how or why he came to be like this, but there was no way he was going to make any friends in a hurry.

Thumper, likewise fed up, then pushed me forwards in a sign of encouragement to stand up to Ronno, but all that did was head butt my rival, causing him to enrage and chase me. I, along with Thumper on my back, ran as fast as I could through the forest, desperately trying to escape. I could have just gone all out and fought him there, but as much as I did not like Ronno, I never wanted to hurt him at the time, so every opportunity that I got, I always tried to be myself and back down when needed. Especially being a prince, I know that I needed to set an example.

We kept running until we came to a ravine, where Thumper advised me to turn around and take another path, but it was too late as Ronno was blocking me from going anywhere else, so Thumper then told me to run back the way I came and try to clear the ravine. I didn’t have time to second guess as it might be my only chance to escape, plus I was thinking this would be another opportunity to show my courage, so I just took a chance and got more speed up before jumping. We both yelled in fear while I was airborne, but, amazingly, I actually made it to the other side. That jump seemed a bit of a distance for my size, so I was a little surprised and shocked, but feeling proud at the same time. Now it was Thumper’s turn to mock Ronno as he stared at us in jealous defeat from the other side. 

The victory was almost short-lived, though, because I came face to face with none other than my father at that very moment. It was just as well that he was coincidently there, because at first he scolded me for disobeying his earlier order to stay on safe ground, but was then very impressed that I made the jump as he said that he did not achieve such a feat until he had antlers. I then grew proud that he saw how brave I was, and he acknowledged it with a smile. 

The fact that I had done something special while still a developing fawn before adolescence made me realise that even as a kid, I indeed had hidden talent I was not even aware of, and that amazing things can happen if you show willpower and set your mind straight.

Being full of great wisdom, this is something that I know my father would think.

After a moment of sharing proud glances to each other, dad suggested that we head home as the day was fading and he had finished his patrols. I gladly followed him with Thumper still on my back, who was likewise impressed.

Ronno was left behind at the other side. Whatever he thought or did after that, I am not sure. But I am sure that he despised me more, and his grudge would only worsen, as I was to find out later.

The next day, the snow had melted completely, and the forest was becoming more colourful once again. 

Something else was about to become colourful that day.

I began the day with Thumper, who was encouraging me to practise my newly    discovered skill in jumping by clearing a pine cone in respective distances from an elevated rock. Flower did not join us as he was doing some activities with his own family. 

With every jump that I cleared, I became more and more confident. It is that thing about developing that natural ability to the point where it becomes a religion to you. Truth is, I never really had any trouble with my talent to begin with. All I needed to do was bring it out.

But there was even more that was about to come out of me.

My father eventually came by and witnessed my training. Although intrigued, he didn't appear entirely interested despite what he saw the previous day, but he kept it in as he then went to do some patrolling. I noticed that he did this a lot and was intrigued as to why. Thumper suggested that I go and ask him about it as parents apparently like it when their children are curious, because then they can educate them.

Well, I certainly did this a lot with Mother because I was a little younger then and kids are naturally curious about many things. But now I was a little more mature and I did not want to annoy anyone with too much talk. Even Mother taught me well about playing it cool, which I never had any problem with because I was always very down-to-earth.

Still, Thumper insisted that I talk to my dad because the rabbit knew that if the Great Prince was going to raise me, we would need to spend time together and get to know each other better.

So, I plucked up the courage to ask my father what he was doing. I was a little nervous considering how busy he seemed to be and how he might not want to educate me as yet after the hazardous situations I faced. However, I think the evidence of worthiness from the previous day’s show of courage changed his tune, and he did not hesitate in speaking up. He explained that precise observation for danger requires you to look, listen, and smell all at the same time, including ‘feeling the forest’ with your hooves. He also said that a prince cannot let fear of danger interfere from helping others in need.

I admired how much he knew about survival in the forest. As head of all the animals, you have to lead by example, and his was a very fine one to follow if you want to thrive in an environment such as this one. Here, it can be as treacherous as it is beautiful if you are not careful.

The very next moment, the Great Prince encouraged me to come with him on his travels through the forest as he saw that I was willing to learn and he now trusted me to look out for myself. I was thrilled at the thought of once again exploring the forest and going on a journey of self-discovery, but also to be running with the Great Prince.

Little did either of us know that this would be the beginning of something special.

The Great Prince was being helpful in showing me the typical antics of full-grown stags in the forest, knowing that I was coming-of-age and that I should start learning now in order to prepare me well and get me stable in both adolescence and adulthood. I wasn't sure if this was the norm for fawns when they begin to mature, but, as I said earlier, I imagined that since I am a prince, my dad was preparing me as well as possible to take over and succeed him when the time came. 

In normal circumstances, that would be against deer ordinance. But I was going to find out more on that later.

Regardless, our time together the next couple of days was a wonderful and memorable experience that we would both cherish for the rest of our lives. Dad assisted me in climbing elevated paths, teaching me how to spar, and showing me how to clean my antlers on the bark of trees (even if I didn't have them yet). 

Along the way, I kept practising ‘feeling the forest’ with my hooves as well as utilising my other senses to be alert for danger. It was coming along slowly but I eventually got the hang of it when I felt some rumbling in the ground on the morning of the second day. I immediately got it that the herd was running together in the meadow, as they do from time to time. I knew that they were not in danger because the crows would normally being flying overhead and singing their warning cries. 

So, we went to the meadow to find exactly what I had felt was happening: the male stags were all running with each other in a straight line around the open plains. It was an amazing sight to watch, but the sudden unexpected and unpleasant appearance of the antlered Ronno mocking me and joining the run made me think when I was going to get my own antlers. Surely, it wasn't going to be too long now, right?

My dad encouraged me to join in with him in the run anyway and see if I was anything like he was when he was my age. He said that if so, my antlers would be coming very soon. Feeling the confidence after the faith he put in me, I followed him in the run. Very soon, the Great Prince found himself running at the front of the entire herd. Despite being around for a long time, he was still just as fast as he was strong, and that was why he was still the leader. He always said that the day he was afraid to aid in danger would be the day he was no longer fit to lead.

I know that deer are fast runners, but I never really thought about how fast I could actually run - especially when escaping danger, because all you think about in that circumstance is getting to safety. On this occasion, however, I was to find out that my speed was so great, I was able to keep up with my father and bypass all the other stags. To my delight - and to my rival’s disgust - I was also able to pass Ronno, but I barely noticed him and didn't care because I wasn't taking my eyes off the Great Prince as I was very excited about running with him. He was impressed and proud for pulling off that feat of speed, as was I, and we enjoyed every moment of that run in the meadow together.

From there, he was becoming more than a wise figure and mentor. Our father-son relationship was growing.

Come the final of the few days together, he was beginning to lighten from his usually stable and authoritative stature to being a little more free-spirited, like I was. When the flowers bloomed in a small green field, crickets emerged from them when we slammed our hooves into the ground and leaped everywhere. It was an amazing and beautiful sight for both of us and we kept chasing them around the field, having so much fun together. I don't think that he ever experienced something like that before, and I think that it changed his tune about how beautiful nature can be when you give it a real chance. 

But it was more