"Mother," was all she said in a low whisper.

There a were a few more voices, most from some of the older does, the three four-year males and five four-year females also indicated they wanted to go back.

"Thank you," Bambi said. "I and Faline will also go, but we will wait until mid summer when the fawns are bigger and can make the trip more easily."

Both Claris and he looked at each other. It was hard to imagine the forest without Bambi and Faline. For the longest time they were their only friends. The forest was going to get lonelier again. There was nothing to be done about it. To him it felt like the end of the age was upon them.

"Father," Veron spoke up and stepped forward. "Many of us have decided to go to the other forest with the Man Path. We will live there."

"No," Jolo called out. "If you go there, you will die there. Any deer that goes near one of the Man animal as it goes down the path dies. I have seen it."

"There are no Man animals at night," Veron replied. "It will be no worse than staying here with Man on the meadow at all times."

He didn't know if Jolo was angry because they were going to take over his old home, or if he was angry because he felt they were being extremely foolish. "Suit yourself," he said with distain. "I will not go with you."

"I understand," Veron said and dipped his head in a mark of respect. Bambi had lowered his head like Claris had when her mother said she would leave. The herd was not just breaking up. Families were breaking up also."

"If I may speak," he heard Stabo say. Usually yearlings kept quiet at gatherings until they were older and wiser."

"Go ahead," Bambi said. "This affects all of us, even the young."

"The yearlings all talked it over and we have all decided to go with Veron," Stabo announced. Immediately, a dozen yearlings started nodding their head in approval including Gena.

All he could do is lower his head and shake it in disapproval. This was becoming worse than he could imagine. He felt his world was falling apart and there was nothing he could do to stop it. It was going to be a much different forest after they all left. He looked at Claris who now had tears running down her eyes. Her family was going away.

"If that is your decision, then I wish all of you good luck," Bambi said "I feel we will all need it. Those who have not spoken will be staying here in this forest?"

Jolo and stepped forward. "I will stay here," he said simply.

Finally he felt he had to say something. "Claris and I will also stay here," he said loudly."I must tell you I feel breaking up the herd like this may cause some bad times, but I understand it is everyone's own decision. I hope we do not pay too high a price for this."

Most of the three-year old deer all motioned that they would be staying in this forest. The dangers of the known were less than the dangers of the unknown. One herd had become three in less than a night."

Is there anyone else who wants to say anything more?" Bambi asked.

Everyone was silent, more like stunned at what had just happened. Even the forest had become deadly quiet.

"Let us go eat," Bambi said.

He tried to eat, but the grass had no taste for him that night. Even Claris only ate a little. They did not speak, that would come later when they bedded down to rest. Instead he spent a while looking at the Man caves at the far end of the meadow. They were getting larger. Soon many Men would come and bring their killing sticks. Men were to blame for this. If they had stayed away, none of this would have happened. He felt the anger build up in him again. Man had taken from him so much, and now after he had found a home, Man was causing that to break up. He wished fire from the sky would come and burn Man like he burned deer. It was then he saw Bambi and Jolo walk over toward him.

"Can we speak to you alone?" Bambi asked.

Claris took Stena back toward the other doe. He walked toward the far side of the meadow. When he was sure they could not be overheard he stopped. Both Bambi and Jolo looked serious, Jolo looked even afraid, something was not right.

"Speak," he said.

"You know what this means," Bambi said.

"Three herds, only one leader," he said.

"You always were smart," Bambi said. "I will take those back to the old forest. That means no one will be here for the other herds."

"Except you," Jolo added.

It took him a second to realize what they meant. "You want me to be herd leader in this forest?" he asked not believing it.

"Who else," Bambi said. "I asked you before to take over if anything happened to me. Well, something is going to happen to me. I am leaving. You are the strongest, the wisest, and know more about how to avoid Man than anyone. Who else should be herd leader?"

"I will not challenge you for leader," Jolo said. "I have seen your actions and heard your advice. It is better than mine."

"Thank you," he said and bowed his head. "What of the herd going to the other forest.

"The only ones from that forest who are going back with Veron are not that strong or wise, they cannot be leaders," Jolo said factually. "The yearlings are still too young to lead and Veron is the leader of his age group. Veron will more than likely be the leader over there even though he is too young. I also have to tell you anyone that goes with them I feel will not live long."

He could see the effects of Jolo's words on Bambi. Both his son and daughter were going. He could tell this was tearing at him. This was all coming too fast for him. He needed to think.

"Too much, too quickly," he said. "I need to think how we can make the best of this. Bambi, I would like to see you, Jolo, Veron and Stabo in the small clearing right after dark tomorrow to see how we can make this work."

"I will be there," Bambi said. Jolo nodded.

Now all he had to do was think of something to tell them.

Despite all that had occurred, he and Claris did not exchange too many words other than what he told her about what Bambi had said. Claris was stunned and hid her expressions from him. He could not tell if Claris was happy she would be the mate of the herd leader or afraid because of what he told her about past herd leaders he knew and how they all died. She rested fitfully. He couldn't sleep at all. There was no good way to do what had to be done, yet it had to be done. It was late in the day before his fatigue finally overcame him.

Just after dark, Bambi and he walked silently toward the small clearing. Bambi was looking to him for a clue about what he was going to say, but he realized he had to tell all of them the same thing at the same time for this to succeed. They walked into the small clearing with the others already there. Jolo with his full rack starting to grow in was by far the tallest. Veron, with his smaller rack was shorter than Jolo, but was going to be heavier. Stabo was the smallest and youngest of all. They all looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and anxiousness.

"Thank you all for coming," he started. "Although I do not like what is going to happen to the herd, the decision is made and we have to live with it. What is important now is how to prepare all three herds to best survive the coming Season and winter. There is enough food to supply us all, and I think that will not be a problem. What will be a problem is how to avoid Man. Man is coming into the forest in increasing numbers and he will come after us. Because of my past, I have knowledge that has helped Bambi and others avoid Man. Most of the time this works, sometimes it does not," he said and looked at his scarred side.

"Bambi is an experienced leader and will have no problem with the herd going back to the old forest. Veron, you will most likely be herd leader of the group going into the forest by the Man path. To be honest with you, you are still too young to do this, but there is no one else. You will need help." With that he stopped and looked directly at his son.

"Stabo, you can help him like I help Bambi, but you need to know how. I will be herd leader in this forest; however if something happens to me, then Jolo will need to take over here, and he also needs to know how to avoid Man. I must therefore teach both Stabo and Jolo what I know about Man. It might also help Bambi and Veron to know this, but the main thing with you Veron is that Bambi has to teach you how to be a herd leader. Unfortunately we do not have much time to do any of this, so we need to start now. Do any of you have any questions?"

That was a lot to be said quickly, but everyone, even Bambi was still letting him take charge. No one said a word.

"Very well here is how we start. I am going to do something I have only done twice before. I am going to tell you the full story of my time with Man and how I gained this knowledge." He looked at Stabo. "I only told your mother and the bear this story, because I did not want to upset the rest of you. Afterwards I will teach Jolo and Stabo all the tricks I have learned about Man. Bambi will teach Veron what he knows about being a herd leader. We will do this every night until you are all ready to leave for the new forest. Do you all agree?"

"I do not like this," Bambi said looking at Veron, "but Stranger I know you are correct."

"Thank you, Father, for giving us this knowledge," Stabo added.

"Do not thank me," he said loudly. "I am doing you no favors

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