"Nathan?" the young boy stopped what he was doing as he looked behind him, seeing his mother look to him with a smile "First day of spring and you're already flying out the door to go back out there huh?"

Nathan smiled back with a smile and nodded "You know it, mom. I haven't been since last summer, I wanna go back and see everything again." his mother chuckled, walking close and scuffing his short brown hair, it had grown slightly longer, long enough for that scruff to effect his hair. He giggled and fixed it quickly.

"There's still snow on the ground, sweetie, you're feet are gonna get wet in those shoes."

"That's okay! I don't mind" Nathan beamed. His mother shook her head.

"Somehow I knew you wouldn't…" she sighed and nodded "Just be back before sunset; Garrett will be back by then and we can all have dinner together."

"Sounds good, mom. I'll see ya later." Nathan said, drowned out by the fact he was already running out the door.

It had been about one year since his life changed so much. Nathan always went into the woods, but last year was special. He gained the ability to talk to animals, he made so many friend, it was probably the best summer of his life, even if he was only nine. He tried to go in the fall and winter but school made sure he was busy during the fall, and he didn't try in winter, what with hibernation. So he made a promise to himself, at the first sign of spring, he would go out and try to find his friends again: Thumper, Flower, Faline, who knows, maybe he would even find Bambi. He would have kept that promise, but a forest fire broke out and he to wait a little longer, according to his mother. He was worried about what happened to his friends, but deep down, he felt like they were all okay

Nathan was careful to maneuver through the snow mud and branches that blocked his way. Looking for any signs of life, he saw plenty of birds in the trees above, so it was a good sign, but he kept moving forward.

Then suddenly, familiar voices caught his ears and he turned to better listen to them.

"What should we play today?" one voice began, this sounded like Thumper.

"Maybe we can play hide and seek again?" another voiced ask, sounding very much like Flower.

"Why? With you, it's more like a game of hide and sleep" Nathan smiled at this voice, because it sounded so much like…-

"Bambi?" Nathan was smiling as he popped out of the woods and into the clearing where he heard their voices. His assumptions were correct; standing before him were a rabbit, a skunk and a deer and they looked exactly like who he thought they were. But something was wrong, they didn't look happy to see Nathan at all, quite the opposite, they looked downright terrified.

The three backed away slowly before bolting out of there "Daddy!" one of them cried out before disappearing back into the woods.

"Hey! Guys, wait, I…-?" Nathan only took a few steps to try and stop them, bewilderment keeping him still. He shook his head, trying to figure out what had happened. He was so busy trying to figure out what was going on, that he failed to hear the rustling of bushes behind, him. It was until someone's breath was on his back that he yelped and fell to the ground.

Standing before him was a magnificent deer, looking down on Nathan with what appeared to be anger. It's horns were large and intimidating, yet oddly familiar to him. But that was the least of his concern, looks like he had an angry deer to deal with. But before he could try and explain himself, the angered expression gave way to one of bewilderment.

"...Nathan?"

Nathan did a double take; this deer knew who he was? And slowly he realized he knew this deer too, the horns reminded him of a deer he once knew, The Great Prince, yet there was something that made him different from The Great Prince.

"...Bambi!" Nathan lept at Bambi's head and hugged him tight, Bambi did his best to nuzzle into Nathan, mindful of his large antlers. This went on for a minute before they broke off and looked at each other.

"Bambi...wow, look at you, you grew up so much I...wow" Nathan was tumbling over his words. Bambi chuckled as he looked to Nathan.

"Yeah, I did. But you grew up too. You got a lot taller."

"Well not as tall as you! And those antlers, it's only been one year?" Nathan retorted, the two laughing loudly as the skunk, rabbit and deer from before returned.

"Ah, Geno. It's okay, it's the human I told you and the others about," Nathan slowly stopped laughing and looked over to them, watching them slowly approach.

"So you're Nathan, the Nathan?" Geno, the deer asked.

"Bambi's talked a lot about you." the rabbit said

"Oh, is that right?" Nathan turned to Bambi, smirking a little.

"Haha, hey, all good things, I assure you." Bambi laughed back.

"He even told us about that big hunt that happened." the skunk piped in.

"Well, mostly good things."

"Heh, yeah, that wasn't my finest moment...but that's okay. Everything worked out, right?" Nathan and Bambi nodded. Bambi turned to the young ones.

"Hey, why don't you three go with Faline to the river. I'll be there in a little bit, I just wanna catch up with Nathan." the three animals nodded and scurried off.

"Bye, dad!" Geno smiled, giving Nathan a little smile too before running off.

"Ah, man, where do we even begin?" Nathan smiled as he stood up, Bambi getting on all fours too.

"Here, follow me, I know where we can talk," Bambi said.

Nathan followed Bambi up a large mountain trail, he was clearly out of practice as by the time the two reached the top, Nathan was gasping for air.

"Phew, alright...I'm good, I'm good…-!" Nathan inhaled and exhaled slowly as he looked out over where he was, from this height, he could see well beyond the woods, he could even see the roof of his house in the distance. Behind him was the sun, already beginning to make its descent.

"So...wow, where to even begin?" Bambi asked as he surveyed the land while talking to Nathan.

"Well how about Geno? He's your kid?"

"Yeah, Geno and Gurri, my two kids. And…-"

"Faline's the mom?" Nathan chimed in quickly.
"Faline's the mo...hey!' Bambi huffed with a smirk.

"And the others? Flower and Thumper's kids?"

"Yeah, Petunia and Hopper. They all get along great. It's nice" Bambi inhaled deeply and let it out, sitting down on the cliff. Nathan sat down beside him.

"Just like us?" Nathan smiled, turning to meet Bambi's gaze. He broke his look over the woods for a moment to smile and nod back.

"Is there something out there? Am I missing something?" Nathan asked.

"No, it's not that." Bambi began "It's just that as The Great Prince, I have to…-?"

"Ah, I got you, say no more. I heard it from your dad already." Nathan smiled, slowly becoming weaker before sighing a little bit.

"What's wrong?" Bambi asked.

"Nothing's wrong, it's just...well I know what this means now. It means we can't hang out as much anymore…" Nathan frowned, Bambi did the same "And...well...if Thumper and Flower have kids, I guess they're gonna be busy too, huh?" Bambi nodded slowly.

"Yeah, that's...great." Nathan sighed, looking to Bambi before perking up "I mean really, that's actually really good, I'm happy you guys have lives and all but… well, I guess things are gonna be different now huh?" Nathan asked.

"This situation is strange," Bambi said, smiling a little, focusing on something "You're right to say it won't be the same. We're all growing up and have new responsibilities to take care of now. But that doesn't mean everything has to change."
"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Well, we can't play like we used to. But it's not like we're gone forever, we'll still be here for you...and plus…" Bambi trailed off as he looked behind him, Nathan followed his gaze and saw Hopper, Petunia, Geno and a second deer he assumed to be Bambi's other child.

"So that's the human?" the deer asked.

"Yeah, Gurri, told you they were friends." Geno said a little proudly. Hopper hopped forward a little bit. Nathan could tell he was still a little apprehensive, but seemed much more comfortable around him.

"So, Nathan, was it? Me and the others were thinking and we were...umm...wondering if you wanted to...play in the river with us?" Hopped asked, the others nodding in agreement. Nathan smiled at the four but then looked up at the sky, the sun was just about to set. He remembered what his mother said.

"Oh...well I wish I could today, but I have to get going soon…-?" Nathan said, stunned a little to see the unson of groans to accompany that response 'But, tomorrow, I'll come back first chance I get, and then we can play?" he smirked, seeing them all smile made him feel better and they began whispering of all the things they could together.

"Alright, it's getting late, you should all be heading back home now." the excited mumbles turned to low grumbles as they all walked away, except for Geno and Gurri.

"G'night, daddy!" the two said before heading back down the mountain. Nathan and Bambi watched looked to where they were before Nathan broke the silence.

"So that's what you meant, huh?"

"Hm?" Bambi asked coyly, pretending to not know what he was talking about. Nathan smirked and nudged Bambi.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it. I guess I better get going then." Nathan hesitated, and then wrapped a hug around Bambi's neck who smiled. Nathan stood up and ran off "I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Hmm, see you tomorrow, Nathan." Bambi, smiled back as he watched his friend travel down the mountain and back to his home.