"Good morning," Chakotay greeted her as she emerged from her bedroom the next morning. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very well, thank you," she smiled. "I had very pleasant dreams last night."

"Was I in them?" Chakotay asked, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Maybe," Kathryn winked.

"I've been thinking, since we spent so much time tidying up yesterday, maybe we should take today to relax and go on a picnic or something. It would be nice to explore a little further out."

"Will there be coffee?"

"Of course."

"Then I'm on board. Where should we go?"

"How about the other side of the river?"

Kathryn's smile froze. "The… other side… of the river…"

"Yeah, we haven't been over that way yet and I'm curious to see it."

She forced the corners of her mouth upwards again. "Sure."

The day proved to be pleasantly warm as the two of them set out to follow the river. Chakotay carried the picnic basket in one hand and held Kathryn's hand in the other, a big smile on his face as he walked. Kathryn smiled back, but inside her thoughts were whirling.

What about what happened last time I went that way? Will those feelings and whatever caused them return? What if there's another storm while we're so far from the shelter? What if we get lost? What if the whispers come back? What if…

"I can hear you thinking," Chakotay said. "What's bothering you?"

"Nothing," she said, forcing lightness into her tone. "Just excited for the day ahead."

They followed the river until they found the same steppingstones Kathryn had used last time to cross the river. They continued holding hands as they jumped across, but Chakotay was not quite as light on his feet as Kathryn was and he fell into the water, pulling her down with him with a splash.

"Hey!"

"Sorry!" he said sheepishly.

"I'm all soaked now!"

"We'll just have to lie in the sun for a while to dry off."

It seems like nothing can dampen his good mood, she observed.

They squelched along in their wet clothes until they found the clearing Kathryn had discovered the last time.

Chakotay began laying down the blanket and setting out the food he had brought while Kathryn walked slowly around the clearing. She picked daisies as she walked to cover the trepidation she felt at being in this place again. She remembered all too well the bone-chilling terror that had gripped her out of nowhere, and her retreat that could not be hasty enough. She shivered, despite the warm breeze, and turned when she heard Chakotay call her name.

"Do you want some coffee, or should I drink it all?"

"Don't you dare," she laughed and walked back to join him.

They spent the day lying in the sun, picking at their lunch and making daisy chains and chatting about everything and nothing.

"On a day like this, this place reminds me of Trebus before the Cardassians hit it," Chakotay said, not looking up from weaving daisies.

"Really?"

"I used to swim in the lake and pick flowers with my sister and climb the trees looking for bird nests. I used to hate it when my parents made me stay inside."

"You're the opposite of me then," Kathryn laughed. "I used to hate being made to go outside. I preferred reading scientific journals and building model starships."

"Sounds lonely."

"I'm used to having only myself for company."

Chakotay lifted the wreath of flowers he had woven and placed it gently on Kathryn's head. "A crown fit for a queen," he said.

"Hm, I like the sound of that title," Kathryn smiled. "The Queen of New Earth."

"Does that make me the king?"

"Unless you prefer 'consort'."

"I'll stick with 'king', thanks."

Just then, the wind began to whip around them. It lifted Kathryn's flower crown from atop her hair and whisked it away into the distance. Ominous grey clouds began to roll in out of nowhere and thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Another storm so soon after the last one?" Chakotay asked.

Kathryn didn't move. A deep, existential terror had begun to worm its way into her heart and bones. The darkness was back, whispering in her mind, piercing through her like the icy chill of the wind.

You shouldn't be here.

"Kathryn! I said, let's go back before that storm hits."

Kathryn grabbed the offered hand and pulled herself to her feet.

Suddenly, thunder cracked overhead, and the ground was torn out from under them.

You shouldn't be here! A strange voice shrieked with the wind overhead. Leave at once!