“I don’t know. I expect I’ll die,” said Gobo simply.
The shouting started again and the sound of it came over to them. Between the shouts, new thunderclaps. Bambi was alarmed. There were rapid bangs and cracks from the undergrowth, rumblings sped across the snow, and in among the uproar young Karus came galloping over to them. “Run!” he called when he saw Bambi there. “Don’t just stand there, anyone who still can run, run!” He went past them in an instant and his headlong flight yanked Bambi along with him. Bambi was hardly aware whether he had started running again or not, and it was only a while later that he said, “Farewell, Gobo.” But by that time he was already too far away. Gobo could no longer hear him.
He ran through the woods, penetrated by the noise and the thunderclaps that seemed to be seeking him out, he ran around until it was evening. When darkness swept down it became quiet. There was soon a light wind blowing, helping to blow away that horrible storm that had been raging far and wide. But the terror remained. The first person Bambi saw whom he knew was Ronno. His limp was worse than ever. “Over there, where the oaks are,” Ronno said, “the fox is there, lying wounded. I’ve just come past him. It’s terrible, the way he’s suffering. He’s biting at the snow and in the earth.”
“Have you seen my mother?” Bambi asked.
“No,” answered Ronno shyly, and he quickly went away.
Later in the night Bambi came across Mrs. Nettla with Faline. All three were very glad to see each other.
“Have you seen my mother?” Bambi asked.
“No,” replied Faline. “I don’t even know where my mother is.”
“No,” said Mrs. Nettla cheerfully, “and that’s a fine mess for me. I was glad when I didn’t have to put up with children any more, and now suddenly I’ve got two of them I’ve got to look after. Thanks a lot!”
Bambi and Faline laughed.