Submission (#7715) Approved

Shiros' eyes sparkled with curiosity as he slowly walked through the library of the village he was visiting in Faerindell. Outside, the pink petals of the trees filtered the warm sunlight and the room glowed pink.
Today, a large leather-bound book caught his attention. The title read: Creatures of Whimsywood. He flipped the pages with his paws, eyeing the illustrations of all the different animals. But one entry made his paw stop and it hovered over the book.
The page depicted a tiny, radiant creature called a "Glitterpip." It was described as a rare and elusive species that lived in the heart of Flora Grove, a dense forest just outside the village. According to the book, Glitterpips were no larger than a teacup and had fluffy bodies that shimmered in the morning sun. Their little wings resembled colorful petals of flowers, ranging from pink to yellow and orange and blue, and their large, curious eyes glowed faintly in the dark. They built their homes inside luminous flower bulbs that opened only at dusk and dawn.

"I have to see one!" Shiro exclaimed, his tail flicking with excitement and he almost woke Yoru, who was sleeping next to him on a pile of cushions underneath a window in the library.

The next morning, Shiro packed his satchel with a notebook, a piece of cheese for a snack, and a magnifying glass - just in case. Who knew how tiny those pips really were? He trotted out of the village on his own - Yoru was away with Cinder and Greywind - and followed the winding path to the grove.

As he entered, he felt a shift in the air; flowers glowed faintly in shades of lavender and blue, and the pink trees seemed to be even more radiant. Large amounts of fairy shrouds grew all over and became even denser and more colorful, the deeper he headed into the grove.

There… he waited.

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon, the flowers began to open, their luminous petals unfurling to reveal tiny, warm lights within. And then, Shiro saw them.

Glitterpips.

They fluttered out from the flowers, their opalescent wings catching the faint light like prisms. They made soft, chiming sounds as they moved, like the ringing of distant bells. Shiros' heart skipped a beat - they were so adorable and magical to look at.

The more he watched them, the more he started noticing their playful behavior. The Glitterpips darted through the air in loops and spirals, chasing each other like children playing tag. One landed on a flower nearby, tilting its head as it studied Shiro with its glowing eyes. Shiro stayed very still, barely breathing, as the little creature hopped closer on its delicate legs.

It made a soft trill, and Shiro, overcome with wonder, gave it a small wave. To his delight, the Glitterpip mimicked the gesture with one of its tiny forelimbs. The kittom scribbled notes in his notebook, describing their shimmering bodies, musical voices, and playful demeanor. He noted how they fed on the nectar of the glowing flowers and how their wings glowed brighter after eating, like tiny lanterns.

As the night went on, the Glitterpips began to retreat to their flower homes, folding their wings and settling into the glowing petals. Shiro watched in awe as the flowers slowly closed around them, forming snug little shelters.

Walking back to the village under the stars, Shiro couldn’t stop smiling. He couldn’t wait to share his discovery with the others. He almost wished he hadn’t gone alone, but at the same time he was so happy to have experienced this on his own.
And he knew he’d be back. The little creatures had captured his heart, and Flora Grove had become his new favorite place in Faerindell.