Crisp, cold air greeted The Young Prince as he awoke from his slumber. Resting deep inside his den, which he and The Great Prince shared, he had managed to avoid the bitter chill of the Old North Wind and keep dry. Last night, when the moon rose to its highest point, a bank of dark clouds rolled overhead, blanketing the forest below with snow. The wood was covered in a sheet of crystally white powder. It glimmered in the morning light, catching Bambi’s bewildered golden eyes. Fresh, glittering morning skift, accompanied by the sun, meant the forest would steam and create a warm mist. He supposed the sun would eventually melt the snow, but it wouldn’t be until later that day.
It wasn’t often that this part of the thicket received snowfall, perhaps only a few times a year, so it was a special treat for Bambi to take a stroll through it. The two Princes, his father and himself, were responsible for keeping the forest and all of its inhabitants safe. His father had already awoken before the dawn, the depression of his soft leafy bed looking rather empty. Standing up on his long sleek legs, Bambi stepped out from underneath the giant fallen evergreen, readying himself for his early morning trek with a sleepy stretch.
He’d first stop for a drink at his favorite pool which resided at the base of a large weeping willow tree. It was usually a good idea to get a nice, long drink before visiting any other part of the wood. Through the long frost-laden grass he walked, ears always staying alert for any sound that may arise around him. His eyes sparkled at the majesty of the wintery wood, the sheer beauty of the seasons inspiring him. The long willow branches slouched from the snow that clung to them. Perhaps it was the dawn’s diamond light that cast a scattered surreal beauty upon the enviornment, the mist creating an ethereal presence.
Stepping into the small icy pool, the Prince dipped his head down and began to drink, taking large gulps from the water’s chilly surface. Fog laid across Bambi’s surroundings, shrouding nearly everything in his vicinity in a cool, gray haze. It wasn’t more than a few moments before Bambi’s ears flicked to the side, sensing a slight sound beyond the mist. Quickly craning his neck upwards, he observes the source of the sound intently. Narrowing his eyes, he peers through the fog, curiously and cautiously approaching the noise. Cloven hooves gently splash in the clear, shallow pool beneath them. He tried to ignore the tingling numbness in his extremities.
After the gray gave way, the clear air revealed a dusty colored wolf laying upon the pool’s bank. Blood turning to ice, Bambi froze, tail tucking between his legs. It seemed the wolf hadn’t noticed him yet. Truthfully, one lone wolf didn’t cause fear for The Young Prince, but it was the potential of more pack members that he really worried about. Oddly, the wolf didn’t even seem to be drinking, or looking for prey, it just sat there upon its belly like it was in pain. Curiosity piqued inside Bambi’s mind, but he didn’t trust his initial empathy, as all of his learned logic would suggest that running would be safest option. Backing up slowly, the young buck didn’t dare take his eyes off the canid. Accidentally stepping upon an ice-covered stone, his back foot slipped out from underneath him. Down he went into the frosty water, making a large splash that obviously echoed around the small glade. He sat there on his large brown rump, legs foolishly splayed before him. Freezing in place, the deer feared that the wolf would attack, and he could only stare in terror– awaiting any kind of movement that would signal the Prince to turn tail and flee.
The splash startled him from his troubled thoughts, jolting him to sit up straight with amber eyes wide. Prior to this, he had been simply lost in his own burdened head that he must have missed newfound scents & now apparently had company. In an unfamiliar territory, it was good reason to be on alert.
Fur is bristled as the wolfdog looks into the direction the splash sounded from, only to spot a BUCK sitting in the stream looking terrified at him. Oh ------ of course, wildlife out here probably mistook him as a t h r e a t . Quickly, Balto makes the decision to clear that up right away.
❝ Ah--- don’t be scared. I’m not gonna hurt you, ❞ he tries, hoping he sounded believable despite his hoarse voice & saddened tone. While he spoke the truth, it was natural for just about EVERYONE to recoil against the mere sight of him. Standing up on his four paws now, Balto makes the effort to take a few steps back away from the stream. Maybe, the deer would simply rather drink in peace ; feeling secure. A paw gestures at the water. ❝ See? I’ll just . . . be on my way. ❞
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