The best kiss ever. 

(There's no sound, but - Svetka sees a white shape moving through the trees a bit behind the Darkling - and then more.)

She makes a bit of a startled noise, muffled by the Darkling's mouth.

She pulls back. 

"Look," she says quietly, nodding in the direction of the moving shape.

She turns, and - "Oh."

A large stag emerges from the crowd of deer, in a clearing just past the little stand of trees they're in, and he looks at them both.  

"Is that- Morozova's?"

"I think so," she murmurs, softly. 

"What... should we do?"

She looks at the stag, something uneasy in her chest. 

Then, slowly and quietly: "He'll flee if I move. Get closer to him - slowly - and draw him away from the herd. Disable him."

"Okay."

Svetka separates from the Darkling and slowly moves away, arcing towards the stag.

It looks at her, snorting a little - its gaze turning away from the Darkling. It doesn't flee - nor does it look ready to - but it's not getting closer yet. 

She raises her hands carefully and slowly approaches. "It's all right..." she says soothingly.

He lowers his head - 

And takes a few slow, considering steps toward her. 

"That's right," she says encouragingly.

The stag really is a beautiful animal. It's shaped enough like a horse that she notices some of the same details in its build. And it feels... bright, somehow. Warm.

Closer - 

Until she could reach out and touch his face, if she wanted. 

She does want. "Hello boy," she says, stroking its muzzle. "Aren't you handsome?"

He nuzzles her, then goes to investigate her hair, curiously (given her a direct look into his eyes; he looks old, and aware, more than an animal should).

Giggle. (She feels calmer, her heartbeat slowing to match the slow thump-thump she can feel in the beast's neck.)

He sniffs her, then gently nudges her with his head a bit - she gets the sense he's trying to nudge her towards his herd.

"Not that way." Pat pat. "Let's walk off a little, just you and me." She steps back, training out her hand.

Huff.

He follows her, though, steps in sync with hers. 

"That's right. A little more." Step step step.

When they're far enough, she rests her forehead against his, and strokes his neck. "...Best if you stretch out, I think."

Snuffle.

And, the next little step she takes back, he doesn't follow - instead stretching his neck to continue staying in contact with her.