Submission (#5579) Approved

A laugh escapes Basa’s lips as he guides his companion Jin through the shrouded mists, up the mountains to the distinctly rounded tops, and ever closer to his destination. The two had taken manaberry potions prior at Basa’s suggestion ( and purchase ), giving them humanoid forms ; for what reason, Basa didn’t disclose, though he did take note that he liked how Jin looked. Perhaps the outfits they had chosen were not the best for this activity Basa had planned, Jin having donned a light green kimono that draped past his shoulders, held tight to his body simply by the wrapping around his waist ; a sleeveless top revealed marlings on his shoulder that resembled his fur pattern. Basa, meanwhile, had donned a more adventuristic outfit since he had known the details prior to coming to Kyendi, but of course it kept the beloved diamonds that littered his fur. Jin had inquired on what they were doing, but Basa remained quiet and secretive with a grin as he laid out his plans. Since fishing was a no go, he figured he would try this instead to have his friend lighten up a bit.

It took a while of climbing to reach the destination, holding Jin’s hand and leading him past the mist swirling around them and the greenery of the rolling hills, Pomu’s poking their heads out of the two elnins’ shadows to peer at their surroundings only to hide away once more, up to when Basa finally noticed a new colour : gold. He grinned, tightening his grip on his friend’s hand and stopping just short of a pathway of floating landscapes held above the land below by sparkling yellow ; he raised his arm to gesture to the scenery, looking back at Jin as he watched the other quizzically take in the sights. Floating islands of various sizes floated high above the ground, and below them, peeking through the mist, were the forests that gave way into dense jungles and hidden treasures ; and perhaps right next to those forest entry ways were notes of civilization. Curved rooftops that hid tatami mats and shoji doors, farmlands of wet marsh that bred rice and other native foods.

“ What exactly is the plan here, Basa. . . ? “ Jin asks, finally, and Basa’s grin turns into a mischievous smirk. Jin’s hair floated with the wind that had picked up at the altitude they were at, and Basa took note that, perhaps, he should have Jin shorten his hair before they start their adventure.

“ I’ll show you. “

And with that, Basa takes a light jump onto the first floating platform, noting how sturdy it is thanks to the magical ambiance of the region before them. Preparing himself, he takes another, larger leap onto a platform a little further away before turning back to his friend. His friend stares, not quite understanding, but Basa reaches out his hand anyway.

“ Come on, then, Jin ! “

The other relents, a look of curiosity admittedly on his face ( to which Basa muses to himself about ), and he takes a step onto the first platform before looking below. Basa immediately quips not to do that, but it’s too late as he sense some nervousness from his companion. His hand remains outstretched, palm open to catch onto Jin if the other were to jump once more. Of course, Jin does so. Their hands connect and Basa grabs hold of the other to help pull him forward onto the platform, falling backwards as he does so and laughing enthusiastically. He doesn’t wait for Jin to comment, pulling himself back up ( and Jin as well ), and immediately pulling the other to jump onto the further platforms into the floating horizon. Although seemingly simple, Basa found this activity to be exhilarating and thought provoking as you were to figure out the next steps of a puzzle to go ever further, risking the plummet into the land below. Basa wondered if anyone had figured out how to utilize the sunshards to float, themselves, to avoid a fate such as falling.

Basa laughs as he drags Jin onto yet another platform, the other’s nervous sense of feeling seemingly dissipating gradually ; or, maybe he has just steeled himself out of fear, Basa didn’t know. Basa, admittedly, didn’t care much either. The two continue to traverse the islands that were held wisps of flora and foliage from the ground below ; Basa paused once to lean down and pick a pair of flowers, white in colour, and while Jin gave him a stare in question Basa simply grinned and placed them within the pocket on his vest. A memory to keep, for the two of them, but Basa wouldn’t tell that right away.

Finally, the two leap and land onto a large platform with a waterfall that fell into the land below. Basa stops, then, and turns to Jin.

“ Well, what have you thought ? “

Jin calmly settles himself, posture strict and upright even still as the two’s hands finally separate, and he looks around. They were seemingly smack dab in the center of it all, the floating isles, the jungle below with an opening to reveal a large lake with which the waterfall fell into, the gentle wind that calmly carried fluffy clouds that, perhaps if one could float even just a little higher, you could touch, and yet the clouds looked so far away.

“ It’s been quite pleasant. “

Although Jin’s expression remained neutral, and little had been said, Basa smiles knowing his friend was telling the truth. Basa shifts down to sit, cross legged first, before shifting further to sit his feet over the edge of the land. Jin, slowly, joins him, sitting on his knees. Basa always mentions how uncomfortable that must be, but Jin always disagrees. The exhilarating trip was over,until they had to traverse back to return, and the two settled comfortably to admire the scenery.

Basa’s pomu popped out of his shadow suddenly, pulling herself out and chittering about. Jin’s pomu, as well, peeked out and eventually crawled out of the shadow to join the elnins. The two pomu sat for a while, however Basa’s pomu glanced around and immediately caught sight of the waterfall and excitedly hopped back up to go play within the pool’s edge. Basa watched as his pomu returned moments later to grab his friend’s familiar and drag them back to the water to play as well, before pausing and picking two small clovers and giving one to the other. Basa laughed, startling Jin slightly, thinking that his pomu and him weren’t that different sometimes.