I haven't written anything in this fandom for a year and when I finally do, it's this. Enjoy your disappointment. Hopefully the amusement can almost counter it.

Chouji was holding his chip bag a little too tightly for the chips within to retain their optimal snacking size, but for once that didn't seem very important.

He tried his hardest to hold down the shivers that kept threatening to roll up his spine. Animals could sense fear. He had never been completely clear on what they did once they sensed it, but presumably they attacked because scared prey was so much more entertaining to maim.

He wondered for perhaps the fiftieth time in five minutes how Shikamaru could be so at ease. His best friend was stretched out next to him without a care in the world despite the danger that kept venturing closer and closer. Chouji wondered if it would bother his friend too terribly much if he screamed.

No. He couldn't. That would undoubtedly excite the animals into a horrific frenzy. Shikamaru's life was in his hands, since obviously Shikamaru felt he could trust the larger boy with the difficult task of not getting them killed before he'd had a suitable nap.

Chouji nearly started crying when his stomach growled. The animals stopped their slow perusal of the surrounding area and looked up at him. Their eyes burned with an unholy fire. The boy wondered if they would find him less appetizing if he wet himself.

"Hey, do you feel okay? You're sweating like crazy." Shikamaru was staring at him. Apparently his silent tension had gotten through the lazier boy's Zen aura.

The beasts didn't react much to Shikamaru's voice. Some of them even seemed to lose interest in the boys and went back to their pacing. Chouji took a chance.

"Don't make any sudden movements. They have us surrounded." He scanned with his eyes. Obvious exits: none. "What are we gonna do? They've got pretty long legs. I think they could catch us if we ran. Especially me."

Shikamaru's expression was an interesting mix of condescension, sleepiness, and incredulity. "What are you, stupid? They aren't gonna do anything to us." He thought a moment. "Well, they won't do anything to you if I'm here. If you were here alone, they might not like you as much."

"How can you be so calm? Look at their eyes! What's wrong with their eyes…" Chouji trailed off in horror. When he looked back down, he noticed that Shikamaru was ignoring him.

A snort sounded behind him.

Chouji whimpered.

Shikamaru continued to ignore him. New friend or not, Shikamaru just didn't care enough right now to try and puzzle out Chouji's weird aversion to deer. He was napping, for pity's sake.