Chapter 4: The Second

Things were glum the next few days. The death of Delon although not mourned much within the herd was still a shock, especially how he died. Although the herd had spoken its desire to have Stabo continue to be herd leader for now, Stabo was not happy about it, nor was Young Bambi. Inside, the younger Bambi remembered all too well the tales of his Father when he had become herd leader at his age or even younger. To have the herd tell you they do not consider you ready to lead was an unpleasant shock to him and his sense of worth. He walked into the forest alone even leaving Karene alone with her fawn.

He did not know what to make of it either because the herd had also rejected his advice and Bambi's. What did that tell him when the herd they led for so long rejected their advice? All in all it was not a happy time within his family. He continued on and would continue to do so as long as he was able. Inward he knew the herd had chosen stability, going with a leader they knew. They were afraid of change.

Not much else changed as the forest reached high summer. The sun was warm, the rain was short and pleasant and the grass on the meadow continued to grow. There was even some green leaves coming from inside their old forest.

A pleasant side was the fact that he saw three Man families return to the new Man cave. As before they did not hunt and as before they did not bring their killing sticks. They all came together in three Man animals. With them came Man doe and Man fawns and they played in the meadow during the day. They did not have dogs so they were easy to watch. The fawns played together. Twice and over the objections of the others he deliberately walked out into the meadow during daylight. The children all came over to him and the Men and Men doe looked at him, yet took no action. The second time he did noticed one of the Man fawns followed him. He could have easily avoided the young male. He walked into the forest and stopped.

"Father what are you doing," Stelar berated him.

"Watch from a distance," he told her. Helos also came to watch him. He waited in the open for the Man fawn to walk into the forest. The Man fawn did not seem to care about what dangers may lay hidden. He stood there alone and did not move. The small male walked over and into the same clearing. The Man fawn looked up and saw him standing there alone.

"Ook Nonme, a dree," he called back into the meadow.

The young male approached him. He remained still. The Man fawn was of no danger to him. It came within three lengths of his body and then stopped. He slowly walked forward until he was close to the young male and then dropped his head. The fawn reached out with its front hoof and touched his forehead. He then rubbed the male's forehead like he would a young fawn.

"He he he," the young male shouted and started to jump up and down.

Then suddenly something unexpected happened. Tilar ran from his mother's side to be next to him. He looked at the young Man fawn and started to jump around.

"Tilar," Stelar called out, but Tilar was occupied in chasing the young Man fawn around, and then the Man fawn chased Tilar. He kept constant watch to make sure no other Men came close to them. It was enjoyable to watch them both play with each other. Soon the others came over to watch. He saw Bambi and Faline watching from a distance. This was unlike anything any of them had seen before. He let it go on for a while until the young male stopped and sat down on the ground. He then coughed loudly so Tilar stopped and came to him. He then walked up to the Man fawn and pushed him back gently toward his own family. The Man Fawn left the clearing and walked with him until they were close to the edge of the forest. Once the Man fawn saw his own family he ran toward them. The meeting was over. He walked back to the others.

"Father," Stelar called to him. "Why did you get close to the Man fawn? He could have hurt you."

He turned to his daughter and smiled. "No, he had no killing stick and is too small to use one. All he wanted to do was play which any fawn likes to do. I wanted to show that to you. I want you to understand that without their killing stick, Man is not a danger. Man fawns even behave like our own. I always wanted to know what made them act like our own fawns when they are small, and yet will kill us without mercy when they are large. I never understood it."

"Maybe something in the killing sticks, drives them mad," Bambi said. "Without them they look safe enough."

"Maybe you are right, but it is a question I have always had," he said and walked away to start playing with Tilar on his own.

That night they talked over with the others what happened that day. Most of his family wanted nothing to do with Man and he did not blame them. It was still interesting. He liked being around his family at this time of years. He liked playing with the fawn. They come up to him and push at him. Even through it hurt to do so, he would lean over and push back. It was how he learned just how the fawns would behave. There were also serious matters. Some of the senior males came to talk with them about Delon. Many did not think he should have been killed. Stabo explained many times his reason. He supported his son. A deer as strong and as good a fighter as Delon was a danger, especially if he said he use that ability to kill or hurt helpless fawns.

"I do not think you should have killed him unless he came back again and tried to hurt someone," Marco had argued with them. "I remember what Stranger did to Kragus when I was but a fawn and I remember how the herd treated you at the time."

"Marco, I will tell you truthfully. If the herd does not think I can still lead, then I will step aside. I have already offered to do it once. I will do it now," Stabo said. "I did what I thought I had to do to protect the herd and my family."

"My son is correct," he said to Marco. "Just like what we did for Razor, a deer that is interested in only forcing himself on the herd, and does not care who he hurts in the process, should be eliminated before he destroys the herd."

"If you say so, Stranger," Marco replied coolly. "I can only tell you what others think," Marco answered. "No one is saying they want a new leader yet."

"Thank you, Marco," he said and bowed his head slightly in a show of respect. Marco then left them and walked away.

"They want me and they do not want me," Stabo said. "I wish they make up their mind."

He look at the sky starting to lighten overhead. "Let us sleep on it," he suggested."Things look better when you are not tired."

"Good idea," Bambi said getting up with Faline.

"We can do this tonight," Faline said.

Young Bambi, Karene, Stelar, Helos and their fawns all went back to their sleeping places. He followed Bambi and Faline back to their resting place. They slept at one end of the clearing and he slept alone at the other. He had no problems in falling asleep.

He woke up when the greater light was past being overhead. He got up and immediately walked into the forest to empty himself. As he walked back he noted something strange. He saw Bambi standing up at the edge of the clearing with his back toward him. He then saw Faline still lying peacefully on the ground. Usually when one got up they both got up. He walked over the Bambi and as he got close he noticed he was shaking.

"Bambi, are you ill?" he asked him.

"No," he sobbed openly. "I am fine." The big deer then turned around tears pouring down from his large dark eyes. "Stranger, Faline is gone."

He was stunned, 'What!" he said and moved quickly over to her. He reached over and rubbed her forehead like he had done countless times before. Her head was cold to the touch. He felt along her entire body. It was the same, she was cold as a winter stream. He nudged her gently with his nose. She was hard to the touch. She also did not respond to his touch. She was dead.

"Faline," he said and put his head on the ground next to her. "Why her?" he said out loud.

"We lay down at sunrise as normal," Bambi went on. "Nothing seemed wrong. I felt her go to sleep. A while ago I was awaked. I felt cold and it took me a while to understand I was cold because she was cold. I called her name and she did not move. She has never done that. I kissed her. She did not move and her body was cold and stiff. That is when I knew. Stranger, she went in her sleep."

He got up and turned away from her and Bambi. He fought to get himself under control. Other than Claris, Faline was the only doe he ever felt true feelings for. He always thought Bambi was a very fortunate deer to find and have her for a mate. They were a pair since he knew any of them. Now she just lay in front of him.

He felt his own eyes tearing. He never expected this to happen. "This hurts me like watching Claris pass in front of me. I cannot image living in a forest without her."

"I cannot image being without her," Bambi said still sobbing. "I never believed that I would outlive her, nor did I want to."

He looked over at his oldest friend now shaken. "I know how you feel," he said. I am truly sorry for you because I know what you have lost. Is there anything you like me to do?"

"Could you get the others and bring them here?" Bambi asked. "I will stay here and make sure the scavengers stay away for a while. Especially bring my daughter."

"I will go now," he told him and then left.

He first found his daughter and Helos and told

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