Submission (#3089) Approved

You trotted down the dark path that wound through the dark forest that grew in the wilds of Silveil. She wasn’t too far from the city, with all it’s lights and lively partying, just across the lake really. If she turned around she would easily be able to spy the glimmering shores of the lake with its glowing little jellyfish that sparkled like stars in the branches of the great tree that grew down into the lake.

It was night. You giggles to herself at the thought. In Silveil, it was always night, but right now it was the time that was designated for sleeping. The stars sparkle overhead through the breaks in the foliage, and she pauses to glance up. She almost drops the letter she has clenched in her teeth, the folded paper flopping awkwardly as she tilts her head.

It’s so pretty. You takes a few moments to admire the stars overhead before deciding to continue on her way, carefully picking her way down the dimly lit path. She had no lantern, but the forest surrounding Silveil had no shortage of bioluminescent things growing about, especially the mushrooms that grew to several times her height. The blue glow from the fungi lights her path, and her pace quickens.

She has to hurry! Her mom and brother were following not too far behind her, although You still had several minutes to get ready. She had taken the ferry across the lake before her family did, and thus had a bit of a head start.

It was Utherwan’s birthday today, and You had spent a long time trying to decide what to put in her letter to him. She’d drawn him a picture of course, but had begged Chief, her mom, to take her to shops to find the perfect stationary to write her letter. Her brother was a bit of a stick in the mud at times, but she did love him dearly. 

Soon she reaches a clearing in the woods with several large glowing mushrooms growing in the center. It’s the perfect meeting place, and she scrambles up the mushrooms, jumping first from one to the other, admiring the soft blue glow they emit. She’d grown up in Silveil, but she was never got tired of the sparkle and shine of the surrounding forests. No other place was quite like it.

You crouches down on the top of the largest mushroom and settles in to wait. It’s quiet, nothing but birds chirping and the sound of small critters hiding in the bushes. Maybe You ought to be scared, but she isn’t. She’s brave. It doesn’t take long for the sound of approaching footsteps to come from just out of sight.  She hears Utherwan complaining before he and Chief round the corner.

“Mom, I don’t see why we have to come all the way out here so late.”

“Hush, Utherwan, geez.” Chief scolds, and before You knows it, the two are rounding the corner. Utherwan trails slowly after Chief, who flits ahead impatiently. “Hurry up child.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming!” Utherwan whines. You snickers quietly, hiding out of sight at the back of her mushroom. She glows nearly as brightly as the mushrooms, paint like markings splashed across her back and face vivid in the dark night, and the mushroom is barely big enough for her to duck around the back out of sight. Chief floats up, spying You hiding and grins mischievously, her tail whipping back and forth in excitement and almost knocking into Utherwan. Utherwan dodges quickly, although he stumbles and nearly face plants into the dark grass. 

You bunches her muscles, and leaps up to the top of the mushroom.

“Happy Birthday!!!” She shouts, or at least tries to. It’s muffled by the letter she holds in her teeth, but the sentiment is clearly heard by all in the clearing. For a moment its just the 3 of them, the stars glittering overhead, the soft glowing ambiance of the surrounding foliage, and quiet. Utherwan blinks up at her owlishly before he breaks into a small smile. He quickly tries to school his face into its usual grumpy expression, but You can clearly tell he’s touched by the gesture. 

“I wrote you a letter!” She mumbles through her mouthful of paper. Chief cackles, and swoops down to nudge Utherwan towards the large mushrooms You perches on. He takes the hint and scrambles up the glowing fungi to come next to his sister. Gingerly he reaches out and takes the letter from her, examining it closely. He’s clearly curious, and You bounces excitedly, causing the mushrooms to shake. “Open it! Open it!”

Utherwan carefully sits back and pulls open the envelope, revealing not one but 3 pieces of paper. In the dim light he squints at them, You peering over his shoulder excitedly. The first paper is a surprisingly detailed drawing Utherwan, the second a long letter in messy handwriting. Utherwan quietly reads through the letter, although he seems to struggle a bit with the dim lighting. By the time he finishes, You’s excitement has reached its peak, and she vibrates in place as he turns to hug her with a soft “Thanks Yuyu.”

You giggles happily, returning the hug. “I love you little bro!”

Utherwan scoffs, clearly embarrassed as he pulls away. Chief grins at her two children, clearly amused by Utherwan’s discomfort. She floats down to perch on a third mushroom, and watches as You urges Utherwan to open the last paper. The youngest kittom frowns at the paper in confusion, before You practically shouts in his ear.

“It’s a local start chart! I thought we might do some stargazing for your birthday.”

“Oh!” Utherwan’s eyes light up in excitement and he peers closer at the paper, glancing between it and the stars that sparkle overhead. He carefully folds You’s letter and drawing back up, placing them back in the envelope. “The stars are so much prettier out here than in the city!”

“I know right?” You gushes. Stars are more Utherwan’s thing, but she can’t deny how pretty they are out here. Chief lays down, looking slightly bored, but her children pay her no mind. This was a time just for them, and as Utherwan exclaims excitedly about the different constellations, You thinks it was worth it to take the time to write her letter and make her drawing, find her present, and drag her family out here in the middle of the night, if her brother was this happy.

It was a good day.