charged you."

"Interesting" he said loudly so both of them heard him and then they saw the others. "Juon, when the male ran past you, you could have dug in your antlers and gutted him. You could have also charge and impaled him in the rear. You did not, why?"

Juon was still breathing deeply. "It was not necessary. He was not here to hurt me; he was here to mate with Kena. I did not have to kill him to stop that, only beat him. Thanks to what you and Bambi taught me, I was able to do that easily. In fact more easily than I ever thought I could."

"That is part of the training," the elder Bambi spoke up. "We train hard so when we have to fight, it becomes easier. You did that well, Juon."

"Very well," Stabo repeated. "Both of you come here."

They both walked up to the herd leader and bowed their heads slightly in respect. Both Stabo and the younger Bambi acknowledged it also showing some respect.

"Juon you fought for my daughter. Do you wish to take her for your mate?" Stabo stood erect trying to look as impressive as possible.

"Yes," said Juon with empathies. "I would if she will have me," he said and looked into her eyes again. They could all see the warmth.

"Daughter, what is your answer to that?" he asked.

"Yes, Father, I would," she said with equal empathies

Stabo took in a deep breath. "Daughter you are not yet ready to go with him but you will be shortly. You will come back to our clearing and discuss this with your mother. Juon, you come to my clearing in two nights when the lesser light rises. She will be ready for you by then. In the meantime find a spot for you two. The rest of you please come with me."

They followed Stabo back and when the herd leader was sure no one could hear them stopped. "Father you are correct," he said. "Juon could have easily killed that deer but did not. That does show some ability and sense. It also shows how stupid the other deer was. Did he think he could force the herd leader's daughter to mate with him and I not take offence? Very well after the season continue to train him. I can find something for my daughter's mate to do."

"Yes," I agree," the younger Bambi said.

Then Stabo looked at the elder Bambi and him. "I just wish I could do something for you two with the season coming on."

"We will both be alright, My Son. I am too old to go chase a doe now."

"No other doe but Faline has ever interested me," Bambi said. "I will also be alright."

They went back to their clearing with Karene and Gena were lying alone. This year's fawn had gone. Kena eagerly told her mother the tale and Gena seemed as happy for her as he was. They stayed around for a while as a family. It was the next day that the doe began to give off scent. Two nights later the scent had become powerful and Young Bambi and Karene had left for their spot. A bit early at dusk, Juon came back looking a bit nervous.

"I have come for Kena," he told them all.

"I am ready," she said. Her scent got suddenly stronger.

Kena kissed her Father, Mother and then Bambi and him and went over to Juon.

"Come with me," he said.

"Take care of my daughter," Stabo said out loud.

"I will," Juon said and vanished into the woods with Kena.

"And another generation begins," he said out loud.

"Let us hope we live long enough to see it," Bambi said and together they left Stabo and Gena alone to go to their place.

Chapter 6: Point of Arrival

The Season passed in comfort. He stayed by himself. Male deer with and without doe at this time are not the best company. He found a clearing away from the sites and more importantly the scents of The Season and lay down. His resting place was near the Man cave and from where he lay he could see the cave which remained quiet during that time. It was on the third night of The Season that he was woken up by a Strange Call

"I am here," someone called out in a voice he did not recognize. It was a strong and booming noise.

He got up and started to walk toward it. The wind was blowing off the meadow so he walked deeper into the forest. He then moved quietly until he was down wind of the call. Only then did he go to the location with the wind in his face. At he started to get close he saw movement to his right. He knew that form immediately.

"Bambi," he called out just loud enough to be herd.

The large male came over to him looking puzzled as he was. "I do not know the voice," he told him.

"Nor do I," he said. "Let us get closer."

As they approached the wind was bringing the scent to them. The male was large, had a powerful scent. There was also another scent. A doe in season. This doe's scent was familiar."

"Carie," he said out loud. "What does she want?"

They both moved and as they did the scents got stronger. He finally walked into the clearing and there stood two deer. One was Carie. There was no mistaking her outline. The other was a large male deer. In fact the largest deer he had ever seen. He was bigger than he or Bambi. He was bigger than the vision he had seen of the Old Prince. His rack was massive.

"I see you have found a new male," he called out to his former mate. "Care to introduce us?"

Both of them walked into the meadow together. The male came toward him head up high showing he had no fear of them.

"I am Duno," the voice boomed. "I am here to challenge for the herd leadership."

"I take it my former mate is now your mate," he said breathing in the air.

"Yes, Stranger, for you are too weak and too old to have a mate like her," he said glaring at him with contempt.

"You are right about that," he said. "Age catches up with all of us. It is what happens when you are not killed by Man or by some bear and eaten."

"I am afraid of no Man and no Bear," he said bellowing out his power.

"Then you, Duno, are a fool, because no matter how big and strong you are, one killing stick or one hungry bear can killed you faster than you can raise that tale. However, I see you do not believe that. Take it from one who is much older than you."

"Spare me your words, for you are old and weak, I am going kill you two right after I kill your son Stabo and Young Bambi, then I will kill Balo, and his son Delon."

"The last two will not be necessary," he said meekly. "Balo and Delon are both gone."

"Then it makes my task even easier," he said.

"Stranger, may I speak with you," Bambi asked.

"Excuse me for a moment," he said.

"Do not try and run away, I can easily catch you," Duno told them.

"Right now a new born fawn can catch me," he told him. "Nothing special about that."

He followed Bambi into the woods a short way. Bambi turned and looked worried. "You know he may be strong enough to beat Stabo and Young Bambi," he told him.

"I know," he admitted. "That is why I am not going to let them fight."

"Oh, and how can you prevent that," Bambi said.

"By killing him first, however this might also get us both killed at the same time," he admitted. "Are you ready for that?"

Bambi looked at the big deer for a moment as if thinking and then nodded his head. "Yes," he said. "It was going to happen soon anyway."

"Get ready to follow my lead then," he said.

They both walked back into the meadow.

"You came back," he said loudly as if surprised.

"I have never run from a deer like you," he said. "I knew a deer like you some time ago. His name was Razor. He was big and powerful like you. He also thought he could rule through force and fear. It did not work for him and it will not work for you."

"We shall see," the large male bellowed again. "Carie also told me you killed Razor, who was my father."

That got his attention. He turned slowly to face the large deer and looked him over carefully. "Sorry, I do not see him in you. You also do not smell like him, but I have no cause to doubt your word. You certainly act like him."

That took the big male back," You will not say that or I will. . . "

"Kill me!" he interrupted. "I thought you were going to do that anyway. Doesn't matter, however I am curious about something. Why did you not take over your Father's forest?"

The large deer looked strangely at him. He could tell Duno was wondering why he was not afraid or begging for his life. That what a smaller deer would do. Neither Duno nor Carie understood it is hard to threaten anyone with death who was already half dead to begin with. "Carie told me there were more deer here and the forest was bigger. This was the bigger herd."

"Ahh," he said and turned his back on Duno and walked over to Carie. "Let me ask, did she tell you to kill me last?"

"How did. . . .," Duno started to say and went silent. It was then he realized what Carie's plan was.

Without turning back to face Duno he went on with a smile. "You see my large, poor, diluted, male; that was because she wanted me to suffer the most. That is why she did not tell you to take over Felon's herd even through it be much easier. You see your mate here is not interested in the other forest because I am not there. By killing my family before me, Carie gets back at me for throwing her and her son out of my old forest and then not objecting

Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5

Next page