Many Travels:

Campfire

"Hey, Blaze?"

The sounds of the crackling fire continued without interruption.

"Blaze…"

The crickets around them chirped in ignorance of the two campers.

"Blaze, you there?"

An owl hooted nearby. It sent chills up Silver's spine, seeing how intently she was staring into the firelight- as she stood over it. How focused on the flames she was, and how ignorant of the rest of the world.

"Blaze, are you okay?"

With a small startled sound, she looked over at him and answered," What, what is it?"

"Oh," he rubbed the back of his quills. "You just seemed so lost."

"I wasn't lost. I knew very well where I was."

"And where were you?"

"Back home in my palace. Long ago. The first time I remember seeing a flame dance on the candlestick as my mother lead me to my room. I must've been frightened, but I remember feeling calmed as I gazed up at her, watching the light flicker in her eyes."

Silver watched her with wide eyes. "Wow. That- that's a vivid memory. You must be a really good storyteller."

"I told you. I knew where I was. I just described what I saw there. "

"Oh. You make it sound easy!"

She watched the fire again, but not finding herself there in the palace anymore. "It's not that hard. Only if you make it that way." She turned her head to look at him. He saw the flames flickering in her eyes, and felt the calm she had felt years ago. "Where were you, Silver?"

"When?"

"Just now. As I was in the palace."

He closed his eyes, placing his hands on his knees and taking a deep breath of smoky air.

"I was sitting here on this log, watching you with curiosity and worry, and calling your attention as the night sounds resounded."

"That was nicely done, for a beginner."

He puffed out his fluffy chest. "I know."

They laughed a bit awkwardly at one another, but didn't acknowledge the fact that they were both feeling the same.

"I-I'm glad that you came here…with me," Silver breathed out at once.

She nodded slightly. "Yes. I'm glad that I came with you as well."

"Really?"

"Yes."

She glanced up at the placement of the stars and moon. "It is getting late."

"Yeah…but wait a minute. We haven't had marshmallows yet."

"I don't care for any, but you may have some."

"Well, thanks, Blaze. But I don't want to eat them if you aren't-"

"I'm fine. Go ahead."

"Alright…" he opened the bag with caution, as if expecting an explosion. Instead the marshmallows tumbled out onto the log and the grass. "Oops."

Blaze reached down and returned them to the log. "Here."

Silver nodded his thanks and picked a cleaner marshmallow.

"Do you have a stick?"

"No, I kinda forgot that part…"

"Here." Blaze took it in her hand. "Do you like it burnt?"

"Usually."

She lit her palm and the marshmallow with it, and just as suddenly she extinguished the flame, holding it out for him to blow off.

He did so, and took it with a smile. "Thank you."

She nodded in response.

A few minutes passed, and when they figured they had nothing else to do, Blaze headed for her tent.

"I'm going to sleep now. Good night, Silver."

"Good night, then."

For a few moments after her entry, he sat there and gazed at the stars.

The noises around continued around him in orchestra, but he didn't hear a thing.

He seemed to be lost in thought, but really he knew where he was.

He was out in the stars. Walking, flying among them. Staring down at that small campsite and watching over Blaze in her sleep, making sure that nothing would harm her.

He wished on a shooting star that nothing ever would.