Mecora paid no attention as they jumped from tree, to tree, to tree, to tree. Instead, her conscience filled her with guilt, the feeling that she ought to be with her family. But another string voice inside told her it was better to be with Spreak. Better to be free. And he supported her, comforted her, loved her.
Mecora stopped at the end of a branch net. Where on earth had that thought come from?!
Spreak had already leapt down to the next branch net. “Mecora! What’s wrong?”
She peered over the edge of the net. “Spreak? Do you love me?”
“Love you? Why are you asking that now?”
“I dunno, I just thought of it.” She paused for an answer, but didn’t get one. “Well, do you?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just answer the question!”
“Okay, fine. I love you. So, can we continue now?”
It was hardly a heartfelt response, but she asked, “You think we’re still in danger?”
“I thought you wanted to get well away from there.”
“I do.”
“Well, We’re not yet where we’re going.”
“Oh.” Carefully, she jumped to the branch Spreak was on, and their travel continued.
Finally, Spreak opened a tree tunnel to a branch to nowhere. Below, there was only water. They had returned to the lake.
“I thought we might stay here for a while. You seemed to like it,” he explained.
“Yeah, I did. I do.” She went out on the branch, about as far as she dared without a net. “It’s even more beautiful from up here.”
“And we can watch sunrises every morning.”
“That sounds romantic, Spreak.”
“Oh, cut that out,” he replied, but he had a big nervous grin on his face.
“I wanna go swimming again.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”

That night, after another rabbit dinner, they settled into their tree hole for the night. She lay to his left as she always did. But instead of falling asleep, Mecora’s thoughts kept her awake, still thinking of her family. She was glad of the darkness as tears rolled down her cheeks. Sniff.
Spreak took her left hand, and held it. That one gesture seemed to open up a floodgate, and with a sob, she rolled to hug him tightly.
She cried herself to sleep.