The Elk Show

We stopped along the road to view these elk playing and drinking in and around a mud hole.

We heard what sounded strangely like a sheep bleating, but it was the bull elk.  He evidently told the rest of the herd that Happy Hour was over.  All of the herd started to leave immediately.

All except this little guy, who was preoccupied playing in the water.  All of a sudden, it realized that the rest of the herd was gone.  You can read its expression. 

Hey, where did everyone go?

The little elk started bleating, and the bull was there in an instant.  The bull elk answered and the little one started toward him.

Along the way, though, the little guy noticed what appeared to be a tasty branch.  The bull was not amused, and communicated something to the little elk.

It stopped eating and immediately moved toward the rest of the herd.

The bull kept an eye on things until it was satisfied that the little elk was moving toward the other elk.

The bull stood guard for another few seconds, and then it, too, moved to join the rest of his herd.