Bambi peered out of the den silently. He was cautious, and peered out, looking around everywhere.

Cassie walked up to his side. She was silent, and looked at Bambi, frightened.

"Is Man gone?" she asked quietly.

Bambi looked at her. "I think so," he said.

"Where's your dad?" Cassie asked anxiously, looking around.

"I don't know," Bambi said, nervous all of a sudden.

"Do you think he's okay?" Cassie asked.

"I hope so," said Bambi.

The two fawns listened. There was silence, and it soon became unbearable. Bambi looked at Cassie.

"I'm going out," he said.

"What?" said Cassie.

Bambi didn't listen. He started to walk out of the den.

"Bambi, no!" cried Cassie. She ran up to him. "Stop. You can't go! Please! I want you to live!"

"Man's gone," the fawn said to his friend. "I just need to go find my dad."

Cassie backed away slowly, into the shadows. She was only doing what Bambi wished. Bambi looked out of the den and turned his back to the female fawn who feared for him, and he stepped out into the light.

"Be careful, Bambi," called Cassie.

Bambi nodded, gulped, and started to walk away.

"Bambi," came a male voice behind him. Bambi turned around. It was the Great Prince, his father. He dropped Amber onto the ground. Amber had a big wound on her flank.

"Amber," said Bambi, leaning over her. She didn't answer.

Cassie then appeared. "Bambi," she cried, rushing up to him. "You're all right! And you too, Great Prince!"

"Yes," said the Great Prince, "but Amber is seriously hurt."

Amber's eyes opened. She moaned and struggled to look at her friends.

"Amber?" asked Bambi.

"Are you all right?" Cassie asked.

"No," said Amber. She began to shiver.

"I think..." the Great Prince began. The two fawns looked at him. "I think... I don't think she'll make it through the next few days. She may even be dead tomorrow."

Bambi hung his head. Why did this always happen to him? First his mother, now one of his closest friends? Next thing, Cassie would get attacked by Faline... It was possible. Faline had gone crazy with her love for Bambi, and she didn't want any does interfering. She would willingly kill Cassie if she got the chance. Bambi knew that. Cassie knew it. Faline knew it.

Bambi looked at Amber. She was laying limp in the grass, her breathing slow and difficult.

Cassie sighed. Bambi embraced her in an attempt to cheer her up and comfort her. But it wasn't working. Cassie sighed, and looked at Amber.

The Great Prince sighed. "Bambi, go back to the den. Cassie, go home. I'll call Amber's mother and take her home, and..." he trailed off. Then he sighed, and said, "We'll just hope for the best."

Bambi lowered his head. He started on back to the den. "Bye, Cassie," he said.

"Bye, Bambi." Her voice was low and sad. She then walked away, and vanished into the woods.

Bambi lay down in the soft bedding. He fell asleep, and dreamed again.

This time, it was a nightmare. Faline lunged at Cassie and pushed her to the ground. Then Bambi cried out, but he was too late.

Bambi woke up. He sighed, and fell asleep again a few minutes later.

The next morning, Bambi woke up and yawned. He walked out of the burrow, and found his father grazing a few yards away.

"Dad," he said. The Great Prince turned to his son.

"What happened to Amber?" Bambi asked.

The Great Prince sighed. "We don't know yet," he said. "But Amber's mother promised to tell us Amber's status today." He turned back to grazing.

Bambi lowered his ears and tail. "Can I go see Cassie?" he asked.

"Sure," said the Great Prince. "Go ahead."

Bambi nodded, and started to walk to Cassie's den.

"Hi, Bambi," said Cassie.

"Hi," said Bambi.

"Amber can't die," said Cassie, almost sobbing. "She just can't."

"I agree," said Bambi. "Our playtime just won't be the same without her."

"Want to go to the meadow?" offered Cassie.

"Sure," said Bambi.

The two fawns strolled off to the meadow. They reached the stream, and drank some water. Cassie raised her head, and Bambi looked at her. "Let's go play," said Cassie, walking away.

Bambi nodded, and followed her.

The two fawns played around, but not excitedly like they used to. The oncoming fate of Amber kept their spirits down. Once, Cassie sighed and lay down under a tree. Bambi lay next to her.

Cassie sighed. "What do you think's going to happen?" she asked Bambi.

"I don't know," said Bambi, shaking his head.

"I hope Amber will be okay," sighed Cassie. "She needs to be okay."

"I hope she's okay," said Bambi, staring at the ground. "Nothing in our lives will ever be the same without her. We're supposed to do everything together. Amber can't let one man and his gun get between her and us."

"I hope she knows that," said Cassie.

They sighed.

"Amber needs to live," sobbed Cassie. Bambi moved closer to her. He tried to comfort her, but his efforts were in vain. Cassie sighed, trying to fight back her ters, but they flowed forward.

The two fawns hung out in the meadow all day, talking and wondering about Amber. Finally, they decided to return to Bambi's den.

"Dad," called Bambi, "what happened to Amber?"

"Well," sighed The Great Prince.

"Well? Is she all right?" asked Cassie.

"Well, she's still alive..." began the Great Prince.

"And?"

"She's worse than yesterday."

Cassie and Bambi sighed.

"We'll get more results tomorrow," the Great Prince said.

Bambi sighed and walked into the den. Cassie looked up at the Great Prince.

"Go home, Cassie," he said quietly.

Cassie obeyed. She walked off into the growing shadows.

Bambi lay in the den, his eyes closed, Amber and what might happen to Amber filling his mind. He fell asleep after about two hours, and slept for about one.

He woke up an hour later, cranky and upset, and, most of all, worried about Amber, and he walked out of the burrow. His fur was ruffled, and his eyes had bags under them. He sighed and walked away, up to his father.

"What happened to Amber?" Bambi asked.

"Bambi, you look awful," his father said. "How much sleep did you get?"

'That doesn't matter," snapped Bambi crabbily. His father looked stern.

Bambi shrank away. "Sorry," he said. "I got about an hour of sleep last night."

The Prince lightened up. "Now, to answer your question, Amber's mother still hasn't given me any results on Amber's status yet. I should have the news by noon today."

"Noon?" exclaimed Bambi.

"yes," said the Great Prince. "Amber's family wakes up late."

"I wish I had done that," mumbled Bambi to himself. "Bye, dad." he walked into the den, and covered himself with leaves and bedding.

His father peered into the den. "Bambi?" he called. "Are you going to see Cassie?"

"No," moaned Bambi. "Not right now. I just want to wait for the news about Amber."

His father grunted and vanished.

Meanwhile, Cassie walked out of her den. She looked around, and then started to walk down to the meadow by herself.

She reached the meadow, and was just leaning down to drink at the stream when she got splashed. She cried out, and dashed backwards. She found herself soaked and sitting in the water.

Faline. It was Faline. Faline laughed, the mean laugh she did two days before, and she walked closer to Cassie. Cassie started to back away.

"Scaredy cat," chuckled Faline.

Cassie, shy and scared, backed away faster, until at last she tripped on the bank and fell backwards. Faline leapt on top of her and looked her in the eye.

"You a scaredy cat?" Faline said, angrily.

Cassie shrank away. "i jsut know how strong you are," she said.

Faline laughed. "You're scared of me! You're a scaredy cat!" She continued to laugh.

"I'm not a scaredy cat!" Cassie exclaimed, lowering her head and lunging at Faline. Faline cried out sharply, and Cassie leapt clear out of Faline's way.

Faline growled. "Why did you do that!" she yelled.

Cassie cowered back. "I'm dead," she thought.

Faline lunged at her. Cassie screamed and started to run. Faline was at her heels, in a rage. Now there were two things driving her to hurt Cassie: The fact that Cassie hit her, and to win Bambi's heart back.

Cassie tripped on a stone and fell to the ground. Faline was coming at her so fast, that she forgot to be careful. Faline attempted to skid to a halt, but too late. She tripoped over Cassie, and, with a yell, fell over.

Cassie gave a cry of terror and started to run again.

"Oh, you're going DOWN!" Faline shouted, giving chase.

Cassie tried to run, and she was soon running for her very life. Faline was in a rage she had never had before. She had gone crazy. Cassie continued to run, and Faline continued to chase her like a wild animal hunts its prey.

Finally, Cassie tripped and fell over... and Faline saw the opportunity. She darted in and, with a hit from her hooves, ended the

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