"Marigold!?" Birch snapped. "Salvia, have you gone insane!?"

"No," the doe fawn muttered. "I haven't. I need marigold."

"I don't understand," Bambi shook his head. "Marigold? What's wrong with that?"

"The only place around here that it grows is in the farmer's garden," Campion said quietly. "I=I don't know how we're going to get it.":

"You'll find a way," Salvia assured them. "Please. I need this plant."

"Fine." Birch turned sharply and made his way out of the hollow and toward the house. Bambi stared after him as Campion followed the other buck. Bambi stood.

"Wait, Bambi," Salvia suddenly bleated. Bambi turned. "I've seen how you react to man... I don't wanna take a risk that you'd freeze. I know it wouldn't seem like it, but you'd be putting all three of you in more danger."
"All three?" Bambi frowned.

"Birch doesn't seem that nice, I know. He's kinda cold and very blunt. But he saved your life before. He has a good heart, really." Salvia looked down at her leg.

"Okay," Bambi sat down and watched the other two disappear.

Ronno

Ronno trotted back to the clearing where the strange buck was still. He watched as the others seemed to carve a wide circle around him, as if utterly terrified. He didn't understand. Suddenly, though, a muscular, dark brown fawn with tan socks and a killer look to him was next to Ronno. "That's Trar. They say he's killed five other bucks. But when my antlers come in, I'm going to take him down." Ronno stared at the other fawn.

:Five?" he gasped.

"By the look of him, probably more." the fawn's dark hazel-green eyes shined.

Ronno slipped away and got closer, where a bold buck had challenged Trar. Immediately the fight began as Trar fell on him as soon as the challenge was made. He was a savage fighter, aiming very few blows to lock antlers. He was going after the buck's sides, eyes, and throat. Ronno was horrified. Even he wouldn't have ever dared challenge this monster! He had opened a wound in the challenger's side and neck. The buck ran. He seemed to know that if he continued, Trar would kill him. Ronno shuddered. Faline had been right. Ronno shouldn't hang around. Trar turned slowly, his rugged pelt moving in the wind, and turned harsh eyes on Ronno. "Do you need something?" he growled, his eyes cold and hateful. Ronno took off, running as fast as he possibly could.

"Faline!" Ronno charged right into the other fawn, not able to stop.

"Ronno! What-!?" She wrestled out from under him, looking at him in bewilderment.

"Five," Ronno gasped. "That thing killed five deer at least!"

Faline's eyes grew wide. "You can't go near him again," she pleaded.

"I don't plan on it," Ronno assured her. Then he told her about the fight and the other bucks. Faline's eyes grew to the size of moons.

Campion and Birch

Campion silently moved toward the house. Birch stood next to him unflinchingly, silent and sure. "What're we gonna do?" Campion whispered.

"Go in quickly, get the marigold, and get out. The dogs are in the feild still, so we should be able to accomplish this easily. We'll be seen so we have to escape through the cornfield." Birch said, calculating everything. Without waiting for a word from Campion, he bounded into the yard, running over to the garden. Campion followed him, his ears flicking anxiously. He didn't like broad, open places. He nipped a mouthful of the flower and darted toward the corn as howls of hounds broke out. Birch overtook him, running right over a cornstalk and mowing it down. Campion followed, trying not to mark his path. He wove through the stalks, hearing the dogs around him. One hound leaped in front of him, and Campion slid to a stop.

Birch raced by, distracting the dog long enough for Campion to dart off. The doggave chase, but it wasn't fast enough to catch the two. Both fawns ran back to the hollow, gasping for breath. "Got it," Birch swallowed, trying not to show how tired he was.

"Thanks," Salvia took the plants. "Now you three go find yourself somethin' to drink."

Swallowing, Birch and Campion nodded. Bambi stood and followed them, leaving Salvia to treat herself.

The three buck fawns walked over to the stream in the woods, drinking. "That must've been exciting," Bambi said, looking at the other two.

"Not really," Campion shrugged.

"A bit frightening I guess," Birch observed flatly. He didn't sound like he was frightened at all. "Anyway I have to go." He turned and bounded off.

"Me too, I'd bet mom will wonder where I've been." Campion glanced around and took one last drink. "Bye, Bambi!" He took off as well, in a different direction than Birch. Bambi sat down. What should he do? Go home, or wait on Salvia? He couldn't stay too long, but Salvia was in danger if he left.

A few hours later, after Bambi had wandered a bit, Salvia stood slowly and limped out of her hollow, not putting any weight on her leg yet. "Hiyah, Bambi." She bleated. "Why don't we go home? It's getting late."

Bambi nodded. "Good night, Salvia," he called as he walked home.

"G'night, Bambi!" Salvia hopped off on three legs.

When Bambi got home, Mina smiled. "Did you have fun?"

"Yah," Bambi nodded. "I made some friends, too."
"Tell me all about it!" Mina bleated happily. She couldn't be more pleased that her adoptive son was getting along so well.

--------

Several months passed. Fall was coming, and Bambi was wandering into the clearing. There were, to his surprise, full families of deer. He immediately spotted Salvia and Campion. The buck fawn's antlers had already started nubbing, and he looked mighty proud of himself with a high head and flickering tail. Salvia bounded over. "What's going on?" Bambi asked her immediately.

"We're moving into deep woods," Salvia told him, scuffing the ground. "Where you live, you shouldn't have to, but... I have to do this every Fall. I don't think I'll see you until Spring, Bambi... I won't see Birch or Campion, either." She looked sad at the notion.

"Oh..." Bambi's ears went down. He hadn't realized it but he would really miss Salvia. "Um... Well-"

"Salvia!" He was cut short and Salvia turned to her mother who called her. "We need to get going!"

"G'bye, Bambi," Salvia bleated. "Stars and Sun be with you."

"Bye, Salvia..." Bambi stared in sadness as his friend bounded off. Campion walked over next.

"Well," Campion had a bittersweet note to his voice. "There goes one pretty girl. I'll be going next."

Bambi looked surprised. He hadn't realized that Campion liked Salvia. He looked at the other fawn. "You like her?" he asked in bewilderment.

"Nah," Campion laughed. "But I can see she's pretty. I think you can, too," he smirked and bumped his shoulder into Bambi. He looked away.

"I-I hadn't noticed," he said.

"Sure. See yah later, Bambi," Campion winked. "Next time I see you, who knows... I'll have my antlers and so will you, so maybe we'll be fighting over a doe." He laughed and bounded off. Bambi heard him say to his mother, "I've spoken to everyone, I'm ready to go."

After watching awhile, Bambi spotted Birch. He could tell the other fawn saw him too, but apparently didn't feel it important to say goodbye as he and his mother left the clearing. Soon, Bambi and Mena were alone. "Well, Bambi," his mother told him, "It looks like it's time we go home." Bambi nodded and turned, following her.

Ronno and Faline

 The leaves were falling, and Ronno knew this time of year was the best: It was the rut now. The herds were full of tension. The bucks were ready to fight. Trar was still around, bringing a new air of fear to the herd. He was far from attractive and no doe would want any part of his harem, and the bucks were terrified of his strength. But they felt that the Great Prince would take care of it. The fights had already started though, and with Trar not around at the moment, everyone was in high spirits and fights were everywhere. All was well in the herd and no deer anticipated any change. Ronno watched as the Great Prince stepped onto the meadow, scanning for does. That was when Trar appeared.

The Prince had stepped up to an impressively healthy looking doe, with glossy, pale brown fur. She seemed deeply interested in him, feeling that she would only have to deal with one buck rather than multiple. Much to her surprise - to the Prince's surprise - Trar too stepped forward, looking cold and threatening as ever.  He tossed his head and the Great Prince looked as if he didn't even feel that this was more than a joke. He didn't say anything, just frowned at the other buck. Trar didn't back down.

So the Prince charged.

Trar met him readily, and shook his head, locking antlers. He threw his rack about, shaking the head and neck of the Prince. The other deer had all stopped and were watching.

The two bucks broke away, and Trar sneered. "It isn't the doe I want," he told the Great Prince.