Blake attempted to fold the tablecloth as he watched Tori giggle at the fact that she had just accidentally splashed Cam while rinsing a plate off. He smiled as Cam chastised her and continued to carry the leftovers to the fridge. Blake straightened out the cloth and tried again to make neat folds. It had been a good time. He and Tori had really had fun together for several hours. He had been so distracted by this time with Tori that he had missed when Cam, Sensei, and Sensei Hiro had left. He had also missed Hunter leaving. He usually didn’t miss stuff like this. So it was a big shock when he saw Hunter strut back in and tap him on the shoulder, reaffirming their plans. It was even a greater shock when Cam and his elders strolled in a few hours later, Cam announcing that since everyone was still here, they could help with the clean up.

The times were good. It had almost cleared away the loneliness he had felt for months while he’d been on the road. His visits were so few. He knew Tori felt it too. How long could they keep up this long distance romance? He had been close to trying to fix it. He wasn’t about to give up, but he knew something had to be done. This wasn’t fair to her. This wasn’t fair to him. He was going to have to try to get home more. He was going to have to try to make more time for her.

Blake looked down at the tablecloth again. It had looked better before he had started, in the crumpled wad he had found it in. He shook his head.

“You know, I am just going to take it to the washer. You don’t have to fold it.”

Blake looked up at Cam suddenly, and blinked. “You’re serious?”

Cam chuckled and shook his head.

Hunter appeared over Cam’s shoulder. He whispered something to Cam. Cam nodded. He looked at his brother. Blake suddenly understood. It was time. He handed the crumpled tablecloth to Cam and slid over beside Tori.

Coming up behind her he raised his lips to her ear and whispered, “Are you busy tonight?”

She shook her head slowly, pausing in her dish washing. He saw a smile had begun to grow across her face.

“Meet me at the old rock on the hill, at sunset? And then maybe we can catch a bite and chill after that?”

She emphatically shook her head. It was set.

Blake watched as Tori approached. The last bit of the sun wrapped her in a gold glow as it dipped down below the trees. Her face was beaming, until she saw Dustin was helping him man the bonfire. Her face dropped to a polite smile as she continued to approach. She glanced from Blake to Dustin and back to Blake again.

“So, what’s going on here? Camping attempt number two? If so, you’re really roughing it with no tents even this time.” Her eyes widened at her attempt at humor.

“Precisely what I would like to know.” Cam’s voice echoed from behind Tori.

“You’ll see.” Blake stood, and tensely walked over to Tori. “We’re still on for later, I hope. I swear it will be just you and me. But this has to be first.”

She looked at him and smiled. Blake relaxed. She’s giving him a chance to explain. She still trusts him. She’s still his girl.

“So, what’d I miss?” Shane chimed in as he strolled into the light. Blake turned and smiled at him.

“Nothing, man. You’re not late for once.” Blake chuckled as he drew Tori over to the fire. She stepped to the side and began to examine the small, fresh-cut, pine tree sitting off to the side. He watched her go, and didn’t break his gaze until he heard Hunter approaching.

“Hey, bro? You got it?” The crimson one’s voice broke the new silence as he crossed into the ring of light created by the bonfire.

“Yeah…” Blake reached into his backpack and began withdrawing what he needed. He handed the items to Hunter and turned toward the fire, collecting his thoughts.

Hunter began to hand a pencil and paper to each of them. Blake cleared his voice. “Many years ago, Sensei Omino started a tradition with us. We needed something to get us through the times when everyone went home to their families. He had found that a few cultures observed this tradition. Usually we do this with him. But this year, we asked if we could do it with you guys, in honor of what we were and what we are now. He told us that he knows we had bonded with you through all of the battles against Lothor and he agreed that this was a good thing for us to do.

“Did you do this last year?” Shane looked perplexed at his pencil and paper.

“No.” Hunter turned to Shane. “We were still too stressed about Sensei Omino being gone.”

“Dudes, why’s it just us?” Dustin spoke more to the fire than to the group. “What about Sensei, and Sensei Hiro…. and … Marah?”

“Sorry Dustin,” Hunter stepped closer to Dustin as he spoke. “This is for us, this time. For the ones who were fighting side by side against Lothor. For the ones who became rangers. Next year… next year… Marah and Kapri,” Hunter glanced at Cam, “Sensei, Sensei Hiro, and… Mei Lien…” Hunter glanced at Tori, “Tally?” Hunter finally looked to his brother again, “and Sensei Omino…. can all be here.” He nodded as he said that. Blake smiled, because he knew it had been decided… right there.

“So, what do we do?” Tori whispered.

“Write a wish, a hope, a dream, or a prayer for the coming year on the piece of paper. Then you tie it to the tree over there.”

Blake knew exactly what he was going to write, so he wrote quickly and then raised his head to watch all of the others. All of the head were bowed… a few nodded occasionally. Cam glanced at Hunter for a second, and then continued writing. Dustin had a big goofy grin on his face. Tori strolled over to the tree. Blake followed. They both tied their notes on the tree at the same time.

After the others had tied their notes to the tree, Dustin looked around. “So what do we do now?”

“We burn it!” Hunter smiled. He looked very mischievous lit by the firelight. He grabbed the tree and hoisted it onto the fire.

“I don’t quite understand this.” Cam removed his glasses and began to polish the lenses with his shirt as the smoke billowed and rose.

“I would have thought you would have got it first, Zen boy!” Hunter gave a lopsided smile. “We are offering our dreams to the cosmos… so it can fulfil them in the coming year.”

Cam nodded and smirked at Hunter.

Blake smiled as he skirted the fire’s edge, coming up beside Tori. He took a deep breath and slowly inched his arm around her shoulders. She leaned up against him. They watched their dreams rise into the air. It was going to be a good year.