usually has before, he might not hunt here?" Stabo asked.

"You are right," he answered. "Man MAY not hunt here. Only time will tell." He yawned widely. "We have all done well this night. Now it is time to rest."

"Let us all stay here," Faline suggested, "and be together as a family."

The all agreed and soon slept close together. It was pleasing to have so many scents fill his nose. He went to sleep pleased that at least some of the ones he taught seem to learn. The rest would take care of itself."

Fall moved on and there was no more Man activity around the old forest and this forest. The herd continued to be healthy. Galin and Galene were making good progress in their lessons. Soon after their journey he noted both Galene, Charlene and Karene started sleeping every night with their males. That was a sure sign the pairing would be formal.

It was three nights after Koren and the younger Bambi returned that he heard the call just before morning. It was a loud call coming from across the old meadow where the stream flowed from his forest to Bambi's old forest. It was strong, direct and said only one word…."Stranger".

He recognized the call at once. It was from Stuben. He was talking to Stabo, when they heard it.

"What does he want," Stabo said with distain.

"Me," he replied simply. "I will leave at once."

"You are going to meet him," Stabo said looking at him as if he was crazy. "You know he just might be calling you to kill you."

He turned and looked at his oldest son and nodded. "That is possible, still he is my son, and I am responsible for him. I would come if you called. If he wants to kill me, we he won't be doing much more than what Man had already begun. Besides, even though I am weak, I am far from dead. If this is how I get to the Great Herd, as Bambi's father told me about, then that is what happens."

"Father, it is almost daylight," Stabo said.

"I will circle around inside the burnt out trees, but I will go and I will go alone," he ordered him. "You will tell the others that I will go alone. I will return in one or two nights. If I do not come back, you do not go looking for me. Goodbye, my son," he said and rubbed his forehead.

He left and crossed the short distance past the spring and the remains of the Man cave. He walked into the trees. The air was quiet around him. There was no scent of Man or anything else except burnt wood. There were some small animals underfoot like mice and screws. He was glad he saw the first shoots of new grass beginning to grow. Life would come back here; it would just take longer than any of them were alive. He had to rest several times on his trip and it was late morning and full daylight as he slowly walked around that part of the forest. He walked below where the bear's den was but decided he would not disturb him. At this time of year he might not be alone. By the time he reached what remained of their old viewing location he was tired. His side hurt, and his legs felt weak. He had gone as far as he could. He turned and let out a bleat as loud as he could.

Afterwards he lay down in the dust and ash and waited. It was not long before a familiar scent came upon him. It was only one scent. That surprised him

Soon he heard the steps of another deer, a big deer. It walked quietly. He was glad his son remembered something he taught him. He lay still facing what used to be the Man cave and waited. The figure came up and stopped behind him.

"Where is your mother?" he asked not turning around.

"She is not here, she has gone her own way," the familiar voice told him.

"I see," he said looking at the lighted sky. "If you are here to talk, then come lie down next to me. You are much too big to be hidden in this bare forest when standing. If you want to do anything else, then go ahead and do it. You will be accomplishing little."

His son came up and lay down beside him about half a length away. He was also looking at the remains of the Man cave.

"I never understood how beautiful this place could be until I see it like this," he said in a calm voice.

"That is often true; we never truly understand how much we care for something until it is taken away. Now, my son, why have you called me?"

"First off, to say I am sorry I treated you like that, but I could not see how I could allow anyone to insult my mother. I understand she wants me to be herd leader here, but I thought it was only because I was the best deer to follow you, and I still think that other than Balo, I am I am the best deer."

"In this condition, the forest will not need a herd leader until well after you and I are gone." He sat there thinking. His son did not sound as angry and sure of himself as before. What had happened?

"What has brought on this new wisdom, my son?" he asked.

"My mother's behaviors when we went over the hill. She immediately started to argue with young Claris and Felon. It was then I saw what she wanted. She did not want me to be herd leader because I was the best deer there. She wanted it so others would come to her and treat her well. I am convinced of that now. After she argued with Young Claris she took up with some large male and got him to challenge Felon for the herd leadership. He was beaten soundly. Young Claris got so mad at mother they got into a real fight. Young Claris kicked her, hard. Then mother told me to kill both of them. I would not do it so she got angry with me and started yelling at me. That is when I left and I have not gone back. Felon and Young Claris can be herd leaders there for all I care. The only person I am still mad at is Stabo. He threw us out of his forest before we had done anything to him."

"He was trying to prevent problems before they arose," he told his son. "I did not disagree with him. So what has happened to your mother?"

"After we fought she walked deeper into that forest and where she went I do not know. I do know she still hates you, Balo, Stena, Delon, and Stabo. She will be back to bother you if she gets a chance."

"That does not surprise me at all," he told him. "Now I need to know what you want."

"I want to go someplace and start again. I still will not live where Stabo and Young Bambi are herd leaders. I still do not want to be near Balo, Stena and Delon."

His son was starting to learn, but he still had much to learn. "My daughter, her son and mate have gone deep into the Man path forest and will try and start their own herd. Like you they did not accept Stabo and Young Bambi as their leaders. Like you, they were also correct about not being welcomed any place in the Man path forest."

"Yes, Father, that is why I have decided to go to Bambi's Old forest. No one knows me there except Delene and Gorro. I know better now than to argue with Gorro, so I will just go there and maybe try and find some young doe to mate with and have my own family."

The made a good deal of sense. It was the best place he could go. "I am sure as long as you don't try and become herd leader, Gorro will not bother you. I also think that is your best choice. You have made a wise, but dangerous decision."

"You mean the dangers of the trip, yes Father I remember your stories about the dogs," Stuben said. "I will take the chance because I have nothing here to live for. If I am not welcomed there, then I will go someplace else. Your son may become a wonderer like his Father was at my age."

"Yes, but your Father finally found a place," he reminded him. "Your Father finally found friends. From that comes the rest. I wish you luck, My Son."

"You and Claris can visit me if you like," he added.

"No, not with my injuries, I could never survive the trip. I am also far too old. No, Stuben, when you go, do not expect to see me again. In another one or two seasons, I will be gone anyway. I have taught what you need to know to help Gorro. If you use it wisely, you can be a great help to him."

"Thank you, Father. I am sorry we will not see other again."

"So am I, my Son," then he turned and faced his child.

"When you go, stay near the stream. Travel only at night and empty yourself in the stream. That will throw predators off your trail. The grass will be plentiful, but tasteless. The stream will empty into a large lake. Follow the lake to the hill with the falling water. Gorro will be near there."

Stuben nodded his head, "Anything else, Father?"

Yes," he said empathically. "Be a deer I can be proud to call my Son."

He then turned away, put his head down and closed his eyes. There was more of his family leaving that he would never see again. He was getting too old. No more was said.

That night after the greater light had set, they stood up, ate what they could fine, and then he embraced his Son and watched him disappear through the space between the hill the small stream ran through. He waited until his Son was out of sight and then turned and sadly started back to the Man path forest.

Chapter 9: Loss and Gain

He returned to the Man Path forest just after morning. He walked over and lay in a small clearing near where he could look out over the meadow. Although still colorless, he could catch a slight greening of the ground. Grass was beginning to grow, life was returning to his forest. As he lay there he smelled several nearby familiar scents. He looked over and saw the others of his family walking toward him.

"Come," he told them. "I think I have any interesting story to

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