and playing. All the while he kept sniffing the air for any sign of danger. Thankfully for once all passed in peace.

As the lesser light sat he called Gorro and Balo over. "Very well young male, show me what you have learned. Now push me back," he told him.

"They locked at the shoulder and he pushed with all his might trying to push Gorro back. "Gorro did likewise. He found himself under considerable pressure by the two year old. He shifted his weight that Gorro countered. Then Gorro tried to get lower underneath him to lift him. He was able to shift around to stop him. They Gorro broke and jumped back and tied to bring his rear legs around swiftly to trip him. He jumped straight up to avoid it. Gorro was not just strong, he was fast. They kept this up for awhile all under the watchful gaze of the herd. He was sure it was obvious to even the older males that they better think twice before taking this two year old on. He also noticed Delene was taking an interest in their activities.

"You have gotten stronger since last year," he had to admit. "I would say you are almost as strong as your Father. You are certainly as quick as he is. There might not be much I can teach you.

Gorro walked up to him, with a big smile. The he looked at him and spoke in a low voice. "You can show me how you and my Father beat those four males last season."

By now Balo came over. Balo had overheard and was looking at him too. "I suppose you both need to learn that just in case there is real trouble. That is possible now. I will show you both after we get back from the Man path forest. We will need to do this in private. No sense teaching the other males in this forest. As your Father and I have told you before, you can kill another deer with this. Other deer can also use it to kill you. You must never use it unless you have too."

The next night he walked over to the Man path forest with Gorro. He had Balo stay behind and told him to call if anything happened. There were no men or dogs around so their journey was short and quick. As he walked through the forest he started to pick up on scents. He first found Veron's and followed it to his small clearing.

"Veron," he called. "It is Stranger. I have a visitor I like you to meet."

Veron walked out of the clearing. He was now fully grown and was showing signs of a large rack. Alana was behind him and a new doe fawn. Veron looked over the strange deer and sniffed the air a few times.

"You smell familiar," Veron said studying the new male carefully.

"Because he is your younger brother." he explained. "He has come from your Father's forest to visit."

With that all hesitation vanished and Veron embraced his brother as did Alana. "My name is Gorro," he told them and I am pleased to meet you."

"It was then he noticed the hoof marks on Veron's chest and a few scratches along his side.

"Who have you been fighting with?" he wanted to know.

"Most likely the same group of deer you told me about," Veron said. "Three new deer came here looking for some other deer. When I told them they were not wanted here they started to push their weight around. Stabo and I had to put them in their place."

"Are you and Stabo alright?" he asked.

"Yes, they were not much of a problem. One did not go back. When I and Stabo fought two of them, the other tried to charge Stabo from the rear. Stabo kicked out hard with his rear hoofs and hit the deer solidly on the head with both hoofs. The deer went down and did not get up."

"Where is Stabo?" he asked.

"In the woods, healing," Veron told him. The other deer manage to hit him hard a couple of time before Stabo knocked him down and started to stomp on him. The other deer rolled away got up and ran away with the other one. Last time we saw them they were running toward the other side of your meadow."

"The side of the meadow where the bear has his den?" he asked to be sure.

"Yes," Veron answered looking at him. "I thought these might be the deer you told me about?"

"I think they are," he said. "I need to talk to you and Stabo. If we are right this may only be the start. There may be many more of them."

"We cannot fight many more of them," Veron told him flatly.

"I know," he muttered. "Look you stay here with your brother and I will get Stabo."

Before any of them could answer he took off and left them there. He moved quickly through the forest until he came to the next clearing. He passed several deer who were feeding. They looked up as he went past. He came to the clearing and immediately Gena came out and met him.

"How is Stabo," he wanted to know.

"I am fine Father," a voice came from beyond the clearing. Stabo came out walking almost normally, but favoring his left side. He went up to his son and looked him over carefully. There were two hoof marks still in his side. He went back and smelled along the side and thankfully smelled no sickness or injury. Stabo was sore, but not hurt.

"Veron told me" he said to both of them.

"I killed one of them," Stabo said in a low moan.

"Sometimes that is necessary," he said still looking his son over. "Do not feel badly. They have caused a lot of pain and suffering to other deer."

"You think the others will come?" Stabo asked.

"I think so, but I am not sure. "Gena your younger brother Gorro has come from your Father's forest and wants to meet you."

It was only then he saw the two new doe fawns come out. Both were cute and both looked at him wondering who he was. He learned over and nuzzled both of them. It was then he noticed one had green eyes just like Claris."

This one is Karene and the other is Charlene," Stabo said.

How are Claris and Koren?" he asked.

"Both are fine," Gena said. "Although Claris is starting to worry me, she takes no interest in the males around here."

That is a problem for later," he said. "Right now there are more important things to deal with.

They all lay down in Veron's clearing and Gorro told about what had happened first in Bambi's forest. Both Veron and Gena were saddened by the news. Then he told his story about the new deer in his herd.

"I am sure these deer must be those from over the hills," he told Gorro. "We have run across males trying to force themselves on everyone else. They are like Tarro and his group. They tried it in your Father's forest and paid the price for it."

"What do we do if they come back with more of them?" Stabo asked.

"First, do not try and fight them. Get your families and leave. One of you call us and we will meet you in the clearing near the edge of your forest closest to my forest. Balo and I will join you."

"I will too," Gorro interrupted.

"Very well," he answered. "We will gather there and they try and hunt them down two or three at a time. That way we will have the advantage. There is one other thing; these deer have hurt and maybe killed many other deer. It is going to be necessary to hurt or kill them. This time it is no game. If we do not kill them, they will certainly kill us."

He saw the look of shock on Gena and Alana's faces and worry. He turned to them. "I am sorry, but this is one of the prices we have to pay for herd leadership. Someone is always looking to become leader in your place. Some deer rather kill than drive off weaker deer."

"I understand, Father," Stabo said.

"Now let us all rest here and talk things over. Then Gorro and I will return and get ready.

"Now for the hard part," he throught.

Chapter 5: Interlude One

As they walked back into his forest Gorro finally broke his silence. "So you think this will end up in a major fight?"

He shook his head in frustration. "I do not see how we can avoid it unless Razor and his males stay where they are. I do not think that will happen. They want control and they think strength and force are the only ways to get it. You can get control with strength and force, but it will never last and it will vanish as soon as there are those that are not afraid of it."

"How do we stop that?" Gorro asked.

"If they come seeking only a test of strength, we will have to meet it," he said. "They may be big and powerful, but are they wise? From what I hear they are not. If they were wise, their herd would not try and run away. Unfortunately, they will not make this a challenge, but instead just try to eliminate everything in their path. They will be ruthless, and therefore we will have to be ruthless as well."

"So we beat them with our heads and not with our antlers," Gorro added. "Like you and Father did to Tarro."

"Correct and starting tonight I am going to show you how. First we eat."

They all walked into the meadow where the rest of his herd was eating in peace. He saw Claris, Carie and Stuben and went to eat by them. Balo went to eat with Stena and Delon, and Gorro ate alone for a while. It was not long before Delene walked up to him and they were talking. None of the other males or females seemed to mind.

"What do you think," Claris asked him.

"I think we are going to have a fight much like we had in Bambi's forest and I do not think we can avoid it," he said.

Carie stopped eating for a moment. "Can you beat them like you and Bambi did Tarro?"

He shook his head no. "In numbers no, but we are smarter than they are. That is how

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