Chapter 5: Promises

The growling noises from the Man animals continue for several days and then stopped as suddenly as it had started. When they looked at night, the large Man animals had gone leaving the forest in peace. The Man path through the opening in the trees was still there along with fresh dirt that was piled around the small spring. Other than the fading scent of Man and his animals, everything looked back to normal. None of them knew where Man had gone.

The herd returned to its former habit of eating in the meadow until first light and then leaving for the forest. The one bad change to their lives was that a large black bear had come down from the hills. He chased a couple of the doe and some fawns, but could not catch them because the herd kept watch and warnings were given. The bear for now was content to eat the berries, nuts, and leaves from the forest. Both Bambi and he knew if the bear ever caught a deer, it be the end of them.

Another change had occurred within the herd; they seem now to tolerate Claris and him more. Whether it was because of their friendship with Bambi and Faline, or what had happened on the meadow that night, he did not know. They were still not welcomed by the entire herd, but at least a few of the herd males and doe didn't move away when they entered the meadow to feed. There was also a change with Krakus. He was ignored by an increasing number of deer. Many of the males and most of the females wanted nothing to do with him. On more than one occasion he could almost feel Krakus' eyes burning through him as Claris and he fed at night.

How long into summer this continued he did not know. After feeding and drinking, both Claris and he lay in the same place near Bambi's cave. If Bambi and Faline minded their presence, they said nothing. It also allowed Claris to mind Veron when Faline and Bambi were away. He was growing into a small buck. Very often he lower his head and try to make charges at him. This was fawn play and he did not take it seriously, but he did push back and so did Bambi when Veron tried mock combat with him. It was how male fawns learned to fight and more importantly, learned their place in the herd. He could see Veron would not be a large deer like his father, but his body was compact with heavy muscles. He was very powerful for someone his size and age. Minding him also had the effect of Claris and Faline becoming closer to each other.

It was on the morning he first noticed his velvet was starting to itch, a sure sign the Season was approaching, that they heard it.

"Krack," it sounded followed by two more in quick succession.

They were startled awake by the loud noise that clearly came from the meadow. It was not as loud as when the Man animals had appeared, but it was loud and sharp and he knew at once what it meant. He shot upward from his glade startling Claris who got up quickly beside him. He looked across the stream and saw Bambi and Faline in front of their cave with Veron standing behind. Both Claris and he waded across the stream and stood next to them.

"Man?" was all Bambi asked.

"Yes," he answered. "It is still early, our antlers are still not out and the Season is not here."

Three more loud bangs followed. "Any deer on the meadow?" he asked Bambi.

"No," he answered calmly. "They all left when we did at the start of day. That is unless someone was stupid enough to go back."

He shook his head knowing if any did go back they were probably already dead. "If they did there is nothing we can do," he said. "If we went now, they see us for sure, and then we be next."

Then they all heard it, a yelping noise carried on the wind from the meadow. He could just make it out. "Here….Here," it called out."

"Dogs," Faline gasped and sunk back into the cave next to Veron. Her cheeks turned white as snow.

Both Claris and he looked at Bambi who was also shaken. "Back with our first herd, Faline was chased by dogs. I stopped them," he sounded as if he was in pain. "It was the same time I was hit, by Man," and motioned to his right hindquarter. He had noted the scar there before, but never felt it was his business to ask the cause.

"We should wait until dark," he suggested. "Man will leave by then."

Bambi turned silently and went back into his cave. Claris and he turned and went back to the glade. He heard Bambi reassure Faline, "They are not coming here." he told her gently.

Claris went back to their bed of dry leave and lay down. "Will they come here?" she asked him, she was also afraid.

"I do not know," he whispered as he lay besides her gently licking her ear with his tongue. "Now sleep, the night may be long."

No one wanted to go anywhere near the meadow and he could not blame them. Both he and Bambi decided they would go and see if the meadow was safe after dark. As they got closer their noses alerted them to danger. The air was filled with smoke, only this was not just the smoke from fire. The scent carried another smell, one of birds, but the birds smelled burnt. He remembered from his time with Man that they put meat from animals they killed on fire for some reason. Man liked his meat burnt. He had no idea why. The fox, coyote, bear and badger all ate their meat as soon as they killed it. They never burnt it.

"I think Man is here to kill birds and not us," he whispered to Bambi.

"That awful smell," Bambi complained and made a face at it.

"I will explain later," he replied. "Right now we have to see the meadow without being seen."

"I know a place" Bambi said. "Follow me."

He followed Bambi around past the stream until they came to a part of the forest that intruded into the meadow by a few lengths. There they were still hidden in the trees, but could see the entire meadow, bathed in the soft glow from the lesser light. It was then they saw it. A strange light was glowing brightly from the far end of the meadow. It was outside something standing near the spring. It was something that had not been there before. He knew it at once.

"Man cave," he continued to whisper. "Man is here."

Bambi froze for a moment as he realized just what that meant "We will not be able to use the meadow again," he said looking at him with a concern on his face.

"Yes," he said, "but let us watch here for a while. Man always sleeps at night. We might be able to use the meadow when he is asleep."

They both waited. At first things only got worse. First one Man came out and sat on some sort of strange looking rock he carried. A second Man came out a while later and sat on another. Two dogs came out with them and lay on the ground near their masters. Bambi wanted to leave right then, but he knew the dogs were not hunting and so should not smell them from this distance. They waited and watched the two Men light their mouths on fire and begin to smoke. Although he had seen this before, Bambi had no idea what they were doing. "Who lights themselves on fire?" he asked.

The two men sat on their rocks for a while puffing white smoke and raising something to their lips. Finally, as the lesser light rose there was a strong breeze from behind them. A moment later the dogs stood up and started to bark loudly in their direction. Both Men rose, and one went inside the Man cave and came out with a stick. It was a killing stick. The other man went over to the dogs and made a motion with his hand. Immediately both dogs ran off directly toward them.

"Run!" he yelled and he and Bambi leaped away. Both of them knew better not to run back to their cave; the dogs and Men might follow them there. They both ran off into the forest.

"Krack," he heard from behind him. Neither of them slowed down. They both ran until the sound of dogs barking because less and then stopped. Only then did they stop running.

"Did you get hit?" he heard from Bambi.

"No," he said. "Are you alright?"

Bambi nodded and looked around. "I know another way back to my cave. It will take longer to get there, but we will not have to go near the meadow."

"Good," he said and off they walked together. It was near day before they came back to the cave. Both Faline and Claris were standing looking toward the meadow. Both did not hear them as they approached from the other side.

"Faline," Bambi called out. Immediately both doe turned around and ran over toward them.

Claris came over and licked the front of his face, "You are alright?

He nodded and nuzzled her cheek. The running had tired him and made him hungry. Later that night they ate in a small patch of grass past the cave. A few deer stopped by and asked what to do. Bambi told them not to go to the meadow that night, but to find food in the forest. He heard no more shooting that night and into the early morning.

They stayed awake until it was full light. After that he was so tired he lay down in his clearing. He closed his eyes, felt the warmth of Claris' body next to him. The only thing he felt as the darkness drifted over him was Claris lying fully against his side and rubbing his muzzle with hers. The inward warmth came back, but he felt troubled. Man would soon be back looking for them. He knew what that would mean. It was time he spoke to Claris.

They slept through most of the day time. He got up near the end of day feeling refreshed. Claris got up with him. He looked over to her and nuzzled her neck and then asked. "Would you walk with me?"

She nodded with a smile and they walked away from Bambi's cave into the dense forest. When they were far enough away that he could not be overheard he stopped.

"What is wrong?" Claris asked. Had he become that obvious to her?

He stopped and tried to speak, but as always struggled to find the right words. "You know it is hard sometime for me to talk about things close to me."

"You do not have to speak," Claris said with a grin. "I already know what you feel."

"Well there is something else you must know, and I feel I must tell you now," he said then took a deep breath. "Claris, I have never been with a doe like you. I have never felt for a doe the way I feel about you. When the Season comes, I want you to be with me."

She smiled and started to answer, but he stopped her. "Before you answer there are things you must know. When the Season starts, Man will be back with his killing sticks. When man comes, he always tries to kill the largest male deer. That means Bambi, Ronno, some of the larger herd males and it also means me."

The green eyes dimmed as Claris realized what he had just said. "No," she muttered and rubbed him affectionately on the neck.

He did not return the feeling. "Yes me," he continued. "So far, I have been wise enough not to be hit and die. Bambi is the same way. What I do not know is how long that will last. I want to spend my life here with you. What I do not know is how long that life will last."

Claris pulled away and looked at him with those green eyes almost sparkling. "No one knows that," she went on. "As long as you live, I want to be with you."

That was the first thing he wanted to say, now for the harder part. "You also know that like Bambi I will do things like I have done before with the Man caves and the Man animals. I do these things because with what I have learned among Man, it allows me to understand better what needs to be done. I will not stop doing that."

"No, you will not," she repeated calmly. "You and Bambi are different, yet you are both the same this way. I know what may happen and so does Faline. We talk about it when you two are not around. We both know one day neither of you may be here. Until that day I will be here with you, and Faline will be here with Bambi."

She already knew. How silly of him to think he was the only one with such thoughts. In that moment he realized for the first time that Claris may be stronger on the inside than he was. He still wanted an answer from her. "When the Season comes, will you come with me?"

"Of course," she said and licked his face. He did the same thing. For a few seconds he wanted her now, but it was not yet time. After a long while nuzzling each other he lay against the side of a down tree that supported his head. Claris could then lay against him with her head against his neck. In that moment he realized just how much he wanted her.

Later on just after dark they came back. Both Bambi and Faline were lying outside their cave together with Veron lying next to his mother.

"Have you heard anything more from the meadow?" he asked Bambi."

Bambi did not bother to get up. "Just some noise when the greater light was setting and then nothing. No more noise from the killing sticks."

"Maybe they are gone," he said looking to the meadow. "After dark we should look."

"I was thinking the same thing," Bambi answered. He lay down near Bambi and Faline. Claris lay next to him. It was like they were one family.

The two of them went back alone to the same place as the previous night. They could see from their hiding spot the light was gone. The man cave had vanished and there was no more scent of Man or his dogs on the meadow. It was safe to use the meadow again at night. As he turned to go back to the clearing, Bambi stopped him.

"I saw when you got back today with Claris, you both seemed different and more relaxed. Did you talk with her?"

"Yes, it was time we had a talk. There were things I wanted her to know," he said. Even though it was night he could still feel those two black eyes almost burning through him.

"May I ask what you talked about?" Bambi said. Normally he be put off by the question but he felt Bambi was asking for a reason, so he told him, everything.

"Good, I have known for some time you two would stay together like Faline and me. I am also glad you told her about what you want to do and what may happen because of it. Now I have something to ask of you."

With that Bambi turned away and looked almost like he did while trying to ask something he was not sure how to do. Then he turned and spoke in a low voice. "Like you, I talked with Faline when we first came together. I told her what my duties were with the herd and what may happen because of them."

Bambi seem to swallow hard, this was not like him. He was worried and he was showing that worry to him. Then he looked him straight in the eye and said with some hesitation, "If it is me lying dead in the meadow, I want you to do two things for me."

"Bambi, I do not think . . ." He started to say,

"Stop!" Bambi ordered. "Let me finish."

He then seemed to gather his strength before he went on. "I want you to look after Faline. I do not think she will need protection, but I want someone to protect her especially from the fools like Kragus. Will you do that?"

"Of course," he answered firmly. "I will gladly look after her. However if it is me lying dead in the meadow, I want you to do the same for Claris. I do not want her living without a friend."

"Of course I will," Bambi answered. "Now the next and hardest thing I want you to do. If I am dead, I want you to be the herd leader until my son Geno is old enough to take my place."

For one of the few times in his life he was stunned silent. Bambi wanted him to be herd leader? Him the deer everyone wanted nothing to do with. "Bambi everyone runs away from me, you want me to be leader, why?"

Bambi walked up to him and rubbed his side, "Because Faline is correct when she says you and I are mostly the same. I also trust you and your knowledge to do the right thing. Ronno, while big and strong, is not that wise. Many of the others just do not know how."

He did not know whether to laugh or weep. He felt his throat tighten and his body shake. For one of the few times in his life, he felt fear at what might come. "Are you sure, my friend?" was all he was able to say.

"Yes, I am sure, my friend," Bambi answered, and again looked at him with those piercing back eyes.

They walked silently back to Bambi's cave. Bambi called the herd to the meadow to feed. He found he had no appetite. All he could think about was what Bambi had asked him. He wondered if he was wise enough to lead the herd. He hoped he never have to find out.

It was then he realized he was standing with only Claris next to him. She was looking at him with a look of concern in her eyes. "What happened out there?" she wanted to know. "You look in pain."

After making sure no one could hear them, he told her what Bambi has asked.

She looked at him in disbelief. "What will you do?" she asked.

"I will do the best I can," he said simply and walked toward the meadow.

Chapter 6: The Hunt

The days got shorter. The grass did not seem to grow as quickly, and there was a chill in the air at night. All were signs of winter approaching. He saw that both he and Claris had enough muscle and fat on them that they could easily survive the winter unless it became very very cold. Most of the deer had put on enough weight to make it through the hard times. One thing about this herd, there were no old deer here. He had asked Bambi about this and he was told that those few older deer that survived the fire and the hunting by Man in the old forest had decided to stay there. Some of the younger deer born right after the fire had also remained there like Bambi's son Geno and his daughter Gurri. Bambi and many of the other deer had come here because the old forest could not support that many deer after the fire. The old forest was just down the stream less than a day's walk from the big meadow. During the summer, both Bambi and Faline had gone to visit their children.

He had finally stripped the last of the velvet away from his antlers. When he did Claris came up to him and looked at him. He could see the pleasure in her eyes. "You have a wonderful rack," she told him. "It is as big as Bambi's."

Somehow that comment was pleasing and yet he felt bothered by it. He did not want to be compared to anyone. Little Veron was no longer so little and was spending more and more time away from his parents and with other fawns of his age. He was asking all sorts of questions. The one thing all of them tried to teach him was that he was never to go into the meadow without one of them being with him. That lesson was being taught to all fawns by their mothers. The fawns still did not understand what the presence of Man meant. Soon they would all know.

One evening after eating on the meadow, they walked back to the cave as normal. As he walked across the stream he was suddenly hit with a powerful scent from a doe. Only it was not Claris, it was Faline. He stopped and looked at her. For a second he felt the urge to go over and have Faline much like he had Claris. He stopped himself and looked up right into the black piercing eyes of Bambi who was looking at Claris the same way. He knew Bambi was feeling the same as he. In the other deer herds he had been in there were males who were close friends, yet would argue and fight with each other at this time. It was the way the Season put its hold on everyone. He did not want to do that with Bambi. He walked up and yet stood several lengths away from Faline because Bambi had come up to block his movement.

"Bambi, I feel the Season coming on," he told him.

"Yes, I feel it too," he said.

"I think it may be good if Claris and I were to rest at some other place else until it is over. Would you and Faline be offended?"

Bambi seem to think about for a second before answering, "No, I think that is a wise move. We are coming to the time when we want to be alone with our doe."

He looked back and stared at Claris who heard everything. She just smiled at him.

"If you need me, call me," he said and bowed his head.

"I will and call me if you need me, my friend." the big deer told and turned away from him.

He went back to Claris and nuzzled her along the side of her face, "Come with me," he said and without a word she did.

Over the next days he spent a lot of time with Claris. They selected a spot near the large oaks where Claris use to lie alone before he came to the forest. They bedded there during the day mostly because there were no other deer nearby. It was close enough to the meadow where they could easily feed and drink, yet far away from the others where they could be alone. Already he could see the herd starting to break up, especially the males. He could hear clashes of antlers in the forest. The fight for doe had started. Unlike last Season he felt no urge to join the fight or to go after any other doe. In fact the only urge he felt was for Claris. She started giving off scent indicating she wanted to be with him. He followed her around waiting for a sign from her. Occasionally they saw other male deer. They would look at him, and then walk quickly away. Most of the herd males wanted nothing to do with him. Even Ronno avoided him. Kragus he never saw, although he smelled his scent in several places.

One day just after they left the meadow before the start of day, there came loud noises from where the Man animals had been. It sounded and smelled like Man. The noises were got louder and were unfamiliar to him, but man was doing something on the meadow. He dared not go look during the day. He knew his rack was full and the Season was almost here. That meant that Man had come for them this time.

It was mid day and they were sleeping when the noise started again. Claris was lying close against his side. He was feeling warm and comfortable, but now he knew there was danger. He did not want to move around in the forest during the day at this time. He looked over and saw the large oak of the Old Owl. He got an idea.

He got up and moved over to the large oak of Friend Owl and kicked the trunk with his hoofs. "Friend Owl," he called out loudly.

The large grey owl staggered out of his hole and onto the branch looking at him crossly. "What is it, Stranger? First there was all the noise and now you."

"Friend Owl, I need you to do something. It is very important. The noise is from Man, and I think he is here to kill deer."

"That brought the old bird to attention," Yes it is the time," he squeaked. "What do you want me to do?"

He explained carefully to the old boy. "I like you to fly to the meadow keeping very low in the trees and see what man is doing. Then I want you to find Bambi and have him meet me at the place where we saw the Man cave before. I will meet him there tonight.

"Oh, alright," he groaned, "But do not wake me again during the day."

With that he flew off toward the meadow. He looked back to Claris standing behind him. "We will stay here until dark and then go to the place Bambi and I saw the Man cave."

"I understand," she said "You want to see what Man is doing."

"You are learning," he told her with a smile. "Are you afraid?"

"Not with you and Bambi near me."

Just before the day became dark, the Old Owl returned.

"Friend Owl," he called to the old bird. "What did you see?"

"There are many Men by the edge of the meadow," the bird reported." There are four Man-caves near where the first one was at. There are many small caves along the edge of the meadow near the Man path. I saw many Men there."

"Thank you," he said. "I am sorry I woke you."

"Just please do not do it again," he squawked

After it was fully dark, they walked slowly through the forest, testing the air often for the scent of Man. The wind was blowing down the hills toward the meadow and he could not pick up a scent in that direction. They moved quietly around taking the long path to the part of the forest that sticks out into the meadow.

They walked slowly down the stream until he could see part of the meadow, then he circled around the way Bambi had showed him until they came to the place where the forest sticks out into the grassy field. They walked quietly to the location as the lesser light rose filling the meadow with a dim light. Suddenly there was a noise from behind him. He turned and saw two deer, a male and a doe; the light breeze brought their scents to him.

"Come with me," Bambi told them, "I know the way better."

The four of them walked close to each other being careful not to make any noise. As they got closer to the spot they had been before, the breeze brought another scent, the putrid smell of Man. This time there were many scents. Then they heard a dog bark. They all froze in place. Then slowly they walked forward until the trees became thin enough where they could see the entire length of the meadow.

The owl was right; there were many lights that shinned brightly. He could also see several dogs sleeping outside. He saw the smaller caves that were just on the edge of the meadow, almost in the trees. Man was back.

"Man is here for us," he told them.

Bambi nodded, "We must go deep into the forest until Man leaves. I will tell the others."

"I agree," he nodded. For some reason something was starting to make him feel angry. It had to do with the scent Bambi gave off. He wanted to speak up, but stopped himself. He needed to leave with Claris. He would have taken Faline if she even seemed slightly interested even though she belonged to Bambi. The feelings coming over him were different this time than before. He wasn't sure what he felt, but he did not want to remain near Bambi.

Bambi looked at him also showing anger. He could tell Bambi did not like the way he was looking at Faline. Bambi was about to say something when he caught an image of something racing across the meadow. He turned and looked. There was a male deer running across the open space at full gallop about halfway between them and the Man caves. Immediately all the dogs started to yell making a huge noise. Lights came on quickly at the Man caves. He knew what that meant.

"Run," he called out and an instant later the four of them took off in two directions

Once Claris and he had run far enough as to lose sight of the meadow they stopped. Bambi and Faline took another path. They were alone and soon would come the start of day.

"What do we do?" Claris wanted to know.

He looked around. He did not want to move about the forest in the light with Man nearby. "We go up the hill and stay there until night; then we go back to our place."

They walked up the hill and looking for a place to sleep where they be hidden. As he walked around a new scent caught his nose. It was weak and smelled of fur and meat.

"There is a bear nearby," he told Claris. "He is not here now, but he has been. We must be careful of him also."

Claris caught the scent. "It is the same scent as the bear that chased those two doe and fawns," she added.

They did not go further up the hill where the bear scent was stronger but walked around the bottom of the hill until they found a small glade under some pine trees. There they lay down on the grass and leaves and went to sleep.

"HHHHAAAAYYYAAAAA." he heard just after daylight. It was a Man noise; then he heard the same loud noise, but another direction. HHHHHHAAAAYYYAAAA." It was like no animal sound he knew. Then he heard the yelping of the dogs, still far away. There was shouting, and all sorts of other noises. None of it seemed to be coming their way. The shouting went only for what seem the entire day. The dog barking noises first got fainter then got louder again.

"Stay still," he told Claris. "Man is in the forest, but not near us. If we stay still and the dogs do not come we should be alright."

She snuggled up even closer to him, which made him feel even better.

Then there was more yelling from far away. It seem like the yelling was moving toward the meadow. "BAMMMMM" he heard followed by "BAMMM, BAMMM" Those were the killing sticks. By the louder noise he knew these were the big killing sticks Man used to kill deer. They got as low to the ground as they could and waited. No unusual scent came to them.

"Do not make a noise," he told Claris. "Man cannot kill us if he cannot find us."

"Crash," he heard like something was smashing its way through the forest. He heard louder crashing of broken branches and twigs. Who was ever running was fleeing not taking care how much noise they made. Then he heard a voice "AHHHHH. . . AAHHHHHHHH." It was a deer. He got up and listened, the crashing noise was in front of him and seemed to go past him up the hill.

"One of us," he called to Claris. He smelled the air. It was now coming from the meadow. There was no smell of man. There was no sound of dogs. He got up started slowly walking toward the sound where he heard the deer. Claris followed him also trying not to make a sound. The crashing continued and then it stopped. He walked carefully up the hill when he caught a smell in his nose. A foul odor was in the air, yet one with the scent of a deer. Then he recognized it from his time with Man. Blood and death; the smell when they brought back the dead deer to be burnt and eaten. He followed his nose until he came to a long red streak on the grass. He followed it many lengths until he saw the limp figure of a deer lying still on the ground.

The deer was a young male. This would be his first season after being a fawn. A small rack was on his head. He looked at the side. Halfway down his flank was a gaping hole gushing out blood. The amount that was leaking onto the ground indicated to him the deer would not live. He walked to the font. The eyes were still open and he was still breathing. He remembered the deer, but he did not know his name.

"They came," he gasped. "They chased us. They had dogs," He stopped looking to catch his breath. "I and the others ran. They chased us to the meadow, then the killing sticks. I was hit and ran."

"I think his name is Talis," Claris said looking horrified at the deer below.

"Talis, was anyone else hit?" he wanted to know.

"There were others." The voice was starting to rattle in his throat. "I do not know." With that he collapsed.

It was then he picked up another scent, this one smelled dirty and fatty, he heard a large bush break.

"Bear," he told Claris and they backed up several lengths.

A large black bear charged down from the top of the hill. Both he and Claris backed away further. The bear did not come after them but instead stopped on top of the prone deer and looked at them "MINE," he growled.

"Yes yours," he said watching the bear closely. "He has suffered enough, do it quickly."

The bear looked at him for a second seeming to want to say something and then he stopped and turned his attention to the deer below him. He raised his huge paw and in a flash brought it down on the back of the neck of the terrified figure. There was a loud noise like a branch breaking.

"AHHHH," he heard and all four legs lunged outward and stiffened and then rested motionlessly on the ground. Talis would not move again.

"You should leave before I do the same to you" the bear roared."

Claris turned and ran down the hill many lengths.

He did not move. He did not have to. "I do not think so," he said. "You have your meal. You do not need to kill us to feed you. Besides, I do not think you can chase us down."

"No," the bear said studying him closely. "Perhaps you are right."

"Thank you for making it quick," he said as he started to back away.

"You do not hate me for killing your friend," the bear said eyeing him.

"He was going to die anyway, you just stopped his pain," he explained. For some reason he had no fear of the bear. "For you killing Talis is in the Way of All Things, for Man it is just killing."

"What does that means?" the bear asked seemingly more interested in what he had to say that trying to make a meal out of him.

He thought for a second before he tried to explain. "You killed and will eat Talis for food because you need it to in order to live. Just as we deer eat the grass and plants to live. Man will kill not to live, but for his own pleasure. There is a difference."

"Yes and Man will also kill me if he can," the bear continued. "I understand what you are saying. You must be the strange deer I hear of, the deer that knows Man so well."

"Yes, that is me," he said.

"BLAMMMMM," they heard again, both he and the bear cringed.

"I must go before Man finds us," he said quickly."If I were you I go deep into the forest until you hear no more Man sounds. Besides, I do not want to watch you eat Talis."

The bear picked up Talis' body and started to carry it up the hill in his huge jaws. "He could still hear the bear say, "I hope to see you again."

"I hope not. I have no interest in ending up inside you," he said with a smile and walked away.

He met Claris down the hill. "Do not worry about the bear," he told her. "Worry about Man."

Chapter 7: The Season

Author's Note: This Chapter contains some adult themes and may not be suitable for young children

They waited until dark and then slowly made their way back to their resting place. As they walked he noticed that the scent from Claris was getting more powerful. He could feel his body start to stiffen. He found his attention being focused more and more on Claris and not on what was going on around him. He had felt this before with the other doe, but never at this intensity. By the time they returned he was sniffing near her tail often, yet she still seemed to have no interest in him. It was getting near the start of day when they reached their place. She had not said a word on their journey back. They met no deer, but he clearly smelled their strong scent, yet he was not the slightest bit interested in the other creatures of the forest. Claris just lay down in the grass. He felt ready to burst inside him. He felt the inward pressure from the rear. He got up and moved away and emptied himself. He started back and thought he heard a cry from Claris. He turned and rushed back. At once there was the scent of another deer. He ran back to where they lay. There was a large male deer holding Claris down on the ground with his antlers. He could see some bleeding from her side. It was Kragus.

Kragus looked up. "Not so powerful are you," he sneered. "Not after I kill your doe."

He said nothing and charged. All the pressure and stiffness vanished inside his body. He had one interest in life and that was to shred this deer into pieces. His vision tuned red; his body felt like it had blown up to twice its size. Kragus managed to get his head turned and brace for his charge.

The impact felt like he had run into a tree. The sound seemed louder than even the Man animals. His vision shook and his head ached, but Kragus flew back several lengths. He lowered his head again and charged him. This time Kragus managed to run a few steps toward him. The impact was even more deafening. He felt himself stopped in place stunned. Again Kragus was thrown back.

"No strange fighting this time," Kragus said almost out of breath.

"I do not need it this time," he said deliberately.

A voice from inside him told him to be careful. Kragus was strong, and not without skill. He had to think through his rage. Yes Kragus was strong, but all he knew was charge and force his opponent to the ground. He backed up opening the distance. Then he lowered his head looking to make a massive charge at him. Kragus seemed to smile because he felt that he was going to make this into a test of strength. That was something Kragus knew how to fight. He charged and ran several steps. Kragus did likewise. The large male vaulted forward at him only he stopped short and jumped aside planting his front legs in the ground. This time he did not try and trip Kragus, he would be expecting that. Instead he turned and kicked out hard with his rear hoofs. He was not going for his flak that Kragus had already started to turn away. He went straight for his head. His right hind foot caught him in the side of his head, just behind his antlers. He felt the impact of his hoof. He spun around looking to meet a new charge, but Kragus lunched forward and crashed onto the ground and lay still. He immediately turned to Claris who was getting up. He looked at the wound on her side. It was not serious, Kragus had only cut her. Still it enraged him.

"I thought it was you," she said whimpering. "I never smelled him. My nose was filled only with your scent. He knocked me down and rubbed his antlers against my side. He said he was going to kill me."

He walked over to the down deer that was only now starting to stir. He bent over and put his two center antler points directly against his throat. "Stay away from Claris or I will kill you," he bellowed not caring if the whole forest heard him.

"Kill me, yes, kill me," Kragus gasped. Be like the Men you lived with. You think you are so mighty because you are friends with Bambi and Faline. You are nothing, just another strange deer that that spends time with that useless doe you have."

"Enough" he growled as loud as the bear. "Stay away from her. Hurt her again and I will tear you apart."

He thought he actually heard the deer start to laugh. "Hurt her, I was not going to hurt her. I was only going to force her down so I could breed her. I wanted to put my fawn in her, not yours, and then in the spring, kill them both. I hate you, I hate her, and I hate Bambi. I should be herd leader not any of you because I am a deer, not a nameless wanderer, or some worthless male that pours his boring, useless, wisdom out like a running stream. I am only sorry Man and his dogs did not kill you all last night when I tried to wake him."

"You ran across the field," he said his anger building more in his body. He looked at Claris and in that moment he realized she would never be safe with Kragus around.

"Claris, leave," he ordered. "Go into the forest, I will join you later."

"No," she said, "I want to stay…."

"LEAVE!" he shouted at her, "go now."

Claris looked stunned he would raise his voice at her but slowly she backed away and moved deeper into the forest. He now looked down at his fallen enemy below. His eyes must have given him away because suddenly Kragus started to shake. "You really are going to be like Man You really are going to kill me."

Kragus was right. He was going to kill him. He felt his rage build up in his body. He put his two large center point against his throat. All it would take is one lunge and Kragus would die gurgling in his own blood. He deserved nothing better. He thought he heard Claris called from behind him, but he didn't care. All he wanted was this deer's blood on his antlers.

"Die!" he said grimly.

"Stranger, NO!" Claris yelled out from behind. "Please do not do this. Think what Bambi would say. Think about what it will do to us."

He stopped and breathed in deeply. He was breathing like he just run across the forest. His two center points were already pressed against his flesh. He then stopped. He heard and smelled Claris come up from behind, "Please," she begged him.

He didn't lung forward, instead he slashed down with his antler putting two open cuts in the deer's chest. "DAHHHHHHHHHHH," Kragus screamed.

"Get up," he ordered.

He watched the large deer get up slowly and wobble on his legs like a new fawn. It took his a while to steady himself on his feet. Besides bleeding from his chest, he was bleeding from the side of his head where he kicked him. After he was sure he had gotten back enough sense to understand him he walked up into pushed his face into Kragus'; his eyes glaring through him.

"Leave the forest," he ordered. "Go over the hill to the next forest and live there. If I ever see you or smell you again, you are dead."

With that he turned away and started back to Claris. He managed to walk three steps before he saw a look of shock on Claris's face. He turned around quickly his antlers out forward. Sure enough Kragus tried to charge his unprotected rear. The attack was clumsy and weak, but against his unprotected rear quarters, it would be effective. Instead all Kragus hit was his antlers which he bounced off. He lower his head and pushed forward with all of his might. Kragus went flying away from him. The big deer landed a full length away and rolled. He got up faster and started to run. He chased him. He would chase him out of the forest if he had to.

Kragus bounded away from him, leaving a trail of blood he could smell. He kept his head lowered just in case Kragus stopped and tried to attack again. They both ran blindly. In the background he thought he heard Claris calling loudly toward him. He didn't care anymore. This deer was leaving the forest alive or dead.

Kragus fled out of fear and he chased him out of rage. They both ran with him trying to catch the fleeing deer. He chased him for a while before he heard a familiar voice call from behind.

"Stop the meadow," it sounded like Bambi

That brought him out of it. He was about to run into the open meadow. He locked all four feet up to try and stop himself while he was still in the trees. Kragus just kept running and bounded into the clearing. He slid down and hit a tree that stopped him. He felt a pain in his flank, but he was still several lengths in the forest. He watched Kragus run across the meadow. He got almost to the other side when he heard it.

"BLAMMM," came the familiar noise. He saw Kragus' feet fly out from under him sending him sprawling onto the ground. He didn't move for a second and then he tried to get up.

"BLAMMM," came the noise again. This time Kragus looked like he was pushed to his side like he'd just been hit by another large deer. Kragus did not move after that. He slowly got up, untangled himself from the tree and as quietly as possible sneaked back into the forest.

He was still breathing hard when he got back to where Claris was, he was surprised to see Bambi standing there with Faline.

"Kragus is dead?" Bambi asked.

He nodded. "He ran into the meadow and Man killed him. I am sorry; I did not want to see him die like that."

"I know" Bambi said. "Many in the herd will not like this"

Then he told both of them of what happen and everything Kragus had told him. "He wanted me dead, Claris dead, and you dead," he said directly to Bambi. He then turned to Claris. "I am sorry I yelled at you," he said bowing his head. "Thank you for stopping me from killing Kragus myself," he said and nuzzled her gently then turned back to Bambi and Faline.

"Many in the herd will blame you for this," Bambi said shaking his head.

That made him angrier. "If either of you or the entire forest wants to hate me for this, then go ahead. But know this; I was not going to let him kill the deer I care about. I have never had a doe that wanted me, and I never had friends until I came here. I will not lose that to Kragus," he said and walked away.

He walked past the stream and up the hill toward some tall trees. He heard some rapid hoofs run along the ground behind him. Claris moved past him and then got in front of him to make him stop. She flashed her green eyes and looked straight into his eyes.

He said nothing but moved forward and rubbed his long nose against hers and licked the side of her face. Then he told her in a soft whispered tone, "I want you more than anything in my life and no one is going to change that."

She broke off and turned around and walked away. Immediately he was flooded by her scent and new one; the smell of a doe ready to breed. "Come with me," she said and walked slowly back the way they came. Both Bambi and Faline had vanished.

He followed her close sniffing at her tail that she filled with her scent. She walked until they came to the thicket where they had been sleeping. It had bushes and with some oak trees growing around it. Claris walked in and then stopped. She hunched her back and raised her tail. He climbed on top of her as his body exploded outward.

For the next two days they did little but eat, sleep, and breed. As they lay next to each other they said little, but he felt for the first time in his life the true desire to please someone other than himself. He felt Claris was as happy and as content with him as he was with her. The memory of Kragus was distant and fading fast. His only focus was on this doe. From time to time he heard more loud noises at the meadow, but that was someone else's problem. He had all he needed. Those two days pasted in a blur, all he knew was he was happier now than he had ever been before.

On the third day he felt the inner drive of the Season fade. He had done what he needed to do. Claris. while still affectionate, made no further attempt to couple with him again. She too was finished. As they left the thicket they both marked the place as belonging to them. They walked until they found some grasses and ate and drank their fill. He could smell other deer in the forest. It was time for the herd to come together again.

The fist deer they found was Ronno, only he was not alone. He had a doe with him. A young doe having her first breeding season after her first winter. Her name was Marol. They were together and looked happy. He approached them, but they both moved quickly away from him. Ronno looked concerned and the doe looked frighten. He did not go after them. They were the first. Many, but not all, the other deer avoided them. What had happened had become known to all the others in the forest.

They walked as one through the forest eating the grass, tying to put on as much weight before winter snow came. The air was chilly. Few deer talked with them, and then only for a short while. Mostly they acted like when he first came, they were considered outcasts by many deer.

It was at night they came upon the old Oak tree. In the branches the old owl looked at them silently.

"Hello, Friend Owl," Claris greeted him as before.

"I heard what happened Stranger. I understand what you did, but I do not like how it was done. I think you both should leave now," the owl shrieked and flew off without a word."

"Oh," Claris said and dropped her head. "Him too," she muttered.

"Him and others," he heard a voice call out. He looked up and saw Bambi. He was alone. "Many of the others do not want either of you around anymore."

"You did not tell them what Kragus tried to do to Claris?" he asked.

"Yes, I told them," Bambi said. "Some did not believe your words. Most did not care. They tell me you should not have chased Kragus onto the meadow to be killed. You should have beaten him and let him run away."

"So I should have let Kragus kill Claris another day?" he said starting to let the anger in his voice rise.

"Most think that was just talk from Kragus. Most think he would not have done it," Bambi said.

"And the cuts on her side was Kragus' idea of fawn play?" he said loudly.

"Again, they say Kragus was not serious, and to many, that makes you a killer. Bambi seem not to be getting mad, he tried to calm himself. After all Bambi was the herd leader.

"Anything else," he said.

Bambi nodded and dropped his head. "Yes, many want you two gone from the forest. They asked me to chase you out."

"No," Claris pleaded. "I was born here. This is my home."

"Yes, but most will no longer accept you anymore," Bambi said. "I am sorry, but you are both no longer welcomed at my cave. You will need to leave the forest."

"You are going to chase us out at the start of winter?" he told him bitterly. "We would both die in the hills during winter. You know that. No, Bambi, I am not going and neither is Claris. Not this time. Do not try and chase us out. The others better not try and run us off the meadow. I will fight you or anyone else if you try."

"I know!" Bambi yelled. "If I do not try and chase you out, then I will look weak before many of the others. I will no longer be herd leader. If I try and chase you out, then we will fight. I am not sure who would win. I am sure the loser will likely be dead and the winner will not be in much better shape."

He stopped and hung his head. Bambi was right, come or go, there was only pain ahead for all of them. "Look," he said regaining his calm. "I am not taking Claris out of the forest during winter. I will also not allow myself or Claris to be chased out of the forest. In the spring, after our fawn comes, and it becomes strong enough, we will go over the hill. There is another herd there."

"I will see if that will do," Bambi said, "But many want you gone now."

"That is the most I will offer," he told the large deer.

"I know," Bambi said and walked back toward his cave.

He watched him go and turned to face Claris, who said nothing, but tears flowed down her eyes.

There was another way he knew. "Look, if I go now, the others will not throw you out," he said his voice choking up. "They will allow you to stay. The Season is over and you can live near Bambi and Faline. By myself I can survive in the hills. You can live here in the forest. In the spring I will come back after the fawn comes and then take you both out of here. If I stay, Bambi or I may have to fight and I do not want that."

"NO!," she said. "I go with you. I will always go with you. You are the only thing in this forest that makes me want to live here."

His chest tightened. He gently put his face into the smooth warm fur along her side and wept in frustration.

Chapter 8: The Price of Forgiveness

They were alone. They avoided the herd, they avoided the meadow, they avoided everyone they ever knew and they stayed up near the hills alone. They left their place he had bred in and walked away to a place near the hills. There were almost no deer there. For now there was still plenty of food, but that would change when the snow came. He also figured that if he avoided the other deer, there would be less call for the two of them to be run out of the forest. His idea was to remain hidden as much as possible from the other deer until spring when the new fawn came and then leave, again.

The Season had passed. Soon he knew he lose his antlers and the call to remove them might be less. It didn't matter, he had made up his mind he was not going and he was prepared to fight and if necessary kill anyone who tried to force them.

The idea of being an outcast again did not concern him greatly; he had been one all his life. He could tell it bothered Claris much more. Even though she had been ignored by the herd as an adult, she still felt a part of it. A part that was now forever broken His hurt was not that he had been shunned, but they had taken it out on Claris because of him.

His great overwhelming desire to be with Claris had vanished with the Season. He could sense it had done likewise with her. He still felt warmth when they were together. He still wanted to be with her. In truth she still had strong feelings for him. But it was also true she had no place else to go. Like it or not they had been cast together.

They lived apart from the herd for many days, then as the air was getting colder they heard new noises from the meadow. There were more Man noises. Not the noise of before, but different. At the rising of the lesser light there was lots of yelling. It was much louder than before and that yelling had many voices. They seem to yell the same thing at the same time. There was also the yelping of many dogs. Man was here in great numbers this time. At least there was no Man scent near them. As the night went on a new scent of smoke came to them from the meadow. This scent was different. It was combined with the scent of more burnt animals, only this scent was too familiar. Man was burning deer like he had smelled when he lived in the Man cave. It made him want to empty his stomachs on the ground. It horrified Claris who had never smelled it before.

The next morning things became much more serious. He heard the noises of Men going into the forest. They went past the place they had lived in. They moved toward the deep thicket and Bambi's cave. It sounded as if Man was trying to move through the forest after all of them. Man was noisy; he crashed through the forest like the large lumbering bear. Man's scent carried effortlessly through the woods. The others could easily keep away from that.

The light was still rising when he heard a loud noise, "HIIYAAAHEYY HHOWNOWWWW" from many places in the forest. It then repeated over and over. It sounded like they started high on the hill and were walking down toward the meadow. Although this was frightening, the noise did not seem to be coming near them, it sounded is if it was moving more toward Bambi's cave. There was also the sound of dogs yelping in the deep woods. He did not know what was worse the putrid odor of man, or the odor of wet fur, and blood of the dogs. He and Claris lay down hidden near some pine trees and bushes to wait. There would be no sleep for them this day.

Sometime later he heard a crash and caught a familiar scent. He stood up and saw a doe and a fawn running past them. They were running away from the noise; they were running straight toward the meadow.

"Stop!" he called out. "Do not go into the meadow, Man is there."

Whether or not they heard him, he did not know. They flew by him like he was not there. A while later he heard the loud noise of the killing sticks. He looked down toward the meadow. Suddenly he saw what Man was doing.

"Claris, they are chasing the herd and the others to the meadow. On the meadow there are Men with killing sticks. Once the herd gets to the meadow they will be in the open and Man will kill them."

"No," she called out. "They will all die."

Then he looked around him. There was no scent of man here. There were no Man noises. Here it was safe. The others did not know that. The others had to be told, and he knew how to do that.

"Claris, I am going to call the herd here," he explained. He was interrupted by more killing stick noise from the meadow. "If I call the herd here, they may be safe."

"Man will hear you," she said, "And come here."

"No, I will call a few times and then we will go that way," he pointed with his nose away from the meadow toward the deep woods. "Get ready to run."

He stood up and after being certain no Man was near them he stated to call out.

"HERE….HERE…Come HERE," he called at the top of his voice. He repeated it many times until he felt dizzy and had to stop. "

"Lets us go," he said to Claris and they started to leave for the deep woods. They moved quietly, not hearing anything around him except the Man noises in the distance. Then he turned and called again many times. Then they waited. For what seemed the longest while there was nothing, then he heard a crash. A young male flew past him not stopping to say a word. Others followed near them and there were more he could only smell. Some had heard him. The killing stick noise from the meadow became quiet. He then caught sight of a familiar figure of a large male and his doe followed by an older fawn.

"Bambi, Faline," he called out.

Bambi heard him and pulled up. He looked around and then came over. "That was your call," Bambi said,

"Yes," he said and explained what Man was doing. Bambi listened, no sign of anger at him and Claris now.

"Thank you," Bambi said sounding sincere. "You managed to save most of us, but some were chased into the Meadow and died there."

By now the wind shifted to blowing down the hills again. They could not smell or hear anything coming from the meadow. They waited together and saw many deer run past them into the forest by the hills. A few looked at them as they ran past, but most were fleeing without much notice. He then saw Ronno and Marol, Ronno stopped and looked at them.

"Thank you for calling us here," he said to Stranger. Then he looked at him and Claris for a second. "I am sorry I acted as I did," he added. "I blamed you for Kragus' death. Perhaps that was not proper. You did help save us today."

"Thank you," he said. He noted the smile on Bambi's and Faline's face, but it was nothing as compared to the expression on Claris's face. Was he forgiven, he hoped so.

Ronno and Marol continued running up the hill and away from them.

"I only hope the others feel like Ronno," Faline said out loud.

"So do I," Bambi added. "You helped us with Man today, Stranger. That will not be forgotten."

"Hopefully there is no Man…." He started to say.

He felt a great weight push into his left frank." BAAMMMMM," he heard at the same instant. It sounded almost on top of them. He thought a deer had charged him. He fell sideways against Bambi and almost knocked him down.

"Run!" Claris yelled and three of them ran away. He stayed behind. For some reason his left leg wouldn't move right. He mouth was full of a strange taste like he was licking on a rock. He tried to move, but he seemed so slow. Everything had slowed down around him. He struggled to follow the others, but he could not keep up. His lungs felt like they were going to burst. His heart pounded loud in his ears. He took several steps and then remembering made as sharp a turn as he could.

"BAMMMM" the ground shook again. He felt his side almost cave in. It felt as if fire was burning along his left side. He struggled again and made it behind a bush and there he fell down.

He lay there panting; then he heard footsteps come close. They were huge like the bear. Then the odor, it was Man. Off in the distance he thought he heard Claris yell something, but everything in his head was cloudy and spinning. They he smelled it: strong and putrefying almost making him vomit. Something came close to him. It was Man He felt someone grab his rack and pull his head up.

"Da Tu no vee," it sounded like to his ears; then he heard Claris' voice scream, "Run."

He put all of his strength and pushed up with his front legs. His head came up. Instantly he felt his antlers hit something. It was soft and he went right into it.

"DAAHHHHHH," he heard from on top of him. He got upon his feet and slowly struggled to where he heard Claris' voice call to him. He was breathing heavily and he moved as clumsily as a new fawn. He walked some distance and then felt something against his side.

"You have been hit," Bambi said. "You are bleeding from two wounds on your side.

"Please come with us," Claris pleaded.

It was then he heard shouting behind him. It was more men and he heard dogs. They were after him. He looked at the others.

"Go," he said weakly. "Man is after me. If you stay here you will be dead with me. "Go," he said and pushed Claris aside.

"No" she whimpered. "I will stay with you."

"GO!" he shouted with all the strength. "I am finished. I am bleeding. The dogs and men will follow me. I will lead them away from the rest of you. You can get away."

"He looked up at Bambi's dark black eyes, they were misty. "Take Claris and leave. Remember what I asked you before. You take care of her. She had no part in anything I have done. She does not have to leave the forest."

"Yes," Bambi said simply. The eyes were cloudy as he looked over his bleeding side. "My friend," he stammered and nuzzled him before turning away.

He then looked at Claris and said. "Thank you, the time I have been in this forest was the best time of my life thanks to you. Now go, now take our fawn and live."

Her eyes were streaming with tears and the barking was getting closer. There was so much more he wanted to say, but he turned away and moved up the hill the best he could.

Claris started to follow him, but Bambi almost knocked her down. Both he and Faline were yelling at her, but through the gathering clouds in his head he could not hear it. He continued to stagger up the hill. He could feel his hot blood flow out of him as he climbed.

As he went, the pain was all he could feel. Get far away from the others he knew. Up he climbed; his left rear leg was now useless and dragged on the ground. The dogs were getting closer. He saw pine trees in the distance. There was an odd smell he remembered, but could not recall it. The callings of the dogs were getting louder. They were almost on top of him. He could not run anymore. He turned and faced the dogs.

He saw the five dogs below him. There were no Men with them. They were alone, but calling to their masters. He stood there and put his head down and waited. As soon as the lead dog was not more than two lengths away, he used the last of his strength to lung at it. He caught the beast in his antlers and flung him aside. He heard the dog cry out in pain. The others came up. His world was spinning. He could not see straight.

Then suddenly there was that familiar scent again, this time very close. He heard a huge growl and something big and black ran by him. It hit the dogs and three of them yelled out in pain. Then the barking sound started to lessen. He sunk to his knees. That was all for him.

The huge dark figure came back to him; then he remembered the smell. It was the large bear. It had come for him like it came for Talis. In a way he felt better. At least Man would not kill him.

He felt the huge mouth lift him by the neck and start to drag him. He expected a quick bite and then nothing, but it did not come. Instead the large bear was dragging him up the hill. That was the last thing he remembered.