INTRODUCTION

For the last four years, I have been working on my fantasy novel series that I have recently completed. This had taken my attention away from Fan Fiction and my Stranger stores, as well as other short stories both old and new. Now that's done, I decided to rewrite the next chapter about our forest and its characters. I now have the opportunity to go back and correct some of the problems with the original story. There were areas of the story that were not fleshed out or explained properly. This draft corrects these problems. I hope1

When last we left the story, Stranger, his family, and his friends are dead. However, life in the forest and his herd goes on. This story is about the journey one of Stranger's decedents must make to find his place in the world. As often in life, this journey is not without its tragedies and sorrows, but it also has its triumphs and laughter. In short, it is a story of the journey we all must make as we transit the realm, we called life.

If you like my work, I asked you to look at my fantasy series of three books: The Forest of Allund, The Laughing Gods, and Demigod are available now at Kindle and Barnes and Nobel under the name Wilbur Arron. The books are cheap and a good read.

If you want to contact me, you can reach me through my web page .com I like to know what you think of my stories.

WA

If the two names confuse you, I use the name Wilber for my works online, and Wilbur for my professional books. It helps me keep things straight.

THE JOURNEY

By

Wilbur Arron

CHAPTER ONE: SPRING

"You know you are getting big for your age," Stabo said. "You remind me of your grandfather."

"Thank you, Stabo," he said turning toward the old deer. "I was hoping someone would notice because I cannot get the other senior males or older herd males to look at me."

"Oh, they look at you," Stabo said walking up to him. He still was a head shorter than his uncle. "They do not say much because they see you as a threat to them. Soon you will be big enough to challenge them and they know you could beat them."

That, at least, made him feel good. "I just hope my rack grows in this season," he said. "I like to get a doe during The Season."

"There is more to getting a big rack than having a doe," the former herd leader said. "After this spring's training, you will be able to get any doe you want. You are strong enough. You look good enough. And that is the problem. A good-looking male with a good rack is the kind of deer Man wants to kill. I do not want to see you dragged off the meadow dead."

The training was what he was interested in. "Speaking of that, I am hoping we will start training again soon. The snow is gone and the meadow is green again. The old forest is even greener this season."

"You still want to become a senior male this season?" Stabo asked.

"Yes he does," he heard from behind him. "Although he should wait another season," his mother said as she walked quietly out of the forest. She approached downwind of them and he never heard her coming. "Many of the senior males are still too big for you to fight. Next season when you are full-grown, that will be different. I think waiting will do you good. My brother is right about one thing, you are getting to look like your grandfather."

Stabo walked over and nuzzled the forehead of his sister. She immediately replied in kind before coming over to him and nuzzling him behind his neck. That always filled him with a mixture of peace and anxiety.

"Stabo looked her over especially her expanded belly. "How are you doing, sister? How is Helos?"

His mother looked pained, but she always did when it was this early in spring before the birth of her fawns. Two full seasons ago he was born. While no longer a yearling, it would be another season at least until he was fully grown.

"Helos has almost recovered from the cough he picked up in the winter," his mother went on. "As for me, I can feel the fawns inside me moving. It makes it hard to walk at times, but soon, they will come. Both Andrene and Helar have left to join the yearling herd so I am alone for now, but that will not last long."

"I remember," Stabo said. "We will start training them this season. I know Young Bambi will start training as soon as Galene has her fawn. He then looked sternly at him. "He told me he wants you and his son Garris to complete your training by The Season. Right now he only has Helos, Juon, and me for help, and I am not getting any younger."

"Stabo, you look as strong as ever," he said with a smile. "You have many more seasons."

Stabo just shook his head. "I am not so sure. I remember telling my father the same thing in the past and now he, my mother, younger sister, Old Bambi, and Faline are gone. If you are not careful, some man will drag you off the meadow and you will be gone too."

It shocked him his uncle would think like that. "Not if I can help it," he answered abruptly. "I would give that talk to Garris. He is wilder than I am."

"That is certain," his mother said. "Besides being boisterous, aggressive, and at times annoying, you think after being almost killed last season, he'd be wiser. Our father certainly was after he was hit by Man before both of us were born. That is why he and Old Bambi taught us as they did."

Stabo nodded his graying head. "If Man had hit Garris instead of that tree he was near, he would not be here and Young Bambi would have lost his first-born son."

"Well no Man saw me and no Man hurt me and I want to keep it that way," he told them.

"SSSSTTTTAAAAABBBBBOOO" he heard a call from a distance. It sounded like it was coming from the main clearing near where Bambi and Galene lived. It was Bambi's voice for sure.

Stabo stood up fully and took a deep breath and bellowed out, "I come." The voice was not nearly so loud and Stabo coughed for a few moments after he called.

"Well I have to go," his uncle said to both of them.

"May I go with you?" he asked. "I like to ask Bambi a question."

"Go ahead," the old deer answered with a shrug, "But if other senior males are there, I would walk away for now. You are not ready to join them."

"I understand," he said and followed the older deer.

The Man Path forest they lived in was large. It takes half a day to walk across it, assuming you wanted to cross the Man Path. The deep nauseating smells of the black dirt man uses to make the path was terrible to sniff. The black path ran back into the forest further than any deer from here had traveled. It ran further into the forest than a three-day walk by a deer. His mother had gone there with his father before he was born. His mother told him and even she had not reached the end of it. Some deer from Stranger's old forest still lived there in the deep woods, but they had not been seen for many seasons. They were part of the old deer herd that left when Stabo threw them out of this herd because of the violent arguments that broke out among many of those deer about who should be the leader. You think they all learn to get along after the old forest burned down, but that did not happen. Instead, many refused to go along with Stabo as herd leader and left. They included Stranger's oldest daughter, her mate, and son. Most were now dead and there had been peace since then. Now the only things that used the Man Path were the animals Man moved inside of.

All about them was quiet and still in the early spring morning. He still marveled at how easily Stabo glided through the trees and brush not making a sound. He was almost as good, but that deer could move quieter than any of them including the herd leader. He still moved as quietly as he could. A quiet deer was a live deer.

There were birds, raccoons, ferrets, squirrels all about them. The air was fresh with the scented smell of new plant growth. Soon he fully shed his winter coat until next winter. They continued to walk through the forest until they finally got to the opening near where Bambi and Galene lived. Thankfully, no one else was there. He could stay without making some senior male angry. Herd males did not talk normally to the senior males unless asked.

Bambi looked down his nose at him. "So what brings you here?"

"I was going to ask about starting our training again," he said. "I know I have more to learn and I am anxious to start learning."

"It will be soon," he answered in his deep voice; Bambi, or Young Bambi, was like his now-dead father and grandfather: strong, wise, and somewhat aloof. "I want to wait until this season's fawns are ready to go to the meadow. Then we will start in earnest, with Garris, I hope."

Stabo looked concerned. "Why do you say that?"

Young Bambi turned quickly to face the old deer looking annoyed. "Because neither I nor his mother has seen him more than twice all winter since what happened near the meadow just after last Season."

"You mean with Man almost killing him?" he asked.

"Yes," the herd leader went on. "He acted like it did not bother him, but inside something happened to him. Something he would not talk about. Since midwinter, neither Galene nor I have seen him. There is not even a trace of his scent."

"I would not worry about it," Stabo replied. "My mother told me my father also changed after he was almost killed by Man's killing stick before I was born."

"Yes, but he became more careful," Bambi added. "He did not sulk away. My grandfather was the same way."

"We will have to see about that?" Stabo went on. "For now I would not worry about it. At least we know he was not killed in the hunts."

"Yes," the herd leader muttered as if lost in thought.

He had not seen Garris either, and he kind of missed his boasting about his strength and fighting skill. It was funny at times, but he never believed it. He had sparred with Garris and the other males while in the yearling herd and he knew he was as strong, if not stronger, than all of them. His father had warned him several times not to let that go to his head.

Then the herd leader spoke to his uncle again. "Have either you or your sister spoken to Uttral lately?"

"I spoke to her last winter before the first snow. She was going into her den for the winter. For a female bear, she has also grown big like her father. She had found a mate from the other forest over the hill. She had taken over her father's old den to spend the winter and have her cubs."

Uttral was the daughter of Bear. Strange as it seems, the Bear was actually a friend of Stranger; although normally the only thing bears do with deer is eat them. The Bear had saved Stranger when he was hit by the killing stick of Man and nearly killed. Stranger, in turn, warned Bear when Man was in the forest. They developed a strange friendship the herd still marvels about. They even spent time together, yet Bear never tried to eat Stranger. He did not understand why, but Stabo said it was something about Stranger's purpose in the forest. He never understood that. After Stranger and the Bear were killed by Man, Uttral, his mother, and his uncle Stabo remained friends.

"When she comes out of her den, she will be hungry and might just go after some of the newborn fawns," Bambi suggested.

His uncle nodded his approval. "She may, that is why I think the doe and the new fawns should eat the grass inside the forest clearings. The males and the yearlings can feed off the meadow. I suggest we call a gathering tomorrow night and explain it."

"Good idea," Bambi said. Then the herd leader turned quickly to face him. "Now young male, let us see how strong you are."

With that Bambi charged him. He also charged forward locking his shoulder against the herd leader's. He pushed hard, but it was like pushing on a huge rock, nothing moved. He quickly lowered his body to get position pushed hard with his back legs. Bambi pulled back and let him waste his effort attacking air before leaping forward at him again. He expected it and braced hard with his legs. The impact still jarred him but did not knock him down. He faked a charge and as Bambi countered he pulled back causing Bambi to fall forward. He quickly attacked again low and pushed back. Bambi was pushed back a short distance before replanting his legs and with a mighty shove pushed him away."

"That was much easier to do last season," the herd leader said drawing deep breaths. "I think a summer of teaching you like your grandfather and my grandfather taught me and you will be able to take on any deer in this forest except me or your uncle.

He noted he did not mention his own son in that group. That seemed odd but he said nothing.

"Whenever you are ready to start, I am here," he said still breathing heavily himself.

"Good, it will be soon," the herd leader said and looked toward the old deer. "Stabo he still needs to practice his walking. I could still hear him before hearing you. Also, he needs to start learning about Man. I think it is time for you to tell him the story your father told us. I think you should do this as soon as possible."

"I will do that, but I could never tell that story like my father," Stabo answered looking down at the ground.

"You do it well enough," Bambi said. "In the meantime young male, exactly what do you want?"

He knew immediately. "I just want to get a doe this season and become a senior male."

"No doubt you will get a doe this season," the herd leader told him. "I think this season or next you will be a senior male. Now, is that all you want? Maybe you like to be herd leader one day."

He recoiled in shock. "Take your place," he squeaked. "No Bambi, I know I am not ready to take your place. I am not strong enough and I am not wise enough to become a herd leader. Also, I am not sure I want to live day after day thinking only about the herd. I do not know if I could do that."

"Neither did I," Bambi said loudly. "At first the herd did not agree. It was two seasons past when Stranger died before the herd let Stabo step aside and accepted me. Stabo never wanted it, but had to do it after my father was killed; there was no one else to do it. It is not a matter of if you are ready, or if you want it. As Stranger taught us, sometimes you have to do it because no one else is around. Now, what will happen if Man uses his killing sticks on Stabo and me? Who is left then to lead this herd? That might be you."

He recoiled even further. "Do not say that," he pleaded. "I would have no idea what to do."

"Does that frighten you?" Stabo asked.

"Of course," he answered.

"All the more reason you should learn as best you can this summer," his uncle added. "We will be doing more than teaching you to fight. We are going to find out if you are a deer that can help the herd.

He swallowed hard. The idea of him becoming the herd leader both frighten him and caused him to doubt his worth. There was silence in the clearing before Bambi spoke up again. "Your uncle and I need to discuss some things, Stafen," the herd leader told him. "Please excuse us."

With that, his uncle and the herd leader walked off. He stood there a long time still shaking at the thought of what Bambi and Stabo had said. He stared where the two disappeared into the forest for a long time before he moved away. A young male deer never wants to admit he was afraid of anything; it lowers his reputation within the herd. However, he had to admit to himself, he was still deathly afraid of even the idea of being a herd leader.

It was well after dark when he wandered on the meadow. He felt better now and walked with confidence and strength showing the other males he was someone to respect. He was just quieter about it than Garris was. He looked around. He saw a few does with some early-season newborn fawns. The yearlings gathered in a group near the far end of the meadow. This time last season he had done the same thing. The herd males were running around in a group near the spring. This was the group he belonged in for now. He could see some light sparing was going on. In the middle of the grassy open area were the doe and fawns. In the middle of the meadow stood the group of seven senior herd males. They included Bambi the herd leader, Stabo, who was still treated as the dominant male. Marcor was nearly as old as Stabo. He was a nice deer; he never said anything bad about someone and never had much to do with him, one way or another. Relnor, who came from another forest. He liked to stay by himself but was known to always have a large group of doe every season. He was seldom heard from and seldom helped out. There was his father, Helos, and other uncle Juon. Juon was known to be a little hard on the herd males, but that was mostly to stop them from doing something stupid and getting themselves killed. Toradas was the newest senior male and he was a bit ruthless. He was always in for himself and was only a senior male because of his strength and the fact none of the herd males wanted to challenge him. He had seen even as a yearling that Bambi only asked his two uncles and his father for help. The other senior males were just there because they were stronger than the herd males. As helpers, they were useless, untrained, and content to remain that way.

In the middle of the meadow were the doe, most still heavily burdened because they carried their fawns. The entire herd was here because they knew Bambi would call a Gathering after dark when the lesser light rose. As soon as the pale light shone down on them, Bambi called out.

"CCCCOOOOMMMEE," he called out loud. All the deer came over. He stayed with the herd males but stepped forward into the front line of that group. Most were two and three-season-old males who were growing in strength with age. There were also older males in the group who never had the strength or courage to challenge as a senior male. Most of them would be lucky if they got to breed in The Season. None of them objected to him being there even as only a two-season male. If they did, he would have to fight them on the spot.

After they all gathered, Bambi spoke up. "We have come through another winter. Soon the grass will be green and tall here. It will be young, tender, and tasty grass. You must not eat that grass in the daytime. Just because it is not The Season, does not mean Man is not around. Deer have died in daylight here thinking Man was gone. You only need to look at the Man cave to see that. There is also a bear that lives in the cave on the hill. She will be waking up soon and she will have hungry cubs. A newborn fawn would be perfect for her to kill. New mothers and their fawns should eat in the small clearings in the forest. The rest of us will eat here at night. Are there any questions?"

"Has there been any signs of Man," one of the older doe called out?

"Not that we have seen, that does not mean there is no danger. We must always plan that Man is here ready to kill us in an instant."

After that there was silence. Soon they all went back to eating.

He liked to eat alone, but today he ate in the center of the meadow with the two-season does. He could also be seen by the senior males. Inwardly he was looking to see if he could draw the early attention of some young doe. He ate, pretending not to notice a group of two-season doe looking at him. Some look like they were still fawns, but a couple looked good to him: young, sleek, and most likely not bred. He was too young to fight for a doe last season. That would not be the case this Season. He noticed a two-season male approaching him from his blindside trying to sneak up on him. It was a game young deer played on each other.

"See anything you like." a voice called. It sounded harsh.

To his right stood Rufo, another two-season male, he was eyeing him and the doe carefully.

"I am seeing what is available," he answered. He studied the male deer carefully. He was about as big as he was and maybe just as strong. The thing that got his attention was that Rufo was tense like getting ready for a fight. Stabo and Bambi had taught him to study deer carefully in case he did have to fight them. A deer gave away much without knowing it. He told himself to remain calm and ready.

"Well do not get your hopes up," Rufo sneered. "After the senior males and I are done, you will not have anything to breed. I will see to that."

That sounded like a challenge to him. He stood up seemingly relaxed and smiled. "You can try," he said calmly.

"I can do more than that," the deer grunted and dropped his head. Remembering all the fighting practice with his father, Stabo, and even Bambi, he remained upright and seemingly unconcerned. He let Rufo bound once and as he went through the air he charged but faked a move to his right. That caused Rufo to veer to his left. He then quickly reposition, ducked his head, planed his front legs, and swung his rear legs around catching the charging deer still in the air and taking his legs out from under him. Rufo crashed onto the ground face first.

He could have run over and charged the down deer, but instead, he stood back and waited for him to shake the dirt out of his eyes and face. His face was filled with rage.

"I will kill you for that," he growled.

"You can try," he said again. Then he added, "You may want to get the dirt out of your face first, you look like a mole."

His insult had the desired effect. Rufo was boiling mad now and determined to tear him apart. That made him careless. His father and uncle had always told him, no matter what happens never get mad during a fight; it weakens you. The deer came up and charged furiously at him. He went forward at a run but he held back some. Rufo put his head down and as the big deer did, he stopped and flung himself to his right. Rufo was going so fast he could not adjust. As he went by him he lifted both front legs and struck the deer under the chin as hard as he could. Rufo almost did a backflip in the air before landing on the ground with a crunch then lying still. He went over and just lightly stomped on his side once to prove his point. He then walked away as if nothing happened. By now everyone on the meadow was looking at him. It made him feel good. He was leaving the field when he noticed Toradas coming toward him.

"I see I am going to have to watch you," he said. The senior male was studying him carefully.

"I am not looking to fight you, Toradas," he said. "I do not have to. There will be plenty of doe during The Season for the senior males and me. I fight only when I have to."

"Hmmmmmm," Toradas said with an evil grin. "You are right there. I have heard other deer say you are like your grandfather. I was just a yearling when he died, but I remember the deer he taught especially Stabo and Bambi. Well young Stafen, stay well. I think we will meet again."

"I am sure of it," he replied and walked into the forest. He was heading for his bedding place. As he walked, he heard leaves rustle and twigs break behind him. Someone was following him. It was not any deer he knew so he did what his uncle had told him to do, walk in the direction where the wind was on his tail. As he did, the breeze brought the scent of a young doe to his nose. She was alone. He looked around and silently hid behind some tall trees. Sure enough, one of the cute doe that had watched him on the meadow approached down the trail. She was not very quiet. He waited for her to go by him when he called out.

"Nice day for a walk," he said and stepped out from behind the trees.

The young doe jumped half a length into the air before turning to face him. "You scared me," she barely gasped out.

"Why were you following me?" he asked.

"I ah. . . ah wanted to ask you a question," she stammered.

She had a nice voice and the rest of her was not bad either: nice face, sleek body, young, strong, and a little bigger than the usual two-season doe. She would be a nice doe to breed in The Season.

"Ask," he told her with a wide grin.

She stammered again for a moment before asking. "Who taught you to fight like that?" she said staring at him carefully. "I have never seen a deer fight like that.

He answered truthfully. "My father Helos, my uncle Stabo and the herd leader Bambi taught me," he answered. "They, in turn, were taught by my grandfather Stranger."

"It is a very different way to fight than the others," she went on.

"Yes it is," he said getting closer to the doe. "It takes a while to learn, but it is worth it.

"My mother told me about Stranger," the doe said. "She said he was the wisest deer that ever lived."

By now he was standing next to her. She had a strong but pleasant scent. He could like this.

"What is your name?" he asked.

"Dala," she answered. "Her voice was smooth like his mother's.

He grinned again and slowly rubbed his nose down her smooth fur. He could see her muscles ripple in her flanks. She liked it. He had seen his father do that to his mother and how much she liked it. "Well Dala, I am happy you followed me. You seem like a nice doe. I was going to my bedding place for the day. You can come with me if you want."

He started to walk slowly away and she followed him. They walked quietly, as least as quietly as she could. He told her how to step on the ground without rustling the leave or breaking twigs. They walked until they got to a small clearing.

"Behind those three oak trees over is a small stream you can drink from. If you need to empty yourself, go over by those pine trees," he pointed his nose at the trees in the distance. "It is far enough away so the smell will not draw predators close to us. As for me, it is time to sleep. You can lie next to me if you want. I will not mind."

With that, he lay down on the ground at his usual bedding spot behind some thick brush that protected him from the wind. Dala stood up and hesitated for a moment and then lay down next to him. She leaned into him and he felt her body gently press against his.

"I never lay next to a male before," she said.

"Do not worry," he assured her. "It is fine." The fact was he did not want to admit that other than his mother, he had never laid next to a doe. They were never interested in him before. He laid his head on the ground and she laid hers next to him. Besides their closeness, he felt the warmth of her body on him and he felt calm. Her scent also filled his nose as he drifted off into a peaceful deep sleep.

He woke up as the greater light was well-passed overhead. He got up slowly and went over to the pine trees and emptied himself there. He then drank from the stream to refresh himself. When he came back he saw Dala was gone. For a moment he thought she left him but saw her going toward the pine trees. He lay down and a little while later she came back to lay next to him again.

"I liked that," she said.

"So did I," he told her and then kissed her on her mouth. He felt her mouth yield to him. They remained up for the rest of the day quietly chewing their cud, kissing softly, and waiting for the greater light to vanish. Dala told him her story which was nothing unusual. She was born two seasons ago and spent her yearling time with the herd. He thought he remembered her, but he could not recall anything they said to each other. She was the same age as him but did not breed last year which seemed strange. There was nothing remarkable about her parents or her upbringing. She seemed she was just a nice looking doe that males would want in The Season.

It was just after dark when they got up and both started to walk to the meadow. As they left his bedding area he caught a familiar scent. It was his father coming toward him. He called out in a low bleat to call him over. Out of the forest silently walked a nice size deer, about his size with slightly thinner flanks. He walked over and looked at the doe walking carefully next to him.

"I did not know you were not alone," he said. "Care to introduce us?"

"Yes, Father, this is Dala and she came here last night."

"So I see," his father said to him grinning, and then turned to the doe. "Excuse me, Dala but I need to talk to my son for a while before we get to the meadow."

"Yes, of course," she said and leaped off toward the meadow leaving them alone.

"Yours?" his father asked. "It's a bit early."

"I do not know," he replied honestly. "She followed me home last night and we slept together in my bedding area."

His father stepped back looking at him, almost studying him like a male sizing up his opponent before a fight. "Yes," he finally said. "Yes, you have filled out nicely over the winter. I can see why doe would be interested in you. Well, that is your affair, sleep, and breed with whoever you want. I need to talk to you about last night and Rufo. You beat him up badly last night. He was limping when he got back up."

"He started it, I did not," he explained.

"True, but you did not go out-of-the-way to avoid the fight, either," his father told him sternly. "We all know sometimes you have to fight and beat males to earn your place in the herd, but what I and your uncles and the herd leader were concerned about was how you won. To us, it looked like you were showing off a bit. You could have made it a test of strength and still won. Rufo is not stronger than you."

"I beat him just as you and the others taught me," he said wondering why his father looked upset.

His father did not look pleased. He continued in an even harsher voice. "We taught you these things so if you had to fight, you could win against any deer your size or bigger. We keep these things to ourselves so other deer cannot use them on us. You used it on Rufo openly showing your fighting skills to the entire herd. It would have been better to just make it a test of strength."

He felt his blood starting to rise at his father's rebuke. "Rufo made it clear he was not interested in a test of strength. He wanted to pound my flank into the ground to impress you senior males. I stopped him."

"And in the process, you wanted to impress us with your strength instead," his father added.

His father stood there breathing heavily and then dropped his head for a few moments before he went on. "Look, my son, you are at an age where you are no longer a yearling, but not a fully grown deer either. Such deer are young, impetuous, and seek to have other males look up to them with respect. In short, they want to make a place for themselves in the herd to get their doe in The Season. In doing so they act hastily and are likely killed by Man. Me, Bambi, Stabo, and the others know this. I do not dislike what happened. Rufo can be a pain at times and you certainly put him in his place, but do not be in such a big hurry to impress us with your strength and fighting skill. We care more about you showing us how wise you are. You will be a senior male if you live. Take it in time. Again, fight when you have no choice, not to prove your place. The rest will come on its own. There was one other thing you did not notice that Bambi, Stabo, Juon, and I saw. It was that Rufo did not start the fight; Toradas did."

That confused him. "Toradas did," he repeated. "How, he did not interfere when we fought?"

His father shook his head and took a deep breath. He then spoke to him like he was a fawn again. "He did not do it so he could fight you. He sent his friend Rufo to do it so he could see how strong you were in case one day he had to fight you. You are a threat to him and his place as a senior male. Now he knows both your strength and how you fight. That will give him the advantage when you fight him, and fight him you will."

He was going to say something but stopped. He never considered Toradas would use another herd male to see how strong he was, yet it made sense to him. Inwardly he knew he had badly beat Rufo partly to gain the attention of the doe and the other males. It had worked as Dala showed him. The fact that the whole fight was a ruse so Toradas could study his fighting came as a complete shock.

He could see his father's point, mostly. "I hear what you say, Father," he said meekly. "In the future, I will be more careful, but I will also tell you I do not agree with all that you said. I will try to stay calmer, but if I am challenged directly, I will fight and fight hard."

His father moved over and nuzzled the side of his face as if he was still a fawn. "I understand my son, just listen to my words and think. One thing I always remember from my time with Stranger was his saying that stupid deer are dead deer. I did not raise so you some Man can eat you and put your head in a Man cave like Stranger taught us they do."

That got his attention. "I do not remember hearing about that before."

"That is because you were not old enough to understand. You are now," his father answered. "After we eat tonight, you and I will follow Stabo back his clearing and he will tell you the story Stranger told all of us. When you hear it, I hope you understand better."

"Yes, Father, as you wish."

"Good," the older deer said, "Now one more question. Have you seen Garris? He was not at the gathering tonight and Bambi is getting worried."

"No Father, the last time I saw him was early last winter. I have no idea where he went."

"That is a pity," his father muttered. "Come, let us eat. This deer is hungry."