Chapter 5: New Partner

Early the next morning Claris got up and left saying she would be back soon. She looked determined as if she had to do something, and he let her go. Her mother went with her. He got up and looked around the lake. On the lakes were ducks and other birds that lived near water. He could see many were making nests. For many this was their Season and they went about the business to bring the next group of birds into the forest. He walked along the lake inside the trees. He was feeling better; his back did not bother him nearly as much. In a few days he would be ready to go back. He ate near the lake. Around him he smelled animals familiar to him, but no trace of Man. At least there was no Man cave in this forest. There were other animals he did not know. There were long furry animals that lived in the water with long flat tales. There were also many more fish in this lake than in the other. He saw eagles swooping down and catching them and taking them back to their nests no doubt to feed a hungry brood.

He also saw other deer feeding by the lake. They were fully in the open. Most were doe, no doubt eating as much as possible to make milk for their new fawns. He saw some males including Ronno and Marol and their fawn. He really had to go over and apologize to them for meeting them in such a sorry state. He walked away and toward the deeper woods. As he did he could hear grunting and shuffling. It sounded like two deer fighting. At this time of year fighting over what? He approached with the wind in his face as quietly as he could. He could see two deer and recognized them at one. It was Bambi and Gorro. Gorro was charging against his father, and his father was pushing back at him. Gorro was big, and powerful, but he could see he was off balance. He did not keep his rear legs far enough apart. He also did not have full strength in his rear legs. He approached until he was in clear view.

"Very good," he said loudly. "Can I make a suggestion?"

Both males stopped and looked at him. Neither had heard him approach. At least he was not losing his ability. "How are you feeling this morning?" Bambi asked him.

"Better," he said. "My back is still sore, but I am feeling fine."

"Bambi walked over and rubbed his forehead with his sensitive nose. "The fever is almost gone."

He smiled and walked over to the two sweating males. "Yes, thank you both again for the help. Perhaps now I can help you if you do not mind."

"Go ahead" Bambi said. "Just be careful you do not open your wounds again."

He went over and locked his shoulder against Bambi. "Gorro stand to the side please and watch my rear feet." He then turned back to Bambi, "Push lightly, my friend."

He deliberately put his feet close together and let Bambi push at him. He was pushed back easily. "You have no support from your rear legs," to told Gorro. "Now watch me." He put his legs father apart and let Bambi push him again. It was much harder to move him.

Keep your legs apart and use your rear leg muscles more, but be careful because if you keep your legs too far apart. . ." He put his legs too far apart and this time Bambi dropped his head and got underneath him. He was easily pushed aside.

"The deer can get under you and push you aside," he went on. "It takes practice and time to learn. In another season it will be hard to move you. In two seasons no one will be able to move you."

Gorro nodded and stood and put his rear legs apart the correct distance. "Like that," he asked.

"Exactly," he told him.

"Thank you, Stranger," Gorro said with a smile. "I hope you can teach me some of your tricks my Father told me so much about."

"As soon as I heal more," he said.

With that he stood back and watched the lesson go on. The lessons had two purposes: one, to teach Gorro how to fight off other deer, second, was to build his strength. He could already see he was big for a yearling. In two seasons he might be bigger than his father or him. After a while it was clear both of the deer were tired, but Gorro seemed ready for more.

"He is getting stronger," Bambi said walking over to him.

It is not just about strength as we both know," he said. "Raw strength without the thinking to use it is useless. You will be teaching him soon how to be a herd leader."

Bambi nodded and then turned to Gorro. "Gorro see if your mother wants any help."

Gorro looked disappointed at not being included in the conversation but did as his father asked. When he was well away Bambi turned to look at him. "Like Claris, Faline does not like it when I talk this way, but Gorro will be the one to follow me after I am gone."

"I guessed as much. He is strong, he seems smart and he is learning," he said as they walked into the deeper forest.

"I will be teaching him more this season, in two seasons he will be ready. By then I will be ready to give the herd to him. I rather give it to someone I trust rather than to be beaten by another deer like Ronno when I am old."

"I have not seen any deer in this forest to beat you," he said.

"There are a few young males who like to try it. They may have the strength, but they do not the knowledge. It would be worse than having Ronno in charge."

That brought up an interesting point. "How bad were things when you got here?"

"Awful, the deer were just running about with no direction. A lot of them were killed by Man for stupid things like walking in the open during daylight. Ronno did not know how to get the herd to avoid Man. Not like you or I did. After I teach Gorro, he will know." Bambi then stopped looked at him closely. "What about you and your forest?"

He took a deep breath. "Together Stena and Balo could lead the herd. They are smart, especially Stena. Balo mostly does what she tells him, but he has a temper. When I told him Stabo would come help out if I did not come back, he got angry. He argued with me and I had to put him in his place. He is big, but not that big. He needs time to grow and gain experience. Stabo will help out, but Stabo has no desire to be a herd leader. He rather stay in the Man path forest with Veron."

"At least my second son, turned out better than my first," Bambi uttered. "Has anyone seen anything of Geno?"

"No, and it can stay that way," he spat out

"COOOOMMMMEEEEE," they heard in the distance.

"Gorro," Bambi called and started running toward where the sound had been. He ran after Bambi as fast as he could, but tightness in his back slowed him down. He ran through the trees until he was back again at the thicket Bambi and Faline lived in. Both father and son were looking off into the distance toward the large hill. From behind it he could see a column of smoke.

"Is that Man," Gorro asked.

"Yes," both he and Bambi said together. They both looked at each other."It is early for Man, spring has barely started," he said out loud.

"I saw it and did not know what to do so I called you," Gorro said.

"You did the right thing, but never call anyone if Man is around," Bambi told him. "It can lead Man to us." Bambi looked around. They were alone. "Where is your mother and Eta?"

"When I called you, I told mother to take Eta and go into the forest. Mother said she go to the small meadow" Gorro said looking around uneasily.

"Good," Bambi said, "It safer there. It is also where Claris and her mother live."

"Let us go there," he suggested to Bambi.

"Follow me," Bambi said and lead the two of them back into the deeper forest. As they walked on the trees got taller and closer together. After they got away from the lake the burnt trees stopped. The fire had not gotten this far because these trees were old. There was little undergrowth between the trees which were mostly oak. The ground was almost completely shaded. Bambi led them on a deer path until he saw light in front of him. Through it he saw a small clearing about the size of the one back in his forest. Near the clearing he saw other deer. In the woods around the clearing were Faline and little Eta. Next to her were Claris and Ate and near them two doe he did not know. He could tell the two doe he did not know were related, a mother and an older daughter. The mother looked nice, but the daughter was sleek like Faline and looked rather attractive. They all walked up to them.

"Man is back?" Claris asked looking worried.

"Yes," Bambi said sharply. "I think for now we should stay here."

"I agree," Gorro added.

He just nodded then he noticed the doe looking at each other. There were nods and motions that they had been discussing something. There was obviously something going on between them. They way the doe looked at him with side glances he knew it was about him. Finally Faline nodded and spoke to Bambi and Gorro.

"Bambi, Gorro," she said politely in that smooth voice of hers. "Could I ask both of you to leave for awhile? We have something we like to discuss with Stranger."

Bambi looked at him wondering what was going on. He shrugged back because he didn't have any idea what was happening. Bambi motioned to Gorro to follow him and they both walked off into the forest.

"I think we should all lie down for a while," Ate said with a grin on her face.

He lay down and noted the two doe he did not know lay directly in front of him. Claris and Ate lay to his right, and Faline and young Eta to his left. He got the

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