It didn't take long for the duo to leave the waterfall and get to the old doe's den. By now Bruno knew the way back by heart, spotting his caretaker drinking at a pond not too far from there.

... Maybe it was just him imagining it, but Old Nettla did seem somewhat more frail than the Young Prince thought. Then again the season was merciless to all. Pushing these thoughts aside he and Corin excitedly made their way towards her.

"Aunt! Aunt Nettla, I-" As soon as he spoke up, she chimed in with little surprise in her voice.

"Wandered off on your own again, hm?" Oh... She knew, didn't she. But then she smiled as she raised her head up. "Well. I can't say I wasn't expecting this. You're old enough to make your own decisions, after all."

Bruno was taken aback by these words, while Corin was just idly standing by with a pleased expression on his face.

Nettla had already guessed Bruno wouldn't come with her right away as soon as the little spring event was over, and she didn't need to ask herself why. Having not seen any of his friends for the majority of the season and having experienced that encounter with the wolf pack mid-winter, it was only fair the young buck would need the company of a friendly face for a change.

"U-um... Aunt, I wanted to ask something!" Trying to regain composure he asked Nettla. Her scarred ears turned forward, wordlessly telling him to go on.

"What does it take to become a Great Prince?"

Nettla's eyes widened ever so slightly, though her expression remained unchanged, and that's what made Bruno and Corin hold their breaths. After a few seconds of silence between all three, she finally answered.

"Understand, Bruno, that it takes far more than just age and large antlers. It requires experience, wisdom, and understanding the Forest as a whole." She explained as she motioned to her surroundings with her head.

"Knowledge about fighting for leadership and the dangers of Man, that's just the beginning. Otherwise any self-indulgent stag could fill the role. After all, a Prince looks after his herd. A Great Prince looks after the Forest as a whole."

The duo looked at Nettla, awestruck and speechless. Corin then spoke up:

"You really know everything!"

"Oh, if only..." She chuckled weakly before addressing the Young Prince. "Perhaps you'd be interested in knowing more, Bruno?"

He instantly nodded, brown eyes shining with wonder and the urge to learn more. With her question answered, Nettla said:

"Well then. Let us start by tomorrow morning."

"What? Why tomorrow?" He asked, confused and justifiably so. She was so eager just now, why delay?

"Come now, can't an old doe have some rest now and then? It's been exhausting, what with this horrible weather!" She huffed, speaking in that same gruffy tone she used to anyone who she deemed as bothersome, although this time it was just to make a point. And truly a point was made.

"Ah, okay... " Bruno's ears drooped a little while Corin just patted one of his hooves with his paw.

"You can still explore on your own, of course. I will not stop you, not now that you're growing up." His ears immediately went up as he processed what she just said. "Just make sure you're back before nightfall."

"... Thank you, Aunt!" With a big smile, the duo quickly went off on whatever adventure they'd have for the day as the doe watched them disappear past the trees. Gone were the days she'd have to wander around looking for the fawn when he was out of her sight.

... Not that she could keep running around after him all the time anymore, anyway.

He was growing up, she was growing old.

The more the Prince learned, the more he understood the world around him and the ways of Nature... The less he needed to wait in place for a change.

How long until he no longer needed her in his life?


—Months ago, end of Autumn...

"Winter's coming soon. We should prepare ourselves, Bran."

"Yeah... I'm gonna miss this though."

Corin heard the siblings speak from the other side of the creek with the fallen log, while Bruno and Eike were playing with fallen leaves somewhere behind him. Aydan... She stood a distance away from the group, her once lively gaze now becoming empty.

With the last days of autumn coming, he'd taken notice of how Aydan had gradually distanced herself from her friends, enough that none actually brought it up. On top of that, she hasn't been nearly as agitated as before, lagging behind the group more often than not.

Not paying attention to the others, the squirrel made his way towards the other fawn, startling her in the process.

"Ah, Corin! I didn't... I didn't see you there." She tried to manage a smile but it wasn't quite working. Her legs seemed to be trembling, but it wasn't cold that day.

"Aydan, are you okay? Can you tell me what's wrong?" He asked sincerely.

Her ears drooped as her eyes welled up, she motioned him to come with her behind a tree, where the others wouldn't hear them. Then she dropped to the ground and curled up, trembling all over.

"... I'm scared." Anguish filled Aydan's small voice as Corin hopped closer to her, patting her fur as tears left her dull pink eyes. "Mommy said we gotta leave soon because of winter, but I don't wanna go! I might never see you or the others ever again…!"

The squirrel didn't know what to do or say. What could he do or say? If he said everyone would be friends forever no matter what, he'd be lying.

Because nothing could last forever.

"Hey, are you two okay back there?"

Bruno's voice caught their attention, and soon enough the "fellowship" gathered near the two.

They had to let them be in the know too…

"... Oh. I'm sorry, Aydan... Is there nothing we can do?" Bruno asked in a sad voice. Eike had no idea what to tell Bruno, and Eurig just looked at him as if to say "We just have to accept it. It's Nature."

"... I just don't want this to end…" The white fawn mumbled under her breath.

"It doesn't have to!" Bran suddenly chimed in, shocking the others - especially Eurig. "I mean, who knows what the future holds? We'll still be friends when we find each other, right?"

He spoke in such an optimistic manner, it actually managed to lift Aydan's mood!

"You really think so?" She asked.

"Of course! Besides, I still wanna see Bruno get antlers!" Bran smirked at Bruno who held back a laugh. "What? Gotta have a little rivalry, no? We'll see who goes down first!"

"I'd wanna watch! I'm votin' for Bruno." Eike lifted a paw with a big grin while Corin just sighed at the situation.

"Well, Bran is bigger than him, so Bran has bigger chances." The squirrel said.

"Hey! I'm catching up, okay? And it's just some sparring, not a duel." Bruno defended himself, puffing his chest as if he'd get anywhere near Bran's current height. Aydan kept giggling while the group went back and forth on who'd be victorious in a hypothetical fight.

Only Eurig remained quiet throughout, watching as the rest of their "fellowship" had their fun. They hadn't noticed how she withdrew herself away from the conversation, or how little she actually spoke. Either that or they were trying to ignore the harsh reality as long as they could, a reality Eurig had already accepted.

Their days as friends were counted.


The memory still stung to both the Young Prince and the squirrel, no matter how much they'd recall the last fun moments they had. It wasn't long until Aydan indeed left, followed by Bran and Eurig. Who knows if they'd ever meet again…

By that point during the day, both had walked quite the ways around the woods but not too far from the places they knew. Corin decided to follow Bruno through branch-hopping as the latter explored their surroundings. Following the creek to find the old fallen log, making their way towards the place where berries once grew, briefly passing by the Groundhog's place again.

Bruno found himself almost hopping along with Corin, from avoiding small puddles to a few fallen branches and rocks. Upon reaching a small fallen tree blocking his way, he halted while Corin watched on curiously.

He took a deep breath.

He then slowly walked backwards, tail up and ears down and front legs slightly bent… until he stopped and ran forward with all his might to pick up speed, and jumped!

As he landed on his feet -nearly losing balance before steadying himself up again- he was on the other side of the obstacle. Corin excitedly made his way down the branch he'd been sitting on.

"Wow! You really did it!" He beamed as the Young Prince walked up to him, the latter still catching his breath for a bit.

"Y-yeah... Yeah! I, I did it!" Bruno looked back at the tree. "I... I never made a jump like that before."

"Which means you've learned plenty! Oh, how about after tomorrow, you start practicing jumps?" Bruno's ears went up; well, why not? It was a start.

The chirping of songbirds echoed from above and they looked up. The afternoon would end soon enough, the sunlit clouds tinged a bright orange against the deep blue sky, black silhouettes of the birds flying above and in between trees.

"I gotta go now. See ya real soon, Bruno!" Corin walked away, making his way back up the tree and branch-hopping again to find his home.

"Bye, Corin! Say hi to Eike for me!" Bruno shouted, which Corin nodded to before he disappeared into the woods. Now it was time for the Young Prince himself to get back home.

But on his way back, as he walked through the usual paths Old Nettla always took to reach their den, he spotted something... Familiar.

From a distance it was an unremarkable patch of bushes and twigs covered in snow. And yet something urged Bruno to check it, as if it was beckoning him to find out what was so special about it. Upon closer inspection, the bushes covered a path. Without a second thought, Bruno crossed the barrier.

... It was the clearing he found many months ago, like forever had passed and yet it mostly remained unchanged.

This time there were no golden butterflies to greet him, but the sky at sunset reflected against the last remnants of snow made it beautiful all the same. Even the little creek below the small cliff, while half-melted by now, was still there. He stepped a little closer to the edge, the reflection of the water showing how much he's changed.

His little antlers, coming out very soon. His fur now rid of spots and overall darker, and the way he stood — not as a little fawn, but as a growing Prince.

Wasn't that something worth being proud of?

Somehow, it also brought him peace of mind. A calming sensation he hasn't felt in quite a while. Maybe he could turn this place into his secret hideout, a secret haven just for him... And there would be nobody who'd take this new comfort away from him!

... He wished he could stay. But alas, he needed to get back home. Get back to Nettla.

With one final glance, he turned back the way he went and went the route towards their den, quietly promising to return to that little haven as soon as he could.

...

The more the Prince learned, the more he understood the world around him and the ways of Nature... The less he needed to wait in place for a change.

And he couldn't be happier with that fact.

ends.