The Stranger Steps Out

By

Wilber Arron

Historical note: I know many of you hunters out there will tell me that the hunting tactics I use in this story are completely out of date. I know this, but remember this story occurs in the late 1930s where such hunting parties and off season hunting were more common according to my research.

Chapter 1: Lonely Spring

"Father, are you alright?"

The Stranger looked down at his daughter Stena looking up at him with worry on her face. Her mate Balo was standing next to her also looking at him with a concerned stare. Next to Stena stood a small spotted doe fawn hardly more than a few days old. The fawn also looked up at the huge deer next to her, but also seemed to know something was wrong.

"I am fine," he said leaning down to nuzzle the small fawn standing next to his daughter. The infant returned this embrace and started to lick the side of his face. He straightened up and looked back at his daughter and Balo. "I will be fine," he repeated. "It is your mother that I am worried about. Losing her fawn along with the deaths of your younger brother and sister last winter has made your mother feel terrible. She has this feeling that somehow this is all her fault. I have told her that is silly. These things happen."

"I know father," Stena answered looking at her own healthy fawn. "I can go see her if you wish?"

"For now she wants to be alone," he told her. "You will have all you can handle with your first fawn. You pay attention to little Delene. I will take care of your mother."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Balo asked. Balo seldom talked much. He was content to let Stena speak for him most of the time.

"You can watch the herd and let me know if anything is going on," he said. "I am going to be spending a lot of time around Claris. She needs me now."

"One other thing," Balo said. "I saw the bear yesterday. He had come down from his den after his winter's sleep. I think he was looking for you."

"You did not go near him, did you?" he wanted to know. The bear would not eat him he knew; other deer he was not so sure of.

Balo shook his head no. "No, I stood several lengths away and just introduced myself. He said he knew who I was and then went away. You may trust him Stranger, but I do not."

"Good," he told the now two year old male deer. "You never go near him unless I am with you," he reminded him.

"I know," Balo said sounding a little annoyed he was still being lectured too.

"I will go see him now," he said. "I feel need to talk to someone. I wish Bambi was here. I could always depend on him to give me good advice."

He regretted saying that the moment he uttered the words. I made him sound like he didn't trust his daughter and her young mate, but they were only two years old. They did not have the years of experience Bambi and the bear had. He looked at his daughter and Balo. Both looked hurt. He lowered his head and spoke in a low tone. "I am sorry; I did not mean it like that. I just miss my old friends at a time like this."

With that he walked away toward the other end of the forest. Even though it was barely spring, and there was no sign of Man, he did not take the shorter route by crossing the meadow in the open. He walked around the far end of the meadow well inside the trees and crossed the stream that ran out of his forest and toward the big forest Bambi and Faline had come from and then had gone back to last year when things there were in such a poor state. Once he got to the other side of the meadow he started to walk up the hill towards the bear's den. Normally this would be the height of folly for a deer since the bear could easily kill him with one blow. Yet the bear had saved his life now three seasons ago and could have eaten him easily where he was lying more dead than alive after being hit by Man. The bear had become his friend. They rarely spoke, but each had come to depend on the other for information to keep them both alive. He trusted the bear. One day the bear might eat him, but that is the fate of most deer to be eaten by others or to be killed by Man. Very few like Bambi's father live long enough to die of old age.

The hill got steeper and soon his rear left leg again started to protest at the effort. It had never fully recovered after being hit by two of the small black stones from Man's killing sticks. He was tired by the time he got to the top of the hill. The wet fur and dead meat smell of the bear filled his keen nose.

He called out, "Bear."

From the den out came a large black mound of muscle, black fur, four huge paws, and the biggest head he had ever seen. The bear walked until he got within five lengths of him and lay down. He came in closer and lay down also.

"Hello, my friend," he said.

The bear studied him for a second. "Hello," he responded. "What has happened?"

Was he that obvious; so much for hiding his emotions? "It has been a bad winter for me, and the spring has also been poor."

"Your family," the bear said. "You had said in the fall you were worried about your youngest son and daughter."

"Yes they never got as big or as strong as they should have during last summer. Claris had a difficult time when they were born and did not have enough milk for them both. Faline helped out, but neither of them grew like they should have. When the snow came both got sick and died. There was nothing Claris or I could do. Then Claris lost the fawn she was carrying. It was born dead. Now she blames herself for what has happened and won't listen to anything I tell her."

"I am sorry, my Friend, but these things do occur," the bear said. "I have heard there are some doe that cannot make healthy fawns."

"I know, but Stabo and Stena are certainly healthy and are getting as strong as me. She had made two very healthy fawns." He had thought the same thing, but usually doe like that never make a healthy fawn and often die before they get very old."

"I would not know about deer. Among my kind that does not appear to happen. All the cubs I have seen are healthy. In cases where there are many cubs in a litter, one or two will be the weaker than the others and die soon after birth, but that is just normal. What will you do?"

He let out a deep breath. "Help her," he said trying to hide his exasperation. "What else can I do except try again next season? I still do not believe I cannot have healthy fawns with Claris."

"Have you seen anything of Man?" the bear wanted to know.

"Nothing, even the hunts last year were done elsewhere. Maybe they will leave us alone again this year, but I would not count on it."

"Nor would I," the bear said. "They killed one of the large bears in the forest over the hill last year. A couple of young males are moving in there and may challenge my presence. I do not have much to worry about yet. I am still far too big and powerful for them to fight me and chase me out. However that will not continue. Like you I am getting older and I am starting to feel it."

"I know," he said calmly. "That is why I am hoping Balo grows as big as his father was said to be and learns all he needs to know. Claris hates it when I say this, but neither of us will last too many more seasons. If I must give up being herd leader, I rather give it to someone I know and trust. That is assuming Man does not kill me first."

"Me too," the bear said.

"Did your mate have cubs last winter," he asked.

"I suppose so," the bear answered. "I am going to go over the hill and look for her, but I will not try and get close to her. She would attack me. Still I know that my other cubs are growing. One of the males I told you about I think is mine."

"Good," he said getting up. He felt it was time to go. The bear got up also.

"I need to go back to Claris," he told him.

"I need to feed over the hill," the bear said.

"Stay healthy, bear," he said and bowed his head.

"You too herd leader," the bear said and walked up the hill.

He walked around the end of the large meadow and to the small stream. He followed the stream past Bambi's old cave, past the pond, and the smaller clearing until he came to the woods. He smelled the scent of other deer including Stena and Balo along with the rabbits, squirrels, mice and other creatures of the forest. For the most part they paid him no attention. They were busy hunting food without becoming food. Life in the forest went on around him as it had done all of his life and would continue long after the scavengers made a meal of his dead body. Maybe Claris was right, and he should not think about that, but he had seen so much of other dead deer as he grew up in the Man cave, he could not picture it any other way. Maybe that is why he was truly the Stranger. He went to the thicket in the woods near the small clearing and found Claris standing. She looked at him, walked up slowly, and nuzzled his face.

"I need to talk to you alone," she said pulling away from him. Her voice was tense. He looked into her eyes and her green eyes that were usually sparkling were dull and pale.

They walked until they were both sure they were alone and she turned to him. "Stranger I have been thinking," she said in a low voice.

He did not like this. "What?" he asked.

"Stranger," she choked out. "I still feel much for you, but I feel I must go away."

That took him by surprised. He took as step back. "What! Go away, that is nonsense…."

"Stop," she interrupted loudly, almost in a yell. She had never yelled at him.

"You are herd leader," she said. "A herd leader needs to have a doe that can give him fawns. I can no longer do that. That is why I must leave. You need to find another doe that can give you these fawns. There are several four year old doe in the herd that are healthy. One or more of them can give you the fawns you need. You need a son that can follow you, and you will not get that with me."

"Claris," he pleaded. "You do not know you cannot have any more fawns. What happened last year and this year is unfortunately, but it does not mean you cannot make more fawns."

"Yes it does," she said now choking to get the words out. "I can feel it inside me. I cannot have any more fawns. This is very hard for me to say, but you must find another doe."

He was stunned. He did not believe this for a moment, but Claris was utterly convinced she was telling him the truth. What if she was right? He felt no interest in those other doe. They felt nothing for him. Other than the feeling that came about during the Season, he would feel no interest in saying with them. Not like he had with Claris."

"Claris," he said. "Do not do this. I still feel for you. Even if you cannot have any more fawns, we still have Stena and Balo. We still have Stabo and Gena. They can produce as many fawns as I will ever need."

"NO!" she told him. "It is not the same. A herd leader's mate must be able to make fawns. If she cannot then she is not suitable for her position. I can no longer do this. You must find someone else." Then she took a long look at him and said. "Goodbye Stranger. I really did feel much for you." With that she turned around and started to walk off into the forest.

"No wait," he yelled and started after her. He got behind her and then suddenly she leaped up and kicked out with both her hind legs hit him firmly in the chest. The move surprised him. The impact knocked him back and he fell on his side. He got up and she was gone.

He stood there not knowing what to do. Her felt stunned like the time he had been struck by man. He could not picture in his mind not having Claris next to him for as long as either of them lived. He just stood there for he did not know how long trying to understand what had happened. After a while he decided to go find his daughter. Maybe both of them could convince her to stay. He hurried back to the pond and the small clearing where he knew Stena and Balo had their resting place. He smelled Stena's scent and followed it to her bedding place. He saw her, Delene and Balo lying together. As he got close the two of them rose. Stena took one look at him and cried out. "Father, what has happened?"

"Your mother has left me," he told her exasperated. "She has convinced herself she cannot have any more fawns and this makes her unsuitable to be with me."

"Is she the one that kicked you," Balo said looking at the two imprints on his chest, one was bleeding slightly. He hadn't even noticed it.

He nodded. This was still almost too much for him to take in. "I am sorry, I simply did not know what else to do so I came here."

He saw Balo and Stena turn toward each other looking at him strangely. He then saw little Delene come up and start to nurse at Stena and at that moment he realized what a fool he had been. Stena was in no position to go look for her mother. She had her own fawn that required her full attention. Balo needed to stay near Stena. He was the one who was always telling others to think, had not thought this through for a moment other than to ponder his sudden loss. He felt like kicking himself as hard as Claris had.

"Look, if either of you see Claris, please tell her I want to see her," he told them. "I am going to go look for her now. If you do not see me around for a while, that is why."

"Stranger, perhaps I can help," Balo said.

"No!" he told him. "Your place is with Stena and Stena needs to stay near Delene. She is still far too young to travel. If this was late summer, then yes, but not now. I will go find your mother. I was foolish for trying to involve you two. Just keep your nose in the wind and tell me if you can see or smell Claris."

"What about the herd?" Stena asked.

"You two take care of that. I do not think there will be much happening for a while. For now the main thing is to make sure everyone is eating enough to put on weight for the Season and next winter. I will not be gone that long."

With that he turned away and went back to his thicket. He was still mad at himself for acting the way he did. He went back to where Claris had left him and put his nose to the ground. He smelled a faint scent of Claris along the ground. He followed it. Instead of going toward the Man path forest where his son lived, she doubled back. He followed the scent around toward the top of the hill and then on past where they had hid the time Man come for them and Gena and Jolo were killed. He followed it all the way back to the stream that flowed into the other great forest in the far distance where they had chased Geno. He then followed it down his hill toward the meadow.

He had no idea where she was going. She seemed to be wandering. She circled about and went through the woods that were on the far side of the meadow away from the Man cave down the hill to the larger stream that flowed out of their meadow and out of their forest toward Bambi's old forest. He followed the stream and her scent until he came to the edge of their forest. The scent went on into the open. He looked up. The only place he saw other than open ground was the distance edge of Bambi's forest. It was then he realized Claris was not wandering. She was trying to throw him off her trail. She knew he would follow her.

"She had gone to be with her mother and her friends," he said to himself. It made sense. He also knew he just couldn't follow. Going to the other forest meant leaving his forest, not for a short while, but for days, maybe even an entire season. It was also a dangerous trip and would get more dangerous the later into spring and summer it got. She knew that. He only hoped she could cover the distance safely. He would follow her, but not until he made plans to protect the herd while he was gone. He looked at the series of hills Claris had vanished over and took a deep breath.

"I do not care what you think, I am coming after you," he said out loud.

Chapter 2: Preparations

He had spent the rest of the day going back until he got to the meadow and then rather than go to the right where the stream and the old cave, pond, and clearing was, he went left and tried going back to the bear's den. He had an idea and he was going to tell the bear what he was going to do. Unfortunately the bear had already left so he spent the night near the Man cave. They were cold and dark at this time and there was no danger. He stayed near the old spring and waited. During that time he lay down and started to think. He knew he have to plan his actions carefully in order to do what he wanted. The first thing he needed to do is talk to his son. Just before the greater light rose, he got up and quietly traveled the short distance from the spring to the edge of his forest. He then moved quietly across the open space into the Man path forest.

He ran into the forest and immediately started looking for the other deer. He could call to his son, but he did not want to make himself or his problem obvious. This was his problem to deal with and he was not going to bring anyone else into this except as necessary. The side of the forest from the Man path to the Man cave was empty of any deer. In fact other than the usual smaller animals, it was free of any large animal. The nearby presence of Man drove them away. After eating and drinking at a small stream, he emptied himself and washed himself off in the stream. He walked through the forest eating as he came across patches of grass and bushes. By the time it was full light he had crossed the wooded area and smelled no deer. He then came upon the opening and the hard ground of the Man path. He was reluctant to cross it. He had seen the man animals come down the path sometimes with their two eyes glowing brightly. Although the ground gave off a disgusting smell, he did not smell death in it. He looked down the path and as far as he could see there was nothing other than the night black path. He took a deep breath and ran across it into the other part of the forest. At once the scents changed. He could smell lingering odors of other deer. He started moving about. He moved toward the clearing he had last seen both his son, Gena, and Bambi's son Veron. He knew approximately where it was. As he got close he started picking up other scents. There were smells of other fawns mostly new born and the occasional left over smell of a birth. As he looked around he became aware of another deer behind him. He walked with the wind at his tail. Sure enough the wind blew the scent of a deer to him. It was not Stabo, the scent was from a doe, but it smelled like him. He stopped and waited. The deer stopped behind him. The deer was quiet.

"You can approach me," he said out loud. "I will do you no harm."

He turned slowly and from behind a tree came a yearling doe. She was smaller than Claris was, but much sleeker. She reminded him a bit of Faline. She had that graceful curve to her neck and she had a nice looking face. In another year she would be some prize catch for a young male.

"I will not harm you," he repeated. "Would you please tell me your name?"

The doe seemed hesitant she could not get a good smell of him with the winding blow his scent away. Finally she spoke up. "I am called Claris," she said cautiously.

His eyes went misty and he smiled widely. "You are Stabo's and Gena's daughter," he said.

The doe seemed surprised. "You know my mother and father?" she asked puzzled. She did not recognize him; she was a small fawn when Bambi, Faline, and he had last seen her.

"Stabo is my Son," he told her. "I am the deer they call Stranger."

All hesitation in her vanished. She came over to him and reached up and nuzzled his face. "He did likewise like she was his own fawn. "My father and mother spoke of you many times and still do," she said with a bright smile on her face.

"Are you mother and father nearby? I must speak with them," he said to her.

"They are over near their resting place. Mother has a new fawn so it was time for me to go out on my own. How did you know I was behind you? I thought I was quiet."

"You were, but I am much older than you and have more experience. I heard you. You still need to practice your walking quietly. Also I got you to follow me with the wind at your tail. That blows your scent to me, but you cannot smell me at the same time. Remember that; never follow anyone when the wind is at your tail."

She seemed to listen intently. "Yes, Stranger, I will remember. Thank you. I will show you to mother and father."

He followed the young doe. She moved gracefully and quietly. Stabo and Gena had taught her well. In another year she would walk like a breeze in the forest: hard to follow, and impossible to catch. It made his heart ache to watch her, but he was reminded of what the bear had told him. No matter what happened to him, the best in him and Claris would go on and that made him feel as happy as he had felt since his own Claris had left.

He followed her back into a small clearing. There was a small stream that ran through it. On the other side of the stream she stopped.

"Mother, Father," can I come in," she called. "I have a visitor with me. It is Stranger."

Immediately he heard the sound of breaking twigs and rustling leave and a moment later, Stabo walked into the open. A moment behind him was Gena, a young male fawn close to her side.

"Father," Stabo called out and came up to him. They exchanged embraces as only a deer could do. He then kissed Gena and nuzzled her fawn.

"This is Koren," Gena told him. He was a bright and alert little fawn and seemed to wonder about the new big deer in his life.

"I am so happy to see all of you," he said. He looked at Stabo. He had grown. He was as big as him now. Already he could see the stubs of a large rack that would grow out this Season. Gena was sturdy and very healthy.

"Where is mother," Stabo asked.

He dropped his head. "That is what I wanted to talk to you about. Your mother has left and gone away."

"What!" Stabo yelled out, "What happened?"

"I like to know that too," a voice called from behind.

He turned and saw Veron standing to the side of him. He never heard him approach. He was as quiet as his father. He was smaller than his father, but much stocker and heavily muscled. He pity any buck that tried to fight him in Season.

"I am glad you are here," he said to all of them. "I only want to tell this once." He went into his tale of what had happened last winter and this spring. It was hard for him to tell and several times he had to stop when he choked up, but they had to understand what he wanted and why. When he got done, Stabo simply stood there shaking his head in disbelief.

"I am sorry, Father, but I do not understand. I do not understand why mother thinks she will never again have a healthy fawn. Look at me. I am healthy and so is my younger sister."

"I told her that," he said, "But she would not listen."

"You think she has gone back to live with my father and mother," Veron called out

"Yes, her scent clearly led that way and that is why I am here. I am in need of your help.

He saw Stabo look at little Koren. "Father I cannot come with you. I cannot leave Gena and Koren."

"No," he said abruptly. "That is not what I want. I will go after your mother and I will go after her alone. That will mean I will be gone for a long while; too long for the herd to be without a leader. Your sister and Balo are good deer, but they are still too young to be herd leaders. I will need someone who is older with more experience. Stabo I will need you to help them especially after mid-summer and we get near the Season. Can you help them during this time?"

Stabo looked at Gena and then she looked at Koren. Gena looked back and nodded yes. "Koren will be grown more and will be able to travel then," Gena said.

"Very well Father, after mid-summer I will go back to our forest and help," Stabo said.

"Veron," will that be a problem with you?" he wanted to know.

Veron through about for a few moments before answering," No, so far Man has not come here, but that will not last. I remember enough from what you and my father taught me to hide from them. I would like to have Stabo here to help. But I can see where he will be needed more in your forest. How long do you think you will be gone?

He took a deep breath because that was the part of the problem that had no idea about. "I do not know," he said simply. "If I can find your mother, if she will listen to me, if she will come back. All of this I do not know. There is also something else. The travel to Bambi's old forest is longer, more dangerous and more out in the open then travel here. It is possible I may not live to get there."

With that he turned to face Veron. "When your mother and father first left they were in a small group. After the fight with Geno they came back as a small group. Last time your father and mother went together with Gorro. With several deer, it is not a problem to travel. The predators will not attack a group. A lone deer is something else. I do not even know if Claris survived the trip and I do not know if I can survive it alone. It is possible neither of us will ever come back." He went back to face Stabo and Gena "In that case Stabo, you may have to be herd leader until Balo is old enough to take over from you."

"Stranger no," Gena blurted out, "Do not say that."

"Sister he is right," Veron spoke up sounding a lot like his father.

"I understand, Father," Stabo told him. "If you do not come back, I will lead the herd, but I will not stay. This place is my home."

"Stabo is a great help to me," Veron added. "It would not be easy to be herd leader here without him. None of the others I can depend on like I can depend on Stabo and Gena. "Little Bambi is only now old enough to be trained. I must do that this season in case something happens to me. I must stay here."

He walked over to Veron and rubbed his forehead with his nose. "There is so much of your father I see in you," he told Veron. "He then walked over and did the same to Gena. "There is so much of your mother I see in you and in your daughter," he said looking at young Claris.

He then stepped back where he see could all of them together. "I will go back tonight and talk to Stena and Balo and let them know." Then he stopped as his throat started to tighten and he stammered out; "I just want to say how proud I am of all of you. I know you will do a good with the herd no matter if I came back or not. You are all my family."

They all went to a clearing. Veron left and brought back Alana and his few doe fawn Faline named after his mother. Even young Bambi came back. He was only a yearling, but already he could see him growing a rack. He would be another large deer. They spend the rest of the day and into the early night talking. Then after the lesser light was high in the sky, he got up and left them. He hoped he see them all again, but that was all he could do was hope.

He traveled to the edge of their forest and made the short journey back to his forest as light broke again. He rested near the large oak of the Old Owl that Oswell had taken over. He spent some time talking to him and letting him know he was leaving. He slept near the location Claris and he had chosen as their bedding place at the time of the Season. He then wondered if they ever use it again. So much was in his head and there was so much he did not know. He usually liked to know what he was going to do before he did it, but now he had no idea. He had to do it and hope it all turn out for the best.

He waited until evening and the time the herd ate on the meadow. The lesser light was rising when he walked onto the meadow and saw the rest of the herd feeding as normal. A couple of doe were paired with males, but most doe were alone with their fawns. As he walked over toward the small stream he saw the two familiar figures. He walked over to them nuzzled first his daughter and then her fawn.

"I have not seen you for a while," Balo said.

"I have been to the Man path forest to talk to your older brother," he said to Stena. "There were things I wanted them to do while I was gone."

"Gone?" Stena said lifting her head from feeding.

"I have decided I am going after your mother. I know she has gone to Bambi's old forest and I am going to follow her."

Stena did not look surprised. Balo seemed resigned. Finally as young Delene came up to nurse, Stena looked right at him. "Father, I cannot go with you and neither can Balo, Delene is still too young."

'I know, I am going alone," he said.

"What of the herd?"Balo asked suddenly seeing where this was going.

"I have asked Stabo to come over to help. He will be here in high summer and will stay until I get back or until both of you are old enough to take over the duties of herd leaders."

Balo eyed him carefully before telling him, "You do not think you are coming back."

"No" Stena said as a plea. "You have to come back."

"Balo is right; the journey is long, and dangerous. If I do not come back, Stabo will be herd leader here until you two can take over. I expect you to listen to him as you would listen to me."

"Stranger, you have taught us well, we can take over," Balo said looking at him. He could see a flash of anger in those young brown eyes."

"Not now you cannot," he said. "Both of you are still too young, you need more time and more experience before you can lead this herd. In one or two seasons, yes both of you can do this, but not now."

Balo lowered his head almost in a threat. "Both Bambi and you have taught me. I can do this." He could tell Balo had read his words as him not having confidence in the young deer and it made him angry.

He walked up to the young deer that still did not come up to his height. "No Balo, you are not yet fully grown. In this season you will be mature, the Season after that you will have your full rack and you will be completely grown as will Stena. Then you will be ready. Stabo left and has helped Veron be herd leader. He has more experience than you do, but even he is still a little young. You will be a good herd leader Balo, I can clearly see this, but it will not happen now. You will need help. Stabo has already told me he wants to live in the Man path forest and not here. He will not stay, but will go when you are ready."

He could see Balo was not convinced. "I do not agree," he spat out. "I can do this."

The last thing he needed was Balo and Stabo getting into a fight over this. He had to settle this now or Stabo would have no peace here. There was only one way to do this.

He turned to face Balo and put his own head down. "You think you are ready now, young male. If so, then charge me."

Balo seem confused for a second and then lowered his head and came at him. As Balo did he ran toward him. Balo stop suddenly and turned quickly to bring his rear legs around to knock him off balance. He saw it coming and jumped away before Balo could do it. Balo turned swiftly and came at him again. This time Balo stopped short and leaped to one side and tried to kick him. He also saw it from their training and jumped aside. So his tricks were not going to work here. Then Balo just came at him. This was what he was waiting for. He slammed into the young male hard. He could see it stunned Balo, but he recovered quickly. They did not have racks so early in the year so they locked at the shoulder and Balo tried to get leverage on him. It reminded him of trying to spar with Bambi again. He countered and then he just pushed hard with all his strength. It was hard like trying to push against an old tree, but Balo gave way. Slowly he pushed him back and as Balo's rear legs began to slip he dropped his shoulder, and he got under Balo and lifted with all his might. Balo went tumbling on to the ground. Before he could recover he ran over and lightly kicked him. He then pulled back and let the young deer get up. Balo got up glaring at him.

"Consider that my last lesson to you," he said loudly. "I beat you because I was stronger than you. I am stronger than you because I am older than you. In one or two seasons I will not be able to do that to you, but now I can. That is why you are not ready to lead. Stabo can also do that to you because he is stronger, older, and has more experience. That is why he must lead until you are ready. Can you understand this?"

He looked at the young deer shaking the dirt off him. Inward he could see the rage in him. "Do not be blinded by anger," he yelled at him "That is one of the first things I taught you. Think about what has just happened and learn from it."

By then Stena came over and stood next to Balo and looked up at his brown eyes. Little Delene came with her. "Balo, do not get angry with him?" she asked meekly.

He could see the young male taking in large breaths. Frankly he was a little winded too. That was not as easy as it had once been. Balo was getting stronger. Finally the breathing slowed, then head came up, and the rage subsided. "Yes, you are stronger than me," he admitted. "At least for now you are. If Stabo comes I will welcome him, and I will at least listen to what he says."

He walked over to the two young deer and nuzzled them both. "That is all I can ask. Balo, you are like my own son to me, but just as I have to teach hard lessons to my own son, I must teach them to you. In one or two seasons you will be herd leader. All of ask of you is try and take care of the herd as well as Bambi did, or I try to do."

Balo nodded, "I will try."

"Good," he said. "Now I can leave in peace."

Chapter 3: The Journey

He stood at the edge of the forest by the stream that flowed to Bambi's old forest. Beyond a few trees it was all open space between him and the larger forest in the distance. He knew from Bambi if he followed the stream, it lead to a large lake and the deer lived near there. It was soon after dark. He wanted to wait until it was black before he left.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Balo asked. He had not wanted him to come to the edge of the forest, but Balo insisted.

"Yes," he said. "Remember what I told you. I will try and be back before the Season. If I am not, Stabo will help."

"I understand," Balo said still showing a little tension in his voice.

No sense delaying his journey. He turned and nuzzled Balo on his nose. "You really are like a son to me. If something does happen I want you and Stena to know how much I feel for both of you. Goodbye."

He turned and moved at a fast trot following the stream. "Goodbye, Stranger" he heard at his back. He forced himself not to look behind him and just moved on. Once he went past the space between the first two hills the view of his forest was blocked. He was on his own.

The grass on the side of the stream was much taller than the grass in the forest. Like the forest it was growing from the spring melting of the snow. The stream flowed with some noise. He moved quickly, but quietly. The wind was from his side. He could smell nothing except the grass and other plants. He kept close to the stream. It flowed through the hills in a low point like his meadow. He did not want to climb the hills because he was afraid he would be seen. There was no place to hide here, only the grass provided cover. He stopped to eat some. It was dryer and did not taste as fresh as the grass in the meadow. He drank and moved one. He knew if he followed the stream he would be fine. He continued to move all night. The only things he heard were the insects as well as a few frogs. The biggest animal he smelled were rabbits.

The ground around the stream was flat, but the stream ran in between hills that rose a few lengths high. From time to time he could see small shadows moving at the top of the hills. They looked like large mice. He had never seen them before, and they had an unusual scent, but they smelled like mice. Overhead he could hear owls and other birds of the night flying along with the occasional squelch of the bats. He never thought other animals could live in the open, but they did. He did hear one owl come down and grab one of the mice like creatures and carry it away. He heard the caught creature squealed in agony for a few moments. It appeared the way of all things applied here as it had in the forests. He wondered what other creatures out here could do the same to him.

The lesser light had almost gone when a powerful scent came to his noise. It came from a pile of waste much bigger than anything he had seen before. It smelled differently. He did not know this animal, but it had to be big to leave a waste pile that large. He also saw places where the grass had been eaten. He kept following the stream and as the first streak of light entered the sky; then he saw them.

There were many animals; large animals that were much bigger than him. With the way the wind was blowing, they had to have smelled him, yet they took no notice. They were as big as the bear, but these animals did not have claws. Their legs were also long like his. They had hoofs like him only much bigger. They had racks, but these were grown out even in the early spring. These racks were smaller, and lest pointed. They were eating only the grass. They paid him no mind. He got to within many lengths of them. They looked at him, but made no attempt to speak or even have an interest in him. All they were interested in was the grass. He went to the other side of the stream and walked by them keeping them closely under watch. They did nothing other than to continue eating. Their smell was a little like a deer, but it was much more striking on the nose. He moved on until the light brightened in the sky. If he went on, he could be easily seen by anyone. He went to the base of a small hill and lay down.

He did not sleep much. Every time a new sound came to his ears he immediately became alert. Other than the animals he passed earlier, there were no new smells. He slept on and off all day. The greater light had almost set when he heard something in the distance. These sounds were familiar. There were yelps, and calls. They were dogs. He continued to listen and heard them. They were coming up the stream. They must have smelled his scent and were following him. He did not hear any sound of Man. He quickly got up and started to move down the stream toward the forest now looking to be much bigger than before. He moved quickly but did not break out into a run. After a while the dog sounds seem to get weaker. He moved for a while in the stream. He knew dogs could not follow him in a stream. Bambi had learned that from his father and had taught him. His travel was nosier with water splashing all around him. He continued to move in the stream until the yelping noise got less and less.

He continued at a trot for some time until he was sure the dogs were gone. He looked up ahead and saw trees nearby. He would be there by the rising of the greater light. The hills had ended, but now he was in the flat open space. The ground was flat all the way to the old forest. If he was found out here, he would be defenseless. He continued onward until he noticed something in the dark. He thought he saw shadows moving to his left side. The wind was blowing from his right side so he could smell nothing. Then he saw another and he knew. The dogs had come around him and were moving down wind of him so he could not smell them.

If there were many of them he could not fight them all. He had to out run them. He started to run and run quickly. He ran in a straight line for the forest. He looked to his left. He seemed to be leaving the dogs behind him, but it was taking all of his strength to keep running. As he kept running he could catch a glimpse of a running shadow. He knew dogs could run longer than he could, but he was faster. He looked up ahead. The forest was much closer. Soon he be there. He kept running until he started to feel tired. He lost sight of the Shadows, but he could hear yelping from behind him. They were still there and they were still after him. Now his rear left leg was starting to hurt. He had to stop soon. The trees were closer, but still far enough away where he could he could not reach them. He stopped. He would have to fight them here. He backed up into the stream and slowly started to walk to the middle of the rushing water trying to catch his breath. He was looking for a place where the dogs could not get behind him. There was none. The ground was flat as far as he could see. The stream was his best place. The water was not deep for him, but the dogs were shorter. In the back he heard the yelping get louder until it sounded like they were on top of him. He turned and faced down stream. He saw four figures running toward him. There were two large dogs and two smaller ones.

They stopped on the bank near him. He turned and faced them. The two large dogs started to go down the stream while the two smaller ones got into the stream and came after him. The water came up to their chests. He waited until they were close and then he reared up and kicked out with his front legs. He caught one dog with both front hoofs. There was an immediate cry and the dog went backward. He tried to stomp on the other dog in front while he came down, but the dog was able to dodge him. He then heard splashing behind him. The two large dogs were going to attack from behind. He saw one come up to leap on his back. He kicked out with his rear hoofs and caught the large dog in the face. This was a hard blow. Even his hoof hurt him. There was another large yell as the dog flew back hitting the water hard with a large splash. The other large dog leaped and he felt it land on his back. Immediately there was a sharp pain as the dog bit into his back. By now the dog in front was coming up again. He reared up on his hind legs as hard as he could. The dog on his back went flying. He felt his skin rip as the dog flew off of him. The smaller dog in front leaped up looking to go for this throat. He kicked out with his front legs knocking the dog off balance and he felt into the water. As he came down he brought both front hoofs down onto the smaller dog. He felt his hoofs hit the dog and head a loud pop. The dog cried out and then lay still.

He turned around and saw both large dogs standing together in the stream. One looked to be favoring his left side. The second dog eyed him and then leaped again. He kicked out with his front legs. This time he only grazed the dog with his hoof. The dog landed on his back and started to claw at him. He could feel the claws dig into his skin like the time the bear had removed the Man stones. Again he reared up and again the dog fell off. As the dog hit the water he kicked out with his rear legs as hard as he could. This time he caught the dog squarely on the side. There was another yell as the dog went flying back. He stood in the middle of the stream. The dogs had stopped. He looked around him. One dog lay in the stream. The other smaller dog was climbing onto the bank limping on his left front leg. The large dog behind him was making for the land. The dog in front was looking at him, but not moving. He put his head down and charged the dog in front hitting him and pushing him aside. He kept running down the stream. He looked back, but he was not followed.

He ran until he was exhausted. The pain was aching from his back. He was out of breath. His rear left leg ached. He could feel blood flowing down his side. He continued to follow the stream. His breath slowly came back, but his back continued to hurt. He looked up and the trees were closer. He also noticed the sky was getting lighter. He had to keep walking. He had to get into the cover of the forest. He was hurt and out here if anything found him, they kill him for sure. He put his head down and just kept going .He started to feel weak. He felt lightness in his head. By now his back ached terribly as did the rest of his body. He looked up. He could see the tress and the edge of a large lake in the distance. He was almost there. He climbed out of the stream and walked along the bank. Soon he passed his first tree, then another, and another. He had made it. He kept walking. He could smell other animals, but no deer. He just kept walking along the side of the stream because he knew deer were at the end of the lake. He came upon an open patch of ground. He bent over and ate some grass. It made him feel a bit refreshed. He still went on. Soon the dizziness was getting worse. His legs started to wobble a bit. He was feeling weaker now. He had to stop to rest soon. The light was also getting brighter, but his eyes seemed to be dimming. He came upon another waste pile. This was from a deer, but a deer he did not know. His nose told him he was getting near more water than just the stream. He drank from the stream and tasted a little salt in the water. By now he was staggering. He looked up and saw the large open lake in front of him. He had made it.

As he got closer another scent came to his nose. It was a deer and it was close. He thought he recognized the scent, but his brain couldn't tell him who it was. He looked up and saw a deer several lengths in front of him. He walked over to it. It was a large older male along with a doe and a young fawn. He walked up. The doe and the fawn ran. The older male walked up to him slowly. His eyes were diming and his head started to spin.

"Hello," he called out. "Do you know the herd leader Bambi?" he asked.

The deer came over to him. The scent still smelled familiar, but he still could not place it. The deer looked him over and then said, "Stranger?" in a familiar voice.

"Ronno" he called out. "Is that you?"

"Stranger, what happened to you?" the big deer said.

"Dogs," he said in a gasp. "Is Bambi nearby?"

The young doe had move closer to him. He looked at her. It was Marol. For a second she looked like Claris. Then he suddenly felt very dizzy and then he felt nothing at all.

Chapter 4: The Awful Truth

He opened his eyes; he was lying on his side on the ground. His eyes were still blurry and he still felt light headed. He took in a deep breath through his nose and smelled several deer. They were all nearby. He tried to roll over onto his legs to lie normally. As he turned his back was shot through with pain.

""Stranger," he heard a voice call to him. "Are you alright?" He knew the voice.

"Bambi," he called out.

The big deer stepped in front of him so he could at least look up into his face. Faline stood next to him and nearby was Ronno and Marol. Near both doe stood small fawns only a few weeks old. There was a large yearling male standing behind all of them. Faline walked up and dropped a branch in front of them. He recognized the leaves as the same the bear had given him when he had been struck by man. He nodded and started eating them. They were bitter, but he knew they help him feel better.

"Thank you," he told her.

Bambi leaned over and started to look at him closely. "You have two bite marks on your back. One is deep the other is not. Your back also has many claw marks. They are no longer bleeding, but you have a fever and you must rest and recover your strength."

He nodded and said, "Thank you, my friends."

The large deer bent over and rubber his forehead with his nose. "When I was hurt, you helped me. Now I will help you," he said calmly.

He looked at the large friendly face. "Claris, is she here?"

"Yes," Faline told him. "She has gone to live with her mother. They are not near here. I sent a young doe to tell them you are here."

He yawned widely and suddenly felt sleepy. He knew the leaves would do that. "You need to rest," Bambi said. "I will stay near here. When you wake up you must get food and water in you. My son will bring you more of the leaves to heal you."

He put his head on the ground and closed his eyes. Even though there were many deer around him, he fell fast asleep.

He was awakened by a foul stench. He opened his eyes and realized the stench came from him. He had fouled himself in his sleep just like a little fawn. He forced himself to get up on his feet. His head was dizzy for a moment but then the forest stopped spinning. He walked over to the stream, got down and let the cool water run over him washing the foulness off of him. He rested there for a while before getting up and eating the grass that grew along the side of the stream. He noticed it was the middle of the day. His nose still did not smell properly, but he felt no danger around him. He kept eating until he felt full. It was then he heard a sound behind him. The yearly male was standing a few lengths away. He caught hold of the scent and knew it at once.

"You are Gorro, Bambi's son," he said remembering. "The last time I saw you, you still had spots."

The young male looked embarrassed and walked over to him with more of the leaves. "My father said you should eat these." He then dropped the leaves at his feet. He ate the bitter leaves and stood up and looked around.

They were by the edge of a large lake. There were trees near them, but they were in the open here. "Let us talk over in the trees, I do not like being in the open even if there is no scent of Man."

He walked over and went into the forest until they were enclosed by the protection of several large spruce trees. Then he felt he could relax.

"Are you feeling better Stranger?" Gorro asked.

"Yes," he answered, "But I still feel a bit weak. That will pass in a few days. I would not want to fight those dogs again now, but I will be fine thanks to you and your father and mother."

"You are welcome. I still remember you and Claris before mother and father left for the forest. My father always told me you were his best friend."

"As your father is mine," he said. "I like to speak with your father and mother tonight if they are not busy."

"I will take you there after dark," Gobo said. "I do not like moving about in the daylight."

"Wise deer," he said. "You father has been teaching you." With that he started to yawn again.

"I will sleep again until night. When the lesser light rises, wake me even if I am still asleep."

"I will," Gorro said.

He lay down on a patch of grass and in a short while was sound asleep again.

He woke up a little before the greater light vanished. He went into the forest to empty himself and chew some of his cud. It helped with the weakness that he still felt. His back was still sore, but not as sore as this morning. He came out and took a long drink of water. He heard a noise behind him, it was light footprints. Bambi had been teaching Gorro how to walk silently. Like little Claris, he still needed practice, but he would learn.

"Can you walk?" Gorro asked.

"Yes I can walk," he told him stretching his back slightly. "I don't want to run yet. I am afraid I may open the wounds again.

"My father's place is at the end of the lake," Gorro told him.

"Let us be off," he said and followed the yearling.

Bambi's forest looked and smelled much the same as his. Many of the same animals lived there. The one thing he did notice was the smell of bobcats. They used to be in his first forest after he escaped from Man, but few were in his forest. There were several here. The lake here was much larger than the pond in his forest. It was so big it had a small piece of land in the middle of it. As they got closer to the far side he noticed the tress were much smaller. Many looked burnt away. Bambi had told him this part of the forest had been burnt by a great fire when Bambi was a yearling. New growth was everywhere but it many seasons more before the forest was back to normal. As they got to the far end of the lake there was a large hill from where water fell into the lake. Gorro took a sharp turn and went toward a place where there were many brushes that grew as tall as he was. Gorro stopped outside a thicket.

"Father, Mother, I am here with Stranger," he called.

He heard movement and saw two deer coming out. He also saw a doe fawn following Faline. He walked over and put his head down. The little doe looked at him and then started to lick his face. He did the same. She was beautiful, sleek, and had a wonderful scent, like her mother.

"What is her name?" he asked.

"Eta," after my mother's sister.

"She looks like you," he said to Faline.

'Faline just smiled. Bambi came and looked over his back and smelled him along the where his wounds were."

"I still smell some sickness there," Bambi said and felt along his forehead with his nose. "Your fever is still not gone." He then looked at Gorro. "Please go get some more of those leaves for Stranger."

"Yes, Father, I will get them now," he said and then left almost silently.

"You have been teaching him and teaching him well," he told Bambi. "In another year he will travel through the forest like a light breeze. However, I am glad he is gone, what I have to say is for us."

"I understand," Bambi said.

"I want to see Claris," he said.

"Bambi let out a deep breath. "I know, but she still feels the same way as before. She asked me to tell you to go away and find another doe."

He turned away trying not to show anger to his two oldest friends. "Bambi, I did not come all the way here and almost get killed by four dogs to be told to go away. I also would not have come here if I was interested in just another doe. I am going to see Claris."

Bambi walked up next to him. "Stranger, I do not think she will go back with you. She is sure she cannot have any more fawns. I myself have told her I think that is foolish."

"I do not think she is wrong," Faline said.

He turned and looked harshly at Faline. "How can you or anyone else know that?"

"Because a doe can tell when she cannot have any more fawn. As Eta once told me she knew when she had her last fawn. When the Season came around she had no interest to be with a male anymore. The males had no interest in being with her. Something changes inside you."

"We are not close to the Season yet. How can she tell that now?" he wanted to know.

"Because something inside tells her. I cannot explain better. I have already told Bambi, I will not have many more fawns. I am getting too old."

He had to admit what she said might be true for an older doe, but Claris was not old. "Faline, Claris is one season younger than you, and little Eta looks very healthy to me."

Faline went on as if she hadn't heard him. "There was also the trouble with Sterus and Stera. She should not have had problems, yet she did. She did not have enough milk for both. I helped as much as I could, but they never gained the weight or got healthy enough."

Faline stopped talking yet he knew that was not all. Faline looked concerned almost frighten of something. She was fidgeting. There was something else, something Faline was not telling him.

"Tell me all of it, Faline, please I have to know," he pleaded. Even Bambi looked puzzled at what Faline was saying.

"I told Claris I never tell anyone what she said to me," Faline said in a low voice. "She did not want you or anyone else to ever know. She was afraid you would leave her or treat her badly."

He was stunned. What could make him treat Claris badly? She was the first doe he ever knew that had treated him as if he was not some freak of the forest. What could have happened that Claris would think he would not treat her like he always did? It all made no sense to him.

"I do not understand," he said. "I know that I have always felt for Claris. I never knew anyone else I could feel this way for. I will not give her up unless I know the whole story, good and bad. I have already watched two of my children die. It cannot be worse than that."

"Yes it is," he heard Claris's voice from his back.

He turned around quickly and saw Claris and her mother Ate standing near the edge of the lake. He wanted to run over to her, but she didn't look like his Claris. There was something different. She was standoffish like the first day he knew her. He stayed where he was. Something was very wrong here he knew.

"Then what is it, Claris?" he had to know. Even Bambi looked confused. Claris came close to him. He could already see tears running from her eyes as well as from her mother.

"It was my last fawn," Claris sobbed. "You remember I left our place right after I told you he was dead. I told you I wanted to be away from that place. I really did that because I never wanted you to see it."

"Why, Claris," he said slowly. Now he knew there was something horribly wrong.

Claris dropped her head to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. She tried to speak but could not. Her mother looked at her and then looked directly at him.

"She did not want to tell you that what came out of her did not look like a fawn," Ate said in a stern and firm voice. "What she gave birth too was not a fawn or even look like a deer. It was something else. Thankfully it was something that did not live long. She was afraid if you saw it; you walk away from her and never talk to her again."

He was stunned into silence and motionless. He felt almost the same as when he had been hit by Man. Now he understood. He stood there catching his breath. Having a doe that cannot breed was one thing. Being a doe that produced deformed fawns meant that doe was shunned by the males and all others around them. They were outcasts and usually did not live long.

No one spoke a word. He had no words and neither did Bambi or Faline. He stood there thinking. What would he do now? What could he say now? He almost wished he had been hit again by Man. At least the pain would not last for long. He had to do something. He had to say something. He searched his thoughts and then searched what he felt. It was his feelings that gave him an answer. He walked over the Claris her head still low to the ground and sobbing uncontrollably now.

"Claris, look at me," he said in a low, but firm voice.

Claris didn't raise her head, but only went on sobbing. He waited and then repeated this time in a firmer voice.

"Claris! look at me."

She stopped sobbing and slowly raiser her head to look at him. Those green sparkling eyes were now like cold dead flames. She was waiting for him to say something.

"I wished you would have told me this before," he said calmly. "At least I would have understood why you did what you did. I would not have sent you away. I would not have shunned you. I would not have been with you in the Season again, but I would not have cast you out. I felt for you then and I feel for you now. That I cannot have another fawn with you hurts me, deeply, but we had two healthy fawns and both of them have again produced fine children. Our son Stabo and Bambi and Faline's daughter Gena have a fine male fawn Koren. He is healthy and strong. Stena and Balo have a nice doe fawn Delene. Stabo's daughter Claris, is growing into beautiful young doe that I suspect a lot of males will be after. I am sure Balo will make a fine herd leader one day. You and I made two good children and they are now having children and these children will have children. We will go on now matter what happens to any of us. I still feel for you and I still want you, but you are right, I will go elsewhere to have my children."

Claris looked back at him. The tears stopped. He could see she was happy he would not send her away, but she was sad he find another doe to take her place during the Season.

"Is that all?" she asked hesitantly.

"No, I want you now to come with me," he told her. He turned and faced Bambi and Faline.

"I saw Veron before I came over. He is a fine herd leader and he has a new doe fawn he named after you, Faline. She is very cute. Veron is teaching young Bambi how to be exactly like you."

He could see smiles come from the two of them again. At least there was some good news to this mess.

"Thank you," they said together.

He next spoke directly to Bambi, "I ask permission of the herd leader to stay in your forest for a while at least until my injuries heal fully."

"My friend, you stay as long as you want," Bambi said with half a grin "There is a small thicket under those pine trees that no one uses."

"Thank you," he said. "He walked off past Ate and Claris. Clair followed behind him as he went over to the thicket. As he stood there Gorro came back with a branch full of leaves. He dropped them on the ground next to him.

"Thank you, Gorro," he said. I will eat them in a short time."

He picked the leaves up and carried them into the thicket. It had leaves from last year and soft grass. It would do for now. Claris came and lay down beside him. She did not snuggle in closely like she normally did but just lay touching his side. For now that would also have to do.

"Stranger," she said looking at him. "I have to know something also."

"What is it," he said.

"Did you mean what you said about still feeling for me?" She looked afraid at what he might say.

He turned his head leaned over and nuzzled her long soft nose and licked her face. She did likewise. Some things were best left without words.

"You are still going to find another doe in the Season?" she asked gently.

"Claris I will not lie to you," he said firmly again. "I understand you may not have any more fawns, but I can and I want more than two. Yes, when the time comes I will find myself a doe to be with, but I will not feel for that doe the way I feel for you."

"I understand, Stranger," Claris said with a hint of a grin on her face. "I think I may have a way for both of us to be happy."

"How is that?" he wanted to know.

"You will have to see," she said and lay closer to him.