should be careful."

There were more questions and more congratulations. He could tell Gorro was nervous, but that would change with time. Some deer even asked him about his forest and the deer in it. They talked with the herd all night in between mouthfuls of grass or drinks of water. There seemed to be support for Gorro now, but what of when Man came back during The Season. As soon as the first sign of the greater light appeared, all the deer left the meadow. He and Claris made their way back to Bambi's clearing. He found them alone.

"You did not have to do that" he said to his friends, "But I thank you for it."

"It is necessary, but Gorro should have help," Bambi added.

"I can send Balo and maybe Stena if they agree. They have to come now before the snow and before the fawn Stena carries get so big as to limit her movements."

"Then we need to leave tonight," Bambi realized.

"Yes," he answered, "Tonight. Rest now, we will all need it."

"Can you convince Balo to come?" Faline asked.

"If Bambi and Stranger ask it, I think he will do it," Claris said. "Stena will follow Balo whether we like it or not."

"We can only hope," he said.

Chapter 11: Questions

They stopped to rest for the day beyond the place he had chased Duro. They were going to stop at the same place, but there was a strong odor of dead deer, and in the distance he could see the vultures feasting on some dead animal.

"Duro," Bambi said as a fact.

"What is left of Duro is more like it," he answered. He still felt uneasy because he knew he was responsible for this.

They all lay near each other and as before the noises and openness of the area made for a fit full sleep for all of them. Finally they all just gave up and lay close together waiting for darkness before moving on. There was a light breeze and the sky was overcast, but it did not look like rain or snow. He was thinking again about what Duro had told him. He had wanted to discuss it with his family, but decided against it. The last thing he wanted was to raise doubts in anyone's mind about what he was concerned about. He did not want to look weak in the eyes of those who might one day replace him. He decided now would be the perfect time. No one other than his closest friends were here and no one could overhear him. He spoke up clearly so all of them could hear.

"When I met Duro during the hunts he told me he did not think I was a good herd leader anymore and there should be a change. Naturally he thought he could do it, but it did make me think. Am I still a good herd leader? I did not want to say this in front of the others, but I know you three will tell me the truth. "

"Why would you say that?" Claris asked showing surprise.

"Before I came to this forest, I was in many fights with deer. I beat them, mostly, but I never hurt them, and I certainly did not kill them. Now in the past few seasons, I chased Kragus into the meadow to be killed. Bambi you and I killed Tarro and the others, and now this season I killed Razor and his males. Finally I lost my temper and hurt Duro so badly that he died. If fact I left him out here to die. Is that being a good herd leader? Am I becoming too violent?"

"NO! Claris said loudly. "Kragus and Duro were trying to hurt me. Tarro and his other males had hurt little Eta. Razor and his males almost starved their own herd to death so they could rule. I do not see how this makes you too violent."

There was a pause and then Bambi spoke up. "As you told me, sometimes violence is a part of being herd leader. I think what you did was unfortunate, but I think it was necessary. Anyone who hurt a doe or fawn, and starves their own herd needs to be stopped and you were wise enough to stop them."

That brought on his second and greater doubt. "Wise," he said resting his head on the ground. "If I was truly wise, maybe your son would be still alive. What I said to Gorro was true, it was not his fault. I led them into this. If anyone is to blame it is me."

The three of them looked at him in shock. He then spoke up on the one thing that bothered him the most. "I have to ask myself should I be herd leader? Should I be the one training the others next spring? Yes, I know that I have lived longer, had more experience, know more about Man. All of this is true, but does it all make me a good herd leader? I try not to show this to others, but you are my oldest and greatest friends. I need you to be honest with me on this, because I just do not know."

Bambi did something surprising. He got up, walked over to him and lay down with the tip of his nose almost on top of his. Faline came over and lay so her nose was next to his. Already he could feel his eyes misting up. He never liked expressing doubts about himself. A herd leader can never do that and remain herd leader. Was that what he was truly afraid of, not being herd leader anymore?

"You are the wisest deer I know," Bambi said rubbing his forehead. "Sometimes I think you may be wiser than my own Father. You have done things no other deer I have ever seen do. Mostly you are right, a few times you were wrong, but you always tried to do the right thing. A bad herd leader would never ask himself or others these questions. He would just do as he wanted. Next to my own Father, you are the best deer I have ever known."

"Next to Bambi," you are the only deer I would want to be close to," Faline said in that silky voice of hers. "I know I should not say this in front of Claris, but if I had never met Bambi, I would have gladly been your mate."

"I do not mind," Claris said to Faline with a smile before nuzzling him gently. "You are the only male I have ever wanted to be with. I am just sorry I cannot have more of your children. You are brave, wise, and you care deeply about others. A bad herd leader would not care and would not want to try to do something to help the others. We are your family, and we know you for what you truly are, and that is you are a deer that cares about his herd. Duro was a fool, we are not. You still need to be herd also know that we care about you very much."

All he could do was lie there with his eyes tightly closed and try not to lose control of his emotions. He was only partly successful. He only hoped they were right.

He could say nothing more and so waited until it was night. It gave him time to gain control of himself again. When it was fully dark, they all followed the stream and just before the rising of the greater light, they passed into his forest. He made his way up the hill. The deer were already off the meadow so he followed the stream back to the clearing. As they got closer suddenly Balo came out from where he bedded with Stena. Both looked at him and who was with him. Balo ran out and embraced both Bambi and Faline before greeting him. A short while later Carie and Stuben came out and greeted them all.

"I did not think I would see you two again," Balo said to Bambi and Faline. "Who is leader in your forest?

"I have turned my forest over to Gorro and Delene," Bambi told them. "Faline and I have come back with Stranger to help train those who will follow us."

"Gorro is alone?" Balo asked seeing at once the problem.

"Yes," he told them, "And that brings me to a question I must ask you two."

"You want us to go to Bambi's forest to help Gorro," Stena said as if knew it as a fact.

"You were always a very smart doe," he said and nuzzled his daughter. "Yes, I need you two to go to Bambi's forest to help Gorro. I need you to go now before the snow and the fawn growing inside of you make that impossible. That means leaving tonight or tomorrow."

"But what of this forest?" Balo asked. "What about us starting training this spring. If we go now, it will be mid-summer before our fawn is big enough to make the trip back."

"That is correct," Bambi added. "However I can help Stranger in this forest and I do have more experience in training than you. I can help Stranger and the herd best here. You and Stena can best help by helping Gorro. I am also asking you to do this because I know you are both Gorro's friend and can help him. You are also Delene's parents and can help her also."

"Balo and Stena looked at each other, more confused than anything else.

"I know I ask a lot of you and I know I am not giving you much time to decide, but the season is working against us," he told them. "Gorro will need help and Bambi and Faline can help me out here. You two are the only help I can send him."

"Delon will need to stay here," Stena said. "Will you look after him?"

"As if he was my own son," he answered

"This is coming too fast," Balo said. "Both Stena and I need time to think and talk to Delon. We will let you know this evening what we will do. That is my final word on this."

He knew better than to argue. Balo did not put his hoof down often, but when he did there was no arguing with him. "Well then tonight we will have a family gathering," he said and walked away.

"You think they will do it?" Bambi asked.

"I hope so," he said, "But if they do not, I cannot force them."

That night they all gathered again back in the clearing Both Stuban and Delon were there along with the others. It was crowded with all of them there. Stena and Balo arrived last and lay down at one end of the clearing. All turned to face them. Balo looked around and spoke up.

"Stena and I

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Next page