Shadow could recall with great clarity her first date with Zion Bambi. It was a simple, yet memorable, summer day that involved an earth hayride at an apple-picking place. As they approached the ride, they watched the previous group getting off. Only four children had been on the ride, accompanied by several adults. Shadow and Zion moved up to the front of the hayride, closest to the blue tracker, and faced the direction of the railing before sitting down.
The guide in front reminded them to "keep their hands behind the railing of the hayride, please, as we get close to some trees and I don't want to see anyone get hurt." He then got into the driver's seat, turned the key, and the engine roared to life, trudging along the rocky road path onto the black asphalt with faded white lines that were only visible by white speckled dots. The tracker turned onto another road and, after a few moments, was along yet another dirt road. This one had some tall trees with green leaves on them. There were some freshly cut logs set off to the side, all stacked up in a neat pile.
The humming sound of the vehicle's hover nozzles blew some small twigs and rocks off to the side as they rounded the corner. Shadow now saw green and red-colored apples hanging from the trees, and a few with dirt on the bottom from having hit the ground. She took in a deep breath, smelling the sweet aroma and feeling excited to go apple-picking later. As they came to their starting point, Shadow realized her hand was on top of Bambi's. Both were looking down now and then, gazing into each other's eyes, and there was love in them.