The Stranger: Into the Rising Light

By Wilber Arron

Chapter 1: The First

The old deer was hurrying as fast as he could. His side ached like fire, but he kept going. He had to keep running for time was short. Through the trees and bushes of the Man path forest, he traveled. Other deer looked at him, not understanding and he had no time to explain. He finally found the large clearing and bleated as loud as he could. A few moments later a deer in his late prime and a nice looking doe came into the forest. The doe had young a male and a female fawn by her side. He half stumbled into the clearing out of breath and feeling weak in the legs.

"Father, what is it," Stabo called out.

It took several deep breaths to get the words out. "Stabo, I need for you to go see your mother immediately."

"Is it her illness?" Stabo asked.

He nodded. "It is much worse. Her fever is high and she is getting cold and numb. She cannot even eat the leave from the bushes anymore."

"Is it that bad?" Stabo asked.

"I do not think she has long. She wants to see you. Please go now and do not wait for me. I will be along as soon as this body will allow me."

He saw Stabo's eyes close in pain. "I will go at once," he said and ran off into the forest. That left him alone with Gena and her two new fawns."

"Stranger," she said and leaned her head into his shoulder. "I should go too with the fawns. She never saw them."

"No they are too young to travel quickly. Claris knows they were born healthy. Your place is with them."

He leaned over and let the two spotted brown figures come up to him and sniff him. Then they both started to lick his face. He did the same to both. They were both healthy and alert and both seemed to know that he was part of their family. He looked into their young eyes and wondered what they would see before they got to his age, if they lived that long. He nuzzled them both and then stood up.

"I must get back," he told her and then started back to his clearing.

He was slower going back than coming. His old body was too worn out to hurry. It was a while before he got there. When he did he saw Bambi, Faline, and Young Bambi there. Bambi had gone to get them. He saw Stabo lying beside his mother who was lying on her side. He could see how difficult it was for her to breath. It tore at his heart to see her so sick. He knew soon she pass and again he would be alone. There was nothing to be done. The four of them were all old and all would soon pass from the scene. He just thought he would have been first with his injuries and illnesses. Finally Stabo got up from his mother's side and walked away with his back toward them. He walked over to his son and saw the tears running down from his big black eyes.

"I cannot think of a forest without my mother," he sobbed. "She and you were always here. Now she is going and there is nothing I can do to stop it."

"My Son," he said and rubbed the back of his neck. "That is the Way of All Things as I have taught you. All things pass in time and new things come to take their place. We all will have our time, even you. That is why we have children to carry on after we are gone. "You mother cared deeply for you as do I."

"I know," he sobbed and walked away.

He looked back to the other who were all standing around Claris," all distraught at what was happening. Young Bambi walked toward him

"I am sorry, Stranger," the Young Bambi told him also showing misty eyes. "I too will have a hard time thinking of her not being here. It will not be the same. Karene would have come if not for Young Veron."

"I know, so would Gena," but we have to take care of what is important and right now those young fawns are important."

With that he too walked away back to his family life that would soon end. He leaned over Claris and nuzzled her.

"Is there anything you want?" he asked.

"No," she said in a barely audible voice. "The only thing I want is for you three to leave now. I do not want you to watch me die."

"No," he said. "I will stay with you until the end. You have always been with me since that first day I came here. I will be with you."

She feebly shook her head no. "I do not want that. I want you to walk away, now, please."

Suddenly he remembered what Bambi told him was his father's last words to him. 'In the time I am approaching, we are all alone.'

He leaned over and kissed her on the mouth as passionately as he could. "Thank you for making my life worth living," he told her.

"Thank you for being my mate," she said and then her head fell to the ground as he body started to shake. He could see death was upon her.

He got up and turned away and walked back to Bambi and Faline. "She will be alone, let us go now."

With that he walked away with the two of them and turned his back on the clearing and all that it held for him.

He never went back.

He went back to the clearing near where he fought Razor and lay down alone. Bambi and Faline understood without being told he wanted to be by himself at this time. He simply could not get it through his head that he would never talk to Claris again, never feel her beside him. Never hear her voice again, and it hurt him. It was not a sharp pain like he gets from his side, this was a deeper ached that felt like his insides were being pulled out. A hurt that was even worse than the pain from his side. He tried to sleep, but that was impossible. Instead he got up and started walking into the deeper forest.

He continued to walk until he hurt or got tired and then after resting he walk some more. He ate what he could find and drank where he could find water. In a way he felt numb inside. Part of him just wished he could lie down away from everyone and just pass on himself, but inside he knew he was not ready. The Old Stag in his dream or vision had told him there was still good he could do in the forest; although what it was eluded him. He continued to walk for two full risings of the greater light until on that third he was walking by the end of the forest. Off in the distance he saw it: The Man cave. It looked like the one that used to be in his forest. It was dark and cold. He walked out into the open to look closely at it.

Even through empty, the cave still reeked of Man. To the side he could see the remains of a large fire. There was a residual trace of the smell of burnt deer meat. Man had been here and burnt the deer meat he killed. It chilled him knowing whose meat they might have burnt, but fortunately, he could smell nothing of his daughter or Balo. It was just more old memories that seemed to be filling his mind up more and more the longer he went on. The dead of the past were outnumbering the living of the present and he again wondered why he had lived this long when he knew he should not have. There were just too many times he should have been dead, and yet he lived. Now if he could just understand why. Yes he had been herd leader, yes he had saved as many deer as he could, and yes he had children to follow him, but most of them were dead or gone away. Was that enough to say why he was still here. He did not think so. All his knew was that his friends and family were fewer, and he was weaker. Was that the reward of long life; loss and weakness? It seemed a poor reward. He stayed by the side of the Man cave looking until he saw the first glow of the greater light in the sky. He should go. Man could come back and if they saw him like this, they might use the killing stick on him. Not that he thought it would matter much.

His instinct took over and he walked back into the protection of the forest and lay down in a patch of grass. He was tired enough that he fell asleep quickly despite his troubling thoughts. During the day he got up only once to empty himself. For some reason he felt tired and sluggish. He went back to sleep and slept soundly.

He was awakened by someone kissing him on the mouth. The sensation was odd so he opened his eyes and looked into the face of a young male fawn licking him. He rubbed the fawns face with his own and licked him. It was then he got the scent of the fawn. It was familiar. It smelled a little of Stelar and Claris. Even though it hurt he pushed himself up and looked down at the little pile of brown spotted fur. He looked up at him looking to play. Not with his side still aching.

"I am sorry, little one, I am afraid I cannot play with you, my body is too old."

"He will not mind," a familiar voice called out. It was Stelar.

He turned and saw her and Helos standing near him. Had his sense of hearing and smell gone so he could no longer hear someone getting close to him?

"This fawn is yours?" he asked.

"Yes, his name is Tilar, and he is our son," Stelar told him before approaching him and kissing him on the side of his face.

"He kissed his daughter and then rubbed the forehead of Helos. And then turn his attention back to the fawn. He seemed alert and happy that he was there with him.

"I like you too," he said and then kissed the young deer again.

"What are you doing here alone," Helos asked. "Where are the others?"

"I do not know," he told them. "I left and just started to walk after Claris died. I was not planning on coming here, but I just had to get away."

The both looked at him in shock and then he realized they would not have known. He could have done that better. "I am sorry, I should have explained first. Last winter Claris took sick and the sickness remained. I had hoped she get better as spring came, but she got only worse. She died several risings ago. Afterward I felt lost and just started to walk."

"Are Bambi and Faline alright along with the others?" Stelar asked.

"Yes everyone else is alright," he answered.

He again felt the fawn pushing against him, wanting to play. He leaned over and put his head next to the fawn and then pushed him away. The fawn was pushed back several of his small lengths and then stopped, looked at him confused for a moment and then charged into him. He put his head down and let the fawn push against him. The fawn was strong and liked playing this game. Good, there was no weakness or sickness in this fawn.

"He is a strong little fawn," he told them. "Start teaching him as soon as he is able to understand.

"We will," they both said.

"Tilar is a different name," he said. "Is he named after anyone?"

"No," Stelar said. "I do not know why, but right after he was born and feeding for the first time, the name Tilar just came into my head. I told Helos about it and he agreed so his name is Tilar."

The name sounded somewhat familiar, but he just could not place it. It did not matter. He continued.

"Well I am glad everyone is so happy," he heard an annoyed voice from behind all of them. He knew that voice too.

"Well I am happy for you too Delon, how are you and Young Faline?" he said and waited for a response.

He watch the two of them come out of the forest. A young doe and male fawn were next to Young Faline. He put his head down and the two ran up and started to kiss the side of his face. He was pleased they seemed to be healthy also.

Delon coughed loudly and the two fawns immediately stopped trying to play with him and ran back to their mother.

"How should I feel, you threw us out of your forest, my mother and father were killed, your daughter goes snooping around, and now you show up. You did not care about me, my Mother, or Father. Why should I care what you think?"

He was suddenly incensed. What this youngster know anything about what he felt. He walked right up to the large deer and glared at him. "How dare you tell me I did not care for your Mother? Your mother was my daughter, in case you have forgotten. You think I wanted her dead?" he told him tersely. "You mother and father were rejected by the herd because all of you, Carie and Stuben included, forgot you serve the herd, not the other way around. When the time came, the herd would have decided which one of you would have followed your father. You did not have to force it on them. The herd made the decision as it should have done."

"I do not see it that way, Stranger," he said with contempt. "I see someone that should have supported my father and did not. You are not welcomed here nor will you ever be. If you were not an old worn out deer, I throw you out myself."

"Delon," Stelar called out. "That is unkind."

"Not as unkind as him," Delon spat out. Even Young Faline looked shocked.

He did not move a muscle. "I am not so dead yet, but fine I will go. You really did not learn a thing I taught you. Pity, but so be it."

With that he turned and walked back the way he came.

"And you can tell Bambi, Faline and Claris that not being welcomed goes for them too," Delon bellowed out as he left.

"You do not have to worry about me or Claris," he said as he left. "Claris is already gone, and as far as you are concerned, I am gone also."

He walked away not even bothering to turn around. Claris dying hurt him deeply, but not as much as this. To be cast out by a member of his own family was just too much. He tried not to look back with hate on Stena's son, but it was hard to do. He spent the next two full nights walking slowly back to his home, or what was left of it. He reached it just before the rising of the greater light. He picked a small place with no deer around and past into a fitful sleep.

The next night he found the others eating in a small clearing near the old Man cave. He got onto the open area and started to eat the grass. The other saw him and wondered what had happened. He told him where he had gone and what had happened. He did not leave out any details.

"I can understand Delon not liking what the herd decided about his father," Stabo said." I can understand him being angry his parents are dead. What I do not understand is his hatred of you. You and Bambi trained him, showed him everything he knows."

"He truly feels it was us who caused the herd to reject his Father and Mother," he said his voice choking up. "What he seems to forget is his mother was my daughter. I watched her grow up. I watched her feed at Claris's side. I saw how she acted when she was hit by Man how she allowed me to take out the Man stone without complaint. I saw her take Balo for her companion long before she took him as her mate. I trained her and watched her own fawns grow up He seems to think that means nothing to me. I am sorry, but I just do not get it anymore. My only consolation was Claris did not hear it."

"The ungrateful slug," the younger Bambi said. "He does not want us. Fine, we do not want him either."

"No," he said plainly. "Even after all he had done, he is still our family as is Stuben. Stuben at least learned from his mistake. I doubt Delon will. Still, if he asks for it, we still must help him, if nothing else for your sister's sake."

"Why she went with him I also do not understand," the younger Bambi went on.

"She stays with him because for a long time those two have cared deeply for each other much like Stena and Balo did. We can only hope he comes to his senses."

Spring was lonelier than ever. Galin, Galene, Koren and Charlene has all gone back to the forest over his hill across the open space. He had heard nothing since they left now two winters ago. Stabo and Young Bambi had young fawns to take care of. That left him, Bambi and Faline to wander by themselves. There was nothing left for them to do except wait out the time until it was they lying on the ground alone. He found himself spending more and more time alone.

It was not the best time of his life.

Chapter 2: Returns

It was days afterward from his return that he heard noise coming from the meadow. Just after the rising of the greater light he heard man animals traveling down the Man path. There were many of them. The noise woke him, Bambi and Faline. A short while later he started to hear clanging sounds coming from the meadow. There were also shouts and other noises coming from Man. Then the banging noise started. It sounded like they were hitting things into each other. There were also several deep growling noises. It all sounded far too close for comfort.

"It sounds like it is coming from where the old Man cave was," Bambi said.

"Do you think they are building a new Man cave here?" Faline asked.

He nodded, "It sounds like it, but we should stay still until after the greater light sets and the Man animals go home. Until then we should try and get some sleep. I think it may be a long night."

"Who can sleep with that noise," Bambi grumbled.

They slept in fits and starts all day as the noises continued. They did not smell the scent of Man, nor did they hear any sounds of Man in the forest. It was just the banging noise. As expected, as the greater light set, the Man animals all left. Then there was quiet again. As soon as it was fully dark he went looking for Stabo and the younger Bambi. He found them nearby.

"I am going to go take a look at where the noise came from," he told them. "I think both Bambis and Stabo should come with me. The fawns are not big enough to be left on their own so I will ask the doe to stay here and watch them."

He could see Gena and Karene were angry, but they could also see he was right. The new fawns would be nosier than all of them.

"Can I go?" Kena, Gena two year old daughter asked.

He looked at Stabo who shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, but please be quiet," he told her.

They all walked off together. After a while he stopped and turned around and looked at Kena.

"Come here," he told her.

She came up looking a little shy. "Very well young doe, I have a question from you. We are going to approach Man. How would you do it?"

Kena looked at all of them and then walked away from then by a few lengths and looked around and sniffed the air. She then nodded and came back to them.

"The wind is coming from the hill with the bear's den. We should walk to the other side of the Man path forest near your old forest. Then we should approach the Man cave with the wind in our faces, far enough inside the trees to hide us."

"That is correct," he told her, "What else?"

"We need to be quiet and listen for Man or dogs, but they are most likely not there at this time of year," she answered.

He looked back at Stabo who was smiling. "Very good, Kena, you have remembered. Now also remember that while it is not usual that Man comes at this time. Anytime there is a chance Man may be around, you must be careful. Now go back and walk next to your Father."

They all walked out toward the edge of the forest near the hill where is old clearing had been. They then did as Kena said and approached the place they heard the noise with the wind in their faces. As they approached the edge of the forest he stopped and motioned from here on out no talking. As they got near the edge of the forest he first saw a Man animal like he had seen all those years ago when the Man cave was first built. It was cold and still. It was the Man animal that had the large piece of armor or scale on its front. They then saw where Man had made a pile of earth. He also saw several holes in the ground. Yes man was going to build something here. So far he could not see any sign of the Man cave, but Man was interested in making something here. He also knew that Man would be back early the next morning. They looked at it a while and then walked into the forest and vanished into the trees.

They walked quietly back to the clearing where they left the doe with their new fawns. All were standing there calmly when they returned.

"Man is building a new Man cave," he said. "That means Man will hunt here in The Season. Man also has a Man cave deeper in the woods that I have seen. That may mean that Man will try and chase us from this part of the forest, toward the other Man cave."

"Or they could try and push us into the Meadow where they can use their killing sticks on us," the young Bambi said. "This does not look good for the herd here."

"No it does not look good," he repeated. "We must then decide what we will do when the time comes."

"The only way to go would be across the Man path into the other part of the forest," the elder Bambi said."

"Could we cross the small open space and run into the Meadow forest?" Gena asked.

"We have to cross the open space," he reminded them. "It is short, but large enough for Man to use his killing sticks on the herd."

"We could run deeper into this forest and hope we do not run into Men from the other Man cave," Stabo said. "If we all run in different directions, Man cannot be everywhere at once."

"True, my Son," he said. "There may not be a good answer to this problem. We have time to think about it."

"I am still a little hungry," Kena said getting up. "I think I will go into the next clearing and eat something."

"That sounds like a good idea," Gena said and got up with her. The other doe followed. He went with them and started to eat until his side hurt again and then he stopped. By then the greater light was rising.

Karene spoke up after she was done eating and feeding her fawn. "I think we should go deeper into the forest to get away from the noise. I like to try and sleep today."

"That sounds like a great idea," he said and followed her along with the others.

The noise continued for several more days. Each night they looked, the Man cave got bigger and bigger. There were also other things built that were not there before. He noticed a hole in the ground surrounded by red stone. The same red stone was being used to construct part of the Man cave. This cave looked much bigger than the last one. By the time they were done, the new Man cave looked about twice as big as the old cave. That meant more Men in the season and more killing sticks. Poor Stabo looked at it and his heart sank.

"If there are twice as many Men and they are come into the forest to hunt, then we are all going to end up like poor Balo and Stena," Stabo told him and both Bambis privately.

"We are going to have to flee across the Man path and hope Man does not follow us," the elder Bambi repeated.

"Or go deeper into the forest and hope you do not run into the other group of Man,' the younger Bambi told them.

"I do not like either idea," Stabo said. "And soon I am handing herd leadership to Bambi."

They all knew that was going to happen this summer. Young Bambi was old enough now and ready. This would be his first problem.

They left it there and hoped a solution would show itself before long. He went back teaching Kena and Kele, Gena younger daughters.

It was in late spring that something happened that both made him happy and sad. They were feeding one night on the edge of the open meadow where the grass had grown back. They were eating when five new deer walked onto the meadow: a big male, two doe, and three fawns. For a second he wondered where they came until he caught a scent of them.

"Stelar?" he said to himself.

"Sister?" Young Bambi said out loud.

All of them approached the new group. It was Stelar, Helos, Young Faline, and three new fawns. They all ran and greeted all of them.

"What has happened," he said to all of them.

"I left Delon," Young Faline said almost in tears. "He has changed. Stranger, after you left he argued with everyone. I tried to talk to him, but he would not listen. Finally I left. Stelar, Helos, and their fawn came with me."

"I cannot be around him anymore," Stelar said. "He said I cared more for you than his herd and he was right. He does not lead like you, Father. He orders the deer around and if they do not do what he says, he kicks them until they do. He is a bad leader and I fear he will come to a bad end. I do not want to be there when that happens."

He looked at the elder Bambi who swallowed hard and then turned away his head hung low. He started to walk away suddenly looking very old. The other looked at him with worry. It was if he was suddenly in great pain. He and Faline ran to him think he was going to fall, but he stopped and steadied himself. "I thought it was just like Geno," he said, his voice labored. "Now it is Delon too that I failed to reach."

"I did too," he told his old friend. "I feel as bad about this like I felt about Balo and Stena."

"Where did we go wrong?" he asked as if in pain.

"You did not go wrong," Young Bambi spoke up loudly. "Stabo did not go wrong, your daughter Gena did not go wrong. My Father did not go wrong. Gorro did not go wrong. "No, Bambi you and Stranger did nothing wrong. What this shows is that some deer can learn what you taught and some deer cannot."

"He is correct, my mate," Faline said nuzzling the back of Bambi's neck. "Other than Geno, our children came out fine. Even Geno's children are good. The failure is with the deer, not with you."

It was then he saw Faline stiffen like something had hit her. The others noticed it too.

"Faline," he said, "Are you alright."

She looked normal again. "No it is just a pain I get in my chest at times. Sometimes is goes down my left front leg and left side. Like you, Stranger, I am getting old."

"Faline are you sure?" Bambi asked and kissed the side of her face with affection.

"Yes," she said. "We should not be sad that Delon has failed. "We should be happy we have our family back."

"I agree," Gena said. "I am happy to have you all back."

"Young Faline looked at Stabo. "Can we stay here?" she asked.

"Of course you can," Stabo said. "All of you can stay."

All of them agreed. In a way he was happy. He liked the idea of his daughter's children running around and playing with them. One of the things he missed most about getting old was not playing with his children again.

"I have something to say about that," they heard from a distance.

"Onto the meadow walked Delon, big with a full rack growing He looked furious at them.

"It was not bad enough you threw my mother and father out so they could die, but now you take my mate and my children. No, that will not happen. She is coming back with me if I have to drag her back."

What happened after that was so fast he never had a chance to say a word. Young Bambi eyes flashed red. Without saying a word, he dropped his head and charge straight at Delon, who put his head down and charged. They both met head on with a crash. Both of them flew back. Young Bambi recovered first and charged again. Delon dropped and tried to trip Young Bambi by bringing his rear legs around. Young Bambi saw it and leaped up into the air coming down and kicking Delon in the side of the head. Delon managed to move aside and so the kick just grazed his head. Delon raised his head and let out a kick that caught Young Bambi in the side of the head knocking him sideways. Young Bambi went down, but rolled out of the way. However he did not get quickly to his feet. Delon saw the advantage and charged as he did Young Bambi lurched forward and brought his velvet covered antlers up underneath Delon plunging them into his chest. If they had been out of velvet, that might have killed Delon right there. At the same time he lifted with his powerful legs. As he did, Delone went flying through the air. Delon hit the ground hard and was stunned. They could all see the welts on his chest and belly bleeding, but not seriously. Young Bambi was on him in a moment and raised up to pound him on the side. If was then they are saw Young Bambi was going to killed Delon.

"NO!" both he and Bambi yelled out at the same time.

He tried to move to stop them, but Bambi was much faster now than he was. Young Bambi came down hard on the side of Delon with his front hoofs. He raised up to pound him again when Bambi ran forward and hit him in the flank with his shoulder. That knocked him aside and knocked him off his feet. He hit the ground rolled one and then got up quickly. Bambi stood between him and a Delon just getting to his feet.

"Enough!" Bambi called to both of them. "This family will not kill each other while I am still alive."

Bambi then turned and shoved his face again Delon's face like he had done to Krono all those seasons past. "You leave now, before I kill you myself. You have no place here. You have no claim on Young Faline or her fawns. You turn up here again and I will let him kill you. The Stranger was right. You have learned nothing of what we taught you. You are as bad or worse than my own son Geno. I threw him out of my forest; I am now throwing you out also. Go and do not come back."

Delon got up and was limping slightly. He was breathing hard looking to attack Bambi, but Bambi was ready for him. By now Stabo had come up and also looked ready to pound him. Delon turned and without a word started to walk back into the forest.

"Do not come back, Delon," Stabo repeated. "You are no longer welcomed here."

"What is new about that," Delon blurted out. "I will come back if I feel like it."

"You come back and you are dead," Stabo said emphatically."I will follow you to make sure you go."

Stabo followed Delon into the trees and they both disappeared.

Bambi then turned to his namesake. The young male was on his feet looking not much worse for wear. "I am sorry," he told him. "I could not let you kill him. If he comes back then you do what you want."

"I am sorry too," Young Bambi said. "I lost my temper."

"That happens at times. I know all about that feeling," he said. They all smiled.

Stabo came back just before the rising of the greater light. "I followed him until he went past the clearing we found Razor's males in. I told him again what would happen if he came back. He said nothing. I do hope he listened because next time, I will kill him or I will let Young Bambi kill him."

"I know and again I should not have done what I did," Bambi said bowing his head. "That was the duty of the herd leader."

"Do not worry about it," Stabo said "I was not offended."

"I am only sorry that now I will have to raise those fawns without a Father," Young Faline said. "I had hoped when they were old enough Delon would teach them. I had hoped he would remember what you taught him and maybe change. As it was, I was too hopeful."

"And I was too hopeful," he added. "Other than Delene, nothing much came out of that part of my family," he said. "Like you I had hope for Delon, like I had so much hope for Stena."

"I know," Stabo said. "I knew she was most like you, but in some ways she was different. She let Carie cloud her judgment. "I just hope we have seen the last of both of them."

"Do not worry about training your fawns," Young Bambi said. "I will be training mine and they can learn with them."

"Thank you, brother," she said and nuzzled him.

"Speaking of hope," he said. "It is getting toward light. I hope we can get sleep today."

"They all agreed and slowly walked back into the shelter of the forest.

Chapter 3: Reactions

At first they did not notice it, but shortly after Delon was chased out of their part of the forest other strange deer started to show up. It was Stelar who noticed it first and first made inquiries with the deer. Although she and Helos usually ate in the deep forest clearings, one night they brought themselves and their fawn into the clearing where the rest of them were eating.

"Stabo, can I talk to you for a while?" she asked respectfully "There is something going on in the forest you need to know about."

They all stopped eating and started to gather around them. "What is happening, Sister?" Stabo asked.

"Have you all noticed we are having new deer show up in our herd?" she asked them all.

"I have seen a couple of deer I do not know," Young Bambi answered. "I did not pay much attention to it."

"It is not a couple of deer, there are several," Stelar went on. "They mostly stay in the deeper forest, but Helos and I have noticed them. Not just single deer. There are many doe with this year's fawns."

"Where are they coming from?" Stabo asked.

"Helos and I talked to them," Stelar answered. "They are coming from the forest near the other Man cave. They are leaving because of Delon."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Very sure," Helos spoke up for the first time. "There are some males, but mostly doe and fawns. When I asked them where they came from they said they came from where Delon was. When I asked why, they told me Delon is trying to put the herd together by force now. He is making them all call him leader. They say before he would listen, but they told me that since Delon returned from his journey, he is different. He listens to no one and argues with everyone. They also noticed he was battered."

Stelar then spoke up and with certainty in her voice. "One thing for sure, Bambi, he hates you and is openly saying he will strike back at you the first chance he gets. He says much the same about you, Stabo."

"This is starting to sound all too familiar," he said out loud.

"That is not what bothers me," Young Bambi said. "It is how he may strike back. I do not worry about him attacking myself or Stabo, but he may attack our fawns or doe and maybe even you three."

"What Bambi says is correct," Stabo spoke up sounding very seriously. "Bambi please come with me, I want to talk to you alone."

With that the two large males left their clearing talking in very low voices. Stelar turned and said. "I am sorry to bring you all trouble."

"Not your fault," he said. "You only reported something to the herd leader that may hurt the herd. That is what you are supposed to do."

He then looked at Bambi and he nodded his head. Both of them understood what needed to be done. If he was three years younger, he knew exactly what he do. Now with his age and injuries, he could no longer do it. Neither could Bambi. This will have to be dealt with by the new generation. That was the one thing he hated most of all about getting old. It robbed him of his actions. They went back to eating before Stabo and Young Bambi returned.

Stabo looked directly at Bambi and bowed his head slightly. "Bambi, I am sorry, but your advice to Delon is not being listened to. I am not going to allow him to attack our doe and fawns."

"What are you going to do?" Gena asked.

"That depends on Delon. Both Bambi and I are going to find him. If he will not listen to sense, then he will have to listen to force."

"What force?" he wanted to know.

"However much force is needed," Young Bambi said. "Stabo and I are leaving now."

"Father, may I ask you and Bambi to look after the herd until we return. There should not be much going on."

Both Gena and Karene did not look happy. This was going to be trouble he knew. Unfortunately, like Razor, he knew this was trouble they could not avoid.

"When you go, stay together," he told him. "Do not allow Delon to do to you what we did to Razor."

"Understood, Father," Stabo said.

"He walked up to his son and rubbed his forehead. "I know what you must do, so do it. Protect the herd, you have done it before. Remember, Delon is young, foolish, but he is not stupid. Be careful of him. If we were younger, Bambi and I would do this. I feel Delon is my responsibility and I should be the one to do this, but I cannot any longer. Go quickly and silently. Remember Delon may have friends too, but I doubt it."

"I understand, Father," Stabo said. "We will be careful."

They both left quietly from the clearing. They were still mostly in shock at what had happened. He walked away feeling completely useless again.

News of Delon and what happened spread among the herd. Not just the senior males, but many of the doe asked him if Deleon would come back and cause trouble. He told them honestly, he did not know, but Stabo and Young Bambi would handle it. Several days went by and he could tell things were on edge. Gena told them it was like when they knew Razor was coming. Most deer did not know what to do. The vast majority would not do anything unless they had too. There was the one bad thing about deer. Most of them only knew how to run from trouble. Very few would go and seek trouble out to learn about it or to try and stop it. Most would just run and hope to get away.

It was night several days later when he heard calls from the woods. "Here, all come here," he heard. It was both Stabo and Young Bambi calling. At least they were alive.

"Why are they calling for a gathering?" Bambi wondered.

"I have no idea, you think they discuss it with us," he answered confused himself.

He looked back at the doe and the fawns. None of them looked to know what was going on. He got up and started to walk toward where he heard the call come from. It took him a little while to get there and he was one of the last to arrive. He looked around at the gathering and noted that just about everyone had come. He decided to stay in the back and let Stabo and Young Bambi run this. Soon Stabo walked into the center. He immediately noted he was limping and his side was bruised. He could see cuts on his chest. He had been in a big fight and he could guess with whom. Young Bambi also looked a little worse for wear with minor cuts on his flanks. He did not like the look of this.

"My friends," Stabo called out. "I am sorry to have called you here with no warning, but there are matters to be discussed and it is important you hear about them."

After the murmuring died down in the herd, Stabo went on.

"As you all know Delon came back here a while ago and tired take back by force his former doe and his children. He was beaten by Bambi and told to leave. We heard that he was still angry and threaten not just the herd, but our families as well. This we could not allow. Both Bambi and I traveled deep in the forest and found Delon. We had an argument with him. It because obvious that because of his mother and father being rejected by this herd, and then getting killed by Man, Delon blamed all of us and he hated all of us. His behavior became so bad that Stelar and Helos left the forest. Then his own mate Faline left. That is when he came here to get her back and fought with her brother Bambi. We all thought he had left for good, but we found he was still planning on returning and taking revenge on both this herd and his family. When we got to Delon, we found he was putting together some large males and had talked them to come back here and try to do what Razor tired to do here. He was going to do this despite all the teaching given to him by both the elder Bambi and my Father. We could not allow that either. There was a fight and Delon and one of his males were killed by us. The threat is now over. The other two males ran away. I am sorry this has happened, but I wanted to tell you all about it."

There was a lump in his throat. Another of his family had gone bad. At least Stuben had realized his mistake and left in peace, He could not believe that Stena's son could have done this, yet he had no reason to doubt Stabo. He also did not believe that Delon would ever think what he was planning would work. He really did not learn anything Bambi and he taught him. He turned and saw Young Faline turn away and walk into the forest alone with her two fawns.

After a period of silence Elkar," one of the males from the deeper forest spoke up. "What Stabo has said is true. Delon had become someone that would not listen to anyone. All had to be his way, or he hurt the deer. I am sorry he is dead, but I think it was for the best."

"I do not think so," Relno spoke up. "With Razor we knew he had hurt and killed those in his herd, and then tried to do the same here, Delon did not do that. He said he would do that, but saying something and doing something are not the same. Delon should not have been killed unless he came back here to harm others."

He saw Stabo look stunned at the comment. "And was I suppose to wait until he hurts one of my family or my fawns. No, he made it plain to me and Bambi he was going to hurt us anyway he could."

"That sounds familiar," Bambi said.

"Too familiar and too painful," he said in a low voice. Both of them remembering what happened when he chased Kregus onto the meadow to be killed.

"All I am saying is that Delon did not deserve to die," Relno said.

Marco then walked forward and spoke loudly. "I remember Delon as a fawn. I watched him grow up with Stuben, and Delene. I watched Stranger and Bambi train him and the others. I also heard the arguments they made about being herd leader. Delon was a fine fawn and young male, but something went wrong, just like with Bambi's son Geno and Stranger's son Stuben. There is no fault here. What it shows us is that some can learn the ways of being a good herd leader and some cannot. Delon could not, but that did not mean we had to kill him."

He saw Bambi's ears flick forward showing his interest before speaking up. "You are correct; my son Geno did go bad and forgot all I tried to teach him. However Geno did not try to hurt anyone except me and Stranger by sending Krono to our forest. He never tried to hurt anyone in the forest. This is why Stanger and I did not try to kill Geno, but instead chased him away. Delon did threaten the herd and our families. Geno was wise enough to leave, Delon did not."

He then spoke up. "I always tried to teach my family the herd was the most important things. The leader and his family and friends are here to help the herd, not the other way around. When the herd is attacked, it is the duty of the herd leader to defend the herd, even if it costs his life. Bambi's son Veron knew that and he died doing it. Gurri and Jolo knew that and they died doing it. Balo and my daughter Stena knew that and they died doing it for their herd. Delon did not learn that and was ready hurt or kill to get his way. Delon was son of my daughter. His death hurts me as much as my own daughter Stena. Still no one is above the herd. This is why Balo, Stena, Delon, my mate Carie and my son Stuben were sent away when they proved they did not learn this and instead care more for themselves." With the exception of Delon, the others left and went in peace. Delon did not and wanted to hurt us. This, my friends we can never allow," he stopped for a moment to clear the lump in this throat. "I think Stabo and the younger Bambi did the right thing. Not because Stabo is my son, but because Stabo protected the herd as any good herd leader will do."

After he spoke there was silence. He turned away so they would not see his eyes cloud over. He wished Claris was with him then, but she was not. Old Bambi came over and nuzzled him on his back.

Bambi turned quickly and called out loudly,"That was well said, by a herd leader that has also paid the price to do the right thing many times."

Stabo then stood up as straight as possible and turned to face as much of the herd as he could. "Very well I understand that some of you feel I have done the wrong thing. Let me say that this was my decision alone. Veron's son Bambi helped me, but I decided what had to be done as herd leader. If you wish to have a new herd leader, I will step aside now. I recommend you give the herd leadership to Verson's son Bambi. He had proven he cares for the herd and he has proven he is ready to lead. Many of you know I never wanted to be herd leader, but after Veron was killed, someone had to do it until others were ready. Now Bambi is ready. I ask you all to accept him as your new herd leader."

There were sounds of shock from the other deer. His son had done that perfectly. He knew he was going to turn the herd over to Young Bambi this fall. This was the perfect way to do this. He turned back to the herd and watched.

He noted Marco, Relnor and two or three of the other larger males stepped aside and were talking in private. There were other mutterings from the herd. What was the problem? There were other small groups of deer in discussion. Even the doe and the yearlings were talking. This was not anything he had seen before. It was almost like they disagreed with Stabo. This went on for some time with the groups talking to each other. Finally Relnor walked out from the groups of males and went to the center of the group.

"If I may speak," Relnor called out.

"Relnor may speak," Stabo said looking at the others still in discussion.

"Stabo, we do not want you to step aside as herd leader," he said flatly. "It is not that we do not think Young Bambi can lead, it is that we still think he is too young to do so. We need an older deer that has more experience to be leader. There are many things happening we do not understand. We need someone who can lead us to safety when Man comes back during The Season. In two or three more seasons, perhaps Young Bambi will be ready, but not now."

That was a surprise. Many of them knew Veron was no older than Young Bambi when he brought the herd to this forest. He looked at Young Bambi. He was as shocked as Balo was when the herd rejected him. At least there was a reason for Balo, there was no reason to reject Young Bambi.

"My friends," he called out. "I have trained this Bambi. His father Veron trained him. The elder Bambi has trained him. This Bambi is ready to lead as did his father. I would not tell you this if I did not believe it was true. Young Bambi is ready to lead."

"I must agree with Stranger," the elder Bambi spoke up. "Yes I have trained him; yes I have watched him grow up. He is as ready as his Father was when he took leadership of the herd here."

There were more discussions within the herd. More conversations were held. More groups moving around. Finally Marco came forward.

"We hear the words of The Stranger, Bambi and Stabo. We still think that the younger Bambi needs to have more experience to lead us. For this reason we ask Stabo to remain as heard leader and for the young Bambi to help him for now."

Stabo looked bewildered at the response. Stabo wanted to give it up. Young Bambi looked angry as if rejected. He walked over to Stabo and motioned Young Bambi to join them.

"I did not expect this to happen, but the herd has made a choice. Stabo you must remain as herd leader. The others ask it of you. Bambi, the herd asks you to wait, but they did not reject you."

"What do you mean," the young male spat out. "They just told me they did not want me. Now I know how Balo felt."

"No," the older Bambi said to him like he was his own fawn. "The herd told you they did not think you were ready to lead, not that they did not want you. You will be herd leader in time, but not now."

"I almost feel like walking off into the deep woods like Balo did," the Younger Bambi said shaking his head.

That made him angry even if Young Bambi was not serious. "Then you would be no better than Balo. I have always told you the herd will tell you when you are ready. The herd told you that you are not ready now. The herd also rejected our advice. Accept it and learn more. You will be herd leader here some day."

"If you say so," Young Bambi said.

"No," he told him. "You must say so and you must say so now so the others will hear."

He could see how this tore at Young Bambi's insides. He felt he was being rejected now by the herd. The young male took several deep breaths and called out loud.

"Please hear me," he yelled out. "I will not lie to you and say I was not disappointed at your decision. However as Stranger and my Father's father taught me, I must listen to the will of the herd to be a good leader. If you do not think I am ready to lead, then I will stay and help Stabo until you think I am ready."

"That is why you are not like Balo, Delon and Stuben," Relnor said to the herd. "That is also why one day you will be ready to lead."

"Great," Young Bambi said under his breath.

With that the gathering was over and they all went back to their bedding areas."