have to, I have to."

Stranger smiled openly seeing how his son had matured. "My son, I have always been proud of you, but lately I have seen you grow into a fine male with a fine mate and family."After that he rubbed his Son's forehead as a sign of affection.

"Thank you, Father," Stabo said and rubbed his head.

"Speaking of training, Koren has asked to be taught," Stabo said. "I think this fight has awakened him to the needs of learning how to fight. Even Young Claris is showing interest which is good because she shows no interest in any male here."

"The training is much more than that," he said.

"I know, Father, but for now he understands this," Stabo said as if teaching him. "The rest he will understand in time."

"We shall see, my son," he said. "For now I have to be getting back to my forest. The Season will soon be here and you know what that means."

"Yes, Father," Stabo said looking back to his clearing.

His trip back to his forest was uneventful. He came up into his clearing. He was greeted by Claris, Carie and little Stuben. It was late but he did play with Stuben again and this time he noted Stuben seemed more aggressive, more prone to attack. He had to push back harder on the fawn to keep him at bay. Then like Delon he reared back on his legs and kicked out with his front hoofs. He was able to avoid it, but it did make his concerned.

"Did Delon show you that?" he asked.

"Yes, Father," Stuben said in a high pitch voice. "Delon said we needed to be careful and that you told him not to do this unless you or Balo taught him."

"Then why did you just do it," he asked sternly.

"To show you I can learn too so would you please teach me? Balo is also telling Steana how you, Gorro, and he beat the other bad deer."

He decided not to scold his son, but he had to know this was not a game. "What you say is correct, My Son, however as I told Delon and now I will tell you; never try to use that unless I am with you. You can hurt someone with that. When you are older, I will teach you. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Father," he said. "I will not use it, I just wanted to show you," the growing spotted male said.

"Good, now it is getting late, we will rest now," he told the others and he lay down. Again Stuben slept by himself a few lengths away.

"You son is ready to learn," Carie told him.

"Good," he said. "I will teach him some over the winter, but I will start in earnest next spring. He will be old enough and developed enough to learn."

Caries came and nipped him playfully at his ear. For now she was happy too.

That night they all ate on the meadow. It was then he noticed the first itching of his antlers. The Season was nearly upon them. He ate with Carie and Claris and for once there were no disturbances. He did notice both Delene and Gorro entered the meadow together and started to eat together. He looked up at Claris.

"That stated right after Gorro and Balo came back from the Man path forest," she said.

Did Stena and Balo say anything?"

"No, Claris went on, "Only that I saw the four of them walk off the meadow the second night after they returned."

"We never heard any objections," Carie added.

"Very well, let me talk to them alone," he told his two doe and walked over. As he got within several lengths they both stopped eating and looked at him.

"Gorro, it is getting close to The Season. If you are going to go back to your Father's forest before the hunts, you will need to leave soon."

"I know Stranger," Gorro said with a huge smile. "I was waiting for you to come back. I will be going back tomorrow night and Delene is going with me."

"He turned to the young doe that was almost beaming. "Is this what you want?" he asked.

"Very much," she said and stood next to Gorro their flanks touching.

By now he saw Balo, Stena, Claris and Carie walking toward them. "I see these two are a pair," he said out loud before turning to face both of them. "I am happy for both of you."

With that he nuzzled both Gorro and Delene to show them he too approved. Not that it mattered. As Bambi taught him, pairing of deer makes the herd stronger, but the herd leader had little control over it.

"So are we," Balo repeated. "Gorro is a fine male and Delene will be happy with him."

"Then there is nothing more to be said. Both of you will be welcomed here as long as I live" he told them. "Now let us finish eating and all sleep in the clearing as a family this last time. You two have a long journey to make."

The next night they all saw the new pair off and as both disappeared into the night and behind the hills, he muttered, "And so it begins again." He went back to the meadow and called everyone in the herd together.

"Most of you already know this, but Razor and his males are dead," he reported to the herd."They will no longer cause you trouble in the forest over the hill. If any of you wish to go back, please feel free to do so. I will not stop you. If you wish to stay here, that is also fine with me. The choice is yours."

At that point Duro and three males from the other forest came forward. "Stranger, there is one thing we need to discuss." Duro's tone was direct and showing of little respect.

"That is?" he asked.

"Soon The Season will be upon us," Duro told him as if he did not know." Are you going to hide the herd like you did last Season?"

"Yes, that was my plan. I was also going to send the new fawns to the small clearing for safety while the Season is here. Claris can watch them."

"We think sending the herd to one place is not wise," Duro went on speaking with authority. "I and several deer from the other forest have decided to hide in the hills to the right of the stream that leads to Bambi's forest. I ask any other deer who wants to join us there to let me know."

That was a direct challenge to his authority and they all knew it. Balo looked ready to stomp Duro's tale into the ground when he shook his head no.

"Very well," he said. "Duro you may leave now for your hiding space," he said with an edge to his voice and a slight lowering of his head as a threat. "Anyone else who wants to go with Duro is free to do so, only do so now! For those who stay, we will hide again in the hill to the right of the stream that runs toward the forest over the hill."

He stepped back and allowed his herd to move freely past him if they wanted to. Four smaller males and that many doe followed Duro out of the meadow and toward his hiding area. Most of the herd stayed with him. He smiled as he watched Duro's small group walk off.

"As for the rest of us," he said loudly, "As soon as The Season is here, I will call the fawns to the clearing. When Man comes back, pay attention to my call. We will all meet in the clearing to decide what to do. Does anyone have any questions?"

"Do we know how many Men will come?" an older doe asked.

"No I do not. I will know when they set up their caves at the edge of the meadow. The more caves, the more Men. I hope to be able to tell you that before we leave for the hills. Are there any more questions?"

There were none, so he walked away. Claris, Carie, Stena and Balo followed close behind him. As soon as they were far enough away not to be overheard Balo stopped. "Stranger why did you allow Duro to speak to you like that?"

"Because I needed to learn how many were with him. Now I know. Duro also knows that most of the herd supports me and not him. Hopefully that will shut him up. If not, and if I have to put him in his place, then I will."

"But he has others," Carie said. "They could try and come at you like Razor did."

He continued eating. "True, but Duro is no fighter and neither are those other males. I am not nearly as frighten of Duro as I was of Razor."

"I still like to stomp his face into the ground," Balo said.

"So, would I, but not now," he said and went back to eating.

In the last few seasons, Man came with large dogs to hunt bear and other large animals at this time. This season they did not. They were allowed to pass the time in peace; however he did hear the sound of killing sticks in the distance in the forest over the bear's hill. He could also hear the same sounds in the forest he could see from the top of the hill near his clearing. Man was hunting, just not here at this time.

The itching in his antlers also became greater and he and Balo scrapped their antler's velvet off. Again both Claris and Carie told him his rack was full and was larger than any other male in his forest. Balo's rack was also full and looked impressive. He doubted any male would dare to challenge either of them. He heard nothing more from Duro and his males and so left the matter alone.

As soon as his rack was fully out of the velvet he noticed Carie starting to give off the scent of a breeding doe. Again poor Claris gave off nothing. He did see fighting in the meadow at night. These were regular mating fights that he did not interfere with. Most doe and males did not pair year round so it was only at this time of year they were together. Some males even made a point of trying to breed several doe, but there were not that many doe to go around. As usual the larger males had their pick and the smaller males did without. That was part of the way of all

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