Good Friends (Bambi)

[Littlefoot]

(ooc: March 14th. Afternoon.)

Littlefoot smiled as he made his way upstairs. The other kids were out today playing tag or hide and seek or something. Training yesterday had been fun and they were still learning. But today he just wanted to play. He didn't see Bambi leave with them and wanted to go say hi to his friend. He hadn't really spent much time with any of the others alone. Well aside from Cera of course. He wanted to get to know all his friends a bit better so he thought he'd start with Bambi. He smiled spying Bambi in the room as he walked up to him.

"Hey Bambi. You want to play? Or talk?" asked Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

Bambi didn't want to be in the group today. He felt like just either being with one person or by himself. Today he felt like he needed to be away from a majority of the children, he didn't know why but every-time he went with them, he felt like his was avoiding a majority of his problems. He didn't know why he was aware of this now but he was. Today was just a day where he felt the need to develop a relationship with more than just thumper and flower. Make personal friends if he would.

Hearing Littlefoot's voice proved to be a good start. It seemed the dinosaur child too felt the need to be away from the others in order to talk to him or be around him. Bambi instantly smiled at his company and replied "Hiya Littlefoot. I don't feel like goin' outside, but talking sounds awful nice. I didn't want to be a bummer around the others because I just have some.... homesickness I guess" It wasn't entirely a lie. It was the missing of being at home but it was something far more personal that kept him away from the others.

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot grinned as Bambi spoke.

"That's ok. I miss home a lot too. At least I've got Cera and you've got Thumper and Flower so we're not completely alone here. I really miss my grandparents. I hope they're not worrying too much." said Littlefoot.

He sighed and looked away.

"Times like this when I'm lonely or afraid is when I really miss my mother. She got killed protecting me and Cera from a big sharptooth. He wanted to eat us. He wanted to eat my mom. She knocked him off a cliff but she got hurt. She didn't make it. Meeting Ducky, Petrie, and Spike and traveling with them and Cera for awhile helped when we were separated from our families. But I still miss her. And I never knew my father. Sometimes I wonder what happened to him." said Littlefoot.

He paused realizing he was crying as he waited for the tears to go away before he looked at Bambi again. Littlefoot realized he was being very depressing. He grinned at him trying to change the subject.

"Sorry. I came to have fun and talk with you. Not make you more sad. What do you want to do today?" said Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

"I'm sure your grandparents won't worry too much and yeah, our friends being here is good. It makes things easier" Bambi agreed, glad to see his somewhat depressive mood wasn't bothering the other. He then listened with a lot of empathy when Littlefoot said that whenever he was really lonely or upset, he wished his mother was around. That he missed her still. Unfortunately due to a sharptooth, what the humans called a t-rex, wanting to eat them all littlefoot's mother risked her life to save theirs. That even though he had a lot of friends, he was grieving still for her. Bambi understood exactly how the dinosaur felt.

He couldn't help but wipe his own tears as Littlefoot began to cry, and then he nuzzled the other, trying his sincere hardest to be comforting. He then heard Littlefoot apologize, trying to change the subject, and he responded "No. It's perfectly fine. I get it. Really. I know what it is like to have your mother perish. My mother died trying to save MY life" He wiped the tears away from his face and responded again "Well with me, it was the winter and spring was not that far away. We went to eat new spring grass...." He sighed, thinking about the memories that didn't seem that far away "My mother heard the hunter and told me to run to the thicket and she.. She told me to not stop. To keep going. Last thing I heard from her was to just keep running and not look back" He winced as if he heard the gunshot all over again.

He sighed "I didn't think she got shot but my father told me otherwise. He told me she was gone and she wouldn't be with me anymore. I was about to be adopted by another doe but my father had a change of heart and realized he could be able to raise me, and took me in himself. The rest you know, I'm here. I didn't really tell everybody else the story but you. I don't know why. I wanted to get this off my chest and your story gave me that chance" He nuzzled Littlefoot, beginning to realize why he couldn't hide his problems. Because it would lead to worse heartache and his heart did ache. A lot.

"But you're right. This isn't a time for all that. We need to stick together and have fun for a change. No more death. Let's have a nice time. Maybe we can play a one-on-one game?" Bambi said, now HE was the one trying to change the subject. He wanted to move on but wouldn't object if Littlefoot wished to continue.

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot sighed at him.

"They worry all the time about me when I'm away from them. But being gone for so long will make them really worried. I just hope they're ok. Cera's dad and the rest of our friends and family are probably worrying about both of us." said Littlefoot.

He smiled when Bambi nuzzled him to comfort as Littlefoot nuzzled back. Bambi was a really good friend. And he went through the same thing. He listened in shock as Bambi's mother had gotten killed trying to protect him as well.

"So both of our moms died protecting us? I didn't think I'd find anyone who understood how I was going through. I don't really talk about it with my friends and I know my grandparents miss her too. But it's not really the same as experiencing it yourself." said Littlefoot.

He paused listening to him and sighed.

"At least you had a father. Mine disappeared before my I was born. I learned he later went looking for a better home for us but he didn't find us until after mom died and we were in our new home. He had adopted a new heard by then and even had more kids. I was jealous at first but glad to meet him. He didn't stay long though as the herd kept moving. But I hoped I'd get to see him again. Now I don't know if I will." said Littlefoot.

He smiled at him.

"I guess both of us have been keeping things to ourselves. Maybe we could just talk to each other like this. Especially when we miss our moms. Or try to cheer each other up. We're friends and I like to see my friends happy." said Littlefoot.

He grinned as Bambi seemed to agree with having fun.

"Well hide and seek and tag are more fun for groups. What could we play for one on one?" asked Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

"Ok, knowing your grandparents from your description, they probably are but hopefully we'll find a way to let them know or get you home quickly. That way we'll ease their stress" Bambi said, seeing his words were not heading in the direction he hoped. Littlefoot however did not seem angry, he just seemed objective. And for good reason, littlefoot knew his grandparents far more than bambi did.

"I know. It's true though, my mother was killed because of that hunter. It was man that killed her than those sharp-tooth thingies you just mentioned. Though the humans here taught me humans aren't always bad but many people are very mean. I both like and dislike them because of it. They're ok overall. But yeah, I know it's hard to experience a problem alone but you're not anymore, littlefoot" Bambi assured, listening then commenting with assurance and stride. He knew littlefoot's pain. He knew what it felt like to be alone or have nobody to understand entirely what went on.

"You're right. That isn't fair. I have my dad, you don't. I'm sorry. I was..." He sighed, unsure of what to say. His friend's father basically, and rather arguably, neglected littlefoot and his mother. While his dad did leave the parenting to his mother, his father learned that dads were still parents too and was willing to take care of him. Littlefoot's father, on the other hand, probably didn't experience that lesson. He then continued "Ignore that. Never mind"

"Me too. We should definitely talk about more things more often, or cheer each other up when we're upset" Bambi agreed, smiling. He then listened to littlefoot's question of one-on-one games "Story-telling could work?"

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot nodded.

"I hope they're ok. I mean my mom's gone. My father's the leader of a heard of longnecks outside of the Great Valley. I only met him once so far. So I'm all my grandparents had left. I just wish I could at least let them know I'm ok. Cera's family and the rest of our friends are probably worrying about Cera and me too." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot paused listening to him.

"I never thought I'd meet someone who lost their mother like me. Cera lost her mother but she now has a stepmother. So in a way she has a new mother. It's nice to talk to someone else besides my grandparents about this." said Littlefoot.

He sighed as Bambi said it wasn't fair.

"I know it's not fair. You have your dad. But I have my grandparents. And my friends. And new friends like you. I know I'm not alone. I still miss her. I know my dad's alive but I didn't really grow up with him. The herd needed him." said Littlefoot.

He smiled at him.

"Yeah. It does help to talk about her though. But right now we should try to have some fun. Alright stories it is. You want to go first?" asked Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

"I'm sure they are Littlefoot. Your grandparents seem pretty tough" Bambi said, trying to be assuring. He knew his friend was worried and he understood. Both of them suffered anxiety for their families far more than should have been allowed. But Bambi didn't see anything wrong with it, he just simply related to the feelings Littlefoot had. He sighed "Me too. I wish I can let my dad know. Or Faline" He blushed immediately thinking about her. What was she thinking while he was gone? Did she worry about him?

"Me neither. A lot of the forest dwellers where I live are shocked when they found out my mom was murdered. It wasn't common. Mom was found at random" Bambi said, head lowering in defeat. He didn't know how or why his mom was killed. Was it fate? Was his mother foolish? Was man just there ready and able when nobody looked? Bambi didn't know.

"Yeah. We're not alone. We just miss our moms. They meant a lot to us. Well, they're supposed to, because they were our moms" Bambi smiled slightly, before sighing sadly. Giving up to the acceptance that his mother and littlefoot's mother were not going to come back. He then grinned and responded "Sure. I'll go first.... Oooh! I should tell you about the time me and thumper went ice-skating! It was my first winter and I was allowed to go out by myself" He continued with a big grin "Thumper was there too and he knew how to ice skate" He then frowned, before giggling "As you can see my hooves. I didn't do so well and I was so clumsy, I fell thirteen times"

He then giggled more "Thumper then thought that he should pick me up and help me. It worked for a few seconds only for both of us to collapse..." He started laughing "We collapsed onto the snow and we nearly got stuck but thumper pulled himself out and I pulled myself out!"

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot grinned at that.

"They are. Especially my grandfather. He helped save me and my friends so many times from Sharptooth. They didn't live in the Great Valley like we did and we were able to keep them out most of the time. Except the few times they found their way in. My grandfather, Cera's dad, and the other adults always manged to scare them off so no one got hurt though." said Littlefoot.

He grinned as Bambi blushed after talking about Faline.

"This Faline must be someone special to you." said Littlefoot.

He frowned leaning as Bambi was sad talking about his other. He leaned forward and nuzzled the fawn's cheek to try to make him feel better.

"My mom told me she'd always be with me even if I couldn't see her. I miss her but she was right. I still have my memories and sometimes I feel like she's there watching over me. But we have our families and friends so we're never really alone. Even when it feels like it." said Littlefoot.

He grinned as Bambi started talking about ice skating.

"What's ice? What's skating? I haven't heard of either of those things." said Littlefoot confused.

He paused letting him tell the story and he chuckled.

"Well did you learn how to do it eventually?" asked Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

"Wow! Really? That's cool" Bambi replied, his surprise at learning about Littlefoot's life. Due to dinosaurs being described by the humans as big creatures, it was interesting to picture a bigger version of littlefoot. He then blushed more before nodding shyly "I guess so. She's very nice and I like her a lot. I just worry about her is all"

"Well that's true. I do have fond memories. It's just sometimes I wish for the real thing" Bambi shrugged, but he smiled as Littlefoot affectionately rubbed cheeks with him. It was nice to have a friend to actually understand or appreciate the pain Bambi had to be forced to be faced with every once in a while.

"Only the most hard-core thing ever!" Bambi replied teasingly. He laughed before responding "Okay. Ice is frozen water and skating is moving without your feet. So ice skating is moving on frozen water" He then laughed again and shook his head "Nah. Still have issues with ice skating but I'm trying. Thumper's determined to get me to skate"

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot grinned.

"What about you? Any fun or exciting stories you want to share?" aske Littlefoot.

He was surprise to see Bambi blush again and he looked at him confused but didn't press on it.

"I'm sure Faline and everyone else from your home are ok. I'm glad you have Flower and Thumper and I have Cera here. Having someone else here from home makes me feel a little better." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot smiled glad he was reassuring his friend.

"I do too. I wish my mother was still here but I'll never forget her." said Littlefoot.

He looked at him confused as Bambi explained ice was frozen water and skating was moving on top of it.

"Huh. It rarely got that cold where we live so the water never froze. It sounds like fun though." said Littlefootl.

Littlefoot grinned as Bambi said he was still trying.

"Well I'm sure you'll be good at it in no time." said Littlefoot.

Bambi

[Bambi]

"Well back where I am from, I'm the prince. The young prince of the forest. My father is the great prince which is higher than anyone in the forest. Even other deer" Bambi replied, shrugging at this new information. He didn't entirely think of it as a big deal but thought Littlefoot would like to hear it.

"Yeah, it's great having Flower and Thumper here. They've been friends with me since I was really little" Bambi was technically the youngest out of the three. Thumper was born much earlier and Flower was slightly ahead by a couple months.

"Yeah me neither with my mother. They're in a better place I think" Bambi said. His mother was wise and incredibly nurturing. It was hard to find people who were similar to the way his mother was. Although Littlefoot and a few humans here were pretty close to it.

"Maybe where you live is what the humans call tropical. Whatever that is. Frozen water is just really, really cold and hard water. It's fun... If you don't hurt yourself" Bambi explained more, understanding that Littlefoot was confused. He too didn't know what ice was until Thumper introduced him to it. Thumper, besides his mother, taught him the things of the world.

"Yeah! And then once I'm done, I can teach you!" Bambi assured happily "Hopefully once winter comes up again and we are able to find a pond, we can try ice skating together"

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot looked at him in shock.

"You're a prince?" asked Littlefoot.

He then bowed his neck trying to show his respect but tripped and fell on his stomach instead. He blushed while laughing realizing how funny he was looking.

"It's nice to have friends here. I've haven't seen Cera in awhile but I'm glad she's here. I'm glad we're friends too." said Littlefoot.

He paused as Bambi spoke again.

"I miss her but I know she's safe and happy now. Wherever she is." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot listened to him.

"It must be. Frozen water sounds interesting and fun." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot grinned.

"I'd be glad to learn from you. Let's try it. Maybe we could ask them to help us make some frozen water. I mean they seem to be able to do a lot anyway. Or they might know where we can find some." said Littlefoot.

[Bambi]

"Yes like my father before me!" Bambi raised his chest with pride. He wasn't very vain but when people asked him, he was proud of his title. He then laughed as Littlefoot fell on his stomach "Hey don't sweat it. The fact you tried is good enough for me!" He laughed more as Littlefoot seemed to enjoy himself.

"I like her... But she's a bit of a grouch sometimes, no offense" Bambi said with caution. It wasn't her fault being dragged here but Cera had a tendency to be feisty and Bambi was admittedly nervous. Maybe because he was used to either blunt disregard, arrogance or being very kind. Cera was hot-headed and that was new.

"Probably with my mom in paradise. The humans say good people go to heaven. Maybe our moms are there?" Bambi wasn't aware of religion but heaven sounded like a great place. His mother, and littlefoot's, definitely deserved a place like it.

"Oh it is. You just need to be careful. It hurts if you fall" Bambi winced as memories of falling down on ice hurt like heck. He sighed before laughing at Littlefoot's idea "Doesn't Dr. Linksano or whatever do science? Maybe that could help us get some frozen water. Or maybe go to the freezer and make some ourselves?"

[Littlefoot]

Littlefoot smiled at him.

"That's great. You got to know both your parents." said Littlefoot.

His smile faded remembering he did meet his own dad once but he always wished he could have had more time with him.

"I wish I could have gotten to know my dad. He left us before I hatched from my egg wanting to find a better home for us. But then the earthshakes had us keep moving. By the time my dad found us it was months later and my mother was already dead. He'd formed a new herd of his own and one of the herd's kids saw him as a father. I felt like he'd replaced me at first but he still loved me. He asked me to go with him but I couldn't leave my home. So he left with his herd and that was the last I saw of them. I live with my grandparents and usually played with my friends like Cera. Petrie, Ducky, Spike, and Chomper are still back home though. I hope they're doing okay with Cera and me stuck here." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot grinned as Bambi spoke again as he blushed a little.

"I'm glad you're not mad. Sometimes grownups get too sensitive about things like that." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot chuckled.

"I know. It took me awhile to get used to it but it's part of what makes her Cera." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot nodded.

"I hope so. But then again we're animals from different worlds. What if there is no place like that for us. What if it's just for people?" said Littlefoot.

He sighed.

"I guess it doesn't matter. We won't know until we die and I don't plan on that happening for a very long time." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot nodded again.

"I'll remember that. It make take some practice but I'm sure I could get the hang of it." said Littlefoot.

Littlefoot grinned.

"Sure. But maybe we could try that another day. They're probably busy and I don't want to disturb them just for us to play. Maybe we could ask Linksano or one of the others during a meal or something." said Littlefoot.

Bambi