Miracles of the Forest

Part 2: The Rut

Ch 5. "Moms and Dads"

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Bambi hurried through the trees in the faded morning light while Rags trotted silently behind him. It was terribly early in the morning; the sun wasn't even up yet and a few stars still twinkled in the grey sky. The air was brisk and chilly, and carried thousands of scents, which caught the attention of the eager young bobcat who stopped every few moments to search for the source of each unique aroma. She'd wait until Bambi was just out of sight, then bound after him, playfully swatting at his back hooves before hopping sideways into a nearby bush. Bambi watched from the corner of his eye, chuckling lightly at the 8-month old kitten's antics. After a long time of walking, the sun was up and the forest was teeming with life. Rags also noticed they were nearing the end of Bambi's territory and heading up a steep, snowy mountain. Finally, Rags spoke up with curiosity.

"Father, what're we going to do today?" She asked elequintly.

"I'm taking you somewhere very special." He answered quietly.

"How come mother isn't coming with?" She inquired again.

"You mother is staying home to supervise your brothers and sisters during The Rut. This will be River and Raven's first time observing, and it will be Geno and Gurri's 3rd year participating. They are all very excited about it."

Rags lowered her ears. "Why can't I watch?"

Bambi stopped and took a deep breath. He turned and lowered his head until his muzzle touched Rags on top of her head.

"Because, my dear, The Rut also brings Man. Man will kill you if he gets the chance. I won't give him that chance. So I'm taking you where it's safe. Man won't venture into the snowy mountains to hunt, so you will be safe there. We will come back in Spring."

Rags purred at Bambi's touch, but she still wore a worried expression.

"Will our herd be safe? Without you, I mean."

Bambi sighed and lifted his head. He looked grimmly at his antler, which had pronged out at the end but would otherwise prove useless in battle. He looked back down at Rags's shaggy face.

"Geno will protect the herd from rival stags. But everyone knows how to avoid Man, including your mother and your brothers and sisters. They know how to keep safe. Trust me."

Rags gave a small smile, but Bambi could tell she was still uncertain about this venture. He looked ahead and could see they were coming upon a meadow. With a few leaps, he stood at the edge of the open field. Rags was quick to join his side. Bambi got down on his knees with his hindquarters high in the air.

"C'mon, jump up on my back, and I'll sprint across the meadow. You used to love to do that!"

Rags laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Daddy, please. I'm too grown for that now!"

Bambi's smile gradually faded into a frown. He slowly got back to his feet. He looked at her. She had grown into a fine animal; her legs were long and slender and her body had become refined and well-muscled. Her fur had grown long and luxorious; it would only thicken before winter, adding to the bobcat's beauty. There was, however, still a very kitten-like quality about her face. But despite her youthful appearance, it was a painful truth that Rags was turning into a lovely adult.

"When did you grow up on me?" He asked in a sad tone.

Rags smiled. In her heart, Bambi was her father. And she loved him more than anything in the world. She had complete trust in him, and so she always went along with whatever Bambi said. She understood she was a rare creature and that Man would stop at nothing to kill her, and she understood that everything Bambi had done was for her protection. But as she was getting older, Rags began to yearn for more freedom, to be included in the often secret activities her older sister, Gurri participated in. In truth, Rags was starting to get tired of hiding all the time...

Rags perked up her tall, tufted ears at the sound of a snapping twig in the grass just beyond the trees. Bambi had come to learn that Rags' hearing was far more sensitive than his own, so even though he did not hear the twig, he trusted in his adopted daughter's abilities, and stood frozen, his eyes on the bobcat. She listened for a few moments, then quickly sunk to her stomach and began prowling towards the sound. Bambi relaxed a bit. He could see by the mischevious grin on Rags' face that there was no enemy to fear. He smiled, too, as the familiar scent hit his nostrils.

Once Rags was almost out of site, she pounced. There was a scream, then a loud russtling as Thumper exploded out of the grass and sprinted into the trees with the equally swift bobcat swiping at his heels. He dashed back into the meadow with the feline still breathing down his back, and was finally overtaken near the treeline as Rags swatted his legs out from under him. He fell on his side and slid to a stop at the base of a birch tree, while Rags stood over him panting. The whole ordeal was over in less than a minute.

Pleased with her skills, Rags strutted away from the stunned rabbit, laughing almost as loud as Bambi was. Flower the skunk, who had accompanied Thumper to the meadow, stepped out from a batch of clover, clutching his stomach as he bellowed cheerfully with the others. Still shaken, Thumper's senses slowly returned and he growled in resentment for his injured ego.

"Ha ha." Thumper mocked. "It gets funnier every time she does that."

"Oh, come on, Uncle Thumper. You have to admit I'm getting better." Rags giggled.

"Well that makes me feel a lot safer." Thumper grumbled sarcastically.

Rags caught the sarcasm right away. Her smile faded.

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't you feel safe with me catching you?"

Bambi suddenly coughed, then proptly and loudly cleared his throat.

"Rags, hun, why don't you go play by those big rocks over there?" He barked.

Rags lowered her ears slightly, then nodded and walked away. Bambi shot Thumper an angry glare.

"What's wrong with you?" Bambi whispered. "Can you be any more insensitive?"

"We're not all as naiive as you, Bambi. Some of us know a predator when we see one." Thumper shot back. "My great great grandfather, Jedidiah Cottontail, was eaten by a bobcat."

Bambi rolled his eyes.

"Yeah yeah, I know the story. I just don't want your paranoia to hurt her feelings. Rags is not going to eat you. How could you even think that? Flower, you don't think that, do you?" The Prince turned his attention to the skunk, who seemd surprised that Bambi had addressed him.

"Of course not, Bambi. I think Rags is sweet." He twirled his finger-like digit around the long fur at the tip of his tail.

"'I think Rags is sweet...'" Thumper imitated Flower in the girliest manner possible. "This coming from a creature that doesn't get eaten by anything! He'd probably think a bear cub is 'sweet'."

Flower scowled at the rabbit. "I DO think bear cubs are sweet."

Thumper rolled his eyes. "Of course."

"I have a solution." Bambi announced. "Why don't you go home to your wife and kids and let me and Rags be on our way, and you won't have to worry about her eating you."

"If those are my choices, then just let her eat me." Thumper replied in a cynical tone.

Again, the rabbit was met with the skunks' scowl. Thumper frowned right back at him.

"What are you looking at?" He snapped.

"You're terrible." Flower said frankly. "That's your wife and kids you're talking about."

"Have you seen my wife and kids?" Thumper challanged.

"Of course I have and I think they're really sw...."

Before the skunk could finish his sentence, Thumper held up his paw.

"For the love of Mother Nature, if you say the word 'sweet' one more time, I will literally hurl a rock at your face."

Flower pursed his lips for a moment before thinking of an acceptable response.

"I think they're pleasant." The skunk finished with a grin.

"That is because you don't live with them!!! I am with them everyday! I have 67 kids, I think I've met 4 of them, I don't know. My wife is....abundant, to say the least. And loud. So, yes, there are times where I'd rather be eaten than go home."

"I just think you should appreciate your wife and kids more, that's all." Flower said with a shrug. "Don't you think, Bambi?"

Bambi chuckled and shook his head. "Sure, I guess. I'm still in shock that he called his wife fat."

"Abundant!" Thumper shouted. "I said 'abundant'. Huge difference."

"Abundantly huge, you mean." Flower