The forest seemed to be calming down a bit. Fewer and fewer deer were going to the statue for purification. Everyone seemed to be healthy and happy. A couple more days passed, nothing really special happened. Skokey had been learning more things and meeting more deer. It was perfectly fine, until the next night.

It had been a very hot and sticky day. Most of the deer were either hanging out in the shade or at the pond. Nobody felt like doing anything because of the heat. It seemed like the pond was filled with deer instead of water. Finally, night came around, but it was still a little hot. Everyone went back to their sleeping area for the night.

Skokey and Siki were fast asleep, but something woke up Siki. He lazily shook his head and tried to see what woke him up. He suddenly went into a coughing fit which went for several moments.

Skokey woke up from all the noise. "Dad, you okay?"

Siki's heart began to beat harder. He was starting to get nervous. "Skokey, we have to go to the statue, now. We don't have time for questions, we just have to go." He got up and tried to move Skokey.

"But why?"

"I said no questions, it's important that we go now!"

Skokey got up quickly and they both started to run in the direction of the statue. They were about half way there when Siki tripped and fell. Skokey went back to help him up, but Siki had no strength. He managed to pushed himself to a large tree.

Skokey laid down next to his father, "Dad, what's happening?"

Siki panted, throwing hihs head down. He was repeating "It's too late" over and over.

The fawn started to choke up, "Dad, why can't you get up? What's wrong?"

Siki let out a large sigh, "Skokey... There's a disease that's been going around for a while. That's why everyone's been going to the statue... To keep the disease away." He looked at his son, "I was foolish.. I never took you to be purified. And for that, I'm deeply sorry. This could have all been avoided if I just.."

"Dad, don't say that. You were doing what you thought was right." He nuzzled Siki, "You said you wanted me to be prepared. Well I am. I just never knew it would be so soon... No, you're gonna live, we're almost there!"

"No Skokey.. It's too late. I can't get up. The other deer had a whole month of warning, I had none. I never knew it was going to happen. You must accept that I will be leaving..."

Tears were rolling down Skokey's face as his father spoke. He laid down next to him.

Siki gathered up his courage, and finally said, "Skokey, there's something I must tell you... When you were born, your mother abandoned you. She left you all alone, and that's when I found you."

Skokey paused, "...Is that really true?"

"Yes. I spoke with her not too long ago, but she was in disguise, and I couldn't tell what her pictogram was. Skokey, I want you to-" He was cut off by a convulsion. Skokey quickly got up and stared at him. "Skokey, don't worry.. She never meant you any harm."

Skokey shook his head and turned around, calling for help. He ran a little ways away and called out again. But then, he heard a sound he would never forget. A sound that made him freeze in his place, and didn't allow him to move for a long time. That sound was the sound of Siki, crying out in pain. It was long and loud, and it scared Skokey to the point of losing strength and falling over.

Minutes passed, the fawn lying in his place frozen in terror. Finally, a smaller stag stopped in front of him.

"Skokey.. Skokey! Are you alright?" The stag poked at him with one of his hooves.

Skokey shook his head and looked up. It was Fraalch. He started to panic, "Fraalch, I don't know what to do! Dad's laying over there and I don't know what's happening!"

"Calm down, it's okay. Come on, we'll see what's wrong."

They both went over to where Siki was laying. The look on his face... was not scary at all. His eyes were closed. He looked like he had died peacefully. Fraalch's eyes began to water at the sight of Skokey breaking down on his father's body. The poor thing, he thought. First no mother, now his father's gone...

***

The funeral was held the next day. Siki was honored at the Playground where he and Skokey slept, and was carried off to the Graveyard to be put to rest. He was buried right next to his father and mother. The entire time, Skokey had stood at the back of the crowd. He didn't cry at all, he just stood there to listen to what different deer had to say.

When everything was over, everyone went home. The only ones left were Fraalch, Frola, their daughter, and Skokey. Frola was silently crying, thinking about how Skokey must feel. Fraalch stood there, comforting his mate and watching over his daughter.

Fraalch spoke up, "You know, he's in a better place, Skokey."

"I know..." Skokey didn't move from where his father was buried.

He nuzzled Frola, "It's getting late. Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I'm going to the statue after this."

Fraalch nodded. "Let's go home." He nuzzled his daughter, "Come on, Raku."

Raku... That's the name Dad wanted, Skokey thought. He stood there, remembering some important things his father had said to him.

"Death is a natural part of life. When something dies, another grows. It's an eternal cycle. "

"When you were born, your mother abandoned you. "

"My mother... Abandoned me.." Skokey looked down. "Abandoned me..."