tried to move, but he seemed so slow. Everything had slowed down around him. He struggled to follow the others, but he could not keep up. His lungs felt like they were going to burst. His heart pounded loud in his ears. He took several steps and then remembering made as sharp a turn as he could.

"BAMMMM" the ground shook again. He felt his side almost cave in. It felt as if fire was burning along his left side. He struggled again and made it behind a bush and there he fell down.

He lay there panting; then he heard footsteps come close. They were huge like the bear. Then the odor, it was Man. Off in the distance he thought he heard Claris yell something, but everything in his head was cloudy and spinning. They he smelled it: strong and putrefying almost making him vomit. Something came close to him. It was Man He felt someone grab his rack and pull his head up.

"Da Tu no vee," it sounded like to his ears; then he heard Claris' voice scream, "Run."

He put all of his strength and pushed up with his front legs. His head came up. Instantly he felt his antlers hit something. It was soft and he went right into it.

"DAAHHHHHH," he heard from on top of him. He got upon his feet and slowly struggled to where he heard Claris' voice call to him. He was breathing heavily and he moved as clumsily as a new fawn. He walked some distance and then felt something against his side.

"You have been hit," Bambi said. "You are bleeding from two wounds on your side.

"Please come with us," Claris pleaded.

It was then he heard shouting behind him. It was more men and he heard dogs. They were after him. He looked at the others.

"Go," he said weakly. "Man is after me. If you stay here you will be dead with me. "Go," he said and pushed Claris aside.

"No" she whimpered. "I will stay with you."

"GO!" he shouted with all the strength. "I am finished. I am bleeding. The dogs and men will follow me. I will lead them away from the rest of you. You can get away."

"He looked up at Bambi's dark black eyes, they were misty. "Take Claris and leave. Remember what I asked you before. You take care of her. She had no part in anything I have done. She does not have to leave the forest."

"Yes," Bambi said simply. The eyes were cloudy as he looked over his bleeding side. "My friend," he stammered and nuzzled him before turning away.

He then looked at Claris and said. "Thank you, the time I have been in this forest was the best time of my life thanks to you. Now go, now take our fawn and live."

Her eyes were streaming with tears and the barking was getting closer. There was so much more he wanted to say, but he turned away and moved up the hill the best he could.

Claris started to follow him, but Bambi almost knocked her down. Both he and Faline were yelling at her, but through the gathering clouds in his head he could not hear it. He continued to stagger up the hill. He could feel his hot blood flow out of him as he climbed.

As he went, the pain was all he could feel. Get far away from the others he knew. Up he climbed; his left rear leg was now useless and dragged on the ground. The dogs were getting closer. He saw pine trees in the distance. There was an odd smell he remembered, but could not recall it. The callings of the dogs were getting louder. They were almost on top of him. He could not run anymore. He turned and faced the dogs.

He saw the five dogs below him. There were no Men with them. They were alone, but calling to their masters. He stood there and put his head down and waited. As soon as the lead dog was not more than two lengths away, he used the last of his strength to lung at it. He caught the beast in his antlers and flung him aside. He heard the dog cry out in pain. The others came up. His world was spinning. He could not see straight.

Then suddenly there was that familiar scent again, this time very close. He heard a huge growl and something big and black ran by him. It hit the dogs and three of them yelled out in pain. Then the barking sound started to lessen. He sunk to his knees. That was all for him.

The huge dark figure came back to him; then he remembered the smell. It was the large bear. It had come for him like it came for Talis. In a way he felt better. At least Man would not kill him.

He felt the huge mouth lift him by the neck and start to drag him. He expected a quick bite and then nothing, but it did not come. Instead the large bear was dragging him up the hill. That was the last thing he remembered.