Submission (#4560) Approved

                On this inky day as the stars reflected through the lake, Pyre had nestled, gazing at its soft glowing surface. He was certain that much of the creatures in Starlake were more entertained than he had been. Lately, his trickery had run dry, and he was not performing as well as he knew he was capable of. Why was sleight of hand so difficult to pull of these days? Pyre’s tail flicked to the left; ears pinned as these thoughts clouded his mind. Quickly rising to his paws, Pyre’s ears rotated back as soft pawsteps approached.

“Oh, you,” grumbled Pyre averting his attention back to the glittery waters. He had not expected his bubbly and eccentric cousin to visit. Though they never quite met despite their parents’ relation, Musa had a knack for finding him.

“Why do you look so grumpy?” muses the pink kittom. “You got a lot of glow to ya, but no shine!”

“This. This is the reason. Now please relieve me of your taunts and return to your flower kingdom,” retorted Pyre as his hackles raised.

“How about a game before I leave you to your brooding?” hums Musa as she circles her cousin.

“Spare me,” huffs Pyre as he rolls his eyes. He then turns to gaze at the glowing Silveil City and thought about its colorful individuals. What else do I have to lose? Lowering his head, Pyre sighs. “Fine, what do you have in mind?”

Musa titled her chin up and leapt so high, Pyre believed she would sprout wings and ascend. He then sat back on his haunches and defensively lifted his paws as his cousin smiled ear-to-ear.

“Let’s go then!” states Musa as she playfully bumps Pyre. “To the forest!”

                Reluctantly, Pyre followed but was glad for his luminous anima as it guided him through the darkness. He wasn’t afraid of the dark or what creeped through the forests despite it always being nightfall in Silveil. He was more worried about Musa and her antics. Games with his cousin often lead to his own shortcomings which was how his own mother was with Musa’s father. Were we switched at birth? Thought Pyre as he leapt and bound over the glowing mushrooms, right on Musa’s tail. I am nothing like my mother, he denied as they came to a halt. Surrounding them were mere silhouettes at overarching trees that were only made out thanks to the existence of the glowing fauna and flora. The floating, glowing specks that danced around him were fun and he could watch them all day and all night. His eyes widen and his head whips from left to right.

                “Musa?” mewls Pyre, suddenly weary of where his pink cousin had slipped off to. “Are we playing hide-and-seek?” Ears perked, Pyre does his best to pick up on the slightest movement, but Musa was deft and though her fur was bright, she was nowhere to be found.

                Cautiously, Pyre peers around the trunk of the tree and his whiskers twitch. Not here, notes Pyre as he keeps himself low and out of sight as much as feasible. He gazed up at the stars but then his claws unsheathed as distant, shallow humming emanated through the darkness. It was near haunting with its ghostly melody and out from the shadows emerged Musa, singing a tune that caused Pyre to falter. He then moved to stand his ground as the fur on his tail prickled.

                But then, as Musa boldly neared, Pyre felt something latch onto his tail and he near jumped out of his skin. Landing on all fours, Pyre whipped around and had come face to face with a pomu who lay still flat on the grass after being flung from his tail. Turning back to Musa who was rolling in hysterics, he pinned his ears back.

                “Was this your plan all along?” hissed Pyre as he clawed the ground.

                Musa snorted, “Yes! And you walked right into my trap!”

                Pyre lunged at his cousin, but she twirled out of reach and stuck her tongue out. “You gotta be faster than that.” Once her pomu rejoined her, Musa bounded off, leaving Pyre to recollect himself.

                “I will get you for that!” declares Pyre as he attempts to smooth his fur. Next time. There will be a next time. Just you wait, Musa!