Submission (#7757) Approved

The night market of Devara was buzzing and soft chatter filled the air, along with the scent of warm bread, spices and tea. Every now and then the murmur of the countless rivers surrounding Devara would wash over the city noises, like a soft and calming wave. A maze of running water, reflecting the silver moon light and casting a sparkling shimmer onto the surrounding lush plant life by the rivers.
It was a cool evening, the sun above Ahza had set a few hours ago, but the nightlife of the city didn’t stop. Stalls lined the dusty streets, their lanterns swaying gently, casting colorful glows against the sandstone walls.  

Elnin of all ages wandered between them, their Pomus - now delicate, floating crystals of anima - trailing behind them like tiny stars on invisible strings. Miasma season was in full force, and everyone stayed close in the cities now, making them even more lively than normally. 

Yoru and Shiro wandered through the night market, eyes wide with anticipation. This was their first time crafting their pomu lanterns alone and Shiro had made it his mission to find the most ridiculous decorations possible. He couldn’t wait to show it off later to Nico and Cinder.

"Yoru, Yoru, look at these!" Shiro zipped over to a stall, holding up a set of tiny golden bells shaped like fish. "What if I make a whole fish lantern?"

Yoru, ever calm, tilted his head. "Why would you want a fish floating behind you?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Shiro grinned. "Oh, or maybe wings? My pomu could look like a little flying fairy!"

The dark elnin behind the stall chuckled. "You could always go for a classic look - silk, calligraphy charms, maybe some gemstone accents?"

Shiro stuck out his tongue. "Too normal."

In the meanwhile, Yoru was inspecting the more delicate materials - hand-painted paper, intricate carved wood frames and soft-glowing moth-wing fabric. His pomu, a cool yellow anima crystal, hovered patiently beside him, casting a warm light onto the table.

Shiro leaned in. "You’re going for elegance, aren’t you?"

"Something timeless." Yoru nodded.

Shiro smirked. "Bet mine will be cooler."

The vendor chuckled again. "A little competition, is it?"

Shiro puffed out his chest; "Always!” while Yoru rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Armed with their supplies - Shiros choices including tiny bells, far too many ribbons, and even a carved wooden fish charm, and Yorus featuring elegant patterns, soft silks, and muted gold details - they made their way to a quiet garden just outside the bustling streets. The desert felt different at night, and they settled near a shallow waterfall, the splashing of the water echoing across the waters surface. 

A small campfire crackled between them, the scent of warm embers and marshmallows mixed with the night blooms around them.
Yoru had bought snacks and was now placing sticks around the campfire with the sweets stuck to them.
“Watch these while we work, so they don’t burn”, he instructed Shiro and the white kittom nodded. “You got it!”

Devaras lights flickered in the distance, and above them, the sky stretched endlessly, filled with stars, while the moon was slowly rising, casting eerie glows onto the white surface of a few broken bones sticking out of the ground. Remnants of a long forgotten time, fossilzed .over the centuries.  If they looked closely, the giant eldertree of Ahza loomed just above the horizon. At least that's what the kittoms thought. Maybe it was just a peculiar shadow in the dark or an oddly formed cloud. Once the sun was up again, they could get a clearer picture.

Shiro sat cross-legged, tongue sticking out in concentration as he wrapped ribbons wildly around his lantern frame. His pomu crystal, now placed inside, wobbled slightly, as if unsure about its new, overly-decorated home. Bells jingled at the slightest movement, making Shiros workspace sound like a festival procession gone wrong.
His friend kept stealing glances at whatever the heck Shiro was doing over there and decided to do the exact opposite. Just to be safe…

The fire wood cracked, and the kittoms rotated the marshmallows on their sticks near the fire so they wouldn’t burn.

Yoru worked with precise, practiced movements, securing his pomu crystal within a delicate wooden frame, its sides painted with swirling cloud patterns. He wrapped it in a soft layer of silk, letting it catch the firelight like a gentle glow.

Shiro peaked over. "Ugh. Yours looks so graceful." He gestured to his own, which looked like a colorful whirlwind of chaos. "Mine looks like it was attacked by a craft store."

Yoru examined it. "...It has … character."

"That’s just a polite way of saying it’s a mess." Shiro groaned. 

"A charming mess."

Shiro huffed, then grinned. "Well, it’ll be the most fun mess." He flicked one of the ribbons, making the bells jingle wildly. “Oh fluff, the marshmallows!” Out of the corner of his eye he spotted the treats and how they quickly took on color. The kittoms rushed to save them and carefully put the sticks beside them in the sand so the marshmallows could cool off.

As they finished up, they each tied their wishes onto their lanterns - Shiros scrawled in big, looping letters, Yorus written with neat, elegant strokes.

Shiro held his lantern up proudly. "Alright buddy, you’re gonna be the brightest …and maybe loudest…thing in Devara!" His pomu crystal bobbled slightly, as if accepting its fate.

Yoru simply smiled, adjusting his lantern’s silk covering. His pomu crystal floated quietly, its glow steady and warm.

Shiro stretched out on the grass, staring at the sky. The night deepened, the stars stretching across the vast sky like scattered gemstones. A soft breeze rustled through the garden, making the lanterns sway gently and the embers swirled through the air. The warmth of the campfire mixed with the cool desert air, creating a perfect balance of coziness and adventure.

Shiro sat up and twirled his lantern around, watching the ribbons trail through the air. The tiny wooden fish charm he had attached to it wobbled with every motion, its tiny painted eyes staring in different directions.

“I think mine has personality,” he declared, squinting at it. “Like, if it could talk, it would have great stories to tell.”

Yoru grinned, adjusting a silk ribbon on his own lantern. "More like it’s been through a story."

“It’s called style, Yoru.” Shiro gasped dramatically. 

Yorus ears twitched amused and the kittom leaned back, letting the soft light from his lantern reflect in his golden eyes. The pomu crystal within it floated peacefully, encased in an elegant wooden frame decorated with different cloud patterns and delicate gold ink swirls. The silk covering shimmered, catching the firelight like a moonlit river.

Shiro inched closer, inspecting it. “…Okay, fine, yours is gorgeous.”

"I know." Yoru smiled softly, but then laughed and gave an earnest answer. “Thank you.”

Shiro flopped onto his back with a groan, staring up at the sky. "Next year, I’m making something dramatic. Like a lantern the size of my head, covered in flames and lightning bolts!" He waved his paws in the air for emphasis.

Yoru chuckled and looked at him. "No doubts about it." Shiro didn’t make empty promises. 

The lanterns bobbed softly in the air and in the distance, the sounds of the night market drifted through the air - distant laughter, the jingling of bells, the soft hum of music.

For a moment, they were quiet, just watching the lights dance in the dark.

Shiro sighed, his usual energy softening. "I miss them, though."

Yoru looked up and cocked his head to the side, curious as to what had gotten into the other one now. 

"I mean, I know they’re still with us, in a way. But it’s weird not having mine grab my snacks or steal my toys when I’m not looking."

Yoru nodded, watching his own pomu crystal hover. He missed the quiet companionship too - the way his pomu would nudge his book closed when he read for too long, or curl up in his lap when they rested

"They’ll be back soon," Yoru said, his voice soft but certain.

Shiro smiled, reaching out to tap his lantern lightly. The bells attached to it jingled like laughter. "Yeah… but until then, they get a front-row seat to all our adventures."

Yoru gave a small smile. "We should make it a good one, then."

Shiro grinned, rolling onto his side. "So, what’s next? We explore ancient ruins? Discover a new type of glow-in-the-dark cactus? Make the biggest sandcastle Ahza has ever seen?"

Yoru exhaled through his nose in amusement. "How about we sleep first?"

Shiro pouted but didn’t argue, stretching out with a yawn. 

“Alright then.”