The morning started per usual for the sheep family. Chirin and Jinx were the first to awaken, the latter awakening their child, spurring him into the world. Though a clear difference was Shiro's demeanor. The child seemed listless, a sharp contrast to the energetic display he had often shown. It was unclear to either of his parents whom he inherited it. Chirin recalled how energetic he was as a child, but Jinx often compared herself to a hurricane. Or at the very least she went from one place to another very quickly. In any case, Shiro might have inherited from both of them, but their levels of energy balanced each other out instead of increasing it.

But they were sheep, not mathematicians.

The family headed down the mountain to the field like their usual routine and readied themselves for Shiro to ask if he could go out to play in the grass and flowers.

But that wasn't to be, for Shiro did not ask. Instead, he remained at his parent's side grazing or occasionally following a butterfly, only to part and return to his parent's side. Chirin only was concerned for a moment. His son seemed fine for the most part, but he failed to look inwardly. Jinx on the other hand was a tad more observant than her mate.

"Chirin?" Jinx beckoned.

Chirin looked up, numbly chewing on the strands of grass that hung in his mouth, "Hmm?"

"You know? Why don't I take Shiro out for a bit?" Jinx suggested.

Chirin looked curiously at his mate, as did Shiro at his mother.

"It's just perhaps Shiro should have a playmate today, you know? Like we talked about?" The ewe suggested.

The ram thought back to the talk he and Jinx had last night. Jinx had been so worried about their son, so much that they had a tiny argument on how their son was being raised. Chirin had dismissed it at that moment, but now Jinx was bringing it up again. This wasn't unusual for his mate, but something about this seemed off to Chirin. But then again, Jinx was Jinx.

"Now?" Chirin replied dully. He couldn't quite place his hoof on it, but something told him his wife was up to something.

Jinx could only plaster a smile, showing off her pearly whites and cuddling up to Chirin, "Chirin, sweetie cakes, honeybun, marshmallow!"

Chirin was put off a little by the marshmallow comment, thinking back to the premonitions he had been given of eventually gaining a "dad bod".

"I know you want the best for our little boy no?" Jinx put on a seductive tone towards her mate, flashing her eyelashes, and rubbing up against Chirin like a cat against a human's leg.

Though he would be loath to admit it, Chirin couldn't help but blush, feeling his heartbeat against his chest. The display his mate was presenting to him was alluring, he couldn't deny that, but the part of him to remain firm, told him Jinx was trying to trick him in some fashion.

It wasn't as if he thought his mate was a duplicitous creature, but she had her wily ways, ways Chirin was accustomed to. She was an odd mixture. Not a bad creature but could deceive and entice others. But still, he looked at his son and knew his mate would do anything to keep their son happy.

"Fine...go right ahead," Chirin allowed, still somewhat flustered by his mate's display.

Jinx broke away, doing a little hop as she returned to her child's side.

"Yay! Thanks, babe!" Looking down at Shiro, Jinx began to usher him along, "Alright sweetheart, let's get going, lots of fun to be had!"

"Mama but I-" Shiro started to protest.

"Now now! Mother knows best as they say!" Jinx interrupted.

Shiro simply followed along, uncertain, but quickly trusting his mother in what she was doing.

The mother and son pair walked a great distance away from their husband and father respectively. Once they were out of Chirin's earshot, Jinx turned her son around.

"All right kiddo, let me tell you what's going on," Jinx began.

"Mama?" Shiro asked confusedly.

"Remember what you told me yesterday?"

Shiro thought back and nodded.

"Then you know the last thing I want to see is my boy sad, so I'm taking you someplace to make some friends."

Shiro's little peach face lit up, "Really Mama?"

Jinx flashed her son a grin and nodded, "You better believe it, it's a little place called a farm."

Upon hearing that however, Shiro's face fell, "A farm? But isn't that the place Papa talks bad about?"

"Yes...but the farm I'm taking you to has loads of little sheep around your age, sheep who would just love to play with you!"

Shiro pawed at the ground with a hesitant look on his face. Jinx expected it. No matter what, Shiro wouldn't dare disobey his father, and the fact his loving mother was suggesting it conflicted him.

"Honey I promise your father won't find out," Jinx assured.

"Really Mama? How? Papa's smart," Shiro stated.

"True, which is why we aren't going to tell your father...at least not at first," Jinx added the last part just to avoid making this out to be a complete breach of Chirin's trust.

Now Shiro looked more hesitant than ever, his little brow scrunching up, "But...isn't that lying?"

"Not really...it's just keeping the truth until it's needed," Jinx clarified.

Shiro hardly looked convinced.

"Okay honey, we'll tell your father eventually, I just want to ease him into it you know?" Jinx clarified, "Once he sees how happy you are, I'm sure he'll be totally fine with it!"

That promising statement hardly made Shiro look any more convinced than before, but the thought of playing with other children, sheep his age enticed him. He was tired of playing by himself, tired of having other children avoid him due to knowing who his father was. This seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime, and although the sheer breach of his father's trust was at stake, he knew what he wanted deep down.

"Okay, Mama! You've got a deal!" Shiro cried holding out his front right hoof.

"Not really a deal but that's my boy! Jinx cheered.

Taking her front hoof, Jinx and Shiro shook it, at least as best as two bovids could.

There was no time to waste and so Jinx led her child to the farm. The path was one Jinx remembered. Shiro had no idea where they were going but trusted his mother completely. After some walking, they soon made it to the edge of the fence. Shiro looked up in awe at the wooden construct, but more so when he heard the faint sound of bleating.

Hearing that sound made his tiny heartbeat and excitement well up within him.

"You hear that son? That's future playmate central there," Jinx said confidently.

Shiro put one hoof in front of the other but halted in mid-air. He felt a breath becoming caught within his throat, but couldn't get it out. At least until he felt a nudge from his mother.

"Go on sweetie, they're waiting for you," Jinx urged.

Shiro looked to his mother, then back to the far off-field.

"Will you come with me?" Shiro asked.

Shiro thought he heard his mother gasp, but she quickly spoke, "No son, this is your show, not mine."

Though his mother appeared to be hiding something, he didn't ignore what was ahead of him. And so with determination, he took the first step and made his way through the fence. All the while Jinx watched her son with pride.

"That's my boy," Jinx said.

Though he didn't say anything, Jinx was indeed hiding something. She just wasn't ready to face her old friends and family just yet.

A/N: A short chapter, but I wanted to add something after being gone for so long.