Mm. I remember last year... after the moon disappeared, the stars began disappearing too, and I felt really weak. I haven't seen that happen yet, but it might still be related to this time of year.

[If this sounds convincing, it's because it's actually the truth -- though he'll leave out the part where he started to disappear when it happened.]

I don't live too far from here, at least. We can take a shortcut down this way.

["This way" being a deserted alley. Though considering the monsters filling the main streets, this could theoretically be safer.]