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It quickly became apparent that Bingo's idea of an 'evening stroll' was more like a hike. Lila felt her heart rate rise as the footpath led them up a steep incline. "Um, where are you taking me?"
Bingo smiled brightly. "You'll see." She picked up the pace, though she didn't loosen her grip on Lila's hand. The white dog was struggling to keep up.
"My calves are burning," Lila groaned. The footpath was less defined, and she struggled to navigate the rocky terrain. She definitely wasn't as sure-footed as Bingo, especially now that the light was fading.
Bingo stopped and turned abruptly, causing Lila to collide with her. She smiled mischievously. "Just a little further, and I can rub them better for you."
"Sounds tempting," Lila responded, "but last time you pulled that move on me we almost got kicked out of the botanical gardens."
Bingo giggled at the memory. "Hey, I didn't know there would be a walking tour." She took both of Lila's hands in her own. "And don't worry, for once my intentions are purely innocent."
"Well, that's disappointing," Lila deadpanned. They pressed on up the hill, and the maltese was grateful that she wasn't the one carrying the backpack. "What's in the bag, girl?"
Bingo called back over her shoulder. "Patience, young Lila. All will be revealed."
"Young? You're like 5 weeks older than me!" Lila shot back, though with the way her heart was going she felt like the older dog. She vowed to get back into cardio when the couple were back from their romance trip.
After what felt like years, they finally climbed to the top of the hill. By now the sun had nearly set and the sky was a deep blue. Lila could barely see Bingo in the fading light.
"Here we are." Bingo announced. She unzipped the backpack and unfurled the picnic blanket tucked within.
"So, what's this all about?" Lila asked as Bingo motioned her to sit down.
"Well," Bingo plopped down next to Lila and kissed her on the cheek. "The night is clear and the moon isn't out, so I figured we could do a bit of stargazing."
The two laid back, facing the vast expanse of sky. After a moment of silence Lila stated the obvious. "I can't see any stars, Bingo."
"The sun hasn't finished setting, they'll be out soon, I promise."
Lila rolled onto her side to face Bingo, the red heeler mirroring her actions. "How on earth are we going to pass the time while we wait?" Lila quipped, leaning in for a kiss. There was a chill to the air, so she was grateful for the warmth of the other dog. Though if Bingo continued stroking her fur like this then things would definitely heat up a bit.
Bingo broke the kiss, tipping Lila's gaze back towards the sky.
"So, as we're in the Northern hemisphere the constellations are different to the ones we get back home," Bingo explained.
"Huh," Lila responded. "I didn't think of that but it makes sense." She had to admit her own knowledge of astronomy was patchy at best. Bingo had pointed out the stars to her before, but Lila often struggled to remember the names and orientate herself. She was usually far more distracted by the beautiful dog beside her.
As the sky continued to darken, Lila was finally able to spot her first glowing orb in the sky. "Is that the North star?", she asked.
Bingo chuckled. "That's Venus. It's a planet."
Lila rolled her eyes. "I know what Venus is," though she felt a little embarrassed for not realising.
As her eyes adjusted to the dark, Lila was soon able to make out some stars. Actual stars this time. She pointed to the brightest one she could see.
"Ooh, is that the North Star?"
"No, that's Alioth. It's part of Ursa major, the great bear." Bingo produced a laser pointer, using it to pick out the stars in the constellation.
Lila squinted "It doesn't look like a bear. It's more like a galloping deer, or a water larva."
"Yea, but 'the great water larva' doesn't sound quite so majestic," Bingo commented, stifling a giggle. "I'll grab the binoculars so you can get a better look."
"Wait, you brought binoculars? I didn't realise you were that much of a space nerd." Lila looked on curiously as Bingo pulled them from the backpack.
"Have you met me?" Bingo responded, removing the lens caps and adjusting the focus. She handed the binoculars to Lila, gently pointing them in the right direction for the other dog to get a closer look at the emerging constellation.
"I'll show you how to find Polaris," said Bingo.
"Polaris?" Lila asked as she gazed at the stars through the binoculars.
"The North Star," Bingo clarified. She showed Lila how to trace a line to an emerging star that was barely visible through the lens.
"It's not very bright," Lila observed. "I thought the North Star was the brightest star."
"Nope, that's Sirius, also known as the 'dog star'", Bingo booped Lila's nose. "The North star is not even in the top 20 brightest stars."
Lila wrinkled her nose in confusion. "Well, then what's the big deal with the North Star?"
Bingo grasped Lila's hand, turning towards her. "So," she began, "the stars kind of shift throughout the night as the Earth spins on its axis. And their position changes with the seasons too. Well, all the stars, except for Polaris, the North Star."
Lila would never admit it, she could listen to Bingo geek out about the stars until the cows came home. "How come?", she asked.
"Well, Polaris happens to line up exactly with the celestial pole. So as the planet rotates, it stays in the same place."
"Oh," Lila responded. There was something oddly comforting about such a constant presence in the night sky.
"If you get lost at night," Bingo continued, "you can use the North Star to guide you home."
As if by magic, new stars began to emerge, and soon the inky black sky was awash with twinkling lights. Bingo's enthusiasm bubbled over as she gave Lila a guided tour of the key constellations.
"...and see this sort of w-shaped one? That's Cassiopeia."
Lila smiled. "Hey, wasn't that one of your many aliases when we were little?"
"Oh yea, well remembered." Bingo laughed. "I was a strange child."
"You still are. Strange, I mean." Lila's comment earned her a playful nudge in the ribs.
"And see how the sky is extra twinkly in that bit?" asked Bingo, barely missing a beat as she continued her celestial tour. "Well, that's the milky way."
Lila looked up in awe, struggling to comprehend the infinite vastness of space. She tried to think of something profound to say, but found herself lost for words.
"The stars are pretty," she whispered.
Bingo squeezed her hand. "Not as pretty as you."
A shooting star blazed a trail across the sky as Lila pulled her fiancée in for a kiss. She made a silent wish for more nights just like this.