interesting.

The lessons went on that night and for other nights. It was pleasing to see them getting along. He knew that Stuben, Delone, Karene and Charlene would soon be done with their training. Then they have to learn by experience. He used the rest of the spring to show the others how to get avoid Man and his dogs. It did not escape him that both Galin and Galene had taken a fancy toward Charlene and Koren. It was obvious that Stuben and Karene, as well as Delon and Young Faline were going to be pairs, come The Season. If Galin and Charlene and Koren and Galene ended up as pairs he would not complain.

It was very nice to have a growing family.

Chapter 4: Fallout

After the others had eaten and Bambi led Galine and Galene away for training he did something unusual. Rather than take all of them out for training or mock combat. Instead he got them all together in the meadow and then in front of them all he lay down on the ground. Claris came up and lay beside him like she did when they were young.

"All of you lie down, tonight's lesson will be short and then I have to talk to you about something very important. "

Stena and Balo who knew what was coming, lay together near them. Next to them Delon and Young Faline lay down close together, Stuben and Karene lay next to them, with Koren, Charlene, and Young Bambi on the end.

Bambi and I have been teaching you now for a full season. You have all learned well. The time of teaching is now over. Soon all of you will start families on your own. You are full adults now and from here on I will start treating you like adults. I have taught you everything I can," he told them. "I will know when winter comes if your listened well enough."

"How is that Father?" Stuben asked.

"If you listened, you will be alive. If you did not, you will be dead," he told them flatly.

That seemed to shake them up which he wanted to do. He then made the most serious face possible. "Although we played this as a game at times, this is not a game. If you do what we taught you wrong, if you make a mistake, it is not that you get to do it again the next night. You will be lying dead in the meadow or the forest with blood pouring out of your bodies. Then Man will come, cut off your heads, and put it in their Man caves. Then they will burn you and eat your bodies. All the time they will be happy and enjoy themselves, because killing deer is fun for Man."

That was the one thing they had to understand. To make a mistake around Man is to die, and die horribly. He went on as serious as possible. "Understand this," he said. "Man does not need to kill us like the bear does, or the coyote does. Those animals kill for food and so they can live. Man has all the food he needs. He can get all the food, and all the meat he wants, just for the asking. This I know from my time with Man. He kills us not to live, but for fun. That is why he does not belong in the forest like we belong. We are here for a reason, Man is not. I wish I could change that, but I cannot. That is the last thing I want to teach you. You are now on your own. Bambi and I have done all we can. This will be my last lesson as herd leader."

That got their attention. They all looked at him in shock.

"I am old and soon I will pass from here. I am the past, you are the future. Take what you have learned and when the time comes teach your children. That is the only thing I will ask of you. In passing on what you have learned then the memory and lives of Bambi, Faline, Claris and myself will have counted for something and in a way we will still be here."

He felt his eyes burning and noted tears in Claris and Stena who understood well his meaning. He also saw Carie walking closer to them, yet still standing. "Now for the announcement," he said loudly so all could hear. "Tomorrow night I am going to call the herd together for a gathering. At that meeting I will step aside as herd leader. I am too old to do this any longer. I will ask the herd to accept Balo as the new herd leader. I have trained him for several seasons and he knows as much as I do. I am asking all of you to support Balo as the new herd leader. I am also asking you to help him with the herd. You all know how to do this. If there are matters you do not agree with, tell him in private. Balo has never questioned my position as herd leader. I expect all of you to do the same. Am I clear on this?"

There was not a word. Whether they did not understand him or were still getting over the surprise he was stepping away as herd leader, he did not know. He lay there patiently waiting for someone to speak up. Finally Stuben broke the silence.

"Forgive us father, but this comes as a surprised." The others were still struck mute. "We all knew you give the herd to Balo someday; we just did not expect it now."

"I am not giving the herd to Balo." he said letting his voice rise. "I am asking the herd to accept Balo. There is a great difference. The herd must decide if they want Balo just like they decided if they wanted me or Bambi. I believe the herd will accept Balo without challenge"

"Unless they want their tales pounded," Delon added.

"Delon, it does not work that way," Stena chided him. "Stranger is right, the herd must decide. You father will deal with any challenges unless several males come forward at once."

"That is where the rest of us come in," Young Bambi said. "As my father told me, an individual challenge must be met by the new herd leader. Attacks by many will be met by many as my Father did with Razor. As you all know as soon as Stabo thinks I am ready, I will ask the herd in my forest to accept me as herd leader."

"Young Bambi is right," he told them all. "Now again I ask, will you all support Balo?"

"I will," Delon said first. He looked at his father with a look of pride in his eyes. Young Faline nodded her approval.

"I will also," Young Bambi spoke up. "I also would like your support when I ask to be herd leader."

"No problem with that, my friend" Stuben turned and said to Young Bambi. "I also agree with my Father, Balo is the best choice for herd leader; although two nights ago you did not seem so old when you spared with me Father."

They all smiled and he was thankful for his son, but he also remembered just how tired he was when they were done.

"I agree with Stuben," Karene said beaming.

"I also agree," Koren said.

"And I," Charlene told them.

He looked around, there was agreement. Now all he had to do was call the herd together. His job would be done.

"And who follows Balo?" Carie asked loud enough to be heard halfway across the meadow.

He suddenly got very angry and shot to his feet and glared at Carie. "As I told you before, that will be decided when it is necessary and it will be decided by the herd."

"Your son should follow you, it is only right," she bellowed back.

"It will be done this way as long as I have anything to say about it." He said now getting very cross."

"But you are no longer herd leader," she snapped back. "You are just an old worn out deer. You just said so."

"That is wrong of you to say that," Stena said now getting up along with Balo and Delon. "He chose you, Carie, not the other way around."

"Because your mother could not have any fawns. Now it looks like your Father cannot either. He no longer gets a say in who is herd leader."

"Yes I do, and if you do not believe me, try me," he said looking at Carie ready to hit her if necessary. He would not be talked to like that from anyone.

"Or what." she hissed back "You will stomp on me like you did Tarro and Razor? Big male, big deer; you cannot even make a fawn anymore you are so old and worn out. Stuben should be herd leader and that is the truth. He should follow you as is his right as your son."

Now they were all on their feet. He saw Bambi and Faline looking at them and starting to walk this way.

"And what of Delon," Stena yelled. "He has as much right to follow his Father as Stuben has to follow his. We will settle this at the proper time."

"No, we will settle this now," Carie came back. "My son is stronger than your son and my son is wiser than your son. He will follow his Father. In fact he should follow him now."

"No he will not," he said and walked up to Carie. She looked at him and for the first time he saw a glint of fear in her eyes. "You will keep your silence, Doe!"

"Or what," she said and brought he left leg up to try and hit him in the face. He saw it coming and dodge left and brought his left leg under her right leg knocking it out from under her. She fell on the ground like an old tree. At once he was on her. He brought his head to look right into her eyes. "Leave," he ordered, or I will. . .

"Stuben," he heard Claris call out a split second before something had hit him knocking him aside. He lost his balance and fell over onto the ground. By reflex he spun quickly getting his feet under him and shot to his feet. He looked straight into his son's face.

"Do not try and hurt my Mother," he said tersely. "I do not agree with everything she has said, but she is my Mother and I will not let you or anyone else hurt her."

"Then you tell your mother to keep her mouth shut," he said staring at his son.

"She is part of the herd too, Father," Stuben said glaring back. "She has her say also."

"Very well, I have heard her

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