Chapter 5: New Partner

Early the next morning Claris got up and left saying she would be back soon. She looked determined as if she had to do something, and he let her go. Her mother went with her. He got up and looked around the lake. On the lakes were ducks and other birds that lived near water. He could see many were making nests. For many this was their Season and they went about the business to bring the next group of birds into the forest. He walked along the lake inside the trees. He was feeling better; his back did not bother him nearly as much. In a few days he would be ready to go back. He ate near the lake. Around him he smelled animals familiar to him, but no trace of Man. At least there was no Man cave in this forest. There were other animals he did not know. There were long furry animals that lived in the water with long flat tales. There were also many more fish in this lake than in the other. He saw eagles swooping down and catching them and taking them back to their nests no doubt to feed a hungry brood.

He also saw other deer feeding by the lake. They were fully in the open. Most were doe, no doubt eating as much as possible to make milk for their new fawns. He saw some males including Ronno and Marol and their fawn. He really had to go over and apologize to them for meeting them in such a sorry state. He walked away and toward the deeper woods. As he did he could hear grunting and shuffling. It sounded like two deer fighting. At this time of year fighting over what? He approached with the wind in his face as quietly as he could. He could see two deer and recognized them at one. It was Bambi and Gorro. Gorro was charging against his father, and his father was pushing back at him. Gorro was big, and powerful, but he could see he was off balance. He did not keep his rear legs far enough apart. He also did not have full strength in his rear legs. He approached until he was in clear view.

"Very good," he said loudly. "Can I make a suggestion?"

Both males stopped and looked at him. Neither had heard him approach. At least he was not losing his ability. "How are you feeling this morning?" Bambi asked him.

"Better," he said. "My back is still sore, but I am feeling fine."

"Bambi walked over and rubbed his forehead with his sensitive nose. "The fever is almost gone."

He smiled and walked over to the two sweating males. "Yes, thank you both again for the help. Perhaps now I can help you if you do not mind."

"Go ahead" Bambi said. "Just be careful you do not open your wounds again."

He went over and locked his shoulder against Bambi. "Gorro stand to the side please and watch my rear feet." He then turned back to Bambi, "Push lightly, my friend."

He deliberately put his feet close together and let Bambi push at him. He was pushed back easily. "You have no support from your rear legs," to told Gorro. "Now watch me." He put his legs father apart and let Bambi push him again. It was much harder to move him.

Keep your legs apart and use your rear leg muscles more, but be careful because if you keep your legs too far apart. . ." He put his legs too far apart and this time Bambi dropped his head and got underneath him. He was easily pushed aside.

"The deer can get under you and push you aside," he went on. "It takes practice and time to learn. In another season it will be hard to move you. In two seasons no one will be able to move you."

Gorro nodded and stood and put his rear legs apart the correct distance. "Like that," he asked.

"Exactly," he told him.

"Thank you, Stranger," Gorro said with a smile. "I hope you can teach me some of your tricks my Father told me so much about."

"As soon as I heal more," he said.

With that he stood back and watched the lesson go on. The lessons had two purposes: one, to teach Gorro how to fight off other deer, second, was to build his strength. He could already see he was big for a yearling. In two seasons he might be bigger than his father or him. After a while it was clear both of the deer were tired, but Gorro seemed ready for more.

"He is getting stronger," Bambi said walking over to him.

It is not just about strength as we both know," he said. "Raw strength without the thinking to use it is useless. You will be teaching him soon how to be a herd leader."

Bambi nodded and then turned to Gorro. "Gorro see if your mother wants any help."

Gorro looked disappointed at not being included in the conversation but did as his father asked. When he was well away Bambi turned to look at him. "Like Claris, Faline does not like it when I talk this way, but Gorro will be the one to follow me after I am gone."

"I guessed as much. He is strong, he seems smart and he is learning," he said as they walked into the deeper forest.

"I will be teaching him more this season, in two seasons he will be ready. By then I will be ready to give the herd to him. I rather give it to someone I trust rather than to be beaten by another deer like Ronno when I am old."

"I have not seen any deer in this forest to beat you," he said.

"There are a few young males who like to try it. They may have the strength, but they do not the knowledge. It would be worse than having Ronno in charge."

That brought up an interesting point. "How bad were things when you got here?"

"Awful, the deer were just running about with no direction. A lot of them were killed by Man for stupid things like walking in the open during daylight. Ronno did not know how to get the herd to avoid Man. Not like you or I did. After I teach Gorro, he will know." Bambi then stopped looked at him closely. "What about you and your forest?"

He took a deep breath. "Together Stena and Balo could lead the herd. They are smart, especially Stena. Balo mostly does what she tells him, but he has a temper. When I told him Stabo would come help out if I did not come back, he got angry. He argued with me and I had to put him in his place. He is big, but not that big. He needs time to grow and gain experience. Stabo will help out, but Stabo has no desire to be a herd leader. He rather stay in the Man path forest with Veron."

"At least my second son, turned out better than my first," Bambi uttered. "Has anyone seen anything of Geno?"

"No, and it can stay that way," he spat out

"COOOOMMMMEEEEE," they heard in the distance.

"Gorro," Bambi called and started running toward where the sound had been. He ran after Bambi as fast as he could, but tightness in his back slowed him down. He ran through the trees until he was back again at the thicket Bambi and Faline lived in. Both father and son were looking off into the distance toward the large hill. From behind it he could see a column of smoke.

"Is that Man," Gorro asked.

"Yes," both he and Bambi said together. They both looked at each other."It is early for Man, spring has barely started," he said out loud.

"I saw it and did not know what to do so I called you," Gorro said.

"You did the right thing, but never call anyone if Man is around," Bambi told him. "It can lead Man to us." Bambi looked around. They were alone. "Where is your mother and Eta?"

"When I called you, I told mother to take Eta and go into the forest. Mother said she go to the small meadow" Gorro said looking around uneasily.

"Good," Bambi said, "It safer there. It is also where Claris and her mother live."

"Let us go there," he suggested to Bambi.

"Follow me," Bambi said and lead the two of them back into the deeper forest. As they walked on the trees got taller and closer together. After they got away from the lake the burnt trees stopped. The fire had not gotten this far because these trees were old. There was little undergrowth between the trees which were mostly oak. The ground was almost completely shaded. Bambi led them on a deer path until he saw light in front of him. Through it he saw a small clearing about the size of the one back in his forest. Near the clearing he saw other deer. In the woods around the clearing were Faline and little Eta. Next to her were Claris and Ate and near them two doe he did not know. He could tell the two doe he did not know were related, a mother and an older daughter. The mother looked nice, but the daughter was sleek like Faline and looked rather attractive. They all walked up to them.

"Man is back?" Claris asked looking worried.

"Yes," Bambi said sharply. "I think for now we should stay here."

"I agree," Gorro added.

He just nodded then he noticed the doe looking at each other. There were nods and motions that they had been discussing something. There was obviously something going on between them. They way the doe looked at him with side glances he knew it was about him. Finally Faline nodded and spoke to Bambi and Gorro.

"Bambi, Gorro," she said politely in that smooth voice of hers. "Could I ask both of you to leave for awhile? We have something we like to discuss with Stranger."

Bambi looked at him wondering what was going on. He shrugged back because he didn't have any idea what was happening. Bambi motioned to Gorro to follow him and they both walked off into the forest.

"I think we should all lie down for a while," Ate said with a grin on her face.

He lay down and noted the two doe he did not know lay directly in front of him. Claris and Ate lay to his right, and Faline and young Eta to his left. He got the feeling he was being surrounded for a reason. He did notice the younger doe in front seemed to be studying him intently.

"Very well," he said warily. "Now what is this all about?

Ate spoke up for the group. "First the older doe in front of you is Cara my eldest daughter. Next to her is her second born, Carie."

"I am pleased to meet you both," he said politely.

"Stranger," Ate went on. "I am too old to speak any way except plainly, so I am going to talk to you like I hope your mother or your closest friends would do. I do not mean to insult you here."

She stopped and looked at him. He was now really starting to feel that something was up here and he was not sure he liked it. They were obviously expecting an answer by him. All he did was bow his head and answer in a formal voice. "By all means let us speak plainly. I will take no insult from anything any of you have to say to me."

"Very well," Ate said. "All of here know about the problem with Claris. All of them know she can no longer have your fawns. All of us also know that a herd leader must have a doe that can give him fawns. I now know for sure how you feel for Claris. If you did not feel strongly, you would not be here. I can also see that Claris does belong with you, but at the same time you must still have a doe that can give you fawns. What we like you to do is not only to take Claris, but to also take Carie. In this way while Claris cannot have your fawns, someone from her family can."

If Bambi had run him over and stomped on him, he could not be more surprised. For a second he was not sure what to say. Finally he stumbled out, "You want me to take Claris and Carie?"

"Yes," Ata said calmly as if it was nothing.

He turned toward Claris and looked deep in her green eyes that were sparkling again. "You want me to do this?" he asked not believing it himself.

"Yes," she said. "I want you to do this. In this way I will still be with you and Carie can do what I cannot."

She meant it he realized. She wanted him to take the young doe. She still wanted to be with him. That alone made him happy, but what of the other doe. There was still one not so small detail. He looked straight in front at Carie. "What do you think, young Carie? You do not have some young male you are interested in? You are certainly pretty enough to have one as is your mother."

Both of the doe looked slightly embarrassed. "Thank you." Carie said "No I do not have a male that I care for. All of the males that interest me last year were already paired. Most of the males around here only think as far as the next Season. Claris, Ate, and Faline all tell me you think differently. You act differently, that you rule your herd not with just strength, but with your head as well as Bambi. All the deer who know you say you are also very brave. You are a male I would want and I would like to have for a mate. The only deer around here like that is Bambi, and he already has a mate," she said and looked at Faline before going on. "Gorro may be that way, but I am too old for him. If I am to bear fawns, I will bear them only from a male that I want."

"In short, she is just like my other daughter," Ate spoke and looked directly at Claris.

"I do have a male," Cara said. "We are only together around the Season. At other times he is not that interested and seldom comes to talk to me. Claris told me how happy she and you were being together all the time. I would like that for my daughter. This is why I think you, my daughter, and my younger sister would be happy together."

He still could not believe this. They all wanted him to take Carie. He hardly knew her. She hardly knew him. She did appeal to him, but then all pretty doe appeal to him. He needed time to know her and for her to know him. It was also the only way he knew Claris would stay next to him. He finally wanted to make sure they all knew exactly how he felt about this arrangement.

"Very well," he said standing up."He is what I will do. I will remain in this forest for a while until I heal. I will bed down with Claris in the thicket near Bambi and Faline. Young Carie can join us there. In this way you can get to know me better before we go back. If you find that for whatever reason you rather not come to my forest with me, you are free to stay here. If you wish to come with me, then yes during the Season, I will breed with you. Now since we are speaking plainly, allow me to say one more thing. If during the Season, Claris finds she can have more fawns, I will also breed with her. I will teach any fawns I make with either of you as the same and I will teach them like I have taught my son and daughter. I believe this is fair to all of you. "

With that Ate also go up and looked at him with a smile. "Yes, Stranger that is very fair. You are as wise as Claris and Bambi say you are."

Young Carie also got up and looked at him. "Thank you, Stranger, I will be pleased to do as you say. You are indeed very wise."

"Claris got up, came over and licked the side of his face. "Thank you," she said her eyes showing a tear.

Finally Faline and young Eta got up and came over to him. "You have chosen well. I will explain this to Bambi and Gorro when they come back.

"Good," he said. "With Man in the forest, I think we should rest during the remaining light and eat at night on the meadow."

"I am sure Bambi will say the same," Faline said. "I will bed down here with Eta. Our normal place is too close to Man."

"Fine," he said. "Excuse me for a moment. He leaped away into the forest for a short while and then emptied himself. He ate some grass and then went back to the others. He found a place at was covered by some grass. He lay down on his legs. Claris lay on one side of him, as she normally did. Carie lay on the other side of him. Cara and Ate lay near them. Having two warm bodies next to him felt strange, yet he found he did not mind it. The smoothness of their fur on his side sent waves of delight up and down his back. He reached over and nuzzled Claris and then did the same to Carie. She did not seem to know what to do, but he did know she liked it when it did that. He chewed his cud for a while and then quietly went to sleep.

This arrangement might not be so bad after all.

Chapter 6: Lessons in Death

They all woke as the greater light disappeared and darkness fell. He got up and both doe got up with him. As usual they all left each other for a short while to empty their insides. Then they all went back to the lake and the large meadow nearby and ate their fill. The other deer were on the meadow eating. He could smell only a trace of smoke in the air, but no scent of Man. It was after the lesser light was high overhead that Bambi came over to him and motion him to walk away with him. He followed Bambi until they were well away from the others.

"Faline told me," Bambi said. "What do you think?"

"I think if I can have Claris back and have Carie as a doe to make fawns, I will be happy. Carie is a nice looking doe."

"Yes she is and she did not take a mate in her first breeding season," Bambi went on. "In that way she is like Claris. She wanted nothing to do with the young males around here."

"So I was told, now tell me if this was your idea?" he wanted to know.

"No," Bambi said shaking his head. "I think it was the idea of Faline and Ate. You coming here, showed how you really feel about Claris. I think Claris was afraid you walk away from her if you knew about her unborn fawn."

He still felt exasperated at that and what had happened. A lot of deer had been put through a lot of trouble because of this and he was not that happy about it. "She still should have told me," he said flatly, "However I guess that is no longer important,"

He then looked directly at Bambi, "You are going to remain here?"

"Yes they need me here, and there is no one else to lead," Bambi told him. "Gorro is not ready and none of the other males I would trust."

"I understand," he said. "You are always welcomed back in my forest, both you and Faline."

"Thank you," Bambi smiled. "Perhaps one day when I am no longer herd leader."

It was then he heard a large calling of birds from up on the tall hill. He turned and took in a large breath of air through his nose. He could smell nothing, but the light breeze was blowing from the lake to the hill blowing any scent there away from them.

"You smell something?" Bambi asked.

He kept his head into the wind trying to smell something. Something did not feel right to him. "No, but I feel uneasy. Let us go back near where your thicket it. It is too open where we are even through it is still night."

Bambi walked back with him where they met the others. They all walked near Bambi's thicket where they were partly hidden by trees. Off in the distance over the lake he saw the first glint of the greater light. He still smelled nothing or heard nothing unusual. He put his uneasiness down to being in a different place. He looked out on the meadow near the lake and saw several deer still feeding including Ronno, Marol, and their fawn. The first light from the greater light came over the lake and lit everything with a new day.

"PHAMMMMMMMMMMMMM, PHAMMMMMMMMMMMMM, PHAMMMMMMMMMMMMM," echoed from the hill. It stunned him and the others for a second before he heard PHAMMMMMMMMMMMMM, PHAMMMMMMMMMMMMM echo again.

In a moment all the deer scattered in every direction except into the water. He lunged into the thicket and the deeper woods beyond before stopping. He knew he was well hidden. He got down low and waited. He strained his nose and ears to detect any sign of Man. The forest had gone quiet again. He was alone. He had not seen anyone hit, but he hadn't been looking for anyone. He waited and after a short time he could hear the voice of Man, in fact several Men. They were walking toward him, yet they were still on the meadow. They were laughing and having a good time. He got up and very slowly moved forward keeping his head behind trees and bushes. It was not long before he could see into the meadow.

He looked around and the meadow was empty except for three deer lying still on the ground. He recognized them immediately. It was Ronno, Marol and their fawn. All were lying still. He could not see well from this distance, but he could see the large open wound above the shoulder of Ronno. It was the fawn that made his sick. The poor little thing was blow open by the killing stick of Man, pieces of its little body flew everywhere. At least it hadn't suffered. Then he heard the laughter of Man. He watched Man walking on the meadow, their killing sticks on their shoulders. They walked over to the three deer and looked at them. They were obviously having a good time.

He watched them get down and then reach into the shell like thing on their backs and pull out what looked to be a single claw each. After that they stared driving their claw into Ronno and Marol and cutting into their bodies like a bear. They took parts of their insides and threw them out onto the grass. Then they started to cut away other parts of them, cutting away their flesh into pieces. They put the flesh in something that looked like skin. They even did that to the fawn, although there was little enough to be had from something that small. A part of him wanted to go out and charge the Men to hurt them for what they have done, but that would only mean he be dead along with Ronno and Marol. There was nothing he could do.

He had seen this before when he lived with Man. He knew they go back and throw their flesh on a fire and burn it; then eat the flesh. All the while Man would be having fun eating their flesh. He could not look at it anymore. He waiting until he was sure they were busy cutting up poor Ronno and Marol and not watching around them before he slowly got up and walked away being careful not to make a sound. He backed away when he caught the scent of another deer in front of him. He looked and saw Gorro hiding behind the trees. He quietly moved over to him. Gorro seem fixed in place as if stunned. He was only paying attention to what was going on in front of him. Finally he saw that from his hiding place he too had seen everything that happened on the meadow.

"Gorro," he whispered.

Gorro did not move or utter a sound. He moved up to him until he was right next to him. Gorro never heard him approach.

"Gorro," he said and kicked the young male in the rear. That brought him out of it. He turned and looked at him with shock on his face.

"Stranger," he squeaked. "Did you see what the Men did to Ronno and Marol?"

"Yes, now come with me before we are next," he ordered him. He then nudged him again. This time Gorro moved with him away from the meadow. Gorro followed, but he made no attempt to pick his way quietly. He stepped on a few twigs and broke them. The sound was loud, but not loud enough to be heard far.

He turned quickly and hit Gorro with his front left leg. "Be quiet!" he tried to say in a whisper.

That seemed to wake him. He started to pick his way around the ground making little noise. Once he could no longer hear anything from the meadow he stopped. He turned and looked angrily at Gorro.

"When you are near Man you cannot make a sound," he told him. "That can get you just as dead as Ronno and Marol are now, along with anyone else near you."

"They cut them up," was all Gorro could say as if not believing what he saw.

Yes, Man does that," he told him tersely. "Man will cut them up, take them back to a Man cave, then throw their flesh on a fire, and then eat it. That is what Man does. I have seen it many times."

"My father told me you lived with Man when you were very young," Gorro said trying now to be quieter. "Did you see that there?"

He realized the young male had not seen this before. It was too much for him. It reminded him of Stabo when he was this young. In a way it was good he had seen it now. He looked down at Gorrro and glared at him with his eyes. "Yes I saw that there. Yes, I heard Man having fun as they ate the meat and drank. They were all very happy about the whole thing. That is what made me leave. How can anyone take pleasure in doing that, yet they do. You have to learn that the only way to stop them doing that to you or others close to you is to be careful around Man. You must not be seen. If Man can see you, Man can kill you. Then he will do to you exactly what he did to Ronno."

Gorro backed away and then turned quickly he spat up a large piece of cud along with some foul smelling liquid. He also lost control of his bowl for a moment. "I am sorry," he said. "I do not know what came over me."

He took a deep breath. "Do not feel bad, I was the same way the first time I saw what you just saw. Now let us go back to your parents and the others. They most likely think we are dead."

"Does what the Men did to Ronno and Marol not bother you?" Gorro asked.

For a second he was angry to be asked such a question. He then reminded himself Gorro was young and had not learned yet. "Yes it does," he said calmly, "But I have learned to live with it. As have your mother and father. You will learn to live with it too. All deer learn to live with it and get wiser, or they end up like Ronno."

"But I never smelled Man," Gorro said.

"Nor did I or your father," he answered. "Man can sometime approach without being seen, heard, or smelled. That is why you never stand in the open during daylight, because you never know when Man is around. The only reason it is not one of us out there in the meadow being cut up right now is that we walked back near the thicket before the greater light came up and Man could not see us clearly. Ronno was slower and was seen. Now he, Marol and their fawn are dead. You must learn from this Gorro. You must understand this because someday you will be leader around here and the other deer will look to you to tell them when it is safe to feed and when it is not. It will be up to you to see they are safe just like your father does. What you have seen is a hard lesson, but it is a lesson all herd leaders must learn. It is just as important as knowing how to fight and knowing how to lead. Your father will teach you this and you must learn because someday it will be you doing this."

Gorro looked to him almost in shock. He could see it was only now clear to him what it meant to be leader. He took a few deep breaths and the nodded his head. "I understand, I think. I am sorry I behaved the way I did."

"There is nothing to forgive, because you did not know," he said now trying to sound friendly. "You are young and you must learn as I did from Man, as you father learned from his father, and you will learn from your father. One day you will teach it to your son and he will follow you after you are gone."

He walked with Gorro back to the small meadow. He let the young deer ponder what he had seen and what he had said. He hoped he got his message across. As they approached the small clearing their scent carried into the opening. Bambi, Faline, Claris and Carie all ran out to meet them.

"You are safe," Faline said with relief licking Gorro. When neither of you came back we were afraid you had been hit.

"We are fine, Mother," Gorro said his voice still sounding tense. "Ronno, Marol and their fawn are dead. Excuse me for a while."

With that Gorro walked away from them. Both Faline and Bambi looked at each other. They were all stunned. They had all known Ronno and Marol for many seasons, now they were gone just like that. After a few seconds Faline looked toward Gorro walking away and turned to follow him.

"No," he told them and then started to explain exactly what both of them had seen and his talk with Gorro on their way back. Carie almost looked like she would be sick as Gorro was when he told them the details.

"I am sorry, that I overstepped my bounds with Gorro," he told Bambi. "However he saw something terrible and I wanted to make sure he learned the lesson while it was fresh in his mind. I know you should have told him that, but you were not there."

Bambi looked at him with a mixture of sympathy and disgust. "Yes, I wish I had been there, but you know this lesson as well or better than I do. I am thankful it was you. Do not feel badly. I am sure Gorro will get over this."

"Man really does that to us?" Carie asked not believing it.

"Yes," he said.

'And you saw all of this before?" she asked again. She still looked she really didn't believe it.

All he could do is nod his head. It was then Claris stepped forward and stood next to him. She nuzzled him lightly in understanding. "I think Stranger that you need to tell Carie the story of your early life like you told me, Bambi and the others" Claris told him. "She needs to know if she is going to stay with us."

Claris was right he knew. He should have done this earlier. "You are correct," he told her and licked the side of her face. He then turned and faced Carie and spoke in a low tone. "My early life was completely different from any other deer I know. It has given me the knowledge on how best to live with Man. It has also forced me to see things I wish I had not, but now that is not important. Things are what they are. Before you decide if you want to stay with me, you must know this. Carie, come with me, and I will tell you my story."

Ate walked up and looked at him. "I too want to hear your story as does as Clara," she said eyeing him carefully.

"As does Gorro," Bambi said taking a deep breath. Faline looked at him harshly. "If he is to be leader he should know," he told her. "I learned much when you told it to me."

The last thing he wanted was to repeat his life story to a group of deer. It was too personally painful yet he could see the choice was being made for him. He looked around and accepted the inevitable. "All of you eat and drink and do anything else you must. This will be a long story. I will be here when the greater light is overhead and I will tell you the story. None of you will like it; of that I am sure."

He turned and walked away from the others. He never liked doing this, but at least those who heard it understood him better. However every time he told it, it always left him empty inside. He went into the forest, found a small stream and drank and ate his filled and then emptied his body, much like he was about to empty himself. He came back and lay down in the small meadow. All the others were there. He took a deep breath and talked until the greater light set and the lesser light had risen.

When he was done and he finished answering what few question that were asked, he lay as if spent by some great physical effort. Both Clara and Gorro looked more horrified at his tale, got up and moved away from him. Both Bambi and Faline came over and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Thank you again, my Friend," Bambi told him.

Ate walked over next looked at him her eyes full of pity that he hated. "I thought I had a bad time of it as a fawn," she said in a low voice and walked away.

Carie walked over to him and looked down at him. Her eyes were full of sorrow rather than pity. "Thank you, Stranger for telling me this," she said. "I think I now understand you better." With that she lay down at his side and moved in close so her body fully lay against his. Claris did the same on his other side. It felt wonderful, and he should have been happy, but all he felt was emptiness as he felt every time he told his story. He hoped it was worth it to all of them.

Chapter 7: Unexpected Aftermath

All of them stayed close to the small meadow for the next few days. From time to time he could hear the sound of the killing sticks from the lake, no doubt killing some hapless creature. The noise then stopped. While the rest all waited in the safety of the deep forest, Bambi and him went near the meadow. There they saw signs of Man's presence in the remains that still lay in the thick green grass and were being picked upon by birds and other predators of the forest. It was not a pretty sight to look at and he was glad the others were not with him. One thing both Bambi and he were sure of was the Men had come back and had come for the meat because there were no racks on deer this early in the spring.

Bambi had called many of the deer to him in the little clearing and told everyone to avoid the lake and the meadow. The deer listened and afterwards there were no more sounds of the killing sticks. They did not know if Man had gone or not. There was only one way to find out. Bambi then showed him and Gorro a way to climb the hill without being seen by those below. He mentioned his own father had showed him this path. He could tell it was not used often. By then Gorro had seem to get over his shock and asked to come. Bambi reluctantly agreed. He also went with him to look for himself. There was no way he would try and go back to his forest with Man prowling about. Early in the morning before the greater light rose, they climbed the hill. It was steep and rocky at places, but his back did not protest. The first rays of the sun had come over the lake when they got to the top.

Bambi took them to a place on the side of the hill where they could see down below on the other side. It was open with another forest in the far distance. In the open area grew tall grasses, and through it flowed another stream that emptied into the lake. There was nothing there except the lingering smell of burnt meat.

"This is where Man puts his Man cave when he comes to the forest," Bambi told them. They could all see they were gone.

"If so then they are gone for now," he said.

"It should be safe to use the meadow again," Bambi uttered, "But only if we use it at night."

It was then he looked back and saw Gorro looking around. He was holding his nose in the wind and smelling.

"Gorro, something wrong?" he asked.

Bambi also turn around and looked at his son. Neither of them detected anything.

"A strange smell," Gorro answered tensely. "Something I have not smelled before. I caught a scent once and then it was gone." He then looked in front of him. "Excuse me," he said and walked to the other side of the hill.

Both Bambi and him tested the air and could smell nothing except the smoke from where the Man caves had been. He wondered if Gorro was getting too nervous at what happened and was imagining things.

"Father, Stranger, over here," they heard the young male call.

They both hurried over and saw Gorro standing in front of some bushes and sniffing at the ground. As he got next to Gorro he smelled the putrid odor again in his nose. Gorro was also looking at a pile of what looked like ashes from a fire lying on the ground.

"Is that the scent of Man," Gorro asked.

"Yes, son that is," Bambi said. "That was good of you to find it. Man has been here."

He wondered why Man had climbed up here when he looked over the bushes.

"Look," he said and pointed his nose over the hedges. Below he could easily see the lake and the meadow and he could clearly see the place where Ronno and Marol had died. It was a perfect place to watch deer on the meadow.

"That is why they came," Bambi said. "They can see clearly from here. When the greater light came up, Ronno and Marol stood there and Man saw them."

"I cannot see our thicket, Father," Gorro added.

"That that is why we are alive and Ronno and Marol are dead," he told them. "If you are close to the hill, Man cannot see you."

Bambi nodded and then after Gorro looked closely he turned. "Yes, now I understand," he said. "Man can only kill what he can see. If we are not seen they cannot kill us."

"Then you have learned a great lesson," he told Gorro.

Gorro beamed like he had found something of great value, and he had.

"Now young male, my back feels fine. I will go back to the meadow and I will show you some of my tricks. That is if your Father doesn't mind.

"Not at all," Bambi said and they all walked off the hill back the way they came.

They walked toward the smaller clearing into the deep forest. As they passed from where the trees had burned to the location the trees had not burned a sudden breeze brought an unusual scent to his nose. In fact there were several scents. It was not Man, it was another deer, if fact it smelled like several deer. Both he and Bambi stopped. Both took in the air as did Gorro.

""Male deer, Father, three or four of them, but I do not recognize the scent," Gorro told them.

"There are four of them," he replied. "I certainly do not know them."

"I do." Bambi spat out. "Remember I told you there were a few other males who were looking to be leader here. It is Tarro, the leader of that pack. They were all friends of Geno."

They continued on quickly, they both entered the clearing. There were multiple scents, but no one was there. The outside males and the other doe from his family had been there recently.

"FALINE," Bambi called out.

A short while later Faline walked out of the forest. She was limping slightly. Little Eta was also limping. Bambi and Gorro ran up to her."

"What happened?" was all the big deer could say.

"Four males came here and said they wanted to chase you out. They said after what happened to Ronno, you were not fit to be leader anymore. When I told them you were not here, they kicked me and little Eta. Claris, Ate, Cara and Carie came up and they all left saying they be back for them later."

He looked over at the small fawn. She had been kicked. He rubbed his nose along the fawn's side and tried to smell anything unusual. She had been hurt, but not seriously. He was suddenly filled with a great anger.

He stood up and faced Bambi and Faline. "I think she will be fine, but she will hurt for a while."

By now, Claris led the others into the clearing. He walked over to them trying not to let his anger show. "Did those four really say they be back after all of you,"

"Yes, Claris," told him calmly. "They were loud, rude, and kicked poor Eta," He could clearly see and smell she was obviously upset. The others looked worried.

That got him really angry. He turned and looked at Bambi. "We need to deal with this," he said flatly.

"Right now," Bambi told him he could feel the anger in his voice.

"You know where they are," he asked anyone.

"If it those four you told me about before, Father, they live on the other side of the hill near where the other stream flows into the lake. I have seen them there." Gorro also looked red eyed. He was ready to tear something apart, but he would be useless in a fight with four year old males. He was just too small.

"I have seen them around there myself," Bambi said trying to keep calm. "Stranger and I will take care of this. Gorro you stay here and protect the doe."

"But Father. . ." he started to protest.

"NO ARGUMENT!" Bambi shouted. "Son, you are not old enough or big enough to fight these deer. In two seasons, yes you will be, but not now. You stay here and do what I say."

Gorro looked hurt, but Bambi was right. He would only get in the way.

"We will be back later," he told the others.

With that Bambi and him left walking deliberately, but not in a hurry. They walked until they got to Bambi and Faline's old thicket.

"Take the other way around the hill. There is a path my Father showed me that is shorter." He could still hear the anger in Bambi's voice.

"My friend we just cannot go into this like two angry deer feeling the Season," he said. "We have to think about this. We will be fighting four of them. We need skill here not anger."

"Understood," Bambi answered. "The wind is blowing off the lake. If we are behind the hill they will not hear or smell us coming."

"Good," he said.

They walked on in front of the hill passing in front of where the old Man cave was located so recently. He could still smell a tinge of smoke. They walked along the side of the hill that rose almost straight up from where they were. He could see where they had stood before looking down at where the Men had been. He was thankful Man was not here now. They were mostly in the open and could not flee because of the hill. What few trees and bushes that grew were small and could not hide them well. It was not long before they came to the other side of the hill. He could see the small stream ahead. Bambi stopped suddenly.

"Pass the hill near the stream is a part of the Meadow that extends to the lake. Beyond that meadow is a group of burnt trees. If it is the group I am thinking of then the four of them like to bed there."

"Understood," he nodded. "You want to try and talk to them, or just pound their tails into the ground."

"I am going to pound more than their tails," Bambi said.

That made it clear in this mind what they were going to do. With that they got to the side of the hill and looked. There was a small stream and open space to the trees. Just inside the trees he saw four male deer standing close together.

"That is them," Bambi said in an icy cold voice.

He looked at the open ground. The others would see them coming. There were a few trees on their side of the small stream.

"Keep the trees between them and us," he told Bambi. "They will not be able to see us until we cross the stream. It will give them less time for them to prepare."

"They moved quickly from behind the hill to behind the trees by the stream. There they stopped. The four deer took no notice of them. "Alright then, we will walk up to them at a trot," he said. "We will see what they will do. If they are smart, they will try and surround us and attack our flanks as we fight two of them in our fronts. Use your rear hoofs if you have too. Hit hard this time. No playing, we are here to hurt these deer."

Bambi nodded and they both stepped out into the open and walked quickly toward the four large males. He was surprised they got almost halfway to them before they were even noticed. At once the four deer lined up. Then the two deer on the ends stepped aside.

"The two on the ends will try and hit us in the flanks," he repeated. Bambi just nodded.

They four deer stood still. The two largest ones were in front. This was beginning to remind him of how the dogs attacked. Both Bambi and he covered the distance quietly not giving away anything they were going to do. Just on the outside of the trees they met. As they got within five lengths the bigger one spoke out in a haughty tone. "Are you here to beg us to leave your doe alone," he said with a sneer.

Instead of stopping to talk, the two of them lunged forward getting close and then raising up with both front hoofs as quickly as possible. He hit the deer in front of him in the chest with one hoof and under the jaw with the other. Bambi landed both hoofs on the chest of the big male. Neither male was prepared for the attack. The two deer on the end were stunned for a moment then put their heads down and charged. They came up and both Bambi and he turned quickly with their back to the charging deer and both kicked back hard with their rear hoofs. He caught his deer in the head with one hoof and scrapped the side of his face with the other cutting it open. He heard a loud crack as Bambi landed both hoofs on the head of his deer. The deer he hit fell back staggered bleeding heavily from the mouth. Bambi's deer fell back and collapsed onto the ground like he had been hit by Man. There he lay still.

The deer in front of him was just now getting up. He brought his front hood up in a slashing move across his face. His hoof hit the male on the neck just behind the head. His deer went flying sideways. He then turned around facing the deer behind him. He placed himself between the two deer that he was attacking. The first deer now in his back was getting up. The second deer in front was getting up, blood pouring from the side of his face. He kicked out as hard as he could to the deer behind him. He felt both hoofs his hard in the deer's shoulder and felt something give with a pop, He then lowered his head and charged forward to the deer in front of him who had also begun to charge. He hit him with his shoulder and got down low. The other deer was no fool, he went to shift his weight so he could not get leverage only he was moving slowly as if still dazed. He hit the deer hard and then brought his weight up. He started to lift the deer up and as he did he put all of his strength into his four legs and pushed as hard as he could. He managed to push the deer over his back legs and flipped him onto his back. He then leaped up and came down on his belly with both front hoofs.

"Daoff," the deer coughed as all the air was knocked out of him. He then rose up and stomped the deer hard in his flank. He heard snapping noise from inside that deer's flank. He stomped him three more times before the deer stopped moving. He then turned to face the first deer he attacked who by now was just getting to his feet. Bambi was pushing the bigger deer forward and into a tree. The other deer was looking at this and seeing an opportunity positioned himself to attack Bambi on his flank. That deer stupidly had lost sight of him for a moment. He dropped his head again and charged forward. The other deer saw him but too late. He hit the deer's flank so hard with his shoulder it stunned him for a moment, but he was still standing. The other deer looked like he had been kicked like a small stone. His deer flew backward rolling on the ground. By now Bambi had knocked his deer to the ground and started to stomp on him. He decided unlike Krono last year he was not going to stop Bambi at this time. Any male that kicks a fawn, he didn't care if he lived or died. He watched Bambi stomp on Tarro until blood flowed out of his mouth and he lay still. He then went up to the first deer he attacked. As he slowly got up he charged him hard again hitting him and knocking him into a tree. He then walked over and stomped on his flank once and then bent over. By now Bambi was walking over toward him.

"Listen, fawn," he said gritting his teeth. "The only reason we are letting you live is so you can tell the others. Anyone who attacks Bambi, his family, or my mates will get this same treatment. You were all easy to defeat because we know how to fight and you do not. You give this message to anyone else who thinks they can be herd leader here. Try and hurt Bambi and I will kill you like we killed Tarro and your other friends."

With that he got up and walked away. "GET UP," Bambi yelled at him. The deer got slowly to his feet looking terrified. Bambi still looked like he was ready to kill him. When he got to his feet Bambi came over and used his front left hoof to raise the face.

"Leave my forest, do not come back. If I ever see or smell you again, you are dead." With that Bambi pushed him down, he staggered fell, and then got up quickly and ran into the meadow like a bear was after him.

After that they went over to examine the three deer on the ground. Tarro was still alive but was dying. He was bleeding out the mouth and the side. He looked like he wanted to say something but he couldn't. He next looked at the deer Bambi kicked with both hoofs. He felt along the side and his neck. He was already dead. His neck looked broken by the force of Bambi's blow. Bambi was looking at the one he had stomped flat.

"This one will not get up. The scavengers will have a fine meal with him," Bambi said almost with glee.

"Tarro will be dead soon and this one is already dead. I think the scavengers will feast here tonight," he said then he looked at the big deer. "Are you alright?"

"I think so," Bambi answered still out of breath. "Tarro managed to kick me, but it does not hurt much. How are you?"

"I feel fine," he answered and looked around. "They thought we beg for mercy. Our quick attacked unbalanced them and they never got a change to regain any advantage before we beat them."

Bambi walked over to him and looked him as he did to Bambi. "The wound on your back opened slightly and there is a trickle of blood, but it is not serious."

"I see nothing wrong with you except the cut in your chest which is not bad," he told him.

They both looked at each other and smiled. "You know for a Stranger, you fight well," Bambi said.

"So do you," he told him. "Let us go back to the clearing our doe will be worried."

"One thing first," Bambi said.

He followed Bambi out into the meadow, there were almost no deer in sight since it was day. Bambi stood in the middle and let out a loud thundering call. "COME HERE," he called at the top of his lungs."

Normally he would never do this, but there were no Men nearby, so the meadow was safe. Bambi called again and waited. Slowly other deer appeared. Most were males, a few were doe and fawns. Soon he could not count the number of deer in the meadow when he looked over and saw Claris, Carie, and Cara all standing to together.

"Where is Faline, Gorro, and Eta," Bambi called out.

Claris trotted over to them. "Faline and Eta were hurting so Ate told them to lie down and rest. Gorro stayed with them along with Ate." They she looked past the two of them and saw the three deer lying still on the ground just inside the trees. She looked at them both in shock but said nothing and went back with Cara and Carie. Bambi waited until he saw no more deer come. There were enough to hear. The word would get around quickly.

"There are three deer lying over there. They attacked my family and threatened the mate of The Stranger." Bambi's voice was bellowing almost triumphal. "They are now dead. I want to make it clear that any deer that tries to hurt our families will get the same thing. You think you can be a better herd leader than me, then challenge me. If you try and hurt those close to me, then I will show you no mercy. Remember that," he said.

Bambi looked at all of them like he was ready to take on anyone who stepped forward. No one made a move. He then stepped up alongside Bambi.

"Do not think you can wait until I go back to my forest to then try and hurt my friend's family. I can be back here sooner than you think and like Bambi, I will show you no mercy. Are there any questions?" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

Most deer looked at them and then the three still figures in the woods. Already birds were starting to circle the bodies. No one said a word. He didn't expect any discussion.

"Man is gone, but we will continue to use the meadow at night," Bambi said. "This was all I wanted to say. I will call you all together again when it is necessary."

With that the two of them walked back to the small clearing. Claris and the others followed silently behind.

Chapter 8: Departure

They returned to the clearing mostly in silence. As soon as they could be smelled by the others Faline, Eta, Gorro, and Ate came out quickly. Faline still limped as did Eta. Bambi and he said nothing until Gorro broke the silent.

"Will they come back?" Gorro asked.

"Three will not come back, the other will come back only if he wants to die," Bambi said tersely and walked over to Faline to examine her and the fawn. Gorro then looked at him.

Before Gorro could asked he told him. "Three of them are dead; the other was running so fast to get away we let him go."

Dead," Gorro squeaked.

"Yes dead," Bambi said looking directly at his son. "It was the only way to make sure they will never be back."

"Oh," was all Gorro could say and walked away.

"I am tired," he said out loud. "I am going to lie down and sleep until the lesser light rises. Then I think we should eat on the meadow."

"I agree," Bambi said and that settled it.

Both Claris and Carie stayed away from him and he slept alone. They both knew he would not be good company for a while.

That night on the meadow their group ate together. The other deer on the meadow did not come close to them. In the darkness, over by the tress, he heard Bobcats, ferrets, maybe a coyote, and other creatures all feasting on the bodies of Tarro and the other two. It was a not so pleasant reminder of what had transpired. They ate and drank quietly and little Eta drank from her mother who still limped. Every time the little fawn took an obviously painful step, he knew Bambi and he did the right thing. It was after the lesser light was overhead that Gorro walked up to his father. He moved over close enough to hear.

"Father, I do not understand, why did you have to kill them and not just run them off like you did the others?" Gorro was not criticizing his father, but he looked and sounded confused.

"Because the others did not try and hurt your mother and younger sister. They came only to challenge me. These four did hurt them. If I had just chased them off they would have come back and maybe killed you, your sister, and your mother. That was something I would not let them do."

"So what you teach me can really kill," Gorro said as if not believing it.

"Yes," Bambi said simply. "It can and will kill a deer or Bobcat or even a single Coyote. I hope you do not have to kill, but sometimes you must. If you must; kill as quickly and as effectively as you can and without hesitation. Otherwise the other animal may kill you. That is the greatest lesson a herd leader must understand. Sometime he must decide who lives and who dies."

With that Bambi went back to eating. Gorro walked away toward him. As the young deer approached all he did was nod in agreement. These were more words that were best left unsaid. With the way the other deer looked at Bambi and him, he doubted if anyone would seriously challenge Bambi while Gorro grew up. That was another unsaid reason behind their fight.

Spring continued and soon the warm greater light filled the forest. They went back to live in the thicket near the hill. Ate took her daughter Cara away leaving the three of them alone. His back finally healed and he could run and spar like normal. Bambi and he did spar with each other, but mostly they spared with Gorro who got over his uneasiness. He taught Gorro some of his tricks on turning and kicking and finally sweeping your opponent's feet from out underneath him. They spent days just getting to know each other again. During this time he got to know Carie better, she was like Claris in that she was independently minded and knew exactly what she wanted. She was a bit more sensitive than Claris. Carie, also tended to talk more than Claris which was the only trait of hers that bothered him. Still he was not displeased with Carie. With Claris and Carie and Bambi and his family, those days were some of the happiest of his life.

Falene and Eta got over their injury. Man kept away from the forest, and everything else seemed close to normal again. Together spring came and went and soon he realized they were into full summer. That meant he had to return soon. He waited until he felt it was high summer before he told the others."

"We must get back to our forest before high summer is over and the time of the Season approaches. That will bring Man and his killing sticks and we both need to be with our herds at that time."

"I expected you go soon," Bambi said. "When will you leave?"

"Tomorrow night at the setting of the greater light," he said. "It will take two days to get back to my forest."

"I am sorry to see you go," Gorro said his voice sounded disappointed. "I was hoping to learn more off of you."

"You have learned enough from me. The rest you can get from your father," he told the eager young male. Gorro was growing seemingly in front of him. Already his first rack was plainly showing.

Carie got up. "I want to say goodbye to my mother and Ate. I know I may not see them again."

He understood that and Carie was right. "Do so tonight and meet me at the lake tomorrow after the setting of the greater light. We leave then."

"I will go with her," Claris said. "I too want to say goodbye to my mother."

He nodded his approval. "I think you should both go now and meet me tomorrow."

With that they both got up and moved off into the darkness of the forest. He watched them go. He was not displeased. In a way he envied them. He never had a chance to say goodbye to his mother, in fact he never even knew his mother. That was probably the main reason he was and always would be The Stranger to those around him.

He spent the rest of the day talking to Bambi and Faline and giving Gorro one final sparing lesson. He wondered if there was some doe that catch his eyes during the Season, but Gorro did not seem interested in that. He knew that change with the season. Gorro was too fine a young male to be overlooked. If they were not so closely related, he be tempted to send young Claris over. They make a fine pair. He slept after the greater light was over head and woke just before dark. He walked over to Bambi who like him was just getting up and motioned for him to follow.

They walked toward the lake but stopped well inside the woods. He turned.

"I will leave you now, My Friend," he said to the big deer. "I think you will have no problems with challenges for this season. All the males have to do is look at the piles of bones in the wood near the hill to remind them of that. When the time comes I think Gorro will make a fine heard leader."

"Thank you," Bambi said and rubbed the side of his neck. "I will miss you, but you have to get back. Take care of them Stranger, and one day, when you are no longer needed you will be welcomed back here."

"As you will be welcomed in my forest should you decide to leave the herd to Gorro. Now I must go," he said and walked over to near the lake. Soon Faline and little Eta came out to meet him. He bent over and nuzzled the now growing fawn.

"I will miss you too," he told the little doe. She licked his face," I like Stranger," she said with a gleam in her eye.

Right after the lesser light rose Claris, Carie, Ate and Cara came out of the forest. He said his goodbyes to them and promised he take care of Carie. As soon as they all exchanged farewells he left and led the two does down the stream toward his own forest. He was pained to leave the only family he ever knew, but there were things that counted more than just family. In his opinion, that was truly the greatest lesson a herd leader had to understand. The herd came first: before his family and before him.

The journey back to his forest was uneventful. Other than meeting another herd of those four legged creature he saw on the way to the forest, they saw nothing except the usual wildlife. If there were any dogs around, they kept far enough away where he could not even smell them. They rested behind a large hill when the greater light was overhead. At least there were no sounds or scents of Man on their journey. No other animals tried to interfere with their travels.

Claris mostly stayed silent on the trip back. She spent the time like him testing the air and looking closely around them. Carie tried to imitate her, but he could tell she had not the understanding Claris had. He could see her trying to learn by watching Claris and him and understand what they were doing. As least she did not blunder along making all sorts of noise.

It was well after the second night and near the rise of the greater light that he saw the familiar trees of his forest. He led them into the forest and started to show Carie the stream and meadow. He looked and saw a few deer there. Then he saw Stabo, Gena, Stena and Balo and their fawns all standing together. They seem peaceful enough. He came out of the trees and they saw him at once. Immediately all of them started to run over to him. He nuzzled his son, daughter and their mates.

"This is Carie," he said and introduced her to the others. "There are things that happened while I was in Bambi's forest that I need to tell you all about, but it is getting close to light."

"I think we should go to the small meadow," Stena suggested. "We can talk there privately"

Everyone nodded their agreement and they went to the small clearing. The nine of them fit comfortably in the small opening. All of them seemed eager to hear of their adventures and the new doe in the forest. He told them everything except the conversation with Faline, Claris, Bambi, and Ate about the unborn fawn. He also did not discuss why Carie was there, preferring to let Claris do that. He talked about the attack on Bambi's family and the revenge they took, and the death of Ronno and his family. It was a mixed tale of happiness and sadness and took until the greater sun was overhead to finish.

"I am glad mother and father are alright," Gena said. "I think you and father did the right thing in taking care of those bullies. Any male who deliberately hurt a fawn is not much of a male."

"I agree," Balo answered. "We had nothing anywhere like that in our forest. While you were gone the only thing that happened was that Man came back to shoot birds. We kept everyone away from the meadow while they were here. They left and didn't hurt any deer."

"Good," he told them. "You all did exactly the right thing."

"You left out one thing," Stena said eying them carefully. "Can you please tell us something of Carie if she is going to live here?"

"I was going to let you mother explain that," he said and looked at Claris. "It affects her more than me."

Claris spoke up and told them everything else except the part about the deformed fawn she bore. They had no need to know that. She then explained Carie was the daughter of her older sister and why she was here. He could tell it did not go over well with Stena and Stabo. That was to be expected. She finished and Stabo spoke first.

"Mother, I must ask this," he said firmly. "Are you sure you cannot have any more fawns?"

"Yes," she said. "I asked my mother and some of the other older doe and they all told me the same. I told this to your father. I then decided that since I cannot give your father the children he wants, the daughter of my older sister would do it. That way the children your father makes will still be in my family."

Stabo looked more hurt than his mother and he and Gena whispered back and forth for a moment before he spoke in a more serious tone. "I am trying understand what you have done, Mother, and why. I do not like what I am hearing."

Claris looked a little hurt. "I understand, my son," she said to him. "It was the only way I could still be here with your Father and at least my family could give him the fawns he wanted."

"That is also something I do not understand," Stabo uttered looking at him suspiciously. "You have a son and daughter. While I admit I have no interest in being herd leader here, I can clearly see Balo does. I do not think he would be a bad leader. Why you want other children is not clear to me."

He knew the answer, but he also knew if he told them that, it most likely offend his children and their mates. He tried to think of a good way to say this, but he could not so he just told them bluntly.

"I want more children Son in case something happen to us here. I was hoping Bambi or Jolo would follow if something happened to me, but they are not here anymore. There is nothing certain in this forest or in this life. Something may happen to all of this Season or at any other time. The best way to make sure the herd will be led well is to have others than can come and take our place if something happens to us. This is why I want other children. I was hoping to have those children with your mother. That will not happen now."

"Mother," Stena said with an icy voice. "I want to know if this was truly your idea."

Both Claris and he looked at each other surprised at the question. Claris then looked at their daughter. "Yes, daughter, this was my idea," she said, the hurt was clear in her voice. "Your father was as surprised as you were when I told him." Claris' voice choked slightly.

She looked at Balo and they both looked doubtful. "You will have to forgive us, we did not mean to give offense, but this was completely unexpected. We are all taken back. However, I must agree with my brother in not seeing the need for more children. It is almost like you do not trust us."

Now he was angry. He shot to his feet; both Stabo and Balo did likewise an instant later. "Do not trust you?" he said loudly. "If I did not trust you, do you think I would have left the forest in your care when I went away? If I did not trust you, do you think I would have asked Stabo to come here? If I did not trust you, you think I would have taken the time and effort to teach you what I know? Of course I trust you; that is why I made the arrangements I did before I left because I knew there was a good chance I might not return, and I almost did not. However I also trusted Bambi and Jolo and they are not here. Bambi has his own forest to lead and Jolo is dead. What happens if this year I have to smell of pool of blood with your scents in it? Who then leads, who follows you? I thought I had trained you better than this. You cannot see just the now, but you have to see the later as well. I need other children to follow me in case it is your dead bodies or my dead body we have to morn over. What you have said here tonight hurts me deeply, much more deeply that those dogs ever did. I think you have also hurt your mother, and have been rude to Carie."

He noted he was starting to breath hard. He tried to calm himself down. Claris got up and started to rub his back.

Then Stabo walked over and looked him directly in the eyes. "Father, you have returned safely, so my task here is done. The rest here is your making. This is your forest, not ours. Gena and I need to get back to our forest tonight to help Veron prepare for the Season and the hunts."

With that he turned quickly and he, Gena and little Koran walked away from the clearing and toward the large oak trees. No one said a word as they went.

Balo then walked over to him, the anger was not so strong in his eyes. Stena came with him and he could tell she still was not satisfied. "I understand what you say, Stranger," he said calmly but firmly. "I just do not agree with it. What you have said also hurts us. I think enough has been said. We are going back to our resting place. Maybe we should not see each other for a while."

With that Balo, Stena and little Delene walked away back toward their thicket. He turned and looked at Claris and Carie. Carie was shocked at the outburst and said nothing, but Claris was almost in tears and also did not say anything.

This had not gone as he expected.