Chapter 5: The Return

The Stranger stood next to Claris trying to take it all in. Faline was there, along with some younger doe that looked like Faline, Jolo, Stena, Gerta, another male fawn he did not know, and inside the cave was Bambi. He was lying down and it looked like he had been beaten badly by another deer. He had cuts along his front and his flanks. No antler wounds, it was still too early in the season for that. Bambi looked like he had been kicked repeatedly. It was all too much to take in at one glance.

He first turned to Faline, "Who is the doe and fawn?" he asked.

"I am Gurri," the younger doe said in that same tone of voice that Faline spoke with. "This is my son Balo."

"You were Faline's and Bambi's first daughter" he asked remembering what Bambi told him about the other forest.

'Yes," she said. "I came back with Mother and Father, after the fight with Geno."

"Geno, Bambi's son?" he repeated looking inside at the injured deer lying in the cave. "Bambi's son did this to him?"

Both Faline and Gurri seemed to break out into tears together. "Yes," Faline sobbed. "My own son did this to his Father."

He was aghast. He could never imagine him trying to hurt Bambi, but his own child did this to his father. Why, this was not the Season. Deer didn't fight like this at this time. "Why?" was all he could get out his confused mind?

Gurri stepped forward and tried to explain. "After Mother and Father left with most of the herd after the fire, my brother resented it. He felt his Father had abandoned him. The older deer knew this and made it rough on Geno. They chased him, teased him, and beat on him. That went on until he was a three season male and then he took revenge on them. He was strong like his Father. His rack was huge, more like Bambi's Father the Old Prince. He beat them. He beat all of them. He did not just beat them, but beat them so badly that they were injured. One male died later in the winter because he could move around to find food. After he beat them he took their does and bred with them. He did not care for any of them; he did it to show his strength. He then made it known he was herd leader and anyone who objected would get the same treatment. When Father came back with the others he was so mad he attacked Father without warning. He hit him with his hoofs and his rack, even though it was still in velvet. Father would not hit back at his own son. Geno hit his Father until Mother stepped in and stopped it."

All he could do was stand there and shake his head. "So you came back here," he said.

"Yes, Gurri went on. "I was looking to come here anyway. Geno is big, Geno is strong, but Geno is not as wise like Father. Just after the last Season, he led us onto the meadow. I and my mate Delor told him it was not safe, but Geno would not listen because he smelled nothing of Man and also because he never took advise from others. We came onto the meadow, and Man was there and used his killing sticks on us. Delor was hit and died nearly in the same place as Bambi's own mother did. I have been trying to leave with Balo ever since, but Balo was too small to travel. When Father and Mother came back, I came with them. Geno did not like it, but he would not strike me even though he wanted to. Mother stood in the way and even Geno would not strike his own Mother. All he wanted was Father gone. Geno saw Father as a challenge to his leadership."

That was darkness to him. He looked back at Claris and Stena who also seem to have tears in their eyes. He then noticed none of the others had come back.

"The others," he asked Faline.

"Geno told them they were welcome to stay as long as they accepted Geno was herd leader," Faline said in sobs. "Ronno and Marol said that was fine with them and so did the others. I think Ronno was happy to see Bambi beaten. He always had anger against Bambi ever since he tried to take me from him and Bambi beat him."

"He beat Ronno," Gurri said angrily. "But he did not injure him."

"No," Faline said in another sob. "Bambi never tried to injure anyone. Not even his own son."

They all now looked at him and he realized as herd leader this was his decision on what to do next. What he saw he thought was impossible, but impossible was standing in front of him. He couldn't waste time. That would be considered a weakness; a decision was needed now. "Jolo, please come here."

Jolo who stood apart came in until he was only a length away.

He spoke loudly and with authority. "Bambi and Faline are welcomed back to the herd. Gurri and Balo are also welcomed to the herd. They may stay as long as they want."

"I understand and I agree," Jolo said.

"Has Man come back to the meadow?" he wanted to know.

Jolo reported calmly, "I have watched from the hidden place and I see no lights, dogs or Men at the Man caves. We have used the meadow at night. In fact we just came back from the meadow, all except Bambi who has a problem walking."

"Jolo has been a big help to Balo, Mother, and me," Gurri added.

He was glad to hear that. Jolo was taking over well as a senior herd male. "Thank you my friend," he said and rubbed Jolo's neck in affection.

"I did what the herd leader asked me to do," he said simply.

"And you did it well," he said and went back to Claris.

"What about Stabo, Gina and Veron and the others in the Man path forest?" Claris asked him.

"They are all fine and doing well," he said loudly enough to be heard even by Bambi. "For now it is late, the light is getting brighter. We need to rest. We will look at this again tonight."

Jolo came over and whispered in his ear. "I think you should look at Bambi now. He is not well I believe, but he will not admit it."

He nodded and motioned to Faline and walked into Bambi's cave something he rarely did even after he and Faline left. This was Bambi's place.

Bambi was lying on his legs, He saw several cuts and they were turning red. He rubbed his head with his nose and felt the heat. He was getting a fever. It was then he realized Bambi could die from this unless something was done soon.

"My friend, how are you?" he said trying to show his concern.

"I will be better soon," the familiar deep voice replied, but it was weak.

"Bambi, you are ill. You need help. I know a plant the bear showed me after I was hit by Man. He told me to eat a few leaves from this plant every day. They are bitter, but they helped me heal. I know where these plants grow in the forest near here. I will take Faline and the others to show them where they are. You have to get better and you have to eat. You know what will happen if you do not."

"Perhaps that is best," he said. "A beaten herd leader is not needed by the herd any longer."

"That is stupid," he growled seeing where this was going. "There is a difference in being beaten and not fighting back. I think you should have wiped the ground with your son. You are not weak. I have spared with you too many times to know that."

"He was my first born," Bambi coughed. "The one I wanted to take over after me and now this."

"Listen, I can still use your help and you are still my friend," he told him with sincerity "I am going to get this plant and I am going to show the others where it is. I will leave the fawns with you until I get back."

"I will watch them," he said and turned his body so he could see out the cave better.

"Try and get some water in you," he said and left.

He left the cave and looked around. All of them were all standing near him waiting for him to tell them to do something. He hoped he was doing the right thing. "Stena, Gerta, Balo, come here," he said.

Stena and Gerta came at once. Bolo hung back looking unsure about the new big deer. "I have to take your mothers to a place I know where they can get something to make Bambi well. I need you to stay here and help Bambi. Do not leave the thicket. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Father," Stena said. "Will you be gone long?"

"No," he answered. "While I am gone I also want you to help Bambi if he gets up. You are all big now. You get on either side of him and help him stand. He needs to drink from the stream."

"I will try, Father," Stena said.

"That is all I can ask of you," he told them then faced the others. "I know a plant the bear showed me when I was hit by Man. You eat a few leaves a day and it helped heal me. I need to give some to Bambi. He has a fever and we must help him now. I need you to come with me quickly to where the plant is so you can get these leaves for him. The fawns will take care of Bambi while we are gone."

"I will come," Jolo and Claris said together. Faline and Gurri nodded.

He looked again at the fawns. "Remember what I said." he told them firmly and then took off into the forest.

He ran through the forest with the others behind him. Normally he did not run because it made too much noise. Man could easily follow, but Man was not in the meadow and he did not sense any scent of Man so he ran. He led them past the smaller opening in the forest and past the pond to a stand of large pine trees. He could smell the pine in the air just like near where the bear lived. In a small opening near some bushes he found the plant he wanted. It smelled exactly like the one the bear had showed him. He could only hope it help Bambi as well

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