ridges. He is known for his ability to unwittingly lead possible enemies to other deer.

The Old Owl: Another character from Felix Saltin's book and the movie. He was a lifelong friend of Bambi and Faline and became a good friend of Stranger, helping him out in difficult circumstances. He died recently of old age much to the grief of all the characters.

Oswell: A new younger Owl that is now living in the Old Owl's tree burrow. Not as wise as the Old Owl, but he will still help out if asked.

The Bear: A huge black bear that live in a den near the top of the east ridge. He will kill and eat any deer he can catch, but for some reason will not hurt the Stranger or his family. It is thought this is because he and Stranger see the forest in the same way and see their places in the forest the same. He has saved the Stranger's life when he was shot. The Stranger has also risked his life to warn him about Man. Him and Stranger are good friends much to the astonishment of everyone else.

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

"Are you alright?" he asked looking down at Carie.

She was resting and covered in perspiration, but she was alive and looked healthy. He leaned over and put his nose next to the quivering bundle of white spotted brown fur that was still fidgeting. He smell the fur still wet and took in a deep breath both to commit the scent to memory and also to detect if he smelled any sickness or deformity. Thankfully, he detected neither.

"I am fine, Stranger," she said, her voice still weak. "It was difficult, but everything is fine. You have a new son. I like to keep the St names you had for Claris' children, but I want it to sound differently. I was going call your son Stuben."

"Stuben sounds like a fine name," he said and nuzzled his son along his tiny face. The fawn looked up and started to lick his face repeatedly. His eyes became misty. It had been done. He was able to have other children other than Stabo and Stena. Now here was another to carry on after him."

"The best within us continues," he said repeating the comment the bear had told him.

With that he put his nose under the little mound of fur and bones and very gently tried to lift him. The little legs extended and the young male fawn staggered on his feet. He held him up gently until he got his feet under him. It seemed to take an effort but soon the fawn stood upright on his short legs and looked around. Carie got up and moved over to him and showed him where he could get the nourishment he would need to live. He was thankful it took Stuben almost no time to find that what he needed most and soon started to nurse at his mother's rear legs.

He stood back up and rubbed Carie along the side of her mouth nuzzling her gently. "Thank you for this greatest of all gifts," he told her gently.

She returned the gesture while Stuben filled himself from her. She then looked into his black eyes and said, "I am just glad you have a new son who will follow you. I want you to teach him as you taught the others. I want him to follow you as herd leader one day."

"Perhaps," he said. "That is something no one can foresee, but when the time comes I will teach him."

He then looked around; he saw no sign of any predators were drawn to birthing site. "I will stay nearby for a while until he can run and you are ready to take him to the meadow. I do not think any scavenger will bother him, but until he is stronger I will remain."

"Thank you," she said and remained standing. Carie looked as sure on her feet as Stuben. He walked out of the little clearing and stood nearby. Shortly he heard another deer approach. It was Claris. She walked up to him and nuzzled the side of his face.

"How is she," Claris asked.

"Weak, but alright," he answered. "I have a new son, Stuben."

"Wonderful, Stranger, I knew you wanted one," Claris said. "I just wish I…," and then her voice trailed off and she turned away.

"There are many things even a herd leader cannot fix. I would gladly have you provide me with children if you could. Did you see Stena?" he asked.

"Yes, she and Balo have a son that they named Delon. He looks healthy. Balo is almost beside himself with joy. He cares about Delene, but like you he wants a son to follow him."

"What about Delene?"

"She has gone to her own place in the forest. I suspect some male will want her when The Season comes again."

"Very well," he said. "I will stay near here in case a scavenger comes looking for an easy meal. With me here they will think twice or have my hoof put into their face."

"I understand. I will go back to our clearing." Claris said and walked away. He watched her go with a mixture of sorrow and pity. He knew how much she wanted his children, but from some reason she could never have another fawn. He still felt as strongly as ever for her, but he needed a doe to have his children and that would never happen again with Claris.

He then went around the area near Carie and marked it with his scent in several places. Any scavenger who did want to come near would know who protected this place. He ate when he could and slept when he was able for several days until Carie was ready to bring Stuben out onto the meadow.

It was still mid spring when they all walked onto the meadow at night. The Man cave was still dark and there were no problems. He was saddened to note four doe that had given birth, but came out with no fawn." Either they were born dead, or died soon afterwards. He left them alone; it was easier on all that way. Most doe two seasons or older had fawns, and almost all of them looked healthy.

He saw his daughter Stena and Balo walking onto the meadow with their new fawn. Delene was walking behind them. He walked up and nuzzled their fawn that then looked up and licked his face. "He seems healthy and fit," he said to Stena.

"And hungry," Stena added.

He stood up and looked at the fawn's Father. "I am glad you have your son Balo, what are you going to do?"

"Teach him as you and Bambi taught me when the time comes," he said look down at his child who seemed excited by all the attention.

"Good, that makes me feel happy," he told them.

They then looked at Stuben and the two male fawns immediately started playing with each other as fawns will do. By the way they ran after each other he could see there was no sickness or weakness there.

"Now that we are all healthy I am going over to visit the Man path forest to see how Veron and Stabo are doing. I will go tomorrow after we eat. I will be gone only three days."

They ate quietly on the meadow. There were a couple of more paired deer, but mostly the deer separated with the males in one group and the females and fawns in another. The yearlings also seem to gather together in their own group. It was late enough in the spring where bear would be out of his den and certainly too early for anyone else to be with him. By now could see the first hint of the new day. Balo called to the herd to leave the meadow. He was halfway across the meadow when he heard the noise. It was like a roaring noise that came from the Man path forest. He looked at the path and saw movement. Then suddenly two huge bright eyes blazed bright at him, catching him in their glow.

He bolted back to his side of the meadow. "Run!"he yelled.

He started running at full speed. The Man machine did not stop near the Man cave, but came onto the meadow. The white glow was lighting him up as bright as day. He darted for the woods and started changing course remembering never to run in a straight line.

"WHAMMMMM," he heard behind him. Something that sounded like an angry bee went by him close to his head.

"AAAAHHHHHHOOOOOOOO," he heard from the Man machine.

He changed direction and was almost to the forest when his hoof fell into a soft spot of earth and he stumbled. He went forward almost burying his face into the dirt. There was an intense pain from his right front leg. He lay there for a second before.

"WHAMMMMM, he heard again as another bee went over him. He got up and stumbled into the forest. He dodged behind some trees and went on but he was limping badly from the front leg. His leg felt twisted and would not take any weight. He limped on three legs until he was far enough into the woods where he could not see the meadow any more. He stopped and lay down on his side, his right leg hurting intensely.

After a while he found he could move it, but the moment he put any weight on it hurt like being hit by Man again. He looked around his body. He was not hit. He was not bleeding. He decided to rest and try going back to his clearing later. He lay on his side to take pressure off his leg. Since he had not grown much antler yet, it was easy to do.

He felt asleep and rested. He was tired and he slept easily and deeply. He thought he heard someone call his name, but he was not sure. He woke up in the late morning. His leg still hurt. He tried to stand, but the leg still would not take much weight. It was easier to move, but there was no way he was going to run.

During the day there was a lot of shouting from the meadow. Several Man voices were yelling very loud, as if having a good time. Then as the greater light was overhead he heard their call. Then the voices got louder and louder. He heard trampling noises through the woods toward where the Man cave was. These Men were much noisier than the others. They also kept shouting to each other in the wood. A fawn could avoid them. Occasionally he could hear "WHAMMMMM," in the forest. Finally there was more shouting and the voices went

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