Sophia picked at the leaf-lantern net. The net was several leaves joined; all she had to do was stick the burning twigs in and fold the leaves up, before tying them up at the top. Leaving a tiny gap, of course, so it could be lit later on. It had been three whole days since the funeral, but her emotions were as raw as the day Zenaida had died. Seventy-two hours had passed, and she didn't feel any better. All she had thought about over the past few days was Zenaida.

The leaf lantern was very cleverly made. There was a special cup made of a special difficult-to-burn plant to contain the twigs as they burned, so the leaf container wouldn't burst into flames immediately. As the leaf floated upwards, the cup material would eventually catch fire and burn away so then the rest of the leaves would follow, and not fall down somewhere and set something alight. Whoever had devised it was a genius, clearly. Rosaline. That was her name. The mother of Eduardo and Mimi had come up with the Festival of Stars, and the lantern idea.

"Hey." Sophia was stirred out of her thoughts by Roberto's voice. She glanced up. "You've been sitting there for a few moments, are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine... just tired." She, Roberto and a few others were part of a group of volunteers who made the lamps a few hours prior. She volunteered every year, but this year, she almost hadn't. But when Roberto had announced he was going, she had decided to go. Not only did she want her mind off Zenaida, but she had to get away from her psycho brother. Jespa was desperate to get her on her own, she could tell. He didn't dare approach her when someone was with her, but whenever he saw her alone, Jespa would rush her way. Sophia would quickly find somebody to talk to, so he wouldn't be able to bother her.

Jespa was growing more and more unstable. Zenaida's demise had triggered something within him - he had already been deteriorating before the event, but now he was at boiling point. He was just like a volcano, or a bomb - she was terrified he would soon explode. From their position in a sandy cliff hollow, she could see him arguing with Morgana, criticizing her over the funeral - apparently it hadn't been good enough.

"-it's an abomination!" He declared, furiously.

"Jespa..." Morgana held up her wings. "I don't care if you don't like Roberto's name on the marker. It's there, and that's how it's going to stay. It was decreed that once a marker is down, it's down. That reminds me - because you vandalized Andre's marker, it'll have to be recarved! How could you be so thoughtless?"

"You know what's thoughtless? Her idiotic decision to place her boyfriend's name on my mother's marker! It's defacing!"

"Does anyone else hear a whining drone?" Asked Jewel, sitting a few feet away with Blu, who was tying off a lantern. Blu flashed a worried look at Sophia, obviously concerned that she would be offended. Sophia shook her head, to show that she was fine with it. Jewel, meanwhile, returned to her lantern. "Oh, I haven't done this for so long." Jewel sighed, deeply. "I only made one once, when I was little."

"I remember that first one." Roberto said, fondly. "I had been in the tribe for only two weeks. Oh, Blu - let me tell you a story about the time Jewel accidentally pushed Mimi into a pond..." as Roberto began telling the hilarious story, Sophia heard a frustrated complaint.

"This is so annoying!" Complained Tiago. The four adults were joined by Bia and Tiago, while Carla was playing with Carlos's son, Augustus, and a few other kids. Tiago had little patience, but even with Bia's added help the two small chicks were finding it difficult to make just one lantern. It kept falling apart.

"Just hold that bit there -" Bia squeaked, stretching up to try and keep the leaves together, but then the lighting twigs came tumbling out. "Oh, no!" She grumbled, trying to reach them with her left talon, but then Tiago lost his grasp on one side. The entire thing fell to the floor, yet again. She glared at Tiago. "Well done."

"Hey, it wasn't my fault!" Tiago protested. Sophia, for the first time in days, felt a smile forming. Placing her lantern net to the side, Sophia rose to her feet as the two chicks started bickering.

"Hey, come on, that's enough." She said, crossing the gap between them and her. Bia and Tiago turned, from their arguing.

"She started it -" Tiago began, accusingly.

"It doesn't matter who started it." Sophia reminded him, before sitting. "What seems to be the problem? Can't get your lantern to keep together?"

"No." Bia sighed. "It just keeps falling to pieces." Sophia smiled.

"Would you like me to help you?" She asked, and the two nodded gratefully.

"Yes please!" They chirupped, in unison.

"Okay. How about I fold up the leaves, Tiago puts in the burning twigs, and Bia ties it up?" She suggested. As the two chicks nodded, Sophia took the edges of the leaves. "Bia, would you mind lifting the other two, for just a moment?"

"Sure!" Bia quickly picked up the other two, pulling them up to meet the remaining leaves Sophia had. Sophia was then able to hold all four ends together, as Bia let go, and reached for the tying vine. Tiago, meanwhile, stuffed the twigs through the gap, into the holder. Bia wrapped the vine around the top, and after a few moments, had it tied in a neat double-knot.

"Awesome!" Tiago declared, before beaming at her. "Thank you, Sophia!"

"Yes, thank you!" Bia repeated. "Can you help us make another?"

"I don't see why not." Sophia said, warmly. Her heart, for the first time in days, was warm, like her words, and now, the warmth was spreading to her eyes. She loved children - it was the thing Jespa knew she wanted most, the thing he knew would maximize her happiness. He'd do anything to keep that from her. No wonder he chased away her boyfriends. But as she helped Bia and Tiago with a second lantern, thoughts of Jespa were forgotten.

"Roberto? You were saying?" Blu asked. Roberto jumped, realizing he had been watching the scene.

"Sorry, I got distracted..." His voice hushed, full of admiration, and something else. "Isn't she great with kids?" He said it almost longingly. Both Blu and Jewel knew how much Roberto wanted children; but they noticed something else significant.

"Yes, she is." Jewel agreed. She looked knowingly at Blu. "Blu, don't you think you've seen the look in his eyes before? I think I have. We've been together for four years, and we both know when someone's in love." Roberto jolted, and snapped his head up, in surprise. How had they guessed?

"Love?"

"Yes, Roberto! I've seen that look so many times. It's how my dad used to look at my mom; how Rafael looks at Eva; how Blu looks at me -" Blu went cerise, but he was wearing a goofy smile, as Jewel kissed him on the cheek. "Honestly, Roberto. I think you're both a lot more than friends."

"What, me and Sophia? Get out of the ravine..." but there was no denying it. His flaming cheeks and embarrassed tone were obvious.

"I think she's right. Jewel has very good judgement." Blu added. Roberto glanced at Sophia, where she and the two chicks were starting to make a third lantern. It seemed so natural, for Sophia - the way she was acting with the kids, she was so comfortable and at ease. Despite the tragedy that had occurred not long ago, Sophia was smiling again. To see her happy made his heart soar.

Her happiness wasn't the only thing that made him happy. Just hearing her voice, seeing her dazzling eyes, was enough to brighten any mood. It made his heart flutter like a butterfly's wings. It wasn't just recently - if anything, he'd always felt something for her. I can't deny it to myself any longer. I love her, don't I?

"I have to tell her." He whispered, half to Blu and Jewel, and half to himself. The couple looked warmly at each other.

"You should." Jewel encouraged. They all looked at Sophia, who hadn't heard the conversation, for she was occupied with Bia and Tiago, as well as them speaking in hushed tones. Roberto rested his chin on his wings, unable to keep his eyes off her. He wanted to tell her right now, but this wasn't the right time. Under her increasingly positive exterior, she was likely still feeling blue over Zenaida. He'd wait, at least until after the festival was over. It was tonight - he was sure he could wait until tomorrow.