Chapter Five
Under the Stars
Fiore and Rhoda made their way through the forest. It was very dark. Crickets chirped. An owl hooted. Rontu and Bianca leapt over tree roots and rocks with grace and agility. Once they had found a clearing, Fiore started a fire. He and Rhoda warmed themselves around it. Rhoda sat next to Fiore with Rontu laying his head in her lap. Bianca lay next to Fiore, watching the crackling fire with great interest. Zoë snapped up little bugs that flew above the flames.
"What's troubling you?"
"What?" Fiore asked. "Fiore, what's wrong?" replied Rhoda, "You seem troubled."
She put her hand on his. "You're talking to your future wife," Rhoda said, "You should be able to tell me these things."
Fiore didn't answer. Rhoda's eyes grew sad. She rested her head on his shoulder and looked at the stars twinkling overhead. "The stars are beautiful," she said. "Yes, they are," Fiore replied, "You want to know something that's even more beautiful?"
"What?" Rhoda asked. "You."
Rhoda sighed happily and kissed his cheek. "When I'm married to you," she said, "I'll be the luckiest and happiest girl in the universe."
Rontu whined. "He says he wants to go to sleep now," Rhoda said. "Bianca's getting tired, too," Fiore said. Rhoda gathered some pine needles to make their beds. They had soon fallen asleep under the stars.