Scarecrow could feel the change in the Desert herd. It was hard to miss, considering the gaping hole that the losses of the two mares and newborn had left. Not only had the two mares been close to their painted leader, but Carbon had almost perished as well. With this crisis settled, an uneasy truce had been struck between the Desert herd and the machinations of fate.

The new mares that Cain had brought home seemed to be adjusting well to the Desert, although Crow had not yet sought them out. He kept a watchful eye over them and the rest of the herd, although the majority of his attention rested on Libra. She was heavy with their child and the prospect of being a father again made him nervous. The thought of his lost daughters weighed heavily on his mind, and he vowed to protect this new child with his life. Even now, as she separated herself from the herd, the paling stallion followed her at a distance. He did not want to put pressure on her, but he would also not allow the wolves or any other predator near her.

In all honesty, Crow hadn't expected to see Libra again. The heart to heart that had led to their child's conception had happened, Crow knew that he would have to accept his child being raised apart from him. That another stallion would be the one to see the foal's first steps and first words. Someone else would cuddle them at night when they were afraid, and race them to the water hole. A stranger would teach them how a herd worked and show them how to be a good equine.

It had hurt then and still hurt now, even though he'd gotten lucky enough to have Libra here with him. The brindled Cherokee and the foal they'd created together would grow up not knowing him. He hadn't pressed for details when she'd asked for his help in the Fall. And while he was not necessarily proud of mounting a mare owned by another stallion without understanding the details of her situation, he didn't regret it either. Kind or not, the desire to spread his genes was a part of his DNA, and not even he was strong enough to deny a mare in heat offering herself to him.

Ahead, he could sense that his spotted girl had gone into labor and his gut clenched with nerves. Listlessly he nosed at the grass below his hooves without consuming any of it.

A part of him was still in awe that she was here. He would have never dared to rip her away from the Dunes and the family that she had there, but fate had stepped in. Scarecrow doubted that Libra felt the same way as he did about Bahadir being displaced. Still, Crow did not shy away from showing his pleasure that she was here. The fact that the two of them had a chance to explore whatever it was that was blossoming between them only added to his general happiness.

He answers Libra's happy shout with a quiet whicker of his own and he races to close the distance between them. When at last her beautiful spotted coat becomes visible he finally slows. Instinctively his ears pin as the takes notice of Cain standing close to his mare and vulnerable newborn, but reason tempers his reaction. The stallion is only watching over them, and it is clear that he is not trying to pressure the mare or child. Crow offers a head bob to the stallion before devoting the rest of his attention to Libra and their son.

The lanky stallion steps forward with ears pricked forward, his nostrils flaring to take in the milky scent of his son. Libra dances with her joy and he grins at the sight of it, his heart so full that it feels about to burst. "I am so proud of both of you."

As he closes the distance between them, he offers a charcoal muzzle to the spotted colt. He is darker in coloration than his dam, but shares her gorgeous spots. "He's just as beautiful as you, Libra. What have you named him?"

Grinning like a fool, he tears himself away from their child to reach out to her, seeking to place a kiss on her neck. The birth of this child marks a new chapter in his life, and he swears to do better by both of them than he had for his previous children. "Is everything okay? What can I help with?"