I could sleep here forever. The soft ground beneath served a comfortable, safe bed for my exhausted body. The grass was cool against my back and tickled my bare arms and feet. It was a refreshing feeling to have.
The full moon hung in the sky among the twinkling stars. The darkness that would normally surround us barely existed with the beautiful light brought by the moon. The moon served as a protector in the night. The stars were bright and wondrous, showing many worlds that were waiting to be explored.
Above me was a lonely maple tree, in the middle of the calm open plain. It stood sturdy and tall, yet looked vulnerable being alone. In midsummer, no leaves dared to fall from its arms, even on the windiest days.
A cool breeze ran across the open plain, forming goose bumps on my arms. It was chilly out, but it didn't bother me. A warm hand held my own, only a small amount of warmth given but it was enough for me.
I looked over to the nubby-horned troll next to me. His raven hair just barely hid his eyes. For once, he was calm and not wearing his everyday scowl. It was nice to see him like this. Of course, everyone does need a break from being themselves for once. He was even allowing me to hold his hand.
We lay there, gazing at the stars – or he was, my eyes were on him. Savoring this moment for as long as we could. The calmness between us was almost unnerving, but we didn't let it bother us.
Karkat's gaze moved from the stars towards me, catching me staring. Instead of making a remark, he simply put on one of his rare smiles and returned to star gazing. His peaceful smile made my heart lift, almost as if it had brown wings and was going to fly. I wanted nothing more than this moment to last forever. Knowing this moment would not last forever, sent an ache through my heart. Only Karkat's hand holding mine made me feel an ease.
I pulled my eyes away from Karkat and joined him in observing the shining lights above us.