Submission (#7481) Approved

Shimmer and Gloom strolled side by side through Silveil’s lively night market, the darkness above their heads alive with many distant stars, flickering like the lanterns that lined the streets. Silveil’s atmosphere was rich with the sounds of night time fauna, howls and chips being made throughout the endless night. In the distance you could see the glow of the forests and the shimmering lake that housed Silveil’s Eldertree. It was the perfect place to peruse Halloween themed stalls and merchants. While it took some convincing on Shimmer’s part to get Gloom to agree to go shopping, in the end she knew that he would love it.

Gloom, while shy and scared, was as curious as ever, glancing around with wide eyes, as they passed by stalls brimming with Halloween trinkets. The stalls seemed endless, each one having something different, and each lit by the soft glow of lanterns or bioluminescent flora. A few stalls even had small, floating lights bobbing around like will-o'-the-wisps, “They must be fireflies!!,” Gloom thought to himself.

One stall was completely full with a collection of eerie, hand-crafted masks resembling creatures of the night: some had long, gnarled faces, while others looked like shadowy beasts from Silveil's myths. Gloom reached out, his paw almost touching a mask carved to look like a nocturnal fox spirit with narrow, glowing eyes. Shimmer chuckled softly, and gently tugged him along to the next stall.

Another booth displayed dark, shimmering fabrics embroidered with silver and gold thread to resemble constellations and galaxy swirls, while others had cloaks patterned to look like the night sky itself. Shimmer's eyes lingered on a deep blue shawl stitched with tiny twinkling stars, considering it for her dear friend Olympia, before deciding to browse a bit more.

As Shimmer and Gloom mosied on about, they came across another interesting stall. This one was full of odd, twisted candles in shades of midnight blue and blood red, scented with various herbs that filled the air with a smoky smell. Some were enchanted to flicker like a heartbeat, perfect for eerie ambiance, while others burned with a faint blue or green flame.

Near the center of the market, a larger stall offered a collection of potion bottles, each one filled with liquid that glowed softly in colours of green, blue, or violet. The vendor explained, with a playful wink, that each potion held the "essence" of different Silveil night plants, promising good dreams, courage against the unknown, or a boost of energy to explore the night for hours. Gloom stared, entranced, but Shimmer playfully nudged him along.

As they wandered further through the stalls, Gloom suddenly tugged at Shimmer’s fur with his small paw, his eyes wide with a question. She paused, looking down at him with a gentle smile, and he hesitated, shuffling a little on his paws before blurting out, "Mum, could we… could we go back to the mask stall? I really want to get a pair that matches with you."

Shimmer’s heart melted at the sight of her son’s hopeful expression. “Of course, love,” she murmured, nuzzling his cheek before turning back through the marketplace toward the mask stall they’d visited earlier.

Gloom darted from one side of the stall to the other, inspecting each mask as though they might hold a hidden secret. He soon found one that drew him in, a smaller mask with a sleek black base and gentle hints of blue along its edges, the same shade as his markings. Tiny carved stars were scattered across the mask, mimicking the Silveil sky. He looked up at Shimmer, his little eyes shining. “Look! This one looks just like my fur!”

Shimmer took her time browsing the masks herself, finally settling on one that matched the colour of her own fur. This mask had delicate swirls and patterns of blue and green waves across it. Shimmer held it up, raising a brow at Gloom with a playful grin.

“Do you think we match well enough?” she asked, her voice teasing, but full of warmth. Gloom let out a soft, excited giggle, nodding eagerly.

Together, they brought their masks to the vendor, who smiled knowingly as he handed them over, watching with amusement as Gloom struggled to fit the mask onto his face, his little paws fumbling slightly. Shimmer helped him, adjusting the straps to fit snugly against his head. Once his mask was on, he beamed up at her, his excitement impossible to contain.

She slipped her own mask over her face, feeling the cool texture settle into place. For a moment, they both looked at each other in their matching disguises, the patterns of stars and waves glimmering in the lantern light. Gloom, bouncing a little on his paws, let out a delighted gasp.

“Mum! We look like mysterious night spirits!” he whispered, half in awe. They caught their reflections in a nearby piece of polished glass, an image of two shadowy figures with glowing accents staring back.

Shimmer chuckled, dipping her head toward Gloom. “Well then, little spirit, shall we walk around the market and see if anyone recognizes us?”

Gloom giggled, the sound muffled but unmistakably happy as he trotted close to her side. Together, they wandered the stalls again, receiving amused glances and warm chuckles from a few vendors. Gloom was positively radiant, his eyes twinkling behind his mask as he clung to Shimmer's side, beyond happy with their little game of make believe.