"Okay looks like I got everything," Nathan assured himself with a smile. He was eight years old and had short, spiky, brown hair and eyes. He was an active boy because he almost every day he went outside and explored the woods behind his house, regardless of the weather.

"Notebook, lunchbox, music player. I think that's it." He delightfully chirped to himself carefully putting the items into a dark blue backpack. He slung the back over his shoulders and exited his room.

"Nate, honey?" Nathan heard his mother's voice on the bottom floor of the house. He casually made his way downstairs to his mother. "If you're going to be gone a long time could you lock the door? I'm going to be heading out for a while," Nathan rolled his eyes, he knew what for but decided to ask anyway "To see him again?" he said with disgust. His mom got to his height "Honey, I know you miss your father but you need to move on, like I did." A year ago Nathan's real father was killed in nature. He was attacked by a deer though he wasn't a hunter. He was actually the reason Nathan enjoyed nature. Since his death Nathan made sure he went outside everyday.

Nathan despised his mother's new boyfriend. Not only because he replaced his old father in his mother's heart but because he was a hunter. Though he treated her and Nathan nicely Nathan still hated him. He once went over to his house and was mortified. The heads of murdered animals littered his wall. Bear, wolves and deer were only a few.

"Love you." she changed the subject with a kiss to the cheek. Nathan nodded as she headed out the front door. Nathan following shortly after.

Nathan made his way to his backyard through the snow. Winter had just started and it was a positive sign to him that snow was on the ground already. He trudged his way into the entrance of the woods.

'Now where can I sit down?' Nathan thought to himself. He didn't want to sit in the snow and get his pants wet. He also wanted eat.

Then suddenly he crossed paths a deer. It was brown with a few white spots. It looked back at Nathan with big, brown eyes.

Both Nathan and the deer froze in place. From what he gathered, it was about one year old, maybe older. Nathan was afraid it would attack so he and the deer remained frozen for minutes. 'Maybe if I slowly back away it'll leave.' Nathan backed away slowly. He noticed that the deer was eyeing Nathan curiously. Nathan sighed as the fawn finally ran off. 'Back to business,' he thought to himself.

After some time Nathan found a rock that wasn't completely covered in snow. Brushing off some, he sat down and ate his lunch. 'I wonder whatever happened to that deer I ran into?' he thought while chewing some food.

Some time after lunch he pulled out his notebook. It was a blue spiral notebook with no decorations on it. Inside was a picture of his father feeding a doe. Ironically the picture was photographed the day his dad was killed.

Suddenly Nathan heard some rustling ahead of him.

Nathan cautiously looked up and saw a animal's head poking out of a bush. "That's the deer that I ran into earlier." he whispered. The fawn emerged from the bush, revealing it's whole body. Nathan quickly sketched the deer. Contempt with his work, he looked up again and noticed that the deer was closer than last time. He was getting uncomfortable with the distance between them now.

In seconds the deer was inches away from him. Suddenly he heard the fawn'sstomach rumble. "You're hungry aren't you?" reaching into his lunchbox, he found a single cracker left over from his lunch. He put his hand out and offered the cracker to the fawn. The fawn slowly sniffed it and bit off half of it. Nathan smiled, remembering the picture.

Then a large deer appeared. It had thick brown fur, long antlers and an angry look on it's face. 'Uh-oh' Nathan assumed that deer was the fawn's father.

A Few Hours Earlier

The fawn awoke with a quick sneeze. He slowly looked around his surroundings with his brown eyes. It was light brown with a few white spots littered around his body. It's ears were tipped with black.

'Uh-oh, where is he?' the fawn thought to himself. He scurried outside into the cold winter. Looking around cautiously for his father.

CRASH

The fawn had run into father and fallen down. He was a darker brown with no spots at all. It's ears were also tipped with black. His antlers were large. He was looking back at the fawn with a suspicious look.

"Oh, good morning," the fawn said innocently getting up from the crash. The father didn't seem phased "Bambi, a prince awakens before the forest. If you're late again I'll have no choice but to-"

A noise interrupted him.

"What was that?" he asked. Bambi crossed his legs "What was what?" he asked as the sound was heard again "Hehe, I guess it was my stomach." The father lightened up on his son "Then you should eat,"

Bambi gave him a questioning look. He realized he'd have to find some. Using his hoof, he moved some snow to reveal a plant growing underneath. He moved out of the way so Bambi could eat. Bambi trotted forward to it but hesitated on eating it "No thank you," he said.

"Have you ever tried it?" his father rebutted.

"Well, no." he said sheepishly.

"Then how do you know you don't like it if you never tried it?"

Bambi reluctantly tried it. He didn't like it but didn't want to show his father. He nodded in false approval.

"Come along, we have to check on the other deer in the south woods." Bambi's face gleamed as he began jumping around excited.

The father tried to get him to calm down "Bambi, a prince does not "woo-hoo" Bambi looked down "He doesn't?"

"He most certainly does not," the father changed his position "A prince maintains control at all times, display dignity, walk with pride." with that he began to walk away. Bambi attempted to mimic his father and was doing fine until they went down hill.

"Woah!" Bambi called out as he slid past his father in the snow. He had no time to react before he slid into a snow pile "I'm okay," he heard Bambi call out.

The two journeyed through the woods until they finally reached a rock overlooking a valley. The two could see other deer. Some were fighting and others were playing.

"Don't you think we should get closer?" Bambi offered. "The distance makes it easier to spot danger." he responded. "But it sure makes it harder to play with them." Bambi thought aloud. His father eyed him suspiciously. Bambi looked at his father "Play is a healthy part of a young deer's development," His father smiled "Is that so?" Bambi nodded "One time my mother and I.."

His father wasn't listening anymore. The instant Bambi mentioned his mother he tried to stop him "Bambi, I think it's best you leave the past in the past. A prince does not look back, only ahead." After a pause his father continued "Come we still have a lot more ground to cover." with that the two were off.

The two were walking for a long time until Bambi lost track of his father. "Dad?" he called out multiple times. At one point the jumped over a bush in an attempt to find his father.

Then suddenly, he spotted a human. He had brown eyes and hair. His hair was short and spiked. He had a frightened look on his face. Bambi froze, horrified, he remembered what they did to his mother. He was terrified to see what he would do to him.

Instead though he began to back away from him 'What is it doing?' he thought watching it back up. He finally took the opportunity and ran away from the human.

Bambi was breathing quickly "That was close." he told himself. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice "Bambi?" he looked down and saw a gray rabbit, his friend Thumper, hiding in a bush.

"Is something wrong Bambi?" he asked. Bambi shook his with a smile "No, nothing's wrong," Bambi tried to change the subject "Why were you hiding?" He looked cautiously around "My mom wanted me to take my sisters to see the groundhog." Bambi cocked his head "What's so bad about that?" he asked. Thumper sighed "Hello? Sisters, they don't leave me alone." Bambi chuckled "Hey why don't we see the groundhog, maybe they're there already. Thumper agreed and the two went off to the groundhog.

Bambi and Thumper were making their way to the groundhog when they were distracted by snoring. They were looking around for the source when they spotted a flower moving up and down by itself in a log. The two approached the log and saw a skunk snoring, causing the flower to move up and down. It was their friend, Flower.

"Wake up Flower. We're going to go see the groundhog," Thumper called out tapping his foot on the log. As Flower stopped snoring the flower fell over his face. He moved the flower out of his face, revealing one blue eye "Gosh, I hope the groundhog sees his shadow. That way I can go back to hibernating." he said.

"Attention everyone attention. Everybody gather around. Will be starting in just a few moments," the three heard Friend Owl, a friend of Bambi's father, was calling to anybody listening. "C'mon," Thumper yelled to Flower. Bambi and Flower followed him.

The three came to hole close to a tree. It was surrounded by numerous animals that all came to see the groundhog. Among the many animals were Thumper's sisters, who tackled their brother on sight. Bambi and Flower laughed.

"Each year we watch the groundhog emerge from his winter slumber…" He began "…For if he sees his shadow, it means winter will continue, and if he doesn't spring is on it's way. And now without further delay, the groundhog," he proclaimed gesturing to the hole.

However, nothing came out.

"…The groundhog!" he tried again. This time a head cautiously emerged from the hole before popping back down. The animals sighed in disappointment.

Friend Owl flew over to the hole "Now what seems to be the problem?" he spoke into the hole.

"I'm afraid to go out. I'll see my shadow," a voice quickly responded.

"Well isn't that the point?"

"I don't care."

"Must we go through this every year?" Friend Owl said sticking his head into the hole. However he couldn't get his head out. The others began to snicker.

"Hello Bambi." a feminine voice came from behind Bambi. He turned around and saw Faline, a friend of his. She was a light brown deer with light blue eyes. Her presence caused Bambi to back and fall over "H…Hello Faline." she giggled at his response.

The attention returned to Friend Owl as they saw him struggling out of the hole. He finally pulled himself out "The groundhog!" he announced.

The groundhog emerged from the hole with his eyes covered "No shadow. No shadow." he repeated to himself. Though everybody else could see his shadow, a cloud past by and blocked out the sun. The groundhog uncovered his eyes. He looked astonished. "No shadow…no shadow!" he jumped around excitedly "Spring is here! Spring is here!" the other animals joined in his dance.

"Oh I'll never be frightened again," he said with confidence. Suddenly a dark brown deer with green eyes and small antlers jumped in front of the groundhog.

"Boo,"

In a panic the groundhog scurried back into his hole. The deer began laughing hysterically. "It looks like I scared the shadow right of him. Hey did you see-" he stopped when he realized everybody had left. He caught up to Bambi, Thumper, Flower and Faline.

"Hey where is everybody going? Is the forest on fire?" he attempted to make a joke but nobody laughed. "Who are you?" Faline asked the deer. "The name's Ronno and these are my boys…" he gestured to his small antlers "…Stab and Jab." he smiled while attacking a tree. Suddenly pile of snow landed on top of him "Well you three enjoy yourselves," Faline said. Ronno popped his head out of the snow "I wouldn't go that way if I were you. That's where I saw man."

The others turned around frightened "You saw man." Ronno nodded "Yep, there I was, on my way to the groundhog when I saw him walking with a strange thing on his back." Bambi backed away 'Is that the same man I saw?' he thought. Ronno saw him backing away "Hey, what's the matter, you're not afraid are you?" Bambi hesitated but assured himself "No," Ronno grinned "Then prove it," Bambi gulped, regretting what he had said "Follow me," Ronno walked ahead of him.

Bambi, Ronno, Faline, Thumper and Flower walked until Ronno stopped them with a shush. He looked above a bush "Look," the others peered out and saw the man. He had short brown hair and brown eyes. He was sitting on a rock eating some food. Bambi recognized him as the same person.

"Walk up to him." Ronno said devilishly. Bambi had a frightened look on his face. He didn't do anything last time but that could change. Faline walked up to him "Bambi you don't have to do this," Ronno smiled "Yeah Bambi, you don't have to do this, so just run back to your daddy,"

This caused Bambi to brashly run out into the clearing "Bambi no!" Faline called. Ronno looked surprised "Hmph, didn't think he would do it."

The instant Bambi ran out he was overcome by fear and ran back into the bush. Making a noise, he poked his out of the bush and saw he had drawn the attention of the man.

"Well what are you waiting for?" Ronno pestered. Bambi hesitantly emerged from the bush. The man buried his head into something while quickly moving around a stick. Bambi remained frozen in his place. It was only until Ronno pestered him again he began to walk closer. The man lifted his head up while smiling before noticing Bambi getting closer.

"How did I get myself into this?" Bambi asked himself while getting a few inches away from the man. The two paused for a moment. Bambi sighed, he was relived he wasn't doing anything.

Suddenly his stomach growled. He had forgotten he hadn't eaten yet today. "You're hungry aren't you?" he heard the man ask. He reached inside a metal box and pulled out a strange looking rectangle.

Bambi sniffed it suspiciously 'It doesn't smell bad.' he thought to himself. He finally risked it and took a bite. It was bland but he found it enjoyable. He saw the man smile.

"Bambi?"

Bambi turned to his name being called. The voice caused him to shake. Jumping from a bush came his father. He had an angry look on his face. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Dad?" Bambi was surprised. However his father ignored him and attacked the kid. The man scrambled off the rock and his things fell over the place. Bambi froze up.

"How dare you attack my son!" his father said in anger. He looked over and caught sight of the picture "Oh no," he got off of the man "Bambi, run!" Bambi followed his father ordered and ran behind his father. The two passed right by Faline, Ronno, Thumper and Flower. "What happened?" Thumper attempted to ask Bambi as he ran by. "What do you suppose that was all about?" Faline asked. Flower looked through the bushes "He doesn't look bad," Thumper and Faline looked through as well.

The man was collecting his things and putting them in some larger thing. He then looked over at the bush, causing the others to panic and duck their heads back into the bush.

Bambi and his father stopped running when they reached home. The two were catching there breath when his father scolded him "What were you thinking?"

"It was Ronno, he dared me to-"

"And you listened to him?"

"Yes but-"

"He could've hurt you!"

"The man didn't do anything, he gave me food,"

"Bambi!'

This caused Bambi to cower. His father was breathing heavy. After a minute his breathing returned to normal "Bambi, get inside the den," he said calmly.

"But-"

"Now!"

Bambi was on the verge of tears now. He hastily ran inside, leaving his father alone in the cold. Friend Owl flew onto a nearby branch "What's going on. I heard yelling and-" he heard Bambi crying "What happened?" the Great Prince sighed "Remember all those years ago when that group of humans came in here,"

Friend Owl tapped his chin "Yes I remember now, they were feeding some of the animals, including-"

"That's not important." he interrupted Friend Owl. He took a deep breath "Have you heard about the human that came into the woods?" Friend Owl "Yes I have. He had apparently fed Bambi, from what I heard," the Great Prince looked at him in disbelief "Why do you ask?"

"He had a picture of Bambi's mother and…" he trailed off. Friend Owl was curious "And…?" the great prince sighed "The man I killed." Friend Owl gasped "You mean that was his son?" the great prince nodded "I almost made the same mistake twice." they heard a wolf howl into the night. Friend Owl prepared for flight "Well I should be on my way. Good night Great Prince." with that he was off. The Great Prince returned to his den and fell asleep. Bambi opened one eye, having heard everything.