As he progressed, the strange feeling of being followed and spied on never left him. As he went deeper and deeper into the woods, under the gaze of the round-faced statuettes decorated with little, colorful windmills, he heard small laughs tormenting him. He did not stop, however, continuing on, never leaving the path under any circumstances. He called: Suzume! Suzume! However, all he could hear was the echoed rustling of the reddening October leaves. He had been walking for several hours now, calling to the Sparrow, but it was another creature who crossed his path.

In front of him stood a woman in a fox mask, wearing a long, red kimono with a wide cut that was elegantly embroidered with golden butterflies. The lovely creature emitted a small chuckle, revealing behind her several tails waving in the light, night breeze. Nozomi remained suspicious. Many of the men who had walked through the forest came home telling all sorts of stories, each more incredible than the last, but for the young man in love with a Sparrow, the most incredible creature, he had already experienced the greatest tale.

Without being discouraged, he dared to ask the lovely kitsune for directions.

With a slow gesture, she pointed out a steep path that deviated from the illuminated trail. Tales told about the teasing mood of foxes, and the tricks they liked to play on humans, so it was customary and wise not to believe the words of a kitsune, and yet, it was Nozomi’s only lead.

With his heart racing, the young peasant went away from the main road and ventured into the darkness. The blackness and the impassable state of the path made the advance hazardous, and Nozomi fell more than once. Still, he continued to shout relentlessly, Suzume! Suzume! He wanted so much to see him again.

Wandering blindly and trembling with cold, he gradually lost track of time, but his efforts were rewarded when he saw in the distance, between two trees, a faint glow. He could hear him singing. He ran until he could no longer breathe and his eyes blurred, striking, in his absolute haste, everything that stood in his path.

Numb with cold, he saw the end of his journey – built on the rock of the steep cliff, a golden temple in the middle of the clouds. Following the sound of the melody and the glow of the lantern, he dragged his body to the entrance and collapsed into the arms of the one who had guided him. Nozomi felt at peace.

Putting the lantern down to warmly embrace the exhausted young man, Suzume smiled tenderly at having found his beloved again. He knew that Nozomi would come for him.