Chapter 9: Winter Darkness

He crept slowly along the stream, testing the air often. He smelled nothing except the lingering scent of the Skunk. He crept up toward his old thicket and caught the smell of blood. As he moved forward he caught two other familiar scents. Bambi and Faline were there. He looked into Bambi's cave. There Bambi and Faline were lying next to one another almost motionless. They did not even say anything to him.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"We are unhurt," Bambi said. Bambi had a strange look to him. He looked lost, yet tense. Faline was the same way. They both looked out of their cave like they expected Krono or Geno to appear out of thin air. It was almost like they were half dead.

"My Friends, what has happened?" he asked.

"We are waiting for Man to return so we can kill him," Bambi said plainly. Faline just nodded.

"Kill Man," he repeated. That sounded like they lost their heads completely. "Bambi if you try and kill Man, you will both die."

"That no longer matters," he said as if it was nothing to him.

He stood up and took a step back. This was so unlike them. "Why?" was all he could say?

"Go over by that large Burch tree and smell there," Bambi told him.

He did as he was told, the smell of blood got stronger. There on the ground was a huge pool of blood still soaking into the ground. He bent over to smell it. It took him only a second to realize the pool had the scent of both Jolo and Gurri. Then he realized with that much blood spilled, they had to be dead. His throat started to tighten.

"They are both gone," he muttered.

"Now come back to where the Spruce tree grows in front of my cave and do the same thing," Bambi ordered.

Again he approach, again there was a smaller, but still a large pool of blood. He smelled that. It smelled of Gerta. In a moment he realized she was gone too. He dropped his head almost to the ground and fought back the urge to start crying again. Jolo was a large deer with a good rack, Gurri was a large doe, but Gerta was hardly more than a fawn. Why her, he asked himself. He walked to the end of the clearing with his back to the two of them and just let his emotions run out. After a short while he gained control of himself and went back to the cave.

"I am so very sorry," he said with a sob.

"They came for us this time, Stranger. Not just any deer, they came for us. They used the skunk odor so we could not smell them until it was too late. They tried to kill us all. If Jolo and Gurri had not raised their tails, they would have killed us all. Now they have to die and I will kill them myself. Faline will help. Then we will go join our daughters."

"No," he said. "They are both dead. We can do nothing about that. We have to live for the ones that are still here. Balo is alright, he is with me. You have to live for him."

"I figured he was alright. He ran off with Stena," Bambi said.

"Stena was almost killed," he said and then told them what had happened to her.

They just both shook their heads and went on. "Go, Stranger," Bambi ordered. "Do not come back here. It is a place filled with death and the smell of death. Soon there will be even more death here. Take care of Balo. He and Stena will make a nice pair."

He backed away from the cave not knowing what else to do. He felt the need to get away. He almost ran from the cave. Bambi was right. They would not come back here. He ran almost until he got back to the clearing and stopped. As he collected his thoughts it occurred to him the pain had not yet ended. He still had to talk to Balo. He stopped, took several deep breaths and fought to get his control back. He walked into the clearing. Stena was resting on her knees. Claris and Balo were around her. He bent over and rubbed the side of her face. Then he looked up at Balo.

"Balo come here," he said.

The tone of his voice must have warned him. He timidly walked over to him. There was no good way to do this so he just said it. "Balo your mother can no longer be with you, she is gone. She is gone with Jolo and Gerta."

"No," Stena muttered. "Gerta is dead," she said and broke into tears. He heard Claris also sobbing. It was all he could do not to join them. All Balo said was "Mama," and turned to walk away. Balo went to the edge of the clearing. He lay down with his tail toward them. He looked at him for a second, and felt the urge to try and comfort him.

He then heard Stena grunt and saw her forcing herself up on her wobbly legs. She got up to her feet, but her face was racked in obvious pain.

"Stena," lie down," he mother told her.

She shook her head no and looked up at them both. "Father I care for you and Mother very much, but Balo needs me more," she said calmly.

With that she stumbled over, lay her good side against him and lay down and nuzzled him along the side of the face.

He turned to face Claris, tears running down both their cheeks. They lay down in the clearing close together just happy to be alive. "That is settled," he said looking at the two of them. Then they both sobbed until they fell asleep.

Thankfully that was the last hunt of the year in his forest. He heard in the distance forests sounds of the killing sticks, but nothing nearby. Men still used their Man caves, but as he watched he noticed they left the caves early in the morning and returned late at night. There was still yelling and shouting, and the sickening smell of burning deer meat, but there was no hunting in their forest. After several days, both Bambi and Faline came back to the clearing, still shaken, but thankfully alive. With Jolo now gone, Bambi was the only other leader he had. Both Bambi and Faline lay together in the open part of the clearing and said nothing to anyone at first.

Eventually Stena and Balo came over to them. Bambi looked at her side and was about to say something when Stena said sobbing. "I am so sorry for Gerta and Gurri." Bambi kissed her like he would his own daughter and Faline kissed Balo. There was a lot of sobbing that day and for days to come.

The days grew shorter, the wind picked up and the air was cooler. Soon his antlers loosen and then fell out. Once that happened he knew the Season for killing was over. Soon even Man left the caves and the forest was theirs again. Most of the herd used the last days before the cold of winter to feast in the meadow once more before the snow covered the grass. What little weight was lost during the Season and the hunts was quickly regained.

Stena did get a fever from her injury. He was pleased that Balo asked him about the bushes he had used to cure himself and Bambi. He showed the now young male where the plant grew and how much to take. Balo brought the leaves to Stena every day. He also helped her stand to eat. She grew stronger fortunately before the first winter snow came. Stena never came back to him and Claris, but instead found a place near the clearing where she and Balo bedded down each night. Even Bambi had to admit they were a pair and there was no changing it.

It was just after the first snow fall that Claris told him she could feel the new fawn growing inside her and that she would have a fawn in the spring. Feline was the same. He thought again about the Way of All Things. Some life was gone, and other life would replace it. Life in the forest would continue, but with different animals. He wondered how long it would be before it continued without him, but there was no telling that, so he decided to followed Claris' suggestion and just enjoy what he had now.

The first snow was mild and vanished almost as soon as it fell. He took to taking walks in the forest to check on the other deer. They all seemed to be alright. Soon Bambi and Balo joined them and later Claris, Faline and Stena. It was well after the first snow that they walked near the tall oaks again. They had not seen Friend Owl in a while. Bambi suggested they visit him as they walked near his tree. They came up to the large old oak tree the owl had lived in for many seasons. Bambi kicked at the tree.

"Friend Owl," Bambi called since he had known him the longest.

"A young, well developed Owl stepped out on the branch. "Can I help you," he said to Bambi.

"We were looking for the Old Owl," Bambi said. "Have you seen him?"

"No," he said. "I am from the other forest over the hills. There were many of my kind there so I decided to come here. I came to this place and found it empty although Owls had lived here before."

"You have not seen an Old Owl?" Bambi asked.

"No unless that is him over there under those two smaller Oaks. While catching field mice I came across the remains. They had been scattered by the ferrets."

"Where?" Bambi spoke up.

The young Owl flew to a branch many lengths away and called. They went over. At the base of the two young oaks were scattered bones. They were remains of a large bird scattered about along with some old dark gray and white feathers. Bambi leaned over and took a deep breath through his nose. At once his eyes closed tightly. Bambi stood up quickly and turned away from them.

"I have known the Old Owl from the time I was born," he said in a low voice. "He came here with me when we left the old forest behind. Now he is gone too" he said. "They are all gone. There is almost nothing left."

He wanted to go over, but sensed Bambi wanted to be alone. Bambi walked off by himself toward the clearing.

"I am sorry," the young Owl said. "My name is Oswell, and I live here because it is close to the mice and shrews I eats.

"I too am sorry," he said. We are not being good guests; the old Owl was a friend of ours for many seasons. He used to help us at times. We are just sad at the passing of a friend."

"I understand," he said showing some sympathy. "I am afraid I do not know many of the deer in the forest. From your size I think you are the deer they call Stranger, the herd leader. The other deer that left I think is your friend Bambi,"

"You are smart," he said. "That is correct. The others here are my mate Claris, Bambi's mate Faline, my daughter Stena, and her friend Balo."

"Pleased to meet all of you," the young owl said. Now I must get back to catching mice."

With that he flew away. They all walked back to the clearing except Bambi. He went back alone.

After the first snow the sky cleared and there was a period of unusually warm weather. They were actually able to use the meadow for a while longer. The grass was soggy, but it was good to eat. By now Stena had recovered from her wound. The wound was not as deep as his had been and the damage to her muscle was not as great. She did make fun out of joking that now she even looked more like her Father. It did leave a scar, but Balo did not mind in the slightest. It looked like it was going to be a mild winter and that meant few deer getting sick and dying of disease. Since they had no old deer in the herd, he did not think he lose any of the herd over the winter.

It was right after the second and heavier snow fall that Sinno came again to see them again. He lived alone near the edge of the forest where the stream from his forest flowed out toward Bambi's old forest and into the large lake there. He looked concerned, but not frightened this time.

"I have seen another strange deer near where I live. He is big like you two," he said.

"Was it the same deer that came before," Bambi asked.

"No" Sinno said with relief. "This one did not attack me. He is also bigger than that other deer. He just looked at me and went on his way. Another thing, it looked like he was limping."

"Interesting," he muttered. "I will go back with you and look for him."

"I will go too," Bambi said, "Just in case it is someone else from my old forest who wants to cause trouble."

"The rest of you stay here until we find out who this new deer is and what he wants," he told the others. "Bambi and I will take care of this."

They followed Sinno back to his bedding area. It was day, but there was no activity from Man around. This was the season they were left in peace. He took them past the old cave, down the hill, across the meadow and followed the stream outward. The ground rose on both side of the stream as it left the forest for the great open field that lay between them and Bambi's old forest. This area was filled mostly with pine tree and a few young oaks. Man had cut many of the larger oak tress down some time ago. Finally near the edge of the forest Sinno looked up and said.

"I saw him at the top of that hill," he said.

"Thank you, Sinno, now you stay here," he told him and Bambi and he started to climb the hill.

They got to the top and started to smell around with their noses. At first there was nothing, and then they came across a patch of waste. He smelled it and he thought is smelled a little like Bambi. Bambi smelled it and froze as still as a tree. Then he raised his head quickly to look around. He could see the concern on his face.

"Stranger, it is my son Geno," Bambi said almost in a whisper.

"Geno here," he repeated. "Why would he come here?"

"I think I know," Bambi said and walked quietly across the top of the hill. They walked for a while. The air was still and cool. Bambi constantly had his nose and ears in what little wind there was searching."

They walked away. From time to time he thought he could hear some leaves moving behind him. Finally Bambi stopped and without changing directions called out loud. "You still cannot sneak up behind me, my Son."

He turned quickly and out from behind the tress behind them walked a large deer, as big as or maybe bigger than Bambi. He was limping from his left front leg. As he got closer he also noted other cuts and marks on his head and flanks. He had been in a fight and had not come out well. Geno stopped about five lengths away keeping his head straight upward.

"Greetings, Father," he said almost politely. "You must be the Stranger others have told me about."

"What do you want?" Bambi asked with contempt in his voice.

"A place to stay until spring," he said simply. "Then I will leave."

"NO!" he said flatly. "After what you did to your Father, and after sending Krono, you are not welcomed here."

"I could insist," he said.

"Go ahead and try," he said dropping his head. "Unlike your Father I will hit you back so if you do not leave on your own, I will chase you out."

"And go where?" Geno asked.

He didn't care, but he had one idea. "You see the hill behind me to the right of the meadow?"

"Yes," he said.

"Climb to the top of that hill, where the trees end you will see a large forest in the distance. Maybe a night's walk and if you are lucky maybe no one will kill you while you are in the open. They do not know you there. You can do as you please."

"Go, Geno," Bambi said angrily, "because this is my home now and here I will fight you myself."

"You did not even ask why I am here," Geno said.

"I do not have to," Bambi told him. "The other males threw you out like I knew they would. I assume Ronno is now herd leader."

"How did you know that," he said looking surprised.

"He knows because he is a good herd leader and knows about his herd and the deer in it," he told Geno bluntly. "He also knows how to treat deer and earn their respect, something you never did. If you had studied your herd you would have known Ronno always wanted to be a herd leader but could not with Bambi or me around."

His words seem to sink in. Geno nodded his head. "One more question," Geno said, "Mother and Gurri?"

He could see the pain cross Bambi's face, he answered instead. "Your mother is fine. Your sister Gurri and your younger sister Gerta were killed by Man just after the Season along with Gurri's mate Jolo. For that I am sorry."

There looked to be a sense of pain on Geno's face. It vanished in an instant. "I will eat in the meadow and then go up the hill. I will cross over tonight to the other forest."

"Fine," he told him. "Now be on your way."

Both Bambi and him followed him down and watched him eat his fill by digging up grass under the snow of the meadow. He drank in the stream and without a word started climbing the hill toward the other forest.

"It is a pity," Bambi said in a moan. "He started out as a good boy, one who I wanted to follow me as herd leader. What did I do wrong? Maybe I am not a good Father."

"Not a good father," he repeated. "Look at your other children. There was nothing wrong with Gurri and Gerta, they were both fine deer. You son Veron and your daughter Gena are fine deer. "Sometimes things just go badly with no one to blame," he said and rubbed his friends back.

"Let us go home," Bambi said and he turned his back on his son.

Chapter 10: Full Circle

"It does look peaceful now," the bear said looking at the greening meadow.

"It is always peaceful this time of year before Man gets here," he replied. "The pity is it won't stay peaceful."

"How are you doing?" he bear continued.

"I am as fine as can be expected. I was not hurt during the hunts. Poor Bambi almost lost his family. With Geno gone, he has only Veron and Gena, and I have not heard anything from them or my son Stabo since long before winter started. I plan to go over as soon as Claris gets over Sterus's and Stera's birth. She never had twins and it took a lot of strength out of her."

"How is your daughter and Faline?" the bear asked.

"Stena is fully healed and the same as always only a bit more careful. Faline is better now that she has Gorri to care for. He seems a fine fawn and at least I see Bambi smiling again. As you noted life goes on, it is just not the same life. How about you, did your mate produce cubs?"

"I think so," the bear said confidently. "Unlike your kind we don't gather as a family. If I approached my mate now with her cubs, she would attack me. I might never see them. The only reason I know about my other children is mostly by chance."

He looked at the large mound of muscle sitting next to him. "In a way I am sorry for you. I have found being close to your family is one of my greatest joys. It can also be one of your greatest sorrows if they are ripped away."

"Even if I never know them, I am content that they exist," the bear said with what sounded like happiness. "No matter what happens to me, at least I will know the best in me will go on."

"That may be so," he said, "however I still do not understand is why Man feels the need to kill us when he already has so much. If he needed to eat us, then I understand, but all he finds is pleasure in it. How anyone can find pleasure in killing a fawn not even a year old. It makes no sense to me."

"Perhaps we are not meant to understand," he bear said getting up. "All we can do is live our lives the best we can and accept the rest since we have no choice. For now I need to be getting back over the hill. There is plenty of food there and I need to put on weight for the next winter."

"Stay healthy," he said and walked down the hill.

"You too," the bear added and left.

He had to admit the idea of he and the bear forming a friendship was almost crazy. Any deer would be scared out of their wits being that close to something that could kill them with one swipe of his huge paw. Yet he could sit next to him with almost no fear. The bear had had plenty of chances to kill him and yet he had not. Like Bambi, and Faline, he felt the bear as a close friend that he just did not see very often. He made his way back up his hill and walked quickly past the old cave and his thicket into the clearing beyond. Past that was the pond. On the right side of the pond, Bambi and Faline had taken a new bedding place. To the left was Claris. Stena and Balo lay closer to the clearing. As he walked up Stena and Balo came over to him. Stena got close and then came next to him and took a long sniff of air.

"You have been to see that bear again," she said with disapproval. "Father I am scared one day he will make a meal of you."

He smiled and looked at her brown eyes. "He could have done that many times, several of them before you were born. If he wants to make a meal of me now, he can, but I do not think he will. One other thing young doe, you may have a good nose, but sometimes you can put it in places others do not like."

"I am sorry Father," she said and lowered her head slightly. "I just smell more deeply now and more often. As much as I like Bambi and Faline, I am not going to end up like Gerta."

He stopped in this tracks, "Daughter, I do understand you, but you will never say that in front of Bambi or Faline. They hurt enough over this."

"I know Father," she said, "and I will not."

"There is something else," Balo said sounding seriously as if a yearling male could say anything that sounded serious. "I was wondering if you of Bambi would start teaching us what we need to know to be herd leaders someday."

He was going to say they were both still too young, yet Balo already came up to his shoulder. In another year he'd be able to look him in the eye. He was going to be a big deer. Balo was right. "Very well, as soon as your mother gets better, we will start."

"Thank you, Stranger," Balo said.

His daughter just rubbed his cheek and walked away with Balo.

"So it begins again," he said to himself.

He walked into the clearing and noted Faline walking away from Claris resting place with Gorro lagging behind and pulling on his mother's tail in play. He walked up to her and kept his voice low. "How is she doing?"

"Weak but getting stronger. She can get around now. Her problem is she does not produce enough milk for both of them. I have plenty of milk for Gorro so I do not mind helping."

That was something else that nagged at Claris, she was not a great milk producer. With a single fawn, there was plenty, but with two there were times when it was not enough. He rubbed Faline along the cheek. "Thank You," for everything.

"It is unusual," she added. "Most of the time doe have single fawn at first and then two or even three later. I had two the first time and then single fawns since then." At least Bambi has a new son he can teach."

"Bambi is also looking forward to this," he heard the voice from behind. The large deer walked out seeming looking normal again. He seemed interested in life again instead of death.

"That is good," he said, "because you can start teaching right now. Both Stena and Balo have been pestering me to start teaching them how to be herd seniors or even leaders. I think it is time we started."

Bambi came up to them, kissed Faline and motioned for him to follow. There was something on Bambi's mind. They walked toward the back of the clearing near the pond where he stopped.

Do you think Balo can be a herd senior male or leader?" he asked.

"He will be big enough," he said. "I cannot say anything about his rack yet, it is too soon."

"It is not his size that bothers me," Bambi went on. "He does not push himself forward enough. Stena does most of his talking and he just accepts it."

He took a deep breath. "I know," he said. "I do not know if it is because his father died soon after he was born, or his mother was killed, but you are right. If Stena had a rack, she would be a better herd leader, but she is a doe, and a doe cannot be herd leader although she can advise the herd."

"And she is smart," Bambi added. "She has your head and courage with her mother's looks."

"In short, she would be the perfect mate for a herd leader," he added.

"The perfect mate, only we do not have one that is not a close family member, except Balo," Bambi went on.

"There is one solution, but they will not like it," he said.

Bambi nodded seeing the same solution he did. "I take Balo and go away for a while and teach him like my Father taught me. If he does not come out and be more assertive, then he will never be a herd leader. Meanwhile you teach Stena."

"Yes, I can do that" he said. Then he looked at Bambi. "Faline has been a large help to Claris. I thank you for it. Many deer would not care to help and let one or both of the fawns die."

"You two are now my closest family," Bambi said. "Faline feels the same way."

"Thank you," I feel the same way," he and then stopped and swallowed hard. "As someone who never had a family before I came here, you do not how much Claris, you and Faline have meant to me. I think if I had not met you, I would be already dead. I certainly would not be this happy."

There was an understanding between him and Bambi a realization that despite the fact they grew up so differently, they were almost like brothers.

Bambi smiled and kept on walking. "Ok let us plan how we are going to separate the two of them as least temporarily."

They waited until nightfall when they went on the meadow. They all discussed it among the four of them and then called over Stena and Balo and told them. He was right; Balo and Stena did not like the idea of separating for a while. Finally after lengthy argument he literally put his foot down, hard.

"Listed to me," he said raising his voice. "You want to be taught, well here is how it is done. Bambi will teach Balo as his father taught him. That requires Balo and Bambi to be alone. I will teach Stena what I know and for that we also need to be alone. What you two have to learn is similar, but not the same. It will not be for long, but will take up most of the summer. As herd leaders you must know it is not what you want that counts. It is what is best for the herd. Now that is how it is going to be."

"I agree," said Bambi, Faline and Claris all at the same time. It is nice to work these things out before you confront unruly children.

They were hurt, but in the end they both agreed. That night after the argument both he and Bambi started. Claris and Faline took care of the fawns. At least now Claris could get enough grass, but she still needed occasional help from Faline. After eating, Bambi took Balo out to teach him how to walk, fight, and think. He took Claris out and told her to face the Man caves

"What do you feel," he asked her.

"The wind at my tail," she said with a smile, "So I do not walk toward Man."

He smiled openly. Like he said earlier, once again it begins.

Over the spring he showed Claris how to look at Man, how to avoid Man. Then he showed her how to get Man off your trail, how to get away from dogs. The list went on and on. He constantly questioned her. She absorbed what she learned well. She was smarted than Stabo, maybe smarter than Veron. It was the same things he taught to Jolo and Stabo the previous year. She was so tired by daylight she mostly slept near them but not next to them. She also helped her mother with the fawns in every way except feeding. Both Bambi and he kept the two so busy over the spring, they did not have time to miss each other.

It was in early summer when Sinno came over to them once again with news of a new deer. This time he said. "This one is not a stranger. I remember him from before, it is Ronno."

Bambi and him looked at each other. "Ronno," Bambi repeated.

"Yes, Ronno," Sinno told them. "He came up to me and asked me politely if he could see you, Bambi. He said it was important."

"Go back and tell him where I am," Bambi told him.

Bambi told Faline and he told Claris. The four of them and the three fawns came out and met the old stag in the clearing. Ronno looked old. He was getting gray around the face and along the back. His face was carved deeply with wrinkles. He was not the hard looking, active male he remembered from the first time he came to the forest.

"Greeting Bambi" he said politely, but did not bow his head. "You too Stranger."

"Greetings, Ronno," he said. "What brings you to our forest?"

"I have come to talk to Bambi, in private," he said.

Bambi shook his head no. "What you can say to me, you can say to the others. Before you start, let me tell you we saw Geno and heard what happened. He is not here if that is what you want?"

"That is part of it," he said. "Did he tell you I became herd leader?"

"He did not have to," Bambi answered. "I always knew you wanted to be herd leader so it was no surprise when Geno told me you took over after you did the wise thing and threw Geno out."

"You are not angry at us for chasing Geno out?" Ronno wanted to know.

"No," Bambi said. "It was the wisest thing you could have done. He was more for himself and not the herd. He forgot everything I taught him," said in disgust. "Now how do you like being herd leader?"

Ronno dropped his head. "I do not like it," he said in a low voice. "I am not very good at being leader," he continued with a pause. "I do not understand things like you and Stranger do. I do not think the others in the herd are happy with me. That is why I came to see you."

"You want me to teach you how to be a herd leader?" Bambi asked. "You are a bit old to learn now."

"No," Ronno said. "I want you to come back and be the herd leader."

That stunned them all. Even Faline drew in a breath. Only Bambi was not surprised.

"You want me to come back after what Geno did to me?" Bambi asked his voice rising slightly.

"Yes," Ronno said. "The others also want you to return. They say things were best when you and your father were herd leaders. They want it to be that way again."

"Why should I do that?" Bambi spat out.

"Ronno stood up and looked Bambi straight in the eye. "You need to come back for the good of the herd," he said as a fact.

That answered stunned Bambi. It was the last thing any of them ever expected to hear out of Ronno. If he was forced to come to this conclusion, things had to be bad. Bambi said nothing for a while and then looked up at the sky which was now in full light.

"Stay here for today and I will give you an answer tonight." With that Bambi turned and silently walked back to his bedding area. Ronno walked up to Faline. "Sinno told me about Gurri, Jolo, and Gerta. I am so sorry about that. I always liked Gurri."

"Thank you," Faline said and walked back after Bambi. Ronno then came over to them. I see you have two this time," how is Stena?"

"Fine," he said. "I have been teaching her. She looks to be a pair with Balo."

"I never got to know Balo that well," he said. "His father was a big, strong deer, but not the wisest. He did not deserve to die the way he did. Then again neither does any of us."

"You can stay in the clearing until night," he told Ronno. "It is day and we are going to bed down."

"Thank You," Ronno answered. He watched him go to the edge of the clearing and lie down."

He bedded down next to Claris and the fawns. "Do you think Bambi will go?" Claris asked.

"Yes, he will go," he answered truthfully.

"Why, his home is here," Claris said showing alarm.

"He will go for the good of the herd," he told her "Bambi will always place the herd before himself. Ronno knew that which is why he said it. Bambi also knows if Ronno is forced to admit he is not a good leader, then the herd must be in awful shape. The herd needs him and because of that need, he will go."

"Then what will we do?" Claris asked looking worried.

"We will do our best," he answered and went to sleep.

It was just after dark when all of them gathered in the clearing. Stena and Balo were there. He had told them about what happened. Ronno was there. Soon Bambi walked out with Faline and Gorro on her tail.

Bambi walked up and looked at Ronno right in the eyes and said , "I will come back, but during the middle of summer. The fawn needs to grow more. I also need to teach Balo some more and that will be done by then."

"I understand and accept your decision" Ronno said formally. "Very well I will leave and tell the others. They will be happy. I welcome you back, herd leader," Ronno said with a bow of his head.

Even Stena and Balo did not seem shocked by Bambi's decision. Bambi then turned to Balo. "Come ," he said. "We have much to do and as usual not much time to do it in."

"Bambi lead Balo away and he took Stena into the meadow.

Epilog: Aftermath

They ran into the Man path forest from the open field. There was no sign of Man around, but that didn't stop them from being cautious. Their journey from their forest had only taken a short while. In the dark stillness of a mid-summer's night there was insects, rabbits and other creatures on the move, but nothing as large as them. They wandered into the forest and started looking for the others. From his last visit, he led Bambi and Faline toward the open area he has seen the herd in last time. As they approach, the wind carried their scent into the large clearing. The herd stopped grazing and looked up at them.

"Greetings," Bambi bellowed. "I am looking for Veron and Gena."

"Father" he heard a deep voice call out. "He turned and saw Veron come out of the woods with a doe close behind him. Behind the doe trailed a male fawn. Faline looked at it and almost broke into tears of happiness. Verno walked quickly up to them and first nuzzling his mother's face, he next rubbed his father face in affection. Finally Veron rubbed his forehead.

"I am so happy to see you," he said showing true joy. This is Alana, my mate, and this my fawn. I named him after you, Father, this is little Bambi."

He thought the big deer was going to break down on the spot. Bambi leaned over and rubbed the fawn with his nose. The fawn immediately started to lick Bambi's face. Audible sound of pure joy could be heard from all of them. Bambi looked up directly at Veron. "Thank you my Son," was all he could get out.

"Have you seen, your sister Gena?" Faline asked.

"They are feeding in the next clearing, I will take you to them. They followed the large deer. Now at three years old he was as big as his father's and he could see he was going to grow a big rack. He noted the other deer deferred to them as they walked. Veron was definitely the herd leader here. They passed through some old growth pine trees until they came out into a clearing. Four deer were feeding. He recognized Stabo at once.

"Sister, we have visitors," Veron called out.

Gena looked over and ran over to them. A small female fawn was trailing behind her. So much for listening to his advice. Stabo followed and nuzzled his nose first. "Father," he said and then greeted Bambi and Faline. Stabo had grown. Another year and he would be as big as him. He also noted the rack he was growing. It be large, but not as big as his for another year.

"Father, this is little Claris. Do you think mother will mind?"

He leaned over and the fawn immediately stated to lick his face. He too also almost broke down.

"Your mother would be proud as I am," he said letting his pride show in is voice.

"Where is mother," Stabo asked.

"Your mother along with your younger sister is watching your mother's new fawns and Faline's new fawn. They are still too young to make the journey, but I will bring them in the winter after the Season."

He didn't add, assuming any of us are still alive. He was not going to spoil the reunion.

"Why have you come now?" Veron asked.

"That is a long story," Bambi said. "That is why we are here. Let us lie down some place; this is not going to be easy to tell."

They all lay down in the middle of the opening and Bambi poured out the events of the last year. When he was done, there was not much happiness left.

"So my sisters are dead, my older brother has been chased away, and you are leaving forever," Veron summed up.

"Yes," Bambi said in a low voice. "That is why me and your mother wanted to come to see you once more. When I go back to the old forest, it is unlikely I will ever be able to get back here."

Veron took a deep breath. "I am sorry to hear that, Father, but this is my home. I am herd leader and I must stay. Stabo has been of great help, but the others look to me and I will not let them down."

"I know, my son, and that is why I am so proud of all of you," Bambi said also with obvious pride in his voice. "There is one other thing. I do not think Geno will ever come back, but if he does, you must go get Stranger. Geno is big, powerful, and knows how to fight. It will take all of you to chase him away or defeat him. I do not think he is that foolish, but you can never tell."

"I understand, Father," Veron went on. "If he comes back he will not be welcomed here. Between Stranger, Stabo and me, we will take care of him. I cannot believe what he has done."

"If there are problems and you want help," he said to Stabo, "Your mother and I have moved to the clearing next to the pond."

"Yes, Father," Stabo said. Veron also nodded his head.

He look up at the increasing light. "Too late to go back tonight," he said. "If the herd leader does not mind we will stay here today and go back tonight."

"The herd leader will never mind a visit from any of you," Veron said with a smile.

They all spent the day in the clearing eating and talking to each other. There was little sleep. By the time dark came, it was time to part. Sad as it was, there was no avoiding it. Veron, Stabo and the others left to take care of the herd. The three of them left and walked back. As they were about to leave the clearing Bambi stopped and suddenly turned around to take one last look at Veron, Alana, Stabo and Gena leave the clearing with their fawns. Another tear came to his eyes. He looked directly at him.

"You know I do not like your bear, but he is right about one thing. No matter what happens, the best of us will go on."

With that the three of them left the clearing to get on with the rest of their lives no matter how long or short they turned out to be. Because in the end, that was all any of them could do.

The End

For Now