red from the reflection of the flames. Bambi felt miserable. He had no idea how they would go on after this. Where would they live?

“Are you okay?” a voice suddenly snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“Your father said man hit you with one of the teeth they always throw at us.”

Bambi turned his head to look at the small wound on his flank. She was right; he had been hit by a bullet. But with the whole adrenaline which had flooded his veins, he hadn’t really noticed the pain until now. After his father had got him to get up, the only thing he had had in mind was running. Running after The Great Prince with blind trust. Bambi had instinctively known that following the old stag had been his only chance of surviving.

He felt the wound throb, but that was all. Nothing more. After arriving here, his father had given him some plants he had found, although Bambi had no clue where. But the old stag was very wise, Bambi knew that well. It seemed that the Great Prince always found a way to survive. The young buck just hoped that he could also find them a new place to live.

“I’m okay,” he whispered.

Primel gave him a glad smile before she once more turned her attention to the fire. She sighed as well when she saw the destruction before their eyes.

“So much has been lost today…”

Bambi knew what she meant. Not only had they lost their home, the fire and man had also taken the lives of deer and the other animals. Bambi hadn’t talked to anyone but her yet, but he guessed that most animals had lost someone this day.

At least he hadn’t lost anyone who was dear to him. The Great Prince, Thumper, Flower…they were fine. Primel, who he had really come to like, was okay as well. And…

Faline.

She was fine as well. She had to be.

But all those places that remembered him of her were gone now. The meadow where they had met for the first time, where they had played tag and talked - the flames had taken it. The tree by the pond were she had kissed him right before the fight with Ronno – gone. He just prayed the memories they had wouldn’t fade like the places of their youth.

“What are you thinking of?”

Bambi turned his head and noticed how curious Primel looked at him.

“A doe I really liked. Her name’s Faline. I just remembered how we used to play as fawns.”

“Oh…a doe.”

Primel suddenly looked weird. She wasn’t smiling anymore and stopped talking to him. She just stared at the ground, at the flames, at the blood red sky, at the other animals…at anything but him. Bambi tilted his head.

What was wrong?

“Where is she?”

“Another buck took her away after I lost a fight against. I have no clue where she is.”

“Do you miss her?”

“She was my best fawnhood friend. So…yeah, I miss her.”

“Oh.” Primel turned her head away and glanced behind. She then briefly looked at Bambi. “Sorry, I have to go. See you later!” With that, she quickly left. Bambi stared after her with a confused face. What was wrong with her?

“Primel!” he called, but she didn’t turn.

What was wrong with that doe?