Unaware of his followers, Toby arrived at Luna's house and scratched at the door. Please be here, he thought. He heard the clicking of toenails, followed by a gasp from the window. He looked just in time to catch a glimpse of Luna ducking out of sight. A moment later he heard scratching from within. Someone opened the door, and Luna stepped out.

"Toby," she said, talking fast. "I am so sorry about this afternoon. I swear I didn't…"

"Whoa, hey, calm down," said Toby, putting a paw over her muzzle. "Listen, I've been thinking, and we need to talk. Come on, let's go somewhere quiet." He turned and started to walk away, and Luna started to follow. "No, no, no," said Toby, looking back. "Look, just walk on the other side of the street, okay?"

"But―"

"Trust me," he insisted.

With no idea of what else to do, Luna moved to the other side of the street and followed Toby to the edge of town. Toby didn't stop until they were out among the snowy hills. Then he motioned for Luna to come over.

"Toby," Luna began again, "I'm sorry about what I said today. I wasn't thinking clearly, and it all came out wrong." She swallowed. "Are we still friends?"

"Always," he said with a smile. "And about this other thing…" took a deep breath. "Do you…actually like me? In a romantic sense?"

Luna gulped. "Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, I just want to say that I think we should just try being friends―for now," he added as Luna's ears drooped. "And then, well, we can see what happens. But no rushing into anything, understand? I don't want any pressure for either of us."

Luna looked surprised. "Whoa," she said. "Did you rehearse that or something?"

Toby shook his head. "I've just been thinking a lot, that's all. Also, I got some advice from my dad."

Luna nodded. "I've sort of been getting some help from my mom. But I guess it didn't go as well as your dad's advice."

"Well, that's gratitude for you," Taya muttered to Copper as they listened from behind a snowdrift.

"Shh," whispered Copper. "Quiet."

"You think we should cancel the light show?" asked Taya.

Copper shook his head and smiled mischievously. "Not on your life."

"Well, you did freak me out this afternoon," Toby continued, unaware of the eavesdroppers. "But that was partly because of Pete."

"Pete?"

"Yeah. See, he's been teasing me all week about having a 'girlfriend,' so…"

"What?" asked Luna, her ears shooting up in shock. "Do you mean to tell me that you already―"

"No, no, nothing like that," Toby said quickly. "He's been saying that you were my girlfriend, so when you actually suggested it…"

"Oh, no." Luna seemed poised somewhere between laughing and being upset. "I didn't realize." After a moment's reflection she asked, "Is that why you've been getting into so many fights?"

"Yeah, I guess it is."

"Oh, Toby! That is so sweet!"

"Well, not exactly," Toby answered uncertainly. "But I guess if you want to look at it that way…"

Luna blushed. "That's very flattering," she said.

Toby was beginning to feel a little strange. "Yeah," he said. "My dad said the same thing about you liking me. That it was flattering, I mean."

"Never mind how your dad feels about it," said Luna. "How do you feel about it? How would you feel about it if it wasn't for Pete's teasing?"

Toby got a smug look on his face. "It would take some kind of cosmic event to get me to tell you that."

As fate would have it, the Northern Lights appeared right at that instant. Luna stared at them for a moment, then smiled at him. "You were saying?"

Toby scowled. Just my luck, he thought contemptuously. "Well…" he said, looking everywhere except at Luna. If dogs could sweat, he would have been drenched. "I guess the truth is that I kind of like you too."

Luna raised her eyebrow. "Is that what you really think, or just what you think I want to hear?"

"No, no, I really mean it. You're fun, and smart, and nice, and…" He saw the reflected lights mixing with the usual sparkle of her eyes. "And kind of pretty."

Her eyes widened slightly. "Really?"

Toby shook his head. "No, scratch that. You're not pretty, you're beautiful!"

Luna smiled and sprang forward, throwing her front legs around Toby's neck. Toby briefly considered trying to slip out of her grasp, then changed his mind and returned the hug.

Taya nudged one of the stray pieces of glass into the shaft of lantern light, adding a sliver of green to the display. Then she looked at Copper, who was peeking over the top of the hill. "How's it going?"

Copper smiled back at her. "I think they'll get along just fine."

"In what sense?" asked Taya.

Copper knew what she meant. "Don't worry, I think we can trust them to use their heads. But as far as their friendship goes, I'd say our work here is done."