"You protected this forest from the cat from the mountain. I do not know how to thank you except for staying with you."
Man entered the forest other than to hunt. One such hunter, The Great Hunter, has a history in the forest. When he goes missi...
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Bambi saw the same gold leaves of the meadow where his mother always stood atop the hill. He began to run toward the hill in excitement, wanting his mother's comfort after the events that happened today. He wanted to ask her so many things. Why would the man protect Faline? Why did the man have to die?
When he got to the top of the hill though, the sight of another with her made him stop in his tracks not knowing who they were. There was short black fur on her head that touched what he assumed was her neck, which was shorter than even his own. Her face and head were not like his own. It was lighter than his own but darker than the snow. He wanted to ask how she slept with her neck so short.
"So, this is your son."
A voice he would compare to spring. His mother's voice was different. It was warm like the sun and light.
"Mother, who is that?" Bambi ran to his mother hiding behind her.
To his surprise, she laughed lightly nuzzling her son. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Bambi looked at his mother in confusion. "She can understand me?"
The young woman kneeled beside his mother, "Here I can. My name is Darby. Your mother has told me a lot about you"
Bambi looked horrified, but soon an excited glint appeared in his eye. "Thank you for saving Faline."
Darby's eyes widened before she put a hand on Bambi's head petting lightly. "It was my pleasure. I couldn't let her die."
"Why did you do it?"
The young woman and his mother looked taken back.
"Do what?" The woman asked with a slight tilt of her head.
"Go against the cat. You must have known you would die." Bambi asked.
Darby was startled by how mature his answer was. A minute later, a smile curl over the corners of her lips. "I did. From the start, I knew I was going to die."
"Then why?"
"My father always taught me that all life is precious, but if one such life killed those that couldn't protect themselves, they were nothing more than the dirt we walk on," Darby explained. "To protect those innocent lives is why I joined the military."
Bambi was awed by her words. He knew why his father was affected by Darby so much now. Her sense of bravery and her appearance breathed of great power. She was a great deer in man's form. Bambi sensed dignity in her posture, something that his father spoke much about. He remembered when his father told him 'a prince must display dignity and walk with pride'.
"Bambi, you haven't introduced yourself yet." His mother kindly reminded making Bambi look away from Darby and to his mother.
"Oh," Bambi gasped making Darby smile lightly and his mother laugh. "I'm Bambi."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Bambi." Darby bowed slightly before giving him a happy smile.
Before long, Bambi began to talk about everything that has happened since Bambi has last seen his mother. He told stories of when he walked with Faline, things he had found on his walks with his father, and the numerous times one particular male fawn his age would try to pick a fight with him. Darby and his mother laughed many times through his stories.
When Bambi began to feel sleepy, he began to shake his head. He did not want to wake up from this dream. He wanted to learn more about Darby.
Darby could see his struggle to stay awake and smiled. She walked toward him and knelt down.
"You will see me again. I want to hear more stories."
Bambi smiled and allowed himself to wake up. The last thing he saw was his mother and the man who saved Faline.
