deeply into its side and tail taking out chunks of flesh. Deep claw marks were on the back. The side of the poor creature was ripped open by a killing stick and its inside oozed on the ground with lots of blood. Even though he did not like foxes because they would kill fawns, he could not help but feel sorry for the poor creature that died horribly. Its face still showed the agony of its last moments. They were light footsteps behind him. His son came up to look.

“How can anyone do this?” he said looking pale “Even the bears don’t leave who they eat like this.”

“Man is worse than bear and foxes,” he told his son. “The bears, foxes, deer, and other creatures all belong in the forest and live within it. Man does not and cares little for what he does.”

“Let us leave this place,” Geno said. “It is sickening.”

“Yes,” he said, “But it still teaches a lesson to us of what happens if Man catches us. We can expect to die like this fox.”

“The only ones who will do well after Man finishes are the scavengers,” his son said and walked off.

He made sure Faline and the twins did not see the remains. Like his son, it made him feel sick to his stomach. They found the stream and all took long drinks. He looked around and saw how thickly the trees and other plants grew near the source of water. It would be a good place to hide.

“We will stay near here,” he told the others. “It is easy to hide in and we can run in any direction if Man and his dogs come.”

Geno took in large breaths through his nose. “I smell nothing around here,” he said.

They moved around for the rest of the night grazing more of the grass and then emptying themselves away from this place so the scent of their waste would not draw the attention of the dogs. As soon as he saw the first sign of light in the sky he found the best-concealed site nearby and they all lay down to get what sleep they could.

There was not much rest. As soon as the sky was light, the barking started again. It sounded as if the dogs were going in many directions searching for animals for their masters. He listened and this time the barking sounded like it went away from them instead of towards them. Even in the distance, they could all easily hear the loud barking. There was never a problem in hearing the killing sticks. It did not matter, they all stayed together and they all stayed still for most of the day. It was after the great light was overhead that he heard a loud crashing noise in the distance. Someone was running through the forest. He looked up and a yearling doe ran close to them. He barked once and called to her. The doe either did not hear him or did not care because she continued to run past him. He listed but did not hear or smell any Man or dog following her. She was just in a panic running blindly.

The barking noises changed as more dogs found things to chase. Often afterward, the sound of the killing sticks closely followed. What really bothered him and his family was the screams of deer being run down and attacked by the dogs.

When it was dark, the barking stopped and the forest was quiet. He wondered how badly the herd was suffering, but he was not going to go wandering in the forest to find out. He was safe for now.

Only after it was fully dark did they again move through the forest to find food and water. Fortunately, they did not have to go far from their hiding place. As they ate, he heard another rustling noise in the brush nearby. The wind brought the smell of a male deer. It was Atlan and he was coming toward them. He waiting until the senior male was right next to him before he called out.

“You are alive,” he called out. “Bambi, it is terrible. There are many groups of Men and dogs going through the forest. The dogs chase a deer and then Man comes with his killing sticks. I do not know how many are dead. I know Delon is dead. The dogs ran him down. I heard him yell as they attacked him. There was a killing stick noise and all was quiet.”

“What about the others?” he asked.

“I know many are dead,” the senior male said, “But I do not know who. All I know is that I did not see a deer all night. I was trying to find a place safe from Man.”

He did not think there was a safe place. This killing would continue until Man finished. Nothing his Father had taught him could prepare the herd for this. He could hide the herd from Men. He could not hide them from Man’s dogs. They smelled deer to well for them to hide.

“Bambi what do we do now?” the big male asked.

“Try and stay away from the dogs,” he told him. “Man cannot find us on his own.”

“That is why I came this way,” Atlan said still looking behind him.”

“The thick forest ends in that direction,” he told him. It is where the trees burned before. Go that way and you will be in the open.”

“I will go that way,” Atlan said and pointed in front of them. “I will travel inside the trees at the edge of the forest. Hopefully, it is far enough away from the meadow that the dogs will not pick up on my scent.”

Leave now,” he told him. “The hunt will start again as soon as the great light rises.”

“I will,” the big male said and ran off.

Inwardly he was happy. Having too many deer in this part of the forest was sure to bring attention from the dogs and Man. He went back to his family and lay down. He could only hope they were far enough away where the dogs would not smell them.

The great light rose and again, the barking of dogs and the shouting of Men started up immediately. They remained in place for a while and then heard the barking getting close. The noises from the killing sticks were closer. Both Man and dog were coming his way.

“We need to go before they get closer,” he told his family.

“Which way, Father?” his son asked.

“Toward the edge of the forest near where there was the fire,” he said. “If they are still getting closer we will run along the edge of the forest until we get to the hills.”

No one argued. They left their hiding place and moved quietly. Again, they moved as quickly as they could. It was not long before he saw burnt trees around him and the forest thinning out ahead of him. They were at the edge of the forest. There they stopped and caught their breath. The barking noise had lessened and he heard no sound of Man. This place looked safe for now.

“We can stay here,” he said to them, but listen carefully and keep your noses in the air.

They rested for a while and then he heard it.

ARF... ARF...ARF,” came from the open area in the burnt part of the forest. It was near.

“YEEEEHHHAAAAHOOOOOOO,” he heard a Man shout near the dogs.

That was too close he knew. “We need to run along the trees toward the hills,” he told his family

They all ran quickly away from the sound. Behind them, the barking increased. They ran straight ahead. The wind was at his back. He could not smell anything in front of him. At least the wind did not carry their ascents back to the dogs.

He heard at least one dog howl loudly. The dog smelled something. They ran as fast as they could, but it did not matter, the dogs stayed right behind them. They could not keep running like that, the fawns would get tired quickly. Although he could hear the dogs, he could not hear the Man behind them. That gave him an idea.

“The rest of you run toward the hills. I will lead them away,” he told them.

He stopped and watched his family disappear into the forest. He looked around and found a place hidden from view. He emptied himself nearby so the dogs would follow the scent to him. All he could do was hope this would work.

It seemed only a short while later he saw movement in the trees. A large brown and white dog was running along the same path they had come by. The dog followed it until he came to the spot he had emptied himself. At that point, the dog turned and started to follow him. He looked back. He saw one other dog in the distance. He still had his rack. He put his head down and waited for the lead dog to get closer. The lead dog let out a powerful howl and came toward him. He waited until the dog was several lengths away then charged.

He bounded forward surprising the dog. The dog saw him and leaped. As he did, he brought his head up catching the dog as he leaped and throwing him aside. The dog flew through the air hitting the ground hard. The dog rolled to his feet and came at him again. He charged again, but the dog was ready for him. The animal leaped from his side and landed on his back. He immediately fell pain as the dog bit into him and used his claws. He reared up on his rear legs throwing the dog off his back. As he did, he kicked out hard with both rear legs. He felt his left hoof hit something solid and there was a cry of pain from the dog.

By now, the other dog was running at full speed toward him. He turned to run, but it was too late, the dog was there. Again, he kicked out with his rear legs and felt both hoofs hit the dog in the chest. There was a horrible yelling noise and the dog flew aside. He turned to see both dogs looking hurt. They were not attacking. Then he caught movement in the trees. This was no dog. It was a man with a killing stick. He leaped ahead twice and turned.

“WHAMMMM,” sounded close behind. Then something hit the tree next to him sending pieces of wood everywhere. He fled with all his strength. He ran back toward the meadow. He ran at full speed until he was tired. He stopped to catch his breath.

“WHAMMMM...WHAMMMM...WHAMMMM,” he heard

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