Submission (#2233) Approved

To date, Levi had been a fairly independent kittom, and knowing that there was someone interested in spending more time with him was a bit unsettling at times. Despite the situation, he did find it interesting how he was developing a sixth sense to know what kind of places in the city to avoid crossing paths with Thea. It was clear that her favorite places to find him were the stores on Central Street, the ones with illuminated signs to draw the attention of potential customers amidst the perpetual night. And more than once he had seen her prowling around the outside of the luminous mushroom forests. So, today if he wanted to have a quiet day... he could try a stroll around the bioluminescent lake.

Apparently, his heightened sense had failed him that morning, or perhaps it must have been necessary for them to meet because as he strolled lightly dipping his paws along the lakeshore, he heard faint sobbing in the distance.

Not that at first he recognized them as the sobs of that white kittom he had met a couple of weeks ago, but as he approached her petite silhouette became unmistakable in the dim light radiating from the lake.

He took a deep breath and came splashing up to her at a trot, both to alert her to his presence and to stand quickly in front of her, inquiring:

- What's the matter with you today, have you come across any elnin again that has put you in trouble? I warned you that it is better to be careful in certain places in this city and not to stray too far from crowded areas.

- I-it's not that!- she exclaimed, trying to cover her tears by rubbing her paws over her face, a little embarrassed that she had been found in that state - I-I lost something and I can't find it - she stammered, trying to calm herself.

Levi sat across from her and drew a slight smile.

- Heh, I guess just like the first time we met, only that time I was the one looking for something... okay, tell me the whole story, I'll help you look for it.

- Really? That's great! I thought you were avoiding me - Levi let out a slight gasp that he tried to disguise between his words, but that only made Thea smile slightly calmer.

- Of course not, I wasn't avoiding you. Now, tell me, what is it? What does it look like?

- Well, I'm looking for a shell that glows in the light... it's a gift I've been carrying with me since... I don't know, since I was born. Early this morning I was invited to take a boat ride on the lake and it occurred to me that it might be nice to see how the water of the lake reflected on it... And it really sparkled a lot! But it must have fallen out of my bag without me noticing it after that, because when I went down to the shore... I wasn't carrying it anymore.

- And you didn't say anything to the elnins who gave you the ride?

- Of course I did, but they kindly told me that they were busy and that finding such an object... was going to be very complicated. Because in the islands of Palu'alu, where the shell is from... it is easy to recognize its brightness at night in the moonlight. But here in Silveil... -she pointed to the lake- everything is bright.

- That is true... -He tried to reassure her before she started crying again- but we have a very important clue, and that is that you know where the boat passed by and at what point of the journey you took it out to look at it.

- I hadn't thought of it that way! Besides, it wasn't long before we finished!

- That's right! - he stood up again - And since it's a lake, there are no big currents, it must be almost in the same place where it fell... and surely there's not much depth in that part either. Come on, come on, tell me where the trip ended, I'll help you go get it.

And so Thea guided him to the exact spot where they had gotten out of the boat. Neither short nor lazy, Levi jumped into the lake and began to swim to the place her companion told him. And even if he ended up pretty soaked after that dip, it was nothing that a good shake and a towel couldn't fix.

The shell? It was certainly back where it belonged, with its owner.