Submission (#7753) Approved

Yoru and Shiro were visiting Ahza this month; the desert region of Eyre. Golden dunes and soft winds guided their journey. Both kittoms roamed the sands in search of new mysteries and Shiros paws barely seemed to touch the ground as he hopped along, excited as always. It was still early in the morning, the sun was just rising over Devara and the sand was still cool and fresh from the night. Little water droplets sparkled in the first rays of sunlight and rolled from the leaves of the sparse greenery. 

Yoru had heard whispers of a strange and elusive creature that lived in an oasis outside of the city, beyond the dunes. Some travelers called it the Glissel, a shimmering, snake-like fish said to possess a body as fluid as water itself. Few had seen it, and even fewer had been able to describe it properly. Some said it was impossible to catch, like a trick played by the desert itself.

“I bet I can find it before you do!” Shiro declared.

Yoru chuckled, padding steadily forward. “We’re not racing. We’re learning.”

“Can’t I do both?” Shiro grinned, and Yoru just rolled his eyes in response. 

After a long hot trek, they finally stumbled upon the oasis. It was beautiful - a pool of crystal-clear, blue waters surrounded by palm trees gently swaying in the warm breeze and an abundant array of colorful wildflowers, one bigger than the other. Dragonflies darted through the air while lazy butterflies rested on the giant flower buds.

“It’s like a dream!” Shiro couldn’t believe his eyes - but Yoru was already watching the water, searching for any kind of movement. The oasis seemed still, but something shimmered just beneath the surface.

Suddenly, a ripple spread outward and in an instant, the Glissel revealed itself.

It was unlike anything they had ever seen. Its body was long and ribbon-like, made of translucent, iridescent scales that shifted between shades of blue, silver, and green. Though it had fins like a fish, it also had a long body that twisted and coiled like a snake. It didn’t swim in straight lines, no, it glided, slipping through the water with effortless grace. Its shape was ever changing, always shifting as though it were made of water itself. Tiny, sparkling spots ran down its spine, twinkling softly, like stars reflecting on water. Most striking of all were its eyes - large, round, and filled with what seemed like liquid gold. A giant, star-shaped pupil shimmered blue. And right now both its eyes were fixated on the kittoms.
Yoru noticed all those details in an instant - but he didn’t notice his friend getting a bit too excited. 

Shiro gasped - “It’s so shiny! I wanna touch it!” - and he pounced toward the water.

“No, WAIT-!!” Yoru tried to stop him, but with a splash, the white kittom tumbled right into the oasis.

For a moment, all was still. Then, the Glissel, rather than darting away, wrapped around Shiros waist like a silky rubber band and lifted him right out of the water.

“Eek!” Shiro squeaked, dangling in midair. “It caught me instead!”

Yoru watched, fascinated. The Glissel was not struggling or attacking - it was curious. Its large eyes blinked at Shiro, tilting its head slightly, as if amused by his antics. Then, in one smooth motion, it flipped him back onto the shore, landing him safely on a patch of soft moss.

Shiro lay there, sprawled out, dripping wet.

“I think it just played a prank on me”, he pouted and the Glissel let out a soft, melodic sshhhhh sound.

Yoru laughed and helped Shiro back onto his feet. “Looks like you lost the race.”

Shiro huffed, shaking water from his fur, before they both watched the Glissel vanish back into the water, leaving only faint ripples behind.

Yoru smiled. “It’s not dangerous at all. It’s… playful.”

Shiro flopped onto his back, staring up at the sky. “Next time, I’m the one doing the pranking.”