The other raised the fine corners of his mouth into a jeering grin. “He’s got no idea ... that’s obvious ... But that’s what you get when people do things they don’t understand.”
Bambi suddenly stopped, lifted his head up high, listened, and looked around at the undergrowth. There was a flash of red between the twigs, it was unclear, but he could make out the points of a crown. Bambi snorted. Whoever it was creeping about there, Ronno or Karus or anyone else – go at him! I’ll show him I’m not afraid of them any more, he thought! It was as if he had suddenly been taken over by his own exhilaration. I’ll show them that I’m the one they should be afraid of!
He ran into the bushes with such force that they rattled, the branches cracked and broke. Now, Bambi could see the other deer in front of him. He was not able to recognize him because everything was swimming in front of his eyes. He could think of nothing but that he should go at him! With his crown lowered deep he stormed forward, gathering all his strength into his neck, ready to strike. He could already smell his opponent’s hairy coat, could already see nothing in front of him but the red wall of his flank. Then the other made a very gentle movement. Bambi had expected him to stay still but he was robbed of this advantage when he rushed at him his antlers met nothing but thin air. He nearly fell over, but he staggered, pulled himself together, and swung back round to renew his attack.
The he saw who the elder was.
Bambi was so surprised he lost control of himself. He would have been ashamed to simply run from the spot, although that was what he most wanted to do. And he was ashamed to stay. He did not move.
“What’s this then?” the elder asked quietly. His deep voice, at the same time so relaxed and so imperious, drove itself, as it always did, straight through the centre of Bambi’s heart. He remained silent.
The elder asked again, “What’s all this?”
“I ... I thought,” stammered Bambi. “I th ... thought it was Ronno or ...” He became silent and dared to look shyly at the elder, and as he looked he became even more bewildered.
The aged one stood there, motionless and powerful. His head had, by now, turned perfectly white, and his dark, proud eyes shone from their depths.
“Why not against me ...?” the aged one asked.