When the sun started to set and they had eaten their fill, Splinter let out a bleating call to steer the does and fawns back into the forest. Nevaeh managed to take one more bite of some sweet clovers that she had found before lifting her head and rushing to her mother's side.

    Dove lowered her head and nuzzle her daughter. "Are you enjoying it on the meadow so far," she questioned.

    "Of course! It's so much more open here than in the forest," Nevaeh answered before she felt a lump rise in her throat. It would be even better with Barrow, but it's still good.

    Dove beamed. "I'm glad. This will be your family now. You will protect them and they will protect you," she explained to her as she gently nudged her into the group so that their were does on every side of them, flanking them protectively.

    Nevaeh nodded with understanding of the responsibility that was now bestowed upon her. She lifted her head proudly as she waltzed forward with Dove still at her side. They made their with the other does and fawns through the forest to a shaded spot with numerous burrows that they could frequent if they needed to.

    Dove headed to one almost subconsciously as she stalked forward. Nevaeh followed as she watched Mena and Feather head to another. She managed to catch up with Dove as her mother scraped her hoof against the burrow to hollow it out a little more. "It's been a while since I've been back here," Dove told her.

    "Mama, is Papa going to join us," inquired Nevaeh excitedly as she looked around madly.

    Dove sighed as she pushed her head against her daughter's shoulder. "I'm afraid not, little one. He has to watch over the herd and watch us for danger. You will see him later," she told her as she nudged her daughter into the burrow.

    Nevaeh reluctantly trotted in and immediately noticed how much larger this burrow was. She started to explore it before she felt a nip on her tail and she promptly pulled herself back to her mother. "Why is it so big in here," she asked in awe.

    "Because your father and I both lived in here, little one," explained Dove as she curled into almost a ball and sighed as she motioned for her daughter.

    Nevaeh made her way over and laid down in the curl of her mother's underbelly. Dove nuzzled her in an effort to help her relax. "Is Papa always going to be the Great Prince of the Forest?"

    "He will be for as long as possible. Then, when he passes, another Prince will take his rightful place," Dove replied between licks along Nevaeh's neck and shoulders.

    Nevaeh nodded slowly. "And who will that be?"

    "I think that it's a little early to know that, Nevaeh. I would assume that it would be your mate because you are the daughter of the Prince of the Forest," explained Dove before she rested her head on the ground and yawned. "Now, I think that that's enough questions for tonight."

    Knowing that her mother had had enough talking and she lowered down as well, sighing loudly. She couldn't feel the exhaustion pulsing through her because of her desire to still meet with Barrow. They hadn't been able to meet that day because Nevaeh had been welcomed into the herd.

    When she was sure that her mother was asleep, she rose to her hooves and started out of the burrow. She quickly ducked down when she saw a few does were awake and talking. She managed to creep past them as she broke out into a run as dusk started to set in.

    She managed to find the secret spot and plowed in. Her breath quickened as she looked around desperately for Barrow, hoping that he was still there. "Barrow? Barrow!"

    There was a rustling and she jumped in alarm. She let go of the breath that she had been holding as she noticed Barrow coming toward her. "I'm so sorry that I'm late! My mother and I joined our herd today and I couldn't sneak away," she rambled.

    Barrow padded forward with the same smile on his face that he had had when they first met. "That's alright. I was hoping that you would show up eventually. How is it like in the herd?"

    "Good, but I'd still rather be here," Nevaeh pointed out before she lowered her head and started to munch on the grass. It was so much sweeter than the grass in the meadow and it was delicious.

    Barrow lowered his head and grabbed a few stalks, but he mostly just stared into her eyes. "With me?"
   
    Nevaeh almost giggled as she lifted her head and nodded. "Yeah. You're my friend," she pointed out with her eyes shinning.

    Barrow seemed to jump in glee. His head then turned to the darkened sky before he motioned to Nevaeh with a straying ear. "Look," he instructed.

    She did as Barrow asked and she saw the constellations above. They shown in a way that she had never seen before. She continued to look up before she noticed Barrow coming closer and closer to her. She slightly flinched when Barrow pressed against her slowly, but it quickly faded to excitement and contentment.

    "It's so beautiful," Nevaeh breathed.
   
    Barrow locked his gaze on her beamed. "Yeah, beautiful."