I think I have decided to cut the montage and add the bit back in with the growing and shedding of antlers on the girl. But, instead of 3D, real object antlers, I'm going to have her grow and shed antlers that I draw over the frames in charcoal. Possibly inverted to white so that they show up better on the BG as well as look like those of the deer. This will also be a clue to the deer's spirit form.
Here's an example, from a short I made, of how I want it to look:
LINK!
(Kremlin Tetris).