… and a happy new year!
Chapter XII: Faline did not fall in love
Scene 54
When they two plunging into the thicket of a road covered with shadows and gloom, Faline and Bambi walked not sure if it was day or night, they still persisted advancing confused hiding among them questions about why they were there. Finally, at close range they could see a pair of young does and one of them was the one who Bambi was looking for.
Rolla? - Bambi asked tremulously.
Bambi! - Rolla cried once seeing him as unexpected.
What a surprise! - the other doe said with indifference, she turned out to be Marena.
Wow - Faline said slowly - what are you doing here?
Rolla have helped me to get a good mate - Marena said happily - a while since we met, and well, I already have someone for whom see.
Well, one issue at a time - Faline interrupted proudly - Bambi came here to find someone.
So Faline - Bambi nodded nervously - Rolla, could you come with me a moment? I need to ask you something.
All right. - Rolla replied intrigued.
Faline and Marena tried to shadow Rolla and Bambi, but seeing it they ceased seeking in order to leave them talk alone.
I do not know how to ask you this - Bambi asked quietly causing a confused impression - are you the Netla's youngest daughter?
What kind of question is that? - Rolla replied with curiosity and anger.
Please answer me and I'll tell you what you need to know - Bambi said seriously.
I agree - Rolla sighed accessing to the treatment of Bambi - yes, I am the youngest daughter of Netla, so what?
Oh for my antlers! - Bambi said with the eyes widely open and in a kind of shock about that - Oh!
What is happening to you? - Rolla said worried.
Do you know who is your father? - Bambi mentioned still disturbed.
No, why? - Rolla said impatiently.
Because I think I already know him - Bambi exclaimed alarmed but happy and pausing for suspense - you are my half sister!
Have you gone mad? - Rolla commented beside himself - now it all makes sense to me.
No, seriously, Faline can explain it if you do not believe me. - Bambi said quickly.
Rolla was silent and trotted looking for Faline, Bambi was walking behind her slowly, that would be the beginning of a new stage in his family life stage.
Scene 55
The whole thing was explained shortly, but it was still hard to grasp both to Rolla and to Bambi; Bambi reacted at that moment about what Marena had said to be doing with Rolla, he had to do something.
Did you say you wanted a mate? - Bambi asked curiously.
Not quite, but, yeah, I guess it's time, do not you think? - Rolla said immutably.
And, what are you looking in that stag? - Bambi said with some annoyance.
I know what you pretend - Rolla mentioned angry - but I will not return with Ronno, he was already in the past, and you're barely minutes ago my half brother to give me such orders!
I'm not ordering you - Bambi said patiently - but I suggest you to do, he's good, brave and friendly, only you have had your differences.
If he's so good, why he is not with Faline? - Rolla replied sarcastically and then logic - oh, I know, because he was dating you.
I'm serious - Bambi said indulgently - what kind of date you expect to get with those other deer? Certainly they cannot be better than Ronno.
Maybe - Rolla replied - but at least they did not abandon me, so, why not? Fight over, case closed.
Scene 56
Ending of talk about in this peculiar way, they started using some old familiar roads, the dust particles swirling the air above the back of Bambi made Faline remember many stories that releasing the oppression of her memories.
Oh - Faline said smiling - did you remember when we first met?
That was so long ago - Bambi replied confused - I even had no antlers.
No, Bambi - Faline said calmly - I mean when we met Rolla.
I remember - Rolla said without interest - do not you were in trouble?
Yes, but that is not so important - Faline said slowly - what pleases me is that despite all the problems we come together as good friends.
But if we're still friends - Bambi replied indulgently - well, you and I are more than you know.
It was so obvious! - Rolla intervened happily - how I did not know you were a couple? At least I'll be sure Ronno will not my brother in law, just kidding!
Well, - Faline said annoying - I know it sounds like a joke but that's an insult to Bambi and to Ronno and to me, and I remember some things that have pleased me so much.
Like what? - Rolla asked mockingly.
Like the fact that made you meet Faline in first place - Bambi replied modestly - if it were not for the way Ronno intervened, such an event like that would not have developed.
I get it - Rolla said annoyed - by the way, where do you live now?
Why? - Bambi mention surprised - Do you need a place to stay?
It's not that - Rolla said - just curious where have been living my brother, the prince, all this time.
If you want to I'll show you - Bambi replied politely - but maybe it's not what you might expect.
The three went in their way on the red and brown leafy paths, typical of that season, when that autumn is in full swing by moving the branches of the ashes and oaks, slowly moving smaller herbs.
Do you see that bush? - Bambi asked to Faline and Rolla - yes, right next to that old tree sheltered by the shade of its leaves.
Hmmm - Faline exclaimed with curiosity - so long you have lived there with Mena and I had never seen her! Where is she?
I do not know - Bambi responded nervous - rarely if I see her a day, I think she has her own needs and also I have mine.
You've matured too much - Faline said smiling - What happened to that little cute fawn I once knew?
He keeps inside me - Bambi replied happily - I wake him occasionally to keep admiring everything the wonderful around us.
With that said, they stood looking at the three together, remembering that stage had passed, so full of innocence and curiosity contrasting both with the intermediate stage between adolescence and adulthood in which they were.
Scene 57
With an orange sun that announces morning, Bambi awoke feeling refreshed, happy and full of life, willing to look for Faline and Rolla, he stretched his legs before entering in the trails to walk more comfortable and relaxed.
What's up? - he asked himself as he went - what is this feeling so full of happiness and nostalgia? Will it be the maturity?
Hello! - Faline exclaimed to Bambi, while he appeared to be rambling in thought.
Hello, how are you? - Bambi asked clouding his ideas.
Not complaining, so - Faline paused - where do we go now?
I do not know - Bambi said improvising a plan - we can find a serene place among the thickets, so sunlight will not stop us from enjoying the fresh air currents whispering stories.
That sounds simple - Faline said - but it's romantic.
Is that a yes? - Bambi said tremulously.
That's right - Faline replied calmly - but we will go just once.
Thus they entered into the deep woods, far from visible trails and even further from the shining light that abounds in meadows and clearings.
Scene 58
The day was barely getting dark when Faline suddenly ran from where she was, Bambi followed her close and distressed.
What Faline? - Bambi asked uneasily.
I have remembered something - she said hectic - but never mind, quiet.
Seriously - Bambi was determined to get a credible answer - trust me, what happened?
A few days ago I had a dream - Faline told him hasty - in this dream I thought seeing Gobo again, he was happy and frolicking with Marena, but then I realized that he was not Gobo, but someone else.
I do not know what that means - Bambi said stunned - but maybe it is a message from Gobo that wants you and Marena to be happy even without him.
It can be - Faline looked away and saw a known silhouette in the distance - what a coincidence! Look who's coming.
Marena and a young stag came walking by the clear until they decided to use a path that led them where Bambi and Faline.
Hey, do you remember us? - Faline said excitedly.
Oh, hello - Marena said disoriented, as if she wanted to avoid Faline.
Approach - Bambi said seriously.
Ok - Marena hesitated as she and her companion were closer.
Well? - Faline questioned - what were you doing?
We were just walking - Marena said while the other deer stayed without saying a word.
Who are you? - Bambi asked to the buck, but he remained silent as trembling with fear.
He is Treus - Marena said - he is very quiet because the he had never seen the Prince in person.
Do not worry - Bambi told to Treus - I'm just a deer more, you can speak with confidence.
Really sir? - Treus mentioned trembling.
Do not tell me sir - Bambi said laughing - I'm your age, not older.
Okay - Treus said calmer than before - it's a pleasure to meet you, uh, what's your name?
My name is Bambi - he answered quietly - and the pleasure is mine.
Thanks - Treus mentioned hopefully that the name of the Prince would have been more impressive.
Well - Marena interrupted quickly - we have to go.
So Marena and Treus went in the direction they have taken originally.
Your dream is clearer now - Bambi replied for Faline as they rubbed a few caresses on their faces.
Scene 59
That event sparked curiosity in Faline by her old friend Marena, which made the look more often to answer questions and talk. However, Bambi was not very pleased with it, because it was the first time in which he has time to spend with Faline and now she had no time to spend with him.
Why are we going back with her? - Bambi asked Faline.
Because she is my friend - Faline said annoying - and you know well that friends should spend time together.
Of course I do - Bambi said - she's my friend too, I just seem that always the time we're together is less.
But we let's go together! - Faline said confused.
No, no, no, no, no - Bambi said shaking his head - I mean you and me together, no one else.
But why so much time together like that? - Faline asked politely - I love being with you, but we need space for a few activities where we are with other acquaintances.
I understand, so we continue - Bambi said sighing without finding any convincing comment.
Arriving with Marena, Bambi started thinking about all the redundant talks that Faline and Marena had have, these talks for him were just pure gossip and useless comments, so, when he saw Treus, he thought that being with him would not be the worst, "the least of two evils" Bambi thought.
Good morning Marena - Faline said amicably - you do not know what happened to me.
Hello - Marena said smiling - surely this is what you told me yesterday.
Thus the two does continued their conversation; meanwhile, yawning from boredom Bambi was watching that also Treus was equally uneasy.
Pardon the interruption - Bambi said abruptly to Faline and Marena - but do you care that Treus can accompany me as you chat together?
Absolutely not - Marena responded passively.
Well - Treus said tremulously - I guess I'll go with him.
Bambi then walked to another area of the forest as thick, Treus followed him slowly and uncertainly.
How can you stand this? - Bambi asked curiously.
Stand what? - Treus said sheepishly.
Yes - Bambi explained - how can you spend so much time listening to the conversations of Marena and Faline? I just get bored!
Maybe I've always been very quiet. - Treus answered with a methodical tone.
I think you're not entirely quiet - Bambi exclaimed happily - you have to have fun once in a while.