Submission (#1834) Approved

    Rays of morning light filtered through the pink and green treetops onto the forest floor where Hawthorn lay. Hawthorn had curled up in a pile of soft pink petals that had fluttered downwards, sneezing once after inhaling one. He found himself dozing most his days away among the faerie shrouds since the nights had lengthened as a result of winter rolling in. He rolled over, wincing once from the dull pain in his chest. It was a wonder to him that, despite his mana sickness, he was mostly okay save for what was similar to a phantom pain caused from his encounter with the witch seasons ago.

    He straightened up, remembering how heavily the miasma permeated the land and sea of eyre. There was so much of it that his pomu had retreated into hibernation and was now glowing a soft red beside him. Hawthorn reached forward and gingerly held his little friend in his maw and scampered off to Elenion- the rustic city he couldn’t quite make it to the previous night.

    As he trotted, Hawthorn searched his thoughts for the previous night and what had transpired. He wondered if he intentionally slept out in the open or if he merely passed out from the misama. What else could the miasma do to him anyway? He was bitter at the thought of being careless however it didn’t sit long and his mind cleared. Suddenly his thoughts grew hazy and he skidded to a halt before placing his paw right above his brow. It was that dull pain again however this feeling was more psychological than physical.

    Hawthorn shook his head, careful not to drop his pomu crystal, and trotted more slowly. He was not far from the city and he experienced mild joy after seeing all the boughs of bright flowers in the wooded area of Faerindell. As he approached Elenion, he could make out a rainbow of floating lights attached to each elnin and kittoms alike. He was elated to be among others and was comforted by the warm lights but his emotions quickly turned to that dull feeling once more.

    While in the city, Hawthorn snaked his way through the crowd, his paws carrying him directly to Faerindell’s eldertree. He found solace being beside the pinnacle of the city and even more so to find crafting benches set out for building hibernating pomu lanterns. Nodding his greetings, Hawthorn padded past several occupied benches until he found an empty one closer to the center. He listened in on the elnin chatting lightly with their neighbors, laughing out loud or mumbling strife for the few who could not figure out how to fasten together the inner structure of a lantern.

    Hawthorn reached over and picked up varying sizes of sticks before laying them out and reaching for the thick grass strands to tie each stick together. After fiddling with the materials, Hawthorn sat back and observed his work, pleased upon seeing the shape he had intended to achieve. He held his pomu crystal beside the skeleton of his lantern and placed it in. He then fastened a thin, black ribbon to its base and allowed his unfinished lantern to take off. After tidying up his station for the next passerby, Hawthorn tied the end of the ribbon to the base of his puffy cotton tail and continued north.

    He brought his creation to the outskirts of the city and sifted through the flowers both underneath and above him. The kittom meticulously picked through a variety of flora, his flower arranging skills coming into play. It was the one activity that brought him a longer duration of joy and satisfaction than most other activities.

    Content with his flower selection, Hawthorn wove the stems of flowers between and around the stick-frame of his lantern. He had taken to the faerie shrouds and pulled apart a purple-to-pink flower bunch which would serve as the ‘crown’ of his lantern. Satisfied, Hawthorn allowed his lantern to float once again, knowing his pomu would appreciate his floral arrangement as much as he did.

    The soft glow gently bobbed behind as Hawthorn returned to Elnion where he could display his work of art among several other lanterns. He experienced difficulty communicating with the cityfolk and found it easier to sit on the sides and watch the busybodies of others. The kittom eventually moved from his spot to be seated next to a window in a cafe. He was careful when placing his lantern across from him. He did not want his friend to float out into the crowd after all.

    He ordered a Faerindell Special- his pomu’s favorite tea composed of a variety of Faerindell’s native flower species carefully steeped in mildly warm spring water topped with a light honey drizzle for mixing. Hawthorn also requested a powdered berry pastry. He wanted to honor his pomu in the best way he could since it was his little friend that aided him on his quests for finding and identifying rare flowers while also encouraging his sprig hoard.

    Hawthorn continued to sip his warm tea as he gazed out the window, taking note of the colors and interaction of others. He gazed across the table and raised his cup as if he were toasting with his pomu. Since he had developed his sickness, his pomu had become more sympathetic and quick to assist. Just the other night, now that he was able to recall his memory, he faintly remembers his pomu doing something for his wellbeing. He settled on waiting for his pomu to return to inquire directly how he got to the outskirts of the city.

    He took a moment to feel his chest and, when his paw sunk into the void, he swiftly retracted his paw and rubbed it as though he were brushing off impurities. Hawthorn smiled at the thought of his pomu using his sickness as a gateway; as his pomu did anyway to get a rise out of him. It worked, and Hawthorn became briefly amused everytime it happened.

    Hawthorn used this day to reflect and recall the adventures he and his pomu took part in, reminiscing the time he tumbled down an icy ravine to a stream below back in Strynhalde. His sister Perma and brother Hades were none the wiser as they worked independently of each other while trying to seek out the ‘fairy’ Perma thought she saw. At the time he grew suspicious and doubted what his sister saw was real but played along anyway.

    By not challenging his sister’s idea of fun, he then suffered the chilling stream he had been too shocked to move from. The impact of his initial fall caused the thin ice to give and put him in that predicament. However it was his pomu, after sensing Hawthorn’s heightened distress, found its way out and served as a signal. Luckily Hades was passing by the ridge and noticed Hawthorn’s pomu waving frantically for him to notice. Hades rushed down to his brother’s aid and from there, Hawthorn could not make out what happened afterwards.

    Hawthorn rounded out his memory by remembering how he and his pomu snuggled beside the fire at home, too weary to find and argue with Perma as he often did after suffering from her eccentric adventures. He also could not remember if there was a fairy at all. He set his cup down after sipping the last drop of tea.

    He picked up his pastry to finish off as well while he settled his sights once again on the lantern he crafted. Hawthorn determined that the only ‘fairy’ he needed was his pomu who, with all the colorful flowers, represented the forest fairy that was commercialized in parts of Faerindell. Hawthorn smiled as he continued to reminisce about adventures of him and his pomu, happy to be in Faerindell where he could use the flowers to create a lantern for his little friend.