The night was chilly, yet clear and the dark velevet horizon above was jewelled with twinkling stars. Cicadas were chirping merrily as Harpalike gazed uo, on the limitless yonder, dreaming, recollecting.

She was soon joined by a fellow traveller.

"Harpalike? May I perhaps join you?", a deep male voice asked

She simply nodded in response, never turning to look at her unexpected companion.
They sat there together, on the edge of a hill, silently watching the stars.

"I have not done that in years, not since I left home. But when i was a child, my father used to bring me outside, to the garden behind our house, and under the careful scrutiny of the stars, he would tell me unforgettable tales.", she finallly whispered.

He watched her gently sculpted profile and wondered at the sadness emanating from her face. He decided to answer for sincerity bore sincerity and this was trully a night as if created for tales.

"My father never told me tales, we would not sit under the sky and listen to his stories. He never had any to tell, anyway. There were four sibilings in my family, all we had to do was learn to survive"

This made her finally look down at her companion;s face. What he saw there was not sympathy he loathed nor pity he had been ltaught to hate even more, but a glimmer of understanding. Or was it the light of the stars shining there?

"Would you like to hear my tales? You and others, I mean", she corrected herself.

Her sudden uneasiness earned her a heartfelt smile. Yet he left it at that, teasing would have to wait for another time. And there would be plenty in the forthcoming days. They had been travelling together, 20 people, for more than a week now Where were they heading? How long would they travel together?

And who could know where fate would lead them?

"We would be honoured to hearken your stories, Harpalike. but perhaps not here, as the night is cold. Why don't we come inside? You will warm up by the fire and then all of us will be glad to listen. "

Having clearly decided it was a good plan ,she stood up and nodded.

"Let us go then ,for indeed it is too cold out here".