Timpani began to think he wouldn't come. She wasn't sure if it would be by his choice, though. She didn't know him well enough. And yet, here they were, meeting nearly every night. One day she was just a normal girl, laughing with her friends. The next, she's in love with a man who she barely knows, and fears talking to anyone lest they somehow discover the truth. In a way, the constant worry of being found out was refreshing.

Just when Timpani was about to head back, Blumiere appeared from out of the woods. The clearing they met in wasn't large, by any means, but it was large enough and the woods provided privacy from the nearby town's prying eyes.

"I didn't think you'd come." Timpani said quietly, arms wrapped around her waist in an attempt to stay warm.

"I'm sorry." Blumiere replied. "My father caught me sneaking out. It wasn't easy after that.

"Maybe you should stop sneaking out then." Timpani said. "Maybe we both should."

"We both know that won't happen." Blumiere said with a hint of a laugh. He sat down, and Timpani did the same. "But nevertheless, I want to know more about you."

Timpani smiled, somewhat to herself. She explained a lot about herself—at first quiet, then adjusting to a normal tone of voice. After she finished, Blumiere did the same. Telling tales and laughing at their previous mistakes, the two spent their night sitting next to each other. It was easy to imagine they were the only two people in the entire forest, town, world.

Until Timpani heard something in the woods. Gesturing to Blumiere to stay silent, she slowly rose. Blumiere did the same. A torch, but with black light, became visible.

Blumiere cursed so silently Timpani barely heard it. He looked at her, and she nodded, understanding. Hastily but quietly, she slipped into the woods just as Blumiere began talking to someone. She didn't want to leave him—what if he got hurt?—but she knew she shouldn't let herself get caught, either.

Wandering through the woods, Timpani wished she had brought some sort of light. Usually she didn't stay out this late—maybe a few hours, coming at dusk and leaving at a time where it's still bright enough to see. But now, it was probably well past midnight. There was a new moon in the sky—or there would be, if it wasn't so cloudy.

Timpani stopped when she felt someone watching her. She couldn't tell where, just that there was a presence. For a small second, she thought it was Blumiere wishing her off for the night. But it was too late, too dark, too far away from their meeting spot. It was someone else.

She debated whether or not she wanted to say something. In the end, she stayed silent.

"Bold choice." A voice hissed. Timpani jumped, and her efforts to locate the speaker were in vain. "Silence is a choice, yes. Tell me your name, girl."

Timpani continued to stay silent.

"You're more stubborn than I thought." The voice mused. "Fine; stay silent. Just stay away from my son."

"I am not yours to command." Timpani replied, unable to stay silent any longer.

"So you say." The voice said. "But if you want what's best for him, you'd stay away. Don't come back to the clearing. Don't talk to him again. Do us all a favor—forget who you think he is and remember who he is."

"He is who I think and know he is." Timpani said.

"Are can you be so sure, when you've only known each other for a few weeks, at most?" The voice replied. "Tell me, human, which would you prefer? Blumiere under house-arrest, or staying put in your town and forgetting who he is?"

"Neither." Timpani wanted to say. "I will never forget him, and he'll never stay put." But the words never came. They died before they even left her lips. The voice—Blumiere's father—mistook this for silence for stubbornness.

"Do what you wish." The voice said. "But stay away from him. If you want what's best, of course."

The feeling of someone watching her left Timpani, instead being replaced by unease.

"If you want what's best…stay away from him."

Timpani shivered, even though the night was getting warmer as it grew closer to sunrise. She continued home, down a beaten and leaf-covered path.