They said nothing. They merely, once more, looked at each other.
Shortly afterwards they came to a small chamber in the foliage. “Here!” called Faline as she slipped into it. Gobo followed her and then stopped. It was the chamber where they both had been born, where they had lived as little children with their mother. Gobo and Faline looked close into each other’s eyes. They said not a word. Faline kissed her brother gently on his lips. Then they hurried on.
They probably spent another hour going up and down. The sun shone more and more brightly through the twigs, the forest became more and more quiet. It was time to lie down and rest. Gobo, though, did not feel tired. He hurried forward, breathed heavily because of his impatient excitement and looked around without any plan. He flinched when a weasel rushed out from the long grass and passed under him. He nearly stepped on the pheasants who were pressed close down to the ground, and when they flew up in front of him with loud flapping of wing and told him off he was very alarmed. Bambi was amazed at how unfamiliar he seemed with everything and how he proceeded as if blind.
Gobo stopped and turned to the two of them. “We can’t find her!” he exclaimed in bewilderment. Faline soothed him. “We will do soon,” she said with emotion. “Not long now, Gobo.” She looked at him. He was once again wearing that disheartened expression that she knew so well.
“Should we call for her?” she said with a grin. “Should we start calling again ... like we used to, when we were still children?”
Bambi continued walking. Just a few steps. And then he caught a glimpse of Auntie Ena. She had already lain down to rest and lay without moving in the shadow of a hazel bush, very near.
“At last!” he said to himself. At that moment Gobo and Faline arrived. All three of them stood beside each other and looked over at Ena. She had quietly raised her head and looked sleepily at them.
Gobo made a few hesitant steps forward and gently called, “Mother!”
As if snatched up by a thunderbolt, Ena was no longer lying down but up on her feet and standing as if cemented into position. Gobo quickly jumped to her. “Mother ...” he began again. He wanted to speak but could not utter a word.
His mother looked closely into his eyes. She began to stand with less stiffness; she was shaking so much that wave after wave ran over her back and shoulders.