Submission (#7718) Approved

Shiro carefully padded along the edge of a mossy swamp. He was currently in the middle of Enmir and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth; and the soft buzz of insects was ringing in his ears, completely surrounding him with every step he took.

It was so alive.
No other area of Eyre felt this intensely bustling with life.

Towering trees with gnarled roots grew on top of each other and across the rivers, their branches heavy with hanging plants and curtains of moss that swayed gently in the breeze, that somehow still found its way through the dense forest. Shiros’ nose twitched slightly as he caught a whiff of something sweet and earthy, and his ears perked at the sound of distant water trickling over stones.

"This place is insane!" he murmured to himself, his voice barely louder than a whisper. “Actually insane…”

His paws made almost no sound as he stepped onto the soft, spongy moss that covered the ground in emerald green. The swamp was filled with movement; frogs leaping from stone to stone, dragonflies with shimmering wings darted through the air, and tiny glowing beetles flickered in the shadows. Shiros’ eyes grew big, his curiosity leading him deeper and deeper into the swamp.

As he explored, the kittom found himself at the edge of a small pond. The water was so clear he could see the smooth pebbles and fish beneath the surface. Water lilies covered half of the pond. He leaned over, his reflection rippling in the water as he reached out to touch one of the blossoms. A frog croaked nearby, startling him, and he jumped back with a soft giggle.

"I’ll have to add all of this to my sketchbook later…" he said, pulling out said notebook and a small charcoal pencil from his satchel. He sketched the scene quickly but carefully, trying to capture as many details as he could. 

Continuing his journey, Shiro discovered a glade tucked between two large trees with roots that arched like bridges over the ground. The glade was bathed in a soft light and at its center grew an abundance of plants, one more obscure than the other.The air around them was cooler and tiny droplets of water clung to the leaves, reflecting light into little prisms. Shiro gently touched one of the stems, and the plants’ flowers released a gentle sound, like tiny wind chimes.

Eventually, his stomach gave a soft growl, reminding him it was time to head back. With a final look at the enchanting glade, he packed his things and began his journey home.