Submission (#1363) Approved

Solar Flare might have grown up in the endless spring of Faerindell but they had spent so much time in the eternal darkness of Silveil that they had almost forgotten what the daylight was like. The warm rays of the noontime sun were beating down upon the red and orange kittom without a second thought as the refreshing winds from upon the Sunshard Island blew their short hair across their vision. They walked into the wind, swaying back and forth as if each step was choreographed by a beautiful melody. The kittom could get used to the melody of the breeze here but first, they had something important to do.

Behind them they could hear the roar of the waterfalls in the distance, coming off the mountain of the floating island. It was hushed by the distance between them but the sound was carried along through the wind like a melody. It was a weird sound, not something the kittom heard in any of the other regions they'd been in before. It wasn't a bad sound, but listening to moving currents of the water and the splashing of the water as it fell down upon itself, clashing with the air and creating a mist in the process was something unusual for the kittom.

Growing up in Faerindell, Solar Flare had spent a lot of time at Whimsy's daycare. In addition to the fae-like kyunru that worked at the daycare with Whimsy, there was also a kittom, the same age as Solar Flare, who they had followed into the woods one day. It was there that Solar Flare had witnessed something spectacular, something they never would have thought of before that moment. There was fae in the world! It left Solar Flare in a bit of awe when they thought about how the fae moved through the air but also they were cautious of the tales. That meant that coming into a foreign place, someplace as ancient as Kyendi, Solar Flare wanted to do it right.

The kittom had brought these gelatinous snacks with them, a delicacy from Silveil City that Solar Flare was particularly fond of, as well as some starflowers. It was both a call back to their time in Silveil City, and their hometown of Faerindel which was overrun with flowers all year round. They had brought these items with them to create a faerie ring but Solar Flare had never done it before. They had heard of the time that Cookie and Pastel had done so when they were kittoms but that was simply through word of mouth than actual experience.

The wind blew harshly, much harder than before, and Solar Flare pressed their face into the wind as they tried to walk forward. They didn't know where to create their offering at. Was there a special place to do it? Was time a factor? Was there a wrong way to do it? Solar Flare didn't have the know-how to do it but that wasn't the most pressing matter at the moment. How would they do it here with the wind as strong as it was? Surely, there was some other place where it was protected from the wind and their ring wouldn't just blow away! It meant going further into the forest.

They looked out across the horizon, looking at the other Sunshard Isles with a moment of interest. How did the land float in the sky like that? What had the tour guides say when they first arrived here? That the islands were lifted into the air by massive deposits of crystals in the earth? Were they called Sunshard Crystals? They didn't want to get too close to the edge, knowing that while the island might float, they did not, and even though no one else was here, they felt compelled to do so. Why? It just felt like someone was calling them a chicken. They weren't chicken! They could definitely walk right up to the edge, no fear! It's not like... they could fall off...

Solar Flare walked closer, bag in tow, edging themselves closer and closer to the end of the island. They knew what was down there but they hadn't ever seen it before. They could see mountains for as far as the eye could see, waterfalls flowing below them and a thick mist coming off of it. Solar Flare thought about how the water that flowed out from his island must all eventually end up below here, feeding into the waterfalls that carried through the region.

Across the sky, nearly on the same level as where Solar Flare stood, was another floating island in the distance. It was small but very tall with mountains reaching up into the sky and a large waterfall between them, feeding into a river through the middle of the island and the river flowed over the edge. They leaned over, trying to get a better view of it.

"Oh, please be careful," a soft voice called.

Solar Flare wasn't startled by it, mostly because the voice was incredibly soft and unthreatening. It simply caused Solar Flare to back up, and then turn around. The red kittom voice themselves looking at an adult elnin, standing bipedal in a dress with what looked to be bunny socks on their feet. The elnin was rather lean with a pale coat and long hair with bows in it. They had a basket and a cape, and they stood there with a concerned look on their face.

"Who are you?" Solar Flare demanded, sounding rather sassy in the process.

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Hypnos. I came over to Kyendi to collect some herbs for my shop in Silveil City before the season changes. What's your name, little one?"

Solar Flare seemed suspicious. Why would someone need to collect herbs in another region? Weren't they all the same everywhere you went?

"I'm Solar Flare. Why would you come so far just for herbs?" They asked, not entirely sold.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Solar Flare. I'm afraid it's because these particular don't grow in that climate. They need a lot of sunlight, you see, and Silveil is sorely missing that."

Solar Flare couldn't deny that Silveil lacked sunlight. Okay, solid.

"If you know plants then maybe... you see..." Solar Flare was still a little embarrassed to admit it, and even more so to ask for help. "Do you know if the fae like Silveil Starflowers?"

Hypnos smiled softly, the pieces slowly coming together.

"Oh, are you here to give an offering to the fae? Those starflowers don't grow here. I'm sure the fae would love them!"

Solar Flare's face lit up, a lot more than they had intended it to. They clutched their bag and hurried over to Hypnos, showing them the flowers with excitement, along with the snacks.

"Oh, are you from Silveil then?" Hypnos asked Solar Flare. It was, after all, a very thematic offering.

"I... no... yes... um... sort of?" Solar Flare might have been there for as long as they had been in Faerindell but they still considered themselves from Faerindell. It was, after all, where their family was. Or well, where Miss Whimsy was. Lavender was also there, but Solar Flare's thought of that was buried deep in their mind where the obvious nature of their feelings toward her was buried under a thick layer of denial.

"I wanted to make a faerie ring since I just arrived. I thought maybe they'd bless my journey... it's stupid!"

"Not at all! Perhaps you'd like me to help you? I've made a faerie ring or two during my journeys."

Solar Flare was ecstatic but they didn't let it show.

"If you want." Play it cool, Solar Flare, play it cool.

It was rather simple, Solar Flare discovered. All you had to do was arrange a circle, made of anything (Hypnos had suggested they use rocks as it was rather windy) and then place your offering inside. Solar Flare would have made a circle with the items they'd brought, and never put anything in the middle. With everything set up, Solar Flare offered one of the extra snacks to Hypnos.

"Oh, thank you!" Hypnos said, accepting the gift happily. After all, who could deny such a gift?