All the people from Rueda who were in Hazada's assembly and some more went down to Rueda for a joyful walk with Ariel and Bjorn. In Rueda everybody was waiting at the door, except for the injured people. Even those who had nursing shifts were absent for a couple of minutes for the reception. Expect for Xurde, who was anxiously busy cleaning the food pots. Yanael and Azurai were radiant, and although they didn't get along particularly well, at that moment they almost felt like lovers. Bjorn ran towards them, and the whole group united in an absurdly spectacular hug. Ariel felt a little apart, because they had only spent three days in Rueda before the disappearance. They returned to the kitchen, where Ariel and Bjorn were given a central place, were offered more food and crucified with questions. Xurde continued cleaning the stoves and pots as if there would be no tomorrow.

 

–It has been a great adventure! –Everyone was waiting to know what had happened all these days.– We went into the forest. We started eating figs, and after spending the night in the meeting center, we decided that we would live like the last humans, returning to the treetops, like our ancestors. –The public listened with great joy.

 

–The first thing we did was building a tree house! It took us several days, but beyond the fig tree we found leafy trees under which it did not rain – Ariel said. Aramo was stunned and gave their absolute attention to the story.

 

–With small branches and large leaves, and with mud from the ground, it turned out very well!

 

–We ate figs and the first berries of autumn.

 

–One day, while we were walking through the forest, we found a dead squirrel. Since we had planned to spend the winter in the forest, we decided that we should go back to the origins of humanity and eat corpses.

 

Everyone uttered a solemn and surprised “Ooooh!”

 

–It didn’t taste very good, but it was better that we got used to it –Ariel pointed out.

 

–Then it started to rain very hard and there was a huge storm, and the rain penetrated the tree. –Bjorn glared at Xurde, who was still rearranging the pots loudly. Xurde responded with exhausted, glassy eyes.

 

–The following days were dedicated to rebuilding the house, but we were lacking in strength. And also it started to rain again. We held out for a few more days, but the figs were already running out and the berries we had picked were spoiled. We were cold. –Xurde finally finished making noise and approached the table.

 

–And then I started bleeding from my vagina. –Everybody started laughing. Xurde sat down, collapsing on the bench next to Aramo, who nudged them affectionately.

 

–That's when I told Ariel that it was time to go home, because it was ok that we had to eat other animals, but this was already too much. Because that's why we have our technological advances, which allow us to get rid of these discomforts. We realized that at the end of the day we are human, and we can no longer live in nature, and we decided to return to Rueda.

 

Then they continued telling many other details, to an absolutely ecstatic audience that prepared and handed them the most exquisite delicacies. Xurde listened to them for a while, but they had no energy left and their eyes kept closing down. They had not slept for several days. They got up in the mist and went to the living room, where they collapsed on a couch.

 

At the end of the sunset the people went to the dance hall to celebrate, while Azurai finished feeding the children and cleaned up the kitchen. Bjorn was finally satiating and Ariel had fallen asleep with their little hands resting on the table. Azurai prepared a room for Ariel, took them in their arms and carried them to bed. Bjorn entered the living room. Xurde half–opened their eyes and sat up on the sofa. They looked at each other for a long time. Bjorn ran towards Xurde and they merged in an eternal hug. Xurde lay down again and they stayed like that until they fell asleep.

 

Bjorn dreamed that they were with Xurde and Ariel on a beautiful lake covered in roses under the moonlight. The water was warm and clear and the stars were reflected on the water. The petals of the roses touched their skin. The stars began to detach themselves from the sky and became small points of light that settled on the water, while their bodies floated weightlessly.

 

Xurde dreamed that Erendi wanted to eat Bjorn and pursued them through the ruins of Hazada, which closing had never finished. Erendi and Bjorn were laughing and chasing each other as if playing, but Erendi had a knife in their back and Bjorn didn't know it. Bjorn started to move and Xurde woke up in fright. Xurde carried Bjorn in their arms to their room.

 

Bjorn whispered between a sigh – Stay the night with me. –Xurde covered Bjorn with two good blankets.

 

–Not tonight.

 

Both Bjorn, Xurde and Ariel slept for two whole days. Meanwhile, the work in Hazada was advancing at a dizzying pace.