blinked once. This male looked like his offspring had been taken by wolves and yet here he stood denying anything was wrong.

"If there's nothing wrong, why do you look so unhappy?" She asked. He hadn't had offspring yet so she couldn't imagine what made him so upset. Then she remembered that he had dancer as part of his harem, "Did something happen to dancer?" She asked, looking around to spot the other female, her collar jingled in an alarming way.

She was both relieved (when he said Dancer was alright) as well as somewhat disapproving (when he said that he had been rejected by Blitzen).

"So because a female rejected you, you've come away from the herd, putting yourself in danger acting like something terrible has happened with the risk that you might get yourself killed and put Dancer through the real pain of having you gone... because Blitzen said 'no' to your advances?" She put it in very straightforward terms. Being away from the group was making her nervous and she didn't have an intention of coming across as mean or rude as she had said it softly, but she couldn't stop looking around and about for predators.

"Silly bull." She smiled, "Come with me back to the herd, we'll find you something nice to munch on and then you can go to your female and hopefully she will cheer you up, yes? I'll have a talk with Blitzen on manners, how does that sound?"

She slowed down to walk next to the male, "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you, and we can get some fresh spring greens in your belly. You'll soon forget ever being upset." She smiled reassuringly at the still sulking male.

She bumped him lightly, in a playful way, "Besides, there are other, much prettier and nicer females out there." She added, flicking her tail cheerfully. Maybe he could catch her good mood.