The old man had lived alone at the edge of the forest for nearly twenty years. His small wooden cabin stood quietly among towering trees, far from the noise of the city, where the only sounds were birdsong at dawn and the whisper of wind through the leaves.

To most people, he was simply known as “Grandfather Luka,” a gentle soul who spent his days tending his garden, feeding stray animals, and walking along the narrow paths that wound through the woods.

He had known both great joy and deep sorrow in his life. Years ago, he had lost his wife to illness and his only son to a distant land from which he never returned. Since then, the forest had become his companion, its silence filling the emptiness that once lived in his heart.

Yet despite his loneliness, Luka never allowed bitterness to take root. Instead, he chose kindness — to people, to the land, and to every living creature that crossed his path.

One cold autumn morning, as golden leaves drifted gently from the trees, Luka set out on his usual walk. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. His worn boots pressed softly against the forest floor as he followed a familiar trail near a small river.

That was when he heard it.

A faint cry — weak, trembling, almost lost beneath the rustling leaves.

He paused, listening carefully. The sound came again, a soft whimper filled with fear and pain. Guided by concern, Luka pushed aside thick bushes and made his way toward the source.

What he found stopped him in his tracks.

A young deer lay trapped near the riverbank, its slender leg caught tightly between fallen branches from a collapsed tree. Its wide, frightened eyes reflected both agony and desperation. The animal had clearly struggled for hours, perhaps longer, trying to free itself. Its body trembled from exhaustion.

Luka’s heart ached at the sight.

“There now,” he whispered gently, lowering himself slowly so as not to startle the creature. “You’re not alone.”

The deer attempted to pull away, fear overwhelming its fragile body. But Luka remained still, his voice calm and soothing. Over the years, he had learned that animals could sense intention, that patience often spoke louder than force.

For nearly an hour, he sat beside the trapped animal, speaking softly, allowing it to grow accustomed to his presence. Gradually, the deer’s trembling eased, its breathing slowing as it sensed no threat from the old man.

Carefully, Luka examined the branches. The heavy wood had twisted in a way that pinned the deer’s leg tightly. Freeing it would not be easy. He returned to his cabin and brought back tools — a small saw, rope, and blankets.

Working slowly and cautiously, he cut through the tangled wood. Every movement was deliberate, every action filled with care. The deer occasionally cried out in pain, but Luka continued speaking gently, reassuring it with each breath.

Finally, after hours of effort, the branches loosened.

The deer’s leg was badly injured, and when it attempted to stand, it collapsed immediately. Luka knew he could not leave it there. With surprising strength for his age, he wrapped the animal carefully in a blanket and carried it back to his cabin.

From that moment, his quiet life changed.

He cleaned the wound, applied herbal remedies he had learned from his ancestors, and built a warm shelter beside his home. Each day, he fed the deer by hand, bringing fresh water, tender leaves, and grain. He spoke to it constantly, not as one speaks to an animal, but as one speaks to a dear friend.

Days turned into weeks.

The once-frightened creature slowly regained its strength. Its eyes, once filled with terror, now softened whenever Luka approached. It began to stand, then walk, though still with a slight limp. The bond between them grew in silence — a connection built not on words, but on trust.

Villagers who occasionally visited Luka’s cabin were astonished by what they saw. The gentle deer followed him through the garden as he worked, resting peacefully nearby as he sat on his porch each evening. It no longer feared human touch, yet it remained most comfortable beside the old man who had saved its life.

But Luka always knew this companionship could not last forever.

“The forest is your home,” he would tell the deer quietly, stroking its head. “You belong where the wind is free.”

One spring morning, when the trees blossomed with new life and the forest awakened with color, Luka noticed the deer standing at the edge of the woods, gazing into the distance. Something in its posture told him the time had come.