up so all could see it was him. They stared at him as if they were all struck dumb.

He swallowed hard and called out, "Greetings."

For a second, he thought they were all going to run away from him. He could not blame them.

Then several started to move. They moved quickly and they moved toward him. He looked toward Bambi who was breaking into a run along with Faline and their fawn. It was Claris who coved the ground running at full. He was afraid if she hit him, both of them might get hurt, but she pulled up and then leaped up on her two hind legs and wrapped her front legs around his neck and rested them on his back. She looked right at him and through a fountain of tears all he heard between the sobs was, "Is it you….It is you." He licked her face and tasted the tears she was crying. He found his own eyes tearing"

"I am back," he told her, his voice choked. "I am not leaving this time."

Next Bambi almost collided with his side rubbed his face along his neck and said in a cracked voice, "You are alive, my friend you are alive."

The others crowded around him pushing him about looking at him in amazement. He was grateful for the chorus of thanks at his return. He shook his body and broke free of them. He was interested in something else. A fawn stood next to Claris. A little male stood under his mother for protection from the crush of bodies. He leaned over and put his face next to the quivering infant. The fawn looked at him for a second as if studying him. Then he raised his head up and started to lick his face. He felt his heart was ready to burst and he wept as much as Claris.

"His name is Stabo," Claris choked through her tears. "At least your son will have a name."

He raised his head and acknowledged the welcome of his herd. He was as filled with happiness as ever he had been in his life. Then he noticed there were several in the heard who did not run to greet him but went back to eating the spring grass. There was still a chill in the air and it was not from the wind.

"My friends," he called to the others around him. "I have been away for a long while. "I thank you for having me back. I would like to speak to Bambi, Faline and Claris today. The rest of you I will talk with later. I have much to learn about what happened while I was gone."

The others seem to understand and left them alone with a series of welcome back and glad you are still alive comments.

"Can we speak alone," he asked the three of them.

Bambi nodded and slowly lead them off the meadow and into the forest. The short climb made his left rear leg sore, but it was getting better. They made their way back to Bambi's cave. He could smell Claris and Stabo had spent their time there while he was gone. Bambi had watched over them.

"So tell us what happened, why are you alive?" Bambi asked.

"I will tell you, but you will not believe it," he said and then told them his story.

If not for the lingering scent of the bear on his fur, he didn't think any of them would have believed him except Claris who spent the time tucked tight against his uninjured side. Stabo drank his mother's milk as did Faline's doe fawn Gina.

"I would think that could never happen, yet here you are," Bambi said as if still not believing it. "None of us thought we would ever see you again. I am glad you are back."

Claris leaned over rubbing his face. "I am very glad," she said softly, her eyes were still watery.

He leaned over, and put his mouth on hers and kissed her for what seem the entire day. He could feel her warmth flowing into to him as his warmth flowed into her. Yes, he was meant to be here with this doe and fawn. Little Stabo finished feeding and wiggled between him and Claris and his tiny head sticking out between him.

"Do the others still want me gone?" he asked Bambi.

"Some still do," he said painfully. "Most are happy to have you back. You called the herd away from Man. Then we all thought you died because of it. Many felt badly afterward and decided that you and Claris were treated unfairly. Many still dislike you both, but enough want you here that I do not have to try and chase you off."

That was a relief for him, especially in the condition he was in now. "That is good, Bambi, because I am not as strong or as fast as I was. You could easily beat me now. I do not know if my strength or speed will ever come back."

"I can see," Bambi said looking at the scars on his left side. "I have never seen a deer hurt so bad and yet still live. You are indeed a strange deer."

"I can see you also took care of Claris," he said. "For that I thank you."

"Bambi let me stay here," Claris added. "When Stabo came he protected us both like we were his own family."

"You are both like my own family. You both are also welcome to stay here," Bambi told them. "This is your home now."

He took a deep breath. Bambi was right. This was his home. He was home, he was with his family, and for the second time in his life, he was content.

The End

For now