awhile, Bambi jumped up onto a large boulder to address the herd. "With any hope," he began, "Life will go on as usual, as will the rut. Trar is dead... Nacht is not. The murder of my father has been avenged, but the battle isn't over. However," he added, "I can assure you that you will have another three seasons of peace. The head of the beast has been cut off... it will take time for another to grow. They can't attack us again until they rebuild. By then... We will be ready."

Kaiser found himself nodding. He turned to his den, tired.

He was burning up. It was blazing hot. Kaiser opened his eyes, standing up. He staggered, his vision squeezing into blackness, his head pounding. He closed his eyes, waiting for it to pass, and as it did, he staggered into the open, brathing in fresh air. He looked around, hearing a call. He bounded after it, finding himself on the moor. There was Death. He was walking about, head low, nosing the bodies. Their spirits awoke and stood up, looking rather horrified after Death spoke shortly to them. Eventually, Kaisr walked over to the great buck. He had large antlers - that hadn't changed. He looked at Kaiser, and the young buck jumped. He looked... tired. "Kaiser," the huge buck greeted dully. "You shouldn't be here. You should be asleep... you know does will be coming into estrus soon. In fact the rut has already begun"

"I couldn't sleep," Kaiser told him. "And... I think this is why." He looked upon the buck sympathetically.

"Indeed," he nodded. "Many of these bucks weren't to die yet. In fact, some were going to die later in the rut, during a skirmish over a doe. But not now. I dare say..." He shook his head. "It's tiring, and enraging. I trust that your father will be ended soon enough, though."
"How soon?" Kaiser asked.

 "That isn't for you to know," Death composed himself briskly. "Go back to sleep, Kaiser. But do me a favor and tell Rosehip her world isn't ending yet - let her know that she has a job to do yet." Kaiser frowned.

"What-"

"Good night, Kaiser." The buck turned and walked away.Kaiser sighed - there would be no answer from the buck. He went bck to his den, and crashed into sleep immediately.

The next morning, it seemed something in the air had changed. Kaiser opened his eyes, awakened very late in the morning by the clashing of antlers. He rolled to his feet, and found Noir, Leaf, and Maple outside. Kaiser was surprised to see how relaxed and - dare he say it - pleasant Leaf looked. Noir licked him on the ear in greeting. "I didn't want to go to the meadow yet," she bleated. "I'm not comfortable going alone, after all."

Kaiser smiled. "That makes sense," he assured her. "After all... the rut has begun."