Submission (#7230) Approved

Kawehi splashed in the shallows of the stream that ran through the local park. The water was cool gainst his paws, a nice contrast against the warmth that filled the air, noticeable even through the thick covering of the trees overhead. Sunlight peeked through the branches, spots flickering over the water in front of him.  As was common in much of Kyendi, a series of small waterfalls that fed the cool waters Kawehi now stood in burbled just slightly upstream. They were close enough that Kawehi could almost feel the traces of the mist flung free when the water crashed down, but far enough enough that the current here was far calmer.

Kawehi stopped for a moment to look away from the water and examine his surroundings.  Thick foliage hung overhead, but through the small breaks in them, he could make out the distant form of round topped mountains. He’d been to visit them before, but now in the foothills between the towering mountains and the rest of Kyendi, they seemed a bit less intimidating. In another direction there was a small flash of yellow orange that glistened in the sun, a small floating island of the sunshard isles barely visible through a gap in the trees. Kawehi took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of old growth and water, a scent that permeated much of Kyendi, even found here in the park of the local village they’d stopped in.

He’s content to just relax for a moment, when a brighter than expected flash catches his eye from the water he stands in. Something is glowing, a bit further out in the stream than he stands, and he shifts cautiously to take a closer look. For a moment it's difficult to make out under the rippling water, but he manages to identify it as a glowing fish! It must be one of the blessed fish he’d heard about after the recent light storm that had come through a while back!

Excitement wells up in Kawehi, warring with fascination. It’s one of the first times he's seen such a thing up close, and he wracks his brain for a moment trying to think of what to do next. They’re trying to make their way to the boundless, aren’t they? The fish? Kawehi knows that this particular stream dries up a bit further down, so the poor creature was never going to make it without a little help, so in a spilt second decision he makes up his mind.

“Ka’aukai!” He calls to his brother, who was standing next to their packs a bit farther away from the stream. He doesn’t look away from the fish as a he waits for an answer, too nervous about losing sight of the thing.

“Yeah?” is his answering call. 

“Hey, can you grab a bowl and our net from the bags and bring them over here?”

The fish is pretty small, so it should fit in the bowl, at least until he can find something better to store it in.

“Uhhh…” Ka’aukai hesitates. “Why?”

Kawehi sighs, but doesn’t look away from the glowing fish. “Because I found one of those glowing fish! I wanna help it out, since the stream doesn’t go all the way to the sea.”

“Oh!” Aukai’s voice is excited. He loves fish and fishing, so Kawehi knew this would pique his interest. 

“Hurry Aukai! Before I lose it!” 

In a few moments Ka’aukai races over, shifting into his bipedal form to be able to carry the items that Kawehi has requested. The net is pressed into his paws as he follows suit into a form more suited for catching fish, and he quickly scoops up the fish. It wriggles in the small net, and Ka’aukai fills the bowl up with water. Kawehi motions for his brother to step a bit farther away from the stream, in case they accidentally drop the fish or it jumps out of something. But the fish is surprisingly calm as Kawehi gently tips it into the bowl.  The bowl is just barely big enough for the small fish to be able to swim in it, but Kawehi knows they need to find a better way to transport it, and soon. 

“Let’s ask around about the best way to take care of this little guy!” Kawehi remarks to his brother, and Ka’aukai nods, leading the way back to where he had stashed their packs. Kawehi carefully handles the bowl with the fish that his brother passes to him, and Ka’aukai grabs both of their bags, grunting a bit at the weight of them. 

“You think Keone might know?” Ka’aukai asks as they make their way out of the park, referring to the eldest of their brothers, and the only grown adult of their group. Even in the village the surrounding trees almost block the sun, but it still grows warmer as the sounds of the rushing water fade into the distance. 

“If not I hope he might know someone who does.” 

Kawehi cradles the bowl with the glowing fish gently, glancing down at it. It is so pretty,  and fragile, and special, and he feels the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He’s going to make sure to get this little guy where it's going no matter what! He determinedly marches towards the inn where they’d been staying, and towards the older brother who hopefully had the answers they were seeking.