Wait for me at the fountain. – Ariel nodded and left the house. They approached the dance house and watched Xurde dance for a long time through a window, without being seen. Xurde played melancholic piano music and stretched their limbs in all directions, writhing in the ground and emerging like a swan to jump and fall again, their body gradually brighter and moister. Ariel was entranced by their image, brown skin and elongated bones, which looked like they could break at every turn under the weight of vaporous movements.
When Ariel arrived at the fountain Bjorn was already there.
– It's so nice the way Xurde dances, right?
– Yes, it is wonderful to watch. – Bjorn had brought three glasses, in case Xurde got tired of dancing and wanted to toast the moonlight.
– Who taught them? – asked Ariel with a certain hint of envy.
– No one is capable of teaching Xurde anything – Bjorn laughed. – They like to do everything apart from the rest. When no one cooks, they cook. When no one dances, they dance. When no one studies, they study. That's why everyone respects them so much. They say that they are the spirit of the group. Xurde is still too young for that, but lately it has gotten on their head, and they actually even poses it a bit.
– Hahaha! – Bjorn handed Ariel the glass of wine and poured the three glasses, raising theirs towards Ariel.
– For the full moon!
– For the full moon – Ariel answered with a hint of melancholy.
– Why this melancholy, Ariel? Does it bother you that your people in Gaviota may worry about you?
– No… I mean, yes, maybe I could have just said I wanted to leave. In Gaviota they have never given me that freedom to feel like I could leave whenever I wanted. Maybe here the customs are a little more open. In Gaviota almost everyone has been there for many years. Maybe here people move more, I don't know... – Bjorn put their hand on Ariel's knee and leaned on their shoulder, watching the moon and taking another good gulp of wine.
– I'm dying to see the sea. Feeling the body getting wet and the whip of the currents between the waves...nothing to do with a simulation...just the real things are real.
– Ha ha ha! The sea in Setúbal is very cold! If you go now you will have to wait for next summer to be able to swim!
– I don't mind. I'll wait. –Ariel squeezed Bjorn and sunk their hands under the roots of Bjorn’s thick black hair. Bjorn caressed their belly and put the hands under Ariel’s clothes.
– Your hair smells so good!
– How soft your skin is!
– I want to take off these clothes.
– Yes, do it!
Ariel grabbed Bjorn's hand while covering their entire face with their hair.
While Ariel and Bjorn touched each other and enjoyed themselves under the moonlight, Aramo was returning from their walk through the forest, where they had summoned all the particular forces of nature to guide them wisely, and to provide for the well–being of Rueda, Quilcué, and all regions. It had been a languid evening. Contrary to their custom, they had barely raised their voice in the forest, and as much as they concentrated on listening to each of the sounds of animals and plants, they could barely harvest a handful of words without thread. Not that Aramo vainly assumed that the forest would open up just like that, offering answers, but they were aware of that perhaps they were indeed looking for them, and for that reason they had abandoned the forest with a touch of disappointment. They told themselves to be more humble, and not been eager for their mind to reply the questions their body could not ask. Going down the slope, from afar, Aramo saw Bjorn and Ariel enjoying themselves, and decided to change the route avoiding the fountain.