Furs Chapter: Mrs. Whitetail & Her Baby Take a Twilight Walk -- a "deer" little story with photos...

The summer sun was sinking behind the hills to the west of the tiny town of Cloverdale, Northern California...

Across the Alexander Valley, in the hills to the east, Mrs. Whitetail gently nudged her baby fawn-- waking him from from his afternoon nap.

"Let's take a walk, Little One," Mrs. Whitetail said, "The sunset this evening is breathtaking... We should go out and enjoy it. It won't be long before Leaf Dropping Season will be upon us and we will miss the Warm Time in those chilly nights to come..." 

Whitetail fawn yawned and stretched... "Okay, Mom," he said, "I'm ready -- let's go!"

Slowly the two -- mother and son -- made their way along the narrow trail that ran along the ridge that was thick with tawny grass... Soon they came to small clearing where they could look out over the vast valley to the hills beyond.

"Oh, Mother, look!" gasped Whitetail Fawn, "The sunset! It IS beautiful!"

"You see?" answered his mother, smiling, "I TOLD you!"

For a moment, the two stood motionless -- captivated by the golden colors in the clouds -- watching the last few rays of the sun disappear behind the peaks...

Mrs. Whitetail turned to look at her son.

"Wait a minute," she said -- looking at him more closely, "I thought I told you earlier to wash behind your ears!"

"But, Mama!" Whitetail Fawn whined, "I DID! I did wash behind my ears -- just like you said!"

"Well," Mrs. Whitetail replied, clicking her tongue, "You sure didn't do a very good job of it, young buck... Hold still..."

"Aw, Maw-awwwm!" the little deer objected, "Do ya HAVE to do that? Right out here in the open? What if one of my friends sees you licking behind my ears like that? I'll just die of embarrassment!"

"I don't see anybody around at all," his mother countered.

"I sure HOPE not," Whitetail Fawn answered.

"Oh dear! Look here!" Mrs. Whitetail lamented, "Your shoulder is dirty, too!"

"Hold STILL, I said!" Mrs. Whitetail snapped as she continued to lick her baby's fur, "If you'd have done what I told you -- when I told you to do it -- there'd be no chance any of your friends would see you now..."

"I'm almost finished," she assured him.

"Oh, Mom!" said the smaller deer -- knowing nothing that he could say would stop his mother when she got it into her mind to wash him.

"Now watch me," said his mother, "I've showed you this before... See? This is how you wash your shoulders."

"Okaaaay, Mom," the little fawn sighed.

"Now, let your Mama have a little kiss..." she cooed -- kissing his cheek.

"And now a little hug," she added, nuzzling his neck with her own...

 Just then Mrs. Whitetail caught some movement just down the hill out of the corner of her eye.

"Quick, son! There's something out there! Get behind that bush and hide while I see what it is!"

"Hmmm..." said Mrs. Whitetail, "I don't see it now -- whatever it was... Well, it's time we started heading back anyway... It'll be dark soon. You go on ahead, son, I just want to take one last look at that gorgeous sunset... I'll be right behind you..."

"Ooooohhhhh... It IS lovely!" Mrs. Whitetail whispered -- expelling a long breath -- as she gazed at the vivid colors in the western sky.

Then she turned and followed her fawn up the slope...

"Wait for me, son, I'm coming!"