Submission (#4052) Approved

Gentle warmth of the air wafted through the open tops of the floating isles. Soft blades of grass danced in its delight under the starry sky. It was far from the same kind of warmth of the beaches, where the sand melted under your feet and felt hot to the touch at each step. Chasma hated to admit that they missed that feeling under their paws. The coarseness kept them on their toes – a direct contrast to the tickled feeling of grass underneath them now.

Starfall Faire was a different time of the year. For many years now, Chasma had spent it with family and extended relatives on the beaches of Palu’au, watching the fireworks and enjoying the festivities with a bunch of treats. This year felt entirely different, as they sat at the edge of a rock outcropping, staring out over Kyendi and its rounded mountain tops in the distance, shrouded in the mists of the early evening as the clouds rolled through above them. The sparkle of the waterfalls dripped down like distant glitter in the shifting darkness.

<i>Why did I come now of all times?</i> Chasma thought with a twitch of their small tail, gently padding out their paws to the rocks aside from the grass. <i>Mom said it would be good for me.</i> In their mind it played like music on a loop, the great Sunshard Isles and their mysteries, with deep magic and gems. The kittom had yet to find any of the so-called “magic,” but saw the different colored gems formations at the bases and around the different floating islands.

The one they currently sat on had a few peeking golden shards mixed with rocks, but in the darkness, they had lost their sheen. Chasma released a soft sigh and a twitch of irritation ran through their tail. Their mom had said, time and time again about the pools she could see, with the large rocks and gems. How she “found herself” in the floating isles. Chasma had wandered from a large city, over hanging bridges, and to different islands, before setting themselves down on a small isle with a dilapidated bridge tied to the edge of two jutting rocks. There were a few small shrubs on top of the grass, and a trickle of water that fell behind a shallow rock outcropping.

It felt depressing, in a state of loneliness. On a journey, only to end up at the most festive time of year alone on a floating rock. Clouds even stole the blanket of the night sky that they so loved during the warm nights of summer. A slight chill hummed through the air and they felt their fur stick on end. “What? Not now!” Huffing softly, they jumped up and shook their heads at the thought of rain. It never rained this time back at home, and the thought of being drenched and smelling like wet, rolled-in-grass elnin.

Quickly, they turned back at the first sign of the rain but stopped as a bright blue streak fell in front of them. They blinked, and on the grass was a spot where the streak had fallen. Curiosity made them stare down, but flashes of light above tore their gaze away. “Woaaaaah.” Suddenly the night sky was filled with what Chasma could only describe as falling rainbows. They peeked back over the side as the bright colors fell through the air, in awe as the waterfalls lit up under their cascade of falling light.

A bright pink light fell on their nose and they sneezed, staring at the small bit of light that stayed. Where there had been depression deep within them, now they felt the lights were cheering them on. Elation filled their heart and their tail twitched steadily behind them as they danced between the falling lights. It felt as if the entire sky fell down over the floating islands, leaving a soft glow over the many floating pieces.

In their eyes it was like an elegant barrage of color, sprinkling down from above. <i>Much better than rain!</i> Chasma wiggled their tail and flipped around, grinning at the gentle shadows below them. Like a firefly, a bright green light fell onto the shadow and vanished. Their legs twisted as their eyes stared down and they fell, looking forward at the soft shadow cast by the holes of the clouds above. “Huh?”

Glittering on the grass and the forming dew were dozens of light motes, dancing away, yet their shadow was a void. The kittom tilted their head and moved, sitting down and watching another fall, yet it fell the same – as if eaten by their shadow. Scrunching their nose, they poked their shadow a few times. “Huh, guess you’re eating them?” Chasma felt a twinge of curiosity and cleared their throat as if to summon their pomu.

To absolutely no avail.

 A huff escaped them, “Fine.” It was odd that there wasn’t an answer, but since they no longer had the boardwalk and rows of treats to coax out their pomu it was likely they wouldn’t see them for a long while. <i>I hope he at least saw them…</i> They thought, more sympathetically. The sway of the wind moved some clouds as they settled back to their vista spot at the edge of the island, staring down at the now dazzling view of windswept color.

“Maybe mom was right.” A quiet voice let out a hum of soft acceptance as they let their eyes feast on the wondrous array. It might not have been an epiphany or a magical experience in the traditional sense, but it was a memory they would not soon forget.