Black Woods, Blue Sky

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death. 

The day after her hike, Birdie awakens sore and overwhelmed by everything that happened, including Arthur’s declaration of love. Syd sent books for Emaleen, and she is anxious to read them. Arthur is gone, so Birdie and Emaleen take baths outside and wash their clothes. Suddenly, they see a bear approaching them from the woods. Birdie sees that it has a scarred face. They slowly back into the cabin, and Birdie gets her gun. The bear sticks its head in the window, and Birdie prepares to shoot it. Emaleen cries, and the bear escapes just in time. Birdie is spooked and boards up the windows. They spend the next few days locked inside the dark cabin, reading Emaleen’s books. Syd sent Treasure Island, but Emaleen doesn’t like it, so Birdie reads it to herself.

Birdie feels safe enough to sit on the porch, but she keeps her gun nearby. Arthur returns, saying that he’s been fishing, and Birdie wishes that he’d brought home fish for them. She tells him about the bear, and Emaleen wonders if some