Note from Author: Much like Chapter IV...Chapter V is short. Why? Because it techincally is the end of Chapter IV but I didn't want one chapter to be the size of two. So I split the idea up into what it is now.

Personally, I loved writing this chapter because it foreshadows what Kumiko will become. Let's see if anyone can figure out what that is.

And again...There is no preview of the next chapter.

Night fell covering the forest in a blanket of shadows. The full moon had begun to fade a few days ago, yet it was still large enough to make the forest glow. Everything had a hazy gray color to it. With the sun gone, the temperature had dropped drastically. Air cooled by the river made the once unbearable summer day because a nippy night. The air in the cave grew much colder. With her fur damp from sweat and the humidity, the cold air sent chills all over Kumiko. Shivering, she laid there still wake. The chill nipping at her body, slowly taking away the only bit of heat she had. Though even if the cold was not keeping her awake, her wondering mind did.

A couple of hours had passed since her parents fell asleep, yet she continued to stare blankly at the cave wall wondering why she was not given permission to see Constant. I miss him...she thought to herself as she shifted her legs under her body, trying to stay warm. I want to play with him again.

Outside an owl hooted and thousands of crickets played their moonlight sonatas, filling the still forest night with life. She glanced outside and gazed into the dim wood. A fog was beginning to settle on the ground, clouding everything in mystery. Its white haze engulfed the woods as it arose out from the river bed where it once slumbered; its transparent hands strangled the trees as they wrapped their fingers around the trunks and pulled itself across the land. Off in the distance, a image could be seen wondering alone. The figure was small yet it felt familiar to Kumiko even though it was blurred out by the fog. It seemed to be calling out to something.

Her ears perked up as she listened with all her might. She could hear the crickets singing their songs in sync to the wind but the noise she wanted to hear was too faint for her to make out. Silently, she stood and walked to the entrance. Straining her eyes, the figure became more clear as it approached her. She gasped with glee and her eyes widened at the sight. She then heard a familiar voice calling her name, "Kumiko!"

"Constant...?" she whispered to herself. "Can it be?"

As the figure grew closer, Kumiko could see the familiar face in the moonlight. It smiled back at her as it caught sight of her and ran towards her. Skidding to a halt, Constant was now standing in front of her with grass stains on his legs.

"Constant! It is you!" Kumiko leaped out of the cave and circled him while hopping.

"I found you!" he replied as he stood on his hind legs, batting at the air with his front.

The two fawns giggled with delight as they nuzzled each other. With smiles on their faces and the stars twinkling in their eyes, they gazed at each other feeling a warmth deep within.

"I missed you," Constant said, finally breaking the silence between them.

"I did too," she replied somewhat blushing. Her rosy cheeks only made her look cuter in the moonlight. "I don't know why my mom and dad wouldn't let me see you."

He shrugged, "I don't know but my mom and that stag argued about me seeing you."

She cocked her head to the side, "Really?"

He nodded, "Yeah, my mom had no problem with me playing with you but that stag didn't want me to."

"That stag?" confusion was in her voice.

He nodded a second time, "Yeah, my mom has been hanging out with him a lot since Daddy went away. I don't like him too much...He's not nice like Daddy was and not like your dad. He won't play with me and he always yells at Mommy..." Constant looked away with sadness in his eyes.

Kumiko stepped close and nuzzled him, "Well we're together right now, right? But how did you get here?"

Constant grinned, "I tracked you. I remembered your scent and followed it."

Kumiko gasped, "Wow!"

"Shhh!" he said back. "Aren't your parents still sleeping in there?"

She looked over her shoulder, "Yeah, they are."

"Then you gotta be quiet. Or they'll know I'm here."

"Maybe we should go somewhere else," she suggested.

Nodding, he replied, "And I know just where. Follow me."

He turned and started down an unbeaten path with Kumiko closely behind him. She put all her trust into him as he lead her through the dark forest. The moon might of provided some light though the fog shielded everything else from her sight yet Constant was conferent in himself. A few familiar smells came to Kumiko was they continued on, such as the sweet smell of the flower patch near her home and the distinct smell of fresh spring water from the creek, gave her a rough idea as to where he was leading her.

He quickened his pace as he drew closer to his favorite spot in the woods. "We're almost there. We just need to go up a hill," he called back to her.

Their scrawny legs began to carry them up a steep hill. The ground was rocky below their feet. They dug their hooves into the damp earth in order to pull themselves up. Constant had placed on of his front legs on a weak rock which gave away under his weight. The tiny fawn stumbled forward and fell to the ground. He laid there wincing as the small gash began to bleed.

"Oh no!" Kumiko cried out as she hurried up to him. "Are you ok?"

He nodded trying to act strong, but the stringing pain made his eyes water, "Yeah...I'm ok."

She looked down at his leg and licked his wound, just as her mother had done to her once when she fell. Once it was clean, she looked at him with concern in her eyes, "Can you walk or does it hurt too much?"

"Good," she smiled and then began up the hill.

She's so nice... Constant thought as he caught up with her. Why won't the stag let me see her? She's not mean at all!

Once they reached the top, Constant sat down to catch his breath. The fog was much thinner at the top of the hill. Kumiko stepped beside him and looked around in awe. For a moment, she felt as if she were on a deserted island lost with a sea of fog surrounding her. The view was not completely clear, though it was clear enough to see the waxing moon and shining stars; its silvery reflection sparkling in her eyes.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Constant said as he sat there staring at her. He could not take his eyes off of her. Even as a young fawn who did not understand the idea of love, he felt a yearning to be with her and admired her from where he sat.

"Yeah, it is," she has replied without looking at him. Her eyes still gazed up at the heavens. A breeze blew over them, once again sending a shiver down Kumiko's spine. She shook from nose to the tip of her tail and her teeth chattered.

Constant stood up and walked over to her side. He rubbed up against her so that they were standing shoulder to shoulder. Placing his head on hers, he tried to shield her from the wind. She looked up at him and smiled. He returned it.

A bird landed in a branch above their heads. It fluffed its feathers as it hopped up and down the branch. It opened its break and let out a chattering cry that resembled a crow. Wock-wock wock wock wock-a-wock prr weer weer! It cried out. The sudden sounded made the fawns jump with their ears and tails pointing. They looked up to see a black bird with a blue hue in its feathers. Wock-wock wock wock wock-a-wock prr weer weer! It continued.

"Oh...What a pretty bird!" Kumiko cocked her head as she studied it. "I love the way the colors blend in its feathers."

Constant stared at it for a moment as it called out a third time. Wock-wock wock wock wock-a-wock prr weer weer!

"I know what it is!" he exclaimed. "That is a magpie. Daddy told me about that bird, too."

"A magpie..." Kumiko repeated as she admired the way the feathers reflected the moon's rays.

Wock-wock wock wock wock-a-wock prr weer weer! A second magpie answered the first from a tree somewhere in the distance. Wock-wock wock wock wock-a-wock prr weer weer!The first magpie replied as it flew off into the night. Kumiko's eyes followed it until it was out of sight.

"You like it?" Constant asked her.

"Yes, I do," she sighed as she stared into the distance. "I wish I could be pretty like that bird."

Constant blushed as he smiled, "But you already are pretty."

Kumiko looked at him, stunned by his comment. Her white cheeks turned pink once again as she tried to hide her grin. The two laid down together, still laying right next to each other. Kumiko nuzzled her head into his chest where she leaned up against him; his chin remained rested on her. He did not provide much protection or body heat since he was so small, but the thought alone made her feel warmer. There Kumiko and Constant slowly dozed off together as they listened to the night's orchestra.