This is Home
Concept and initial idea by: Jemmicins
Ideas by: Lauren
Characters by: Disney Studios
©1942, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010
It was still morning, but the sun was climbing fast, Kenai's stomach began to grumble. He held onto his girth almost embarrassed by the noise his stomach made. He knew this meant he was hungry; "Well it's just me now, no one else" Kenai said to no one in particular "I'll be fine". A shot of his mother's face slipped through his mind, he shrugged it off and made his way toward a brook. He could see small trout swimming about, he knew patience was the key to catching fish, but he was so hungry he could barely stand it! He leapt into the small stream hoping that his splash might have knocked some fish on the bank. To no avail, not even the tiniest fish was there, he saw a small crab though. He fiddled with the small creature that started to crawl away, "Hey come back!" he cried. He pounced on the crab and popped it in his mouth, he was about to start chewing before he felt immense pain on his tongue. The crab clamped down on the young bear's tongue…hard!
"ARGGHGHH!!!" Kenai screamed, he tried to pry the crab off by clawing at it. The crab held firm, with small tears in his eyes Kenai placed his tongue in the water; the crab took that as the signal to leave. As soon as he felt the small crustacean leave his mouth he jerked his face out of the water. "Omngh" Kenai mumbled looking at his swollen tongue through his reflection in the water. Since "breakfast" wasn't cooperating Kenai decided to explore some of the forest. He scrambled over some fallen trees and made his way into the deeper part of the forest. After walking for at least an hour he spotted a small thicket made out of some brush. He decided that would make a comfier home then the den were his deceased mother receded. He crawled into the dense thicket with ease. Once he emerged in the inner of the thicket he decided to take a small nap, the sun was peeking through the leaves making it the perfect atmosphere. He turned around a few times in place and then settled down; with a somber look he closed his eyes.
Before Kenai could even settle into dream land he heard a voice come from inside the thicket, "What are you doing in here young one?" Kenai scrambled to his feet in fear and turned towards the back of the thicket, he saw a doe tending to her young offspring. Kenai had seen deer before, the mother's were always very protective and caring of their young and the strong bucks had monstrous antlers, he cringed at the thought of being hit with one of those. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to barge in, I'll be leaving now" he said, he knew as well as anyone else living in Utopia, that other animals didn't converse with each other. The mother doe could see tears forming in the young cub's eyes, "Wait dear, what's the matter? You don't look well", Kenai stopped dead in his tracks and turned his head slightly to look at the doe. With all that emotion building up since this morning he finally broke down crying. His whimpers were small at first, but then it turned into full fledged balling. The young deer struggled to his feet, "Mom, what's all that wet stuff coming out of his eyes?" he asked stumbling over to Kenai. His mother stopped him, "Those are called tears Bambi, and they come from our eyes when we're sad". Bambi nodded his head, but still tilted it in an odd manner, "Why is he sad Mom?"
Bambi's mother smiled, "Well let's go ask him?" Bambi grinned and scampered over to the whimpering bear cub, "Hey, why are you crying little bear?" Bambi asked wriggling his tail. Kenai pulled his head up from his fetal position, "I-I do-don't want to t-talk about it" he hiccupped. Bambi's mother licked the small cub's head to comfort him, Kenai scrambled to his feet and backed away. "No need to be afraid" Bambi's mother told him. Kenai looked from the smiling doe to her son, "but I'm not supposed to talk with other species, my Mom said so!" "I don't see anything wrong with us just talking for a while, do you?" Bambi's mother asked. Kenai sniffled, "I guess not", the doe walked over to Kenai and began grooming him, "now tell us what seems to be troubling you?"
Kenai, the doe and Bambi sat for hours while the small cub told him his story. In fact, he told them everything, his den life, what his mother taught him, some of his adventures and even his favorite hiding spot. Bambi frowned, "Well, where is your Mom now?" he asked looking around almost imagining a great Grizzly bursting through the bushes. Kenai turned away, "She…she, went away forever" he said managing a sad sigh. Bambi's mother immediately understood and furrowed her brow with a small frown, Bambi however will still confused, "Will she ever come back?" he asked. His mother shook her head, "No dear". Pain started prickling at Kenai's heart strings and his eyes began to water, "Well it was nice talking to you two, but a big strong bear like me has to defend his territory…maybe I'll see you again sometime?" The doe nodded, "In fact why don't you come back tomorrow? Bambi could use a friend to show him around the forest" she said gesturing to her son who smiled back at him. Kenai suddenly didn't feel so alone anymore, "Oh, okay! I'll come back tomorrow first thing, by the way my name's Kenai!" he shouted running off. With him leaving that left the doe and her son to ponder, "He was really nice Mom" his mother smiled in agreement, "Yes, yes he was".
