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Jak rolled the truck to an easy stop in a shallow ditch. “We walk from here," he said. “It's not too far." He hopped out of the truck, tail swaying easily behind him. He'd been here before. He knew it well. He slammed the door shut.

Mik had not been here before. He slid out of his seat. Sharp grass pricked the pads of his paws. A stiff prairie wind grabbed at his jacket and tried to pull it from him. He held tight to it. The wind whistled its frustration.

Not a soul was out here but the two of them. Mik turned to face Jak's truck, surrounded by an endless ocean of grass across a gently undulating landscape. For a few seconds, the beam's from Jak's truck illuminated a low fence, the only indicator that even out here, on roads that had transitioned to gravel tens of kilometres ago, and had become significantly more questionable in the last twenty minutes (although that may have only been half a kilometre), there was still something resembling civilization.

When the lights switched off, they were plunged into darkness. From where they stood in the midst of the expanse, to the horizon lost in the inky landscape, not a single light from a city, a village, or even a lone farmhouse greeted him.

He was surprised that even the windmills they'd passed, those silent blinking sentinels flashing red in the night, were invisible. There must have been a hidden hill somewhere.

Mik pressed against the cold metal truck. It was his anchor in the vast emptiness. He did not like how small and vulnerable it made him feel. Almost, he asked Jak if they could do something else. But only almost. He knew Jak had brought him out here for a reason only the wolf knew, and he trusted Jak that it would be worth it.

“Could you help me with the blankets?" Jak asked. The squeal of the tailgate as the wolf lowered it violated his ears. Mik grimaced.

He found his voice. “What all do you need me to carry?"

“Just a blanket. I'll take care of the rest." Mik hoped “the rest" included a flashlight.

Now that his eyes were beginning to adjust to the darkness, he just barely made out the shape of the truck. It was a new moon, but the sky was clear, and the truck's metal glistened with the light from yet-unseen stars.

The stars. What would they be like, out here? He looked up.

And he gasped.

“Beautiful, aren't they?" Jak asked. “Wait until your eyes adjust all the way."

Mik had always thought he could see a lot of stars on the edges of the suburbs. He'd counted hundreds, once, as a child. Now he saw how wrong he was. The stars he knew were like diamonds fixed to the sky, radiantly white and blue and large and impossibly close, so near he felt he could reach out and gather them into his paw. Surrounding them were countless many of all colours, some of which nearly disguised the constellations he'd always thought he'd known.

“I had... no idea."

“It's addictive. They're even more beautiful in the winter, if you can handle the cold."

“I can't see how anything could be more beautiful than this."

Jak laughed quietly. Mik blushed.

“Ready to go? It's only about fifteen minutes from here."

Jak's silhouette moved toward the fence.

“Are you not going to bring a flashlight?"

“No. It'll spoil the view. I've got one blanket. Can you take the other?"

“I can't see where I'm going."

“It's an easy walk. You won't twist your ankle."

“How will I know where to go?"

Jak's silhouette moved away from the fence and toward Mik. The glint of starlight played in his eyes. He reached out to Mik and smiled. “Because I know where to go. Follow me. Step where I step." He put his paw into Mik's. “Or we can walk like this."

Warmth surged from Mik's paw to his chest. He squeezed the wolf's paw. “It would probably be difficult to walk like this."

“Probably. But if it'll help you, we can."

“I can sort of see you," Mik said. “I'll follow."

“I'll go slow. I promise, it's easy." They unclasped paws. Mik balled it into a fist, trying to keep the heat which quickly dissipated in the cool September evening.

Jak's steps were larger than Mik's. He followed cautiously, trying to put his paws where he guessed Jak did, but he did not want to make a wrong step and end up with a twisted ankle, nor did he want to disturb any creature which may have been hiding in the ground.

But the going was easy, and soon Jak came to a stop. “Here is good." He set down his load and began to spread his blanket on the knoll. “Put yours anywhere." Mik rolled his so the long edge overlapped with Jak's. He saw the wolf place something else out. It was small, hardly bigger than a camera bag."

“What's that?"

“Cooler."

“Are you sure we needed a cooler?" Mik asked. “It feels like it's cooling enough, already."

“It never hurts," was Jak's reply. “Thirst catches up on you out here, sometimes. Just some water, nothing too fancy. Feel free to grab some if you need it." He settled onto a blanket and patted the spot beside him. “Join me."

Mik sat on the blanket with his knees at his chest. He held his breath and listened for any noises on the wind. He heard none. “It sure is quiet out here." He brought his nose into the wind and sniffed. Somewhere far away, judging by the faintness of the scent, was a herd of antelope on the prairie. But beyond that, only the sweetness of the grass tickled his whiskers.

“It is. It's nice. Lie down with me." Jak reached for Mik's arm and pulled him down. He wrapped an arm around Mik and drew him close.

“Mmmm." Jak's warmth seeped into Mik's frame. Jak's scent filled his nostrils. It reminded him of wet leaves after a summer shower, and it carried with it a wild, almost spicy bite. “So what did you bring me out here for?"

“Wait, and maybe you'll see."

“Only maybe?"

“You can never be too sure with these things. Nature has its own ideas sometimes. Let's look at the stars." Jak pointed at a moving one overhead. “That's a satellite we'd never see in town." There was an edge to his voice. Something told Mik that Jak was not too thrilled with seeing it out here.

Mik looked up and let himself get lost in the canvas overhead. He tried to count them, but quickly he became disoriented and lost his place. Just as well, anyway. The stars he saw were beyond counting. Something told him trying to count would be obscene. Just enjoy them. Let them be what they are. Mik yawned. “It's awfully late. What if I sleep?"

“Then I'll wake you up before you miss anything."

Mik adjusted himself so his back was to Jak's frame. Jak did not seem to mind, and he nestled in closer. He grabbed Jak's paw in his and brought it to his muzzle. He closed his eyes.

“Are you sure you're okay, Mik?" Jak rumbled.

“Not really." He sighed. “Thanks."

“Is it your sister?"

“No, she's doing well. She's in remission."

“That's good. I bet that makes you glad."

“The doctors want to keep a close eye on her for a while, but yeah. Yeah it does."

There was a moment of silence between them. Jak waited patiently for an answer. Mik was not sure he wanted to break the stillness of the moment. He began to stroke the digits on Jak's paw. “How much longer?"

“Hmm? How much longer?"

“Well... you know." As he said the words, Mik wasn't sure even he knew what he meant.

Jak turned on his side and brought Mik into his chest. “Long enough to enjoy the night with you." Jak's voice reverberated into Mik's body. He was so strong, so gentle, so... soft. “And quite a few more nights, if you want them."

“Can we just focus on tonight?"

“Is that what you want? I don't mind talking about it."

Mik brought Jak's paw to his mouth and kissed it. “No. It's okay."

“Then let's enjoy the night together."

Mik let himself relax into the wolf's bigger frame. He was always there, so firm and so sure. And so warm. Drowsiness passed over him, and his breathing became even.

He was not sure how long they were like this, before Jak nudged him. “Hey, Mik? Look up."

“Hmm?" Mik blinked and rolled onto his back. A milky haze of greyish white flickered in the sky, the stars shining vividly behind them. “What's that?"

Jak ignored the question asked and answered one of his own. “Let's watch for a while, see how they dance."

Mik gazed at the sky, mesmerized, as the haze grew in intensity and took on a greenish hue. He gasped as it split into curtains which waved and shimmered in the air, seemingly so close he could reach, and towering beyond comprehension. “Jak, this is incredible."

“Eh, I've seen more impressive displays."

“No, Jak. This is amazing. I've never seen anything like this." He rolled so he faced Jak. Their whiskers briefly touched. “Oh," he said, turning away. “Sorry."

“I like this," Jak said. “Stay this way." Their muzzles brushed each other again, deliberately this time, and Jak's lingered. “If you're cold, we can wrap the blankets."

“That's okay," Mik said. “I'm warm enough." He nestled his head below Jak's, his paw on Jak's chest.

And there they lay as the skies danced above them.