56 Chapter 56 Not On The Menu Today (2/2)

”Oh, my Giavanna,” he whispered, pulling her into a hug. ”Don't you worry so much! We'll get to our home eventually, and I'll build us a huge house when we get there.”

”One big enough, that my parents have a room on the opposite side of the house from ours?” she asked with a small smile, remembering his words from earlier.

”Of course! You don't think I want to hear your dad commenting about things, now do you?” he asked, looking mock insulted.

”Oh? And what things would that be?” she asked, half egging him on. Was she the one wanting to hurry things along? Her heart was starting to beat faster again, and her face pinkened in the dark.

”Oh, you!” he laughed, repeating a phrase she and her mother used often, and it surprised her so much, she broke out laughing too.

”I don't want you to ever change, Giavanna. I love you just the way you are.”

His words brought to mind her decision to make herself stronger both physically and mentally. Maybe she didn't need to get stronger, but just to be reminded how strong she already was. Turning to him, she threw both arms around him with a laugh and clung to him tightly.

Vonn grabbed her and leaned back, to keep the two of them from slipping over the edge, laughing as she held him tightly.

”Thank you so much for this Vonn! You have no idea how much I needed a moment to just clear my head and… and remind myself what was important!”

”Oh, my Giavanna! You are the most important thing to me! I know that your family is very important to you, but you will always be my number one! Please don't ever hesitate to come to me when you feel down, or troubled,” he said, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear as she pulled back just enough to look up into his eyes.

”We should probably get back soon, so we don't miss out on eating supper,” she finally said, after several more minutes of sitting with him.

They stood up, taking turns to brush the dirt and debris from each other's backsides, before turning back to the much darker forest to return to the others.

”Um,” said Vonn after a few moments of walking, glancing back behind them and then all around. ”I think we should go that way.”

”Don't tell me the big wood cutter has lost his way in the woods,” she teased as they turned to head towards the others, but after a few moments, he paused again, and a frown creased his perfect face.

”Don't get mad at me if I tell you I'm lost,” he said, turning around to look all around them. ”I guess I was a little distracted being with you that I must have missed the turn to go back with the others.”

”Well, let's just go back the way we've come, and we should find our way again,” she suggested, not worried just yet.

After several turns and back tracking, they finally stopped and looked all around, trying to listen to see if they could hear the others, but there were only the nighttime noises of the forest all around them.

”I didn't think these trees were that big,” said Gia, finally starting to worry a little.

A snap beside them caused them both to jump and swing over to look at what was approaching them. A small, adorable lizard child was approaching them cautiously, brandishing a spear.

With a feeling of relief, Gia and Vonn made their way in the direction the lizard child was guiding them. A few moments later, they broke out of the brush and found themselves at the campsite. However, when the lizard child saw their escort, he seemed to deflate and tried to run away. Their lizard chased him down and brought him back.

”What were you doing in the forest with my humans?” she demanded, holding the child up by the scruff of its neck.

”I wasn't sure if they were edible or not,” he finally admitted, crossing his arms.

”They very much are, and if cooked right, are delicious, but these are mine,” said the lizard that was escorting them. ”Find your own!”