Miracles of the Forest

Part 2: The Rut

Ch. 8 "The Outcasts"

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A flash of black and white streaked through the forest. It didn't care where it ran. Its body slammed against tree trunks, rocks and thorn bushes. But the animal didn't feel the painful blows. Flashes of red tormented the frantic creature. The sight of the buck falling before the dark leader. And then he turned his sights on her. So she ran. She would not look back. She would not slow down. She didn't know where she was. She didn't care. She just...ran.

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Eric leaned his head against his hand, his eyes staring blankly out the window. The teacher was busy explaining geometry at the front of the class while the other students busily took notes. Eric sighed, blinking lazily as the teachers words drifted over him. He wasn't paying attention. With a sullen face, he closed his eyes, remembering...
 

"But daddy, I don't want you and mommy to go!" 9 year old Eric whimpered as his father held him tight.
 

"Eric, your mother and I have to go. It's my duty as a conservationist and your mother's duty as a veterinarian. We agreed to take this mission in Malawi, to save the wildlife from the poachers. Besides, you know your Aunt Sally will take care of you and Tommy. She's the best."
 

The little boy wiped the tears from his eyes. "What if you don't come back?"
 

Jonathan Baxter closed his deep brown eyes and sighed. "If that happens, I want you to be in charge and help your aunt take care of Tommy. Will you promise me that you'll be the man of the house, Eric?"
 

With one final sniffle, little Eric nodded. "I promise. I'll miss you, daddy..."
 

"ERIC BAXTER!" The teacher croaked, snapping Eric out of his day dream.
 

"Huh?" He grunted, looking around frantically as though he'd forgotten where he was.


"What on earth are you staring at that's more important than the isosoles triangle?" She scolded, hands on her hips.
 

Eric's face burned as all 15 students turned in their seats, their 30 pairs of eyes on him. He sank down, hoping to become invisible; but they continued to stare, waiting for an answer.
 

"Well, young man?" The teacher pressed.
 

"I...uh...saw a...bird." He stammered.
 

"A bird?" She questioned angrily.
 

"Yeah..." He nodded. "It was...on...fire." He winced at his own idiotic words. Bravo... He thought to himself.
 

The class roared in laughter. The teacher began shouting at everyone to settle down. Eric sighed. At least the attention was off him.
 

The bus ride home didn't go well either. The girls whispered amongst each other and giggled at him while the larger boys took seats in front of, behind and next to him, mocking him and teasing him about the event in class. He sat there, stone-faced, as he was flicked, pushed and bumped by the bullies as they exited the bus. His was, unfortunately, the last stop. After being made fun of and jeered at all day, his only thought was going in his room and locking the door.
 

The bus hissed to a stop in front of the ball park. After departing, he crossed the highway and hopped up the stairs to the porch. A big, white fluffy dog wagged its feather-duster of a tail in greeting.
 

"Good boy, Frost." Eric mumbled as he patted the Pyrenees on his wide head before opening the door.
 

The door was unlocked. That meant Tommy made it home first. Upon entering the house, the sounds of the TV filled his ears. Eric shut the door.
 

"Is Sally home?" Eric called.
 

"No!" Tommy called from the living room. "She had to go the the store in town!"
 

The news hit Eric after he opened the fridge and learned there was nothing to snack on. With a frown, he slammed the door shut. "Of course." He growled.
 

Throwing his backpack on the kitchen table, he rubbed his head and walked into the living room, his hand sliding tiredly over his eyes.
 

"I'm going in my room. Don't bother me, alright?" He removed his hand from his face. His heart leapt into his throat and his eyes bulged from his skull. "WHAT THE---???"
 

There, laying on the couch, was a chestnut-colored buck. Though the animal still displayed infant-like spots, he also bore a small silver crown of velvet-coated antlers. The deer, lifting his head out of a bowl of popcorn, looked over at Eric while licking the artificial butter-flavoring from his lips. Tommy, who was seated next to the animal with his arm draped around the buck's neck, looked over at his brother and smiled.
 

"Look, Eric! He likes the TV.!!"

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"RAVEN!" Geno called as he crept through the sparsely scattered trees. "RAVEN!"


Leaves crackled under his weight. He was still battered and bruised from the fight, but it didn't stop Stinkweed and Bumper from hitching a ride on his back.
 

"HEY RAVEN!" Stinkweed shouted.
 

"RAAAVVVEEENNNN!!!!!" Bumper shrieked.
 

Geno jolted to a stop, shaking his head wildly. "OW!! Geez, Bumper! In my EAR??" He growled.
 

Bumper covered her mouth with her paws. "Oops...sorry." She whispered meekly.
 

Stinkweed snorted, chuckling to himself. Geno scowled at both of them before lowering his back end and allowing his friends to slide off.
 

"We'll find him faster if we split up. Go. Search somewhere else."
 

As the rabbit and skunk skulked away, Stinkweed glared at Bumper.
 

"Nice job, Big Mouth."
 

"Well, whoever heard of searching for someone quietly?" She muttered as they both disappeared into the brush.
 

Finally alone, Geno continued his search. "Raven! Come on, Raven! Where are you?" He stopped when he heard some leaves rustling ahead. He smiled. "Raven. There you are..." He walked towards the sound.
 

But it wasn't Raven. The intruder burst from the growth and slammed right into Geno's chest, throwing the buck back a few feet. Annoyed, he shook off the blow and looked down. He recoiled a bit in shock. There, at his feet, was a very unique looking black and white doe. She lay there, moaning, obviously winded from running and from colliding with him so hard. Geno stared at her for a moment, temporarily captivated by her strange coat. Once he was over it, he flattened his ears and sighed.
 

"Just my luck. I'm looking for Raven and instead I find a Magpie." He mumbled to himself before stepping to the downed doe's side. "Here, let me help you up."
 

He leaned into her as she shakily got to her feet. Breathless, she looked up at him, wild-eyed, as if she had been chased. Once she was up, Geno looked her over.
 

"You alright?" He asked courteously.
 

The doe nodded, still shocked by the encounter with this poor, scratched-up defeated-looking buck.
 

"Good." Geno pushed past her gently. "Now if you'll excuse me...RAVEN!" He continued to call.
 

It took the doe a few moments more to regain her composure. Once she did, she ran to catch up with him.
 

"Hey, wait!!" She called, coming upon him quickly. "Hold on a second!"
 

Geno paused. "Oh, it talks." He said sarcastically.
 

Walking next to him, she stared up eagerly at his face. "Can you tell me where I am?" She inquired, still breathless.
 

"You're at the edge of my father's territory." Geno answered, not even looking at her. "RAVEN!!"
 

"Well, can you tell me where your father is? I'd like to talk to him." She continued, trying to keep up with Geno's pace.
 

"My father is gone for the season. He put me in charge. I'm Geno." Again, he didn't look at her.
 

"Good. Then I'll ask you."
 

"Ask me what?" A touch of annoyance was clear in his voice.
 

"For permission to join your herd."
 

"Not now." Geno growled. "I'm busy."
 

The doe paused for a moment before running to Geno's side again. "What do you mean, not now? Not now, as in, I can't join now? Or not now as in, you can't answer me now?" She pressed.
 

Geno glared at her. "Look lady, beat it, alright? I'm looking for someone."
 

"Well, then. Just give me a simple yes or no answer and you may continue your search." She demanded, annoyed in her own right.
 

"Leave me alone." Geno barked.
 

The doe snorted in rage and leapt in front of Geno, blocking his path.
 

"LOOK!" She roared, causing the buck to take a step back. "I'm not asking you a very difficult question, am I? I need a place to stay."
 

"That is NOT my problem!" Geno hissed. "Right now, I have bigger things to worry about. My little brother is missing!"
 

The doe's anger subsided slightly. She hadn't noticed before, but now, she could distinctly hear other voices nearby, calling out the name 'Raven'. The doe lowered her head apologetically. Geno noticed this and tried to walk past her again. But the doe blocked his path with an outstretched leg.
 

"I'll make you a deal." She said calmly. "You let me join your herd, and I'll help you find your little brother." She straightened up proudly. "Have we got an agreement?"
 

Geno rolled his eyes and made a face. This doe was strong minded and refused to be pushed around. Just what I need, Geno thought to himself. Another doe to tell me what to do.

"What's your name?" He finally asked.
 

"Tobiano."


"Well, Tobiano...what are the odds of you leaving me alone until you get your way?" He asked with a semi-friendly smirk.
 

Tobiano just smiled.
 

Several minutes later, Geno was back to his search. Only this time, Tobiano was at his side, calling out Raven's name along with him. Suddenly, Gurri bounded into view with Syndica close behind her.
 

"Find anything?" Gurri asked as she approached her brother.
 

"Well..." Geno started. But before he could finish, Tobiano popped up from behind.
 

"He found me!" She beamed, her tail curled proudly over her back.
 

Gurri and Syndica looked at the doe, then looked at each other with raised brows. It was Gurri who spoke up.
 

"Uh...who's this?" She asked her brother.
 

"This is Tobiano. Tobiano, this is my sister Gurri and my---uh...her friend, Syndica." Geno tripped over his words, not knowing what Syndica was---or would ever be--- to him.
 

Syndica merely looked down at the new doe with disgust and turned away rudely, flicking an ear. Gurri narrowed her eyes.
 

"What herd do you belong to?" The buckskin doe inquired suspiciously.
 

"Geno said I could join this herd." Tobiano said with a nod, smiling at Geno. "Isn't that right?"
 

Gurri chuckled. "Did he now?" She looked at her brother, grinning devilishly. "Gee, I wonder how mom is gonna react to this decision."
 

Tobiano glared at Geno. "Your MOM? I thought you said your dad put you in charge of the herd?" She questioned.
 

Geno grunted in distaste. "He DID put me in charge of the herd! He just...didn't put me in charge of mom..." He looked back up at his sister angrily. "But I'm sure mom won't mind considering Tobiano's helping us find Raven."
 

"Well, unless someone finds him soon I doubt Faline will be in a good enough mood to allow ANY outsider in the herd." Syndica barked with malice. "No matter how 'pretty' the young Prince thinks she is." She growled with even more jealousy.
 

Geno gave an annoyed laugh and threw his head back in frustration. "Oh, come ON, Syndi! It's not even like that!"
 

"Yeah!" Tobiano broke in. "Besides, I'm not even attracted to him." She eyes Geno up and down with distaste.
 

"Pfff..." Gurri snorted trying to keep in a laugh.
 

Geno glared at them both. "Thank you. Now if you're all done ganging up on me..."
 

"Yeah, y'all, what's happenin'?" Wylee came out of the bushes, grinning like an idiot. "Oooh-ee, I feel good---oh my damn!" He stopped when he noticed Geno. "What the hell happened to you?"
 

Geno frowned and rolled his eyes. "I had a less-than-successful fight."
 

Wylee smiled. "Big boy kicked yo' ass, huh?" Wylee then looked at Gurri. "Does that mean you got some?"
 

"Oh shut up Wylee." Gurri snapped.
 

Wylee laughed. "I take that as a no. As for me..." He sighed. "I got mine."
 

Suddenly, River appeared, her head-fur in a mess. 
 

"Wylee, who're you talking t...oh..." Her eyes bulged upon seeing her siblings. "Hey guys! What's up?"
 

Geno, Gurri and Syndica gasped, their jaws on the ground. Tobiano smiled and raised both brows suggestively. She wasn't really sure who any of these deer were, but they sure seemed fun.
 

Geno spoke first. "Wylee! With my little sister???"
 

Gurri spoke next. "River rutted BEFORE me?!?!" She turned and kicked Geno in the knees.
 

Geno howled in pain and sunk into the dirt. "AAHHHH!! What was that for?!?!" He yelled.
 

Gurri pointed to Wylee and River. "Because THAT'S your fault, you big jerk! If you weren't so busy sticking your nose in MY business, you'd have been able to protect your LITTLE sister from your perverted friend!!"
 

"I'm NOT little anymore!" River shouted.
 

"Hey, if anything, your little sister here is the pervert." Wylee shrugged.
 

River shot him an angry glare.
 

"What does that mean?" Geno sneered.
 

"It means your sister's a freak..." He sang playfully, laughing when River head butted him gently in the shoulder.
 

"HEY!" Syndica roared, making everyone jump and look at her. "I think we're all forgetting the mission here! Raven is still missing and we have to find him!"
 

River gasped. "Raven's missing?"
 

Syndica stood tall  and dominant in front of the herd. "Now here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna pair off and sweep the entire forest all the way to Northern Point. Gurri, you come with me. Wylee, you and River take the new one, and Geno, you stay on the path you were on before little miss fancy-coat barged in. Is that understood?"
 

No one felt like challenging Syndica's orders. When it came to being in charge and giving orders, Syndica was always the most organized. Obediently, the groups went their separate ways and continued the search.
 

"I like this herd." Tobiano gushed. "It's exciting."
 

River smiled in a friendly manner at the newcomer.
 

Wylee simply shook his head. "You think it's exciting now. Wait. It gets better."

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Eric ripped at his own hair frantically, his eyes locked on the free-loading deer.
 

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Eric squeaked out, shaking.
 

"Well...he's  a deer, Eric..." Tommy said slowly. "A white-tailed deer."
 

"WHY IS IT IN THE HOUSE??"
 

"He was on the porch with Frostbite when I came home. So I let him in and he jumped on the couch." Tommy hugged the buck lovingly. "His name is Popcorn!"
 

"You NAMED it?"
 

"Do ya think Aunt Sally will let me keep him?"
 

"Of course not, it's a wild animal! Get it out of the house, now!!" Eric pointed frantically towards the door.
 

"But he wants to stay here!" Tommy argued. "I wanna bring him to show and tell tomorrow!"
 

"Are you INSANE???" Eric screamed. "Sally's gonna blame ME for this!" He shakily held out his hand. "C'mon, Tommy. Get away from it."
 

"No!" Tommy held the bucks neck tighter. "He's my friend."
 

"He probably has Lyme disease!"
 

"He does not!"
 

"Oh yeah? How do you know?"
 

Tommy held his head up proudly. "Because I tried to feed him the limes in the fridge and he wouldn't eat them. So there."
 

Eric was too excited at the time to even contemplate the childish innocence of Tommy's answer. The older boy simply stood there, jaw agape. And then, he noticed the truck pulling into the driveway.
 

"Oh...oh no...She's home! She's gonna kill me!" He quickly flew down the hall and opened the back door. He returned to the living room and nervously approached the little spotted buck. He clapped his hands together and began shouting at the deer. "SHOO! GO ON! GET OUT OF HERE!! HYYYAAA!!!"
 

The buck looked up at Eric boredly and belched up some cud, chewing contently. Eric flopped his arms down and groaned.
 

"Stupid deer. You want my Aunt to kill me, don't you?"
 

The deer continued to chew. Tommy sighed and slid off the couch.
 

"Fine. I'll get him out." He looked at the buck. "C'mon Popcorn. You have to go home now."
 

Instantly, the deer got up, hopped off the couch, stretched, and followed the boy down the hall. Eric quickly ran to the front. Sally was pulling groceries out from the back of the truck.
 

"Hey!" She called when she noticed him on the porch. "You wanna come help me?"
 

Eric ran to the side of the truck and began pulling bags out slowly, looking over his shoulder to see if the deer had passed the house yet.
 

"You alright?" Sally quipped. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
 

Eric smiled nervously at his Aunt. "I'm fine. Nothing wrong here. Did you get your hair done? Because you look like..." Eric paused, seeing the reflection of the deer in the side-view mirror. "CRAP!" He turned quickly to see the deer lumbering across the highway and into the park. He sighed in relief.
 

"Excuse me?" Sally asked in shock. "Did you just say I look like crap?"
 

Eric returned his gaze to his aunt. He shrunk back. "Well, uh...better to hear it from family than a stranger, right?"
 

Sally shrugged. "I suppose. In that case, you look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo." With that, she walked into the house.
 

Eric looked back towards the deer. It was at the edge of the forest now. It stopped and looked back, right into Eric's eyes. It stared at him for a minute before disappearing into the forest. Eric tilted his head curiously.

Why did that deer look so familiar?

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Raven walked quietly through the darkened forest. It was getting late and the sun was setting. He quickened his pace, hoping to get home before anyone noticed his absence.
 

"Raven!" A small voice called. Raven slid to a stop, and his eyes met with the Gloria's violet gaze. "There you are!" She smiled wildly as she cantered up to him.
 

"Hey Gloria." He greeted. His voice was not deep, yet not childish either. But it was a little more feminine than most bucks.
 

"Raven, where have you been? Your mother's so worried she has everyone in the forest looking for you!"
 

Raven's eyes widened. "E...Everyone's looking for me?" He swallowed. "That's...not good. Umm...I was just, you know...visiting some new friends."
 

Gloria coyly laid her ears back. "I...I missed you...at the rut. I was hoping to...I dunno...at least see you there." She looked up at him pleadingly. "Did you rut with any of your new friends?"
 

Raven laughed a little. He didn't laugh very often, so it was pleasing to Gloria to hear him emote.
 

"No...." He answered defensively at first. "I mean...of course not. I...I didn't feel like rutting this year. I don't think I'm ready. You know? My velvet didn't even come off."
 

"Oh." Gloria sighed in relief. "It's good to wait. I wasn't ready this year either. Maybe...we'll both be ready next year."
 

"Yeah. Who knows." Raven looked up through the trees, noticing the darkness blanketing the world around them. He looked back down at Gloria. "We'd better get back before it gets too dark."
 

"Yeah." Gloria giggled, relishing her time alone with Raven. "We don't wanna get in trouble."
 

"Oh, you're IN trouble!" Geno's deep voice shattered the twilight.
 

Gloria backed up as Geno charged. Raven lowered himself submissively as his Geno skidded to a stop in front of him, his ears pinned against his skull.
 

"Geno! I'm sorry!!" Raven begged.
 

"You're SORRY? Do you have any idea how close we are to Northern Point? To the Man Trail?? Are you crazy?! Dad would drop his antlers if he knew where you were!"
 

"That's...sort of why I snuck away before he left." Raven shrugged.
 

Geno reared on his hind legs. "You SNUCK away?? You purposely missed the rut?? That's against the forest law and you know it! That's not to mention how badly you freaked mom out!" He began pawing at his brother.
 

"Geno, knock it off!" Gurri shouted as she joined the scene, followed by Syndica.
 

Gurri pushed Geno back; Geno obliged reluctantly.
 

"Do you see where we found him?!" Geno argued. "He needs to be punished for breaking the law! Dad would have..."
 

"But you're NOT dad!" Gurri shot back. "So stop trying to be!"
 

Geno went to reply, but remained silent, knowing she was right. He looked away angrily. Gurri then turned to Raven.
 

"Are you alright, Raven?"
 

Raven stood up straight and nodded. Gurri nodded back.
 

"Good. Now let's find Wylee, River and Tobiano and head home."
 

Raven looked at his sister curiously. "Tobiano? Who's that?"
 

"THAT would be me..." A strange voice entered the conversation.
 

Tobiano boldly strutted towards Raven while River and Wylee joined the others. Tobiano got very close to Raven's face, smiling flirtatiously.
 

"So you're the one everyone was going crazy to find!" She eyed him up and down. "You're cute. Not a big buck...but really hot."
 

Raven swallowed nervously and gave a crooked smile. Gloria growled and pinned her ears.
 

"That's...nice of you to notice." Raven managed to cough out. "So, I take it you're new?"

Tobiano stepped closer, batting her long eyelashes. "Sure am. Just joined the herd. That means we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."
 

"Ah..." He shifted nervously. "Well, there's not really a whole lot to see..."
 

"Wanna bet?" She winked.
 

The other deer exchanged glances with one another. Syndica in particular noted her cousin's infuriated glare; she recognized the bite of the jealousy bug quite well. Geno cleared his throat, catching Raven and Tobiano's attention.
 

"If we're all done here...I think we should head home."
 

With that, he started to walk away. Gurri shrugged and followed him. River and Wylee followed next. Raven started with them, Tobiano clinging to his side. Syndica looked at Gloria again.
 

"You coming?" She asked.
 

Gloria growled and reluctantly followed the group. Syndica brought up the rear. No further words were needed. Gloria's feelings on the whole situation was plain as day.

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Winter: Three hundred miles north of Bambi's Forest

Rambo pawed at the ground, unearthing some forage. He picked through the half-frozen offerings. He was much slimmer than he was during the rut, having lost a lot of conditioning during the long trek home, also having lost his antlers for the time being. Around him were several other bucks, also antlerless, who watched Rambo intently.
 

"C'mon Rambo! Tell us what happened next!" A grey buck begged.
 

"Yeah." A tan buck chimed in. "Did you kill that little Prince or what?"
 

"I had no designs on killing him. I just wanted to knock him out long enough to breed his sister." Rambo admitted. "But just as I was about to bring down my mighty hoof, a huge log fell from above and knocked me into the water."
 

A massive dark figure passing by stopped to listen in on the story.
 

"Where the heck did that log come from?" A sable buck asked.
 

Rambo sneered at the memory. "The buck played dirty. He had friends up there that dug the log free. A skunk and a rabbit."
 

The figure perked up his ears, his green eyes narrowing with anger.
 

The other bucks laughed heartily.
 

"What luck!" The grey buck chuckled. "To lose by default because of a couple of vermin!!"
 

Rambo simply rolled his eyes, ignoring the heckling by the other bucks.
 

And that's when HE stepped out from the shadows. Upon seeing him, the other bucks scattered. Rambo looked up and immediately bowed his head in respect.
 

"Hello, Uncle." He said diminutively.
 

His voice was deep and harsh. "Don't you 'hello uncle' me. You're a disgrace. Losing to a buck less than half your size and his PETS." The older stag scoffed viciously.
 

Rambo cringed at the harsh words. "It was not my intention to dishonor you, Uncle."
 

The stag glared down at his nephew coldly. "What is the name of the buck who made you look like a weakling?"
 

"Geno, sir." Rambo answered, keeping his eyes down. "He is the young Prince."
 

The stag lifted his head in interest. Rambo continued. "His father is the Prince, but he wasn't present at the time."
 

A growl arose in the stag's throat. He looked down again at Rambo.
 

"The Prince must be defeated. And his son."
 

Rambo snapped his head up, shocked. "But why Uncle? Can I not simply have a rematch with th..."
 

"NO!" The stag roared. Rambo lowered his head again. "You will NOT be returning to that forest again. I will not allow you to make a fool of yourself twice."
 

"Yes Uncle." Rambo agreed sadly.
 

"I will be going to that Forest. I will kill the son. And then I will kill Bambi."
 

Rambo slowly picked his head up. "Bambi?"
 

"The Prince." The stag snorted at the memory. "We have a score to settle."
 

The stag----Ronno---stood straight and proud.

Despite his crownless brow, he was still a formidable and intimidating creature.
 

"I will kill them both. And that forest will, at long last, belong to ME."

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