–Roga, how much further is it to where you live? –asked Lato. He hated when the road was too long and boring. Actually, Lato got bored really fast when nothing much happened around. And simply walking, without even playing (Roga refused to play tag, for he noticed how long he actually was off), was boring.
–Not very much. You see that big rock? –the grayish fawn pointed at a gray top of a bigger rock formation, seenable from between the full of leaves tree branches –I live there.
–With your parents only? –Lila wanted to know.
–Yes. We moved in not very long ago really, So we don't have much friends in the neighborhood.
–You have us! –Lato noticed. Roga smiled.
–Yeah. And you have me. –he replied. It was sure. The fawns have become friends for life.
Not even a minute later, when the company was reaching the rock, some loud cry was heard.
–Roga! –the owner of the cry appeared so sudden, as if she jumped out form the underground. It was a young, gray doe with wide open blue eyes, and panic painted on her face. She ran to Roga like crazy and looked at him from every side –Are you alright? Where have you been? –she asked him with fear in her voice
–I… –Roga wanted to explain himself, but the doe wouldn't give him time enough to answer.
–Oh heavens, when I woke up and called you and you didn't come, it was so horrible! I was so worried about you!
–I'm sorry, mother. I didn't mean to…
–Oh, forget it. You are fine, and that matters. My precious little fawn. –Roga's mother finally calmed down a little and nuzzled her son gently. It seemed like no help with excusing the green eyed fawn was necessary –Oh, thank you so much for bringing my son home. I'm very grateful to you. –the doe noticed the royal family.
–No problem, madam. It was pure pleasure. –claimed Bambi humbly.
–We need to congratulate you. You have a very smart son. –Faline added. Roga's mother was delighted to hear that.
–Well, thank you. My dearest Roga, I couldn't even wish for a better son. –she nuzzled Roga again –Oh, and you have twins! How cute! And they look so much like their parents! It's a buck and a doe, right?
–Right! I'm a buck, my name is Lato, and I'm gonna run to the top! –Lato announced and started running. He was unable to stay still any longer, and running up the big rock was a type of a challenge he loved to do. His however quickly learned, that the rock is not easy to run on. He had to jump long distances between stone blocks, too long for a fawn his age and he almost instantly most the hold of stones under his feet and eventually fell down, curling. Bambi and Faline sighed, smiling. Their adorable little son.
–Lato! You can't climb there! You're too small! –Lila tried to make her brother see, the task he choose for himself is too difficult. He wouldn't listen and jumped up to try again. This time he did a little better. Having climbed a distance of two meters up he felt he's about to make it (though there still was along way to go), but something disturbed him. At the top of the rock, he saw a buck. The buck looked angry and he was jumping down, right in his direction! Lato retreated, loosing balance and curling down. The buck landed certainly right next to him, and headed towards Roga. The fawn dropped his ears down.
–Ronno, look! Roga is back! –Roga's mother called to the buck, obviously her mate. He avoided her and came before his son.
–There you are, you little tramp! What have I told you about going out on your own?! Your mother almost fainted when she discovered you run off!
–Father, I'm sorry. –whispered frightened Roga.
–Sorry is not enough! –the buck insisted. Seeing his mate is rather scared of getting into this argument, Faline defended the fawn.
–Ronno, don't be so hard on him. It's just a child, and much more well behaving than you when you were his age.
–Don't bother, Faline! And you, if you ever do that again I'll… Faline? –Ronno rised his head to look at the doe in front of him. He was correct. It was Faline, his old crush, she herself. Just the same as he remembered her. And that buck with her? No doubts –Hi, Bambi. –Ronno mumbled.
–Hello, Ronno. So, we meet again. –Bambi said. He wasn't sure, what to think about this buck. Ronno used to pick on him a lot when they were children. He was a selfish brat, making fun of everybody. And, what's the worst, he wanted to steal his beloved Faline from him, although she has already chosen him. And from what he saw now, it seemed that his old rival is not necessarily the best type of father possible.
–Umh… Are they friends of yours, Ronno? –the gray doe asked her mate.
–Sort of. They're the royal couple. –he explained.
–Really? Oh geez, please forgive me! I didn't know! –she started apologizing.
–No, it's okay. We don't want any special treatment. –Faline assured.
–Right, there's no need to overdo it. –Ronno added –This is Rea, my mate, and Roga, our son. –he introduced his family to the Bambis.
–We're pleased to meet. And these are our fawns, Lila and Lato. –Bambi introduced his children. His old rival looked at them with sort of sorrow.
–I see… I had a feeling Faline would have twins. Two does, right?
–No, no, no! I'm a buck! And I'm gonna grow big and strong like dad! –Lato protested. Ronno nodded.
–Right. The Great Prince of the forest should have a son.
–But I'm too young to have a son! –Lato got scared.
–Lato, he meant dad, not you. –Lila told her brother.
–But I'm a prince of the forest too! –Lato still couldn't get it at all.
–But dad is the Great Prince, and you are just Prince.
–And why not Great Prince?
–Because you are too little.
–But I can climb the rock! –with that, Lato took another attempt to climb the rock. He was too excited to measure the distance properly and ended up falling on his back.
–You cannot. –Lila stated.
–But when I do, then can I be Great Prince? –asked Lato getting up.
–We'll se about that, my son. –Bambi said. He didn't want to make the choice about his heir yet. He wanted to enjoy seeing his children grow up. He didn't want to make one of them feel more important or more loved for being selected, and the other one less important and less loved for not being selected. It was so difficult. One day, he'll have to choose. But will he be able to? He loved the two fawns equally. Lato was a male. Lila was firstborn. Which of those was more essential? He had no idea. And didn't want to think about it right now –so, Ronno –he decided to change the topic –I haven't seen you in quite a while. What have you been doing?
–This and that… Mostly traveling. –seemed Ronno wasn't specially thrilled to talk about his life. Perhaps he had a kind of a grudge towards Bambi for loosing to him for Faline –You know, I needed to sorta get over with loosing to such a… hmh,,weakling". I went far away, training myself to ground along the way. One day, I reached an area, where other deer lived. I stayed there for quite a while, fighting various opponents. It was there where I met Rea. –the fact he didn't mention his rivalry with Bambi and their competition for Faline suggested, that he doesn't want his mate to know about it. The royal couple decided to respect his will.
–My father was impressed with Ronno –Rea continued the story –He said he would make a very good material for a mate for me. Ronno, do you remember? You were so shy…
–No, I wasn't. –he protested.
–Okay, at least not as much I was.
–To put it short, we became mates and had Roga. The end. –Ronno decided to avoid being embarrassed by any further details his mate may add to the story. The Bambis giggled.
–You rised your son well. He saved our children today.
–Yeah! He noticed the danger in the bushes! –Lato yelled.
–And told us to run and don't look back! –added Lila. Worried looks appeared on Ronno and Rea's faces.
–The danger?
–It was the Howler. –Roga said.
–Howler? –Lila asked.
–Yes, Howler. We call it so, because it howls to the moon. –he explained.
–Just great. As if humans weren't bad enough. –Ronno complained.
–How dangerous is this ,,Howler"? –Bambi wanted to know.
–About as much as the dogs that human use. But they hunt down various animals, most often the ones that are either too young or too old to escape, and eat them.
–It's horrible! –Lila was frightened.
–They're predators. Their job is to get rid of the weakest of us, so the strongest could survive and breed. It's just natural.
–But there have never been such predators in our forest. Only humans. –Faline protested.
–The lands where Rea used to live were full of Howlers. Maybe that Howler has left his pack and came here on his own to look for new areas, or a mate perhaps. Whatever brought him here, there is nothing we can do about it. Just make sure he doesn't catch us. –Ronno stated. This made Bambi aware. Yet another enemy he has to protect his kingdom from. Another danger. He knew how to avoid humans, but this Howler? He could attack from behind every bush. And Ronno said he attacks fawns for most of time… No. He won't get Lato nor Lila. Never.
–Did you hear what your father said, Roga? You must never run off like this without telling us first! The Howler could get you! And I don't know, what would I do if I loose you. –Rea warned her son. Roga understood.
–I won't do that again, mother.
–But we still can play together, right? –Lato wanted to make sure.
–I have no objections. I'm glad Roga has friends. Wouldn't you agree, Ronno?
–Ehmh. –Ronno didn't seem so sure about this, but didn't object.
–Great! Let's all run up that rock! –Lato ordered and yet again ran at the rock, this time with Roga by his side. Sighing in hopelessness, Lila joined them. Afterall, the goal wasn't so important. What mattered, was that they were trying to reach it together.
NOTE: Thank you for the supporting reviews. I'm glad to know there are people who like my story. I'll do my best for you. But I have one request: in your reviews, tell me what you like about the story and what you don't like. It would help me to improve it. One again, thank you.