Crazy circumstances were the norm for them, so it really shouldn't have been that much of a surprise that, being removed from them, things settled into something calm and comfortable. Eventually Terra left her spoon sticking in the dessert as well; it formed a sort of leaning cross with his, crossing paths at certain angles without touching. As for Terra, she leaned back with palms into the dirt, eyes turning to the canopy. Cool sunlight fell through numerous gaps in the tree cover, budding spring leaves not developed enough to provide complete cover. Birds sang some unfamiliar song, and wind rustled the branches.

The silence between them was long and comfortable, but for it, Terra was left mostly with her thoughts for company. Her eyes turned from the sky to Zelgadis, her confusion from earlier returning in a slow wave. The conclusion she'd come to before — that this was some sort of echo of her birthday celebration, only suited to fit his —- didn't seem to fit anymore. If that wasn't the case, she wondered, why go to all this trouble? She appreciated it, sure, she liked that he had, and brought her along for it. It was nice, but for the life of her, she couldn't find a reason for it.

Was there one?