Submission (#925) Approved

     Quite a few days had passed, each running into the next. Rynn wasn't sure of how long and her mysterious, lively friend was determined not to tell her. This was the day they were going to remove the bandages and give her back her sight. While the kittom was relieved as it meant she was on the mend, Rynn quelled a fear that sat deep in her stomach which whispered of eternal darkness and that her vision would never return to her. She knew she could see shadows, when they replaced the bandages she had proof of that, but there was that sinking feeling of 'what if?'.

     She kept that memory of the shadows in the front of her mind, grasping it tightly with the hope that soon she would get to see the flowers and falling stars that her friend described daily to her. Rynn almost felt that she could visualize the garden outside her window at this point. The beautiful pink swarm of blossoms over the trees, the vibrant rainbow of flowers on the grounds. This ritual of describing the garden had kept her going over this twisted time. Her thoughts were stalled by the bustle of feet at the door as the nurse who had been tending her the whole time wandered in, a flurry of humming and rustling skirts.

     "Today is the day my dear. Let's take off these bandages and see how things are. Careful now, we can't have you rushing things." Rynn heard tutting as the nurse took off the last strip of bandage. "Keep your eyes closed a little longer, we need to dim the light first." There was a sliver of a pause before the grey shadows Rynn could see were doused in blackness. "Now don't you worry one bit. We just turned off the light so your eyes can adjust naturally. Let me help you sit up and then you can open your eyes." She felt a warm, wet cloth carefully wipe around her eyelids before she was lifted gently into a sitting position.

     Rynn tucked her legs under her, feeling the subtle ache in her shoulder and the lingering craving for sweets. She took a deep breath before opening her eyes, not sure what to expect. The world came slowly into focus, shadows gained colour, shapes became defined. The first thing she saw were flowers. Beautiful long stalks covered in tiny purple blossoms that looked like bells. She reached out gently and touched them, recognizing the shape with her fingers. "These are the Fairy Shrouds." Her voice came in a whisper as the flood of emotions threatened to overcome her.

     "Ya right about that!" A voice came from behind the bushel of fairy shrouds. "I picked t'em out myself! Ya like?!" A large blue kittom peeked around the large bushel before sweeping them to the side. She wandered over to a counter where a vase stood waiting and dropped them in carefully, making sure the water level was just right before turning and bouncing back to the bed where Rynn sat. "I'm gonna take ya outside! Nirele here said it'd be ok as long as it weren't for long. I wanna show you t' falling lights!" She grinned toothily before adding, "S'also why we picked t' evenin' so it wouldn't be too bright for ya!"

     Amirynth couldn't help but smile as she nodded permission and felt the large kittom and the nurse help her towards a wheeled chair. She liked this new friend of hers and liked the way she looked. Rynn had tried to imagine what the kittom had looked like while she was sightless but found herself way off. The red mohawk was already pretty long and her leonine tail just wouldn't stop moving, much like the owner. Many swirls covered her fur like tattoos and she had large freckles across her nose and shoulders. After sitting down in the chair she felt herself moving along the tiled floor at a quick pace.

     "I found t' perfect spot. Ya can see t' tree blossoms all over t' place..." The kittom pushed Rynn merrily out the door and across the courtyard. "See, t'eres ya window." She gestured towards the opposite side of the glass Rynn had been next to for goodness knows how long.

     Amirynth took in the sights for a moment. Marveling at the colourful flowers that seemed to crowd this garden. She took a deep breath and spoke, "D-d-do I g-g-get to find out your name now?" The faenin turned a little to glance up at the large kittom behind her wincing as she moved her shoulder a little too fast. They had made a joke of it prior that her name would be a surprise along with the flowers, something the kittom had decided to stick to the whole time.

     The blue elnin laughed aloud. "Ah guess it's time no?" She moved around to in front of Amirynth and took a knee with a paw across her chest, looking like the knights of the fairytales Rynn once read. "My name is Malis, I have been studying here to learn healing..." she paused, "But I really wish I could be helping others like I helped you." The large kittom bowed her head again before looking up and pointing "Look! The falling stars are back!" She sat down on the ground next to the chair and leaned back on her arms and gazed up into the stars.

     "Malis, that is a g-g-good name." She listened to the blue kittom before her attention was drawn to the sky. "They really are p-p-pretty." Rynn sat in her chair and let the slight breeze wash over her as the bright coloured lights fell from the stars. While she sat and contemplated, the faenin watched as each light fell, illuminating the flowered garden in bursts of brilliant sparkles. She gasped as the pink blossoms on the trees that surrounded them almost glowed in the colourful lights, "Thank you Malis... thank you so m-m-much. This place is b-b-beautiful." Glancing over at the fellow kittom she smiled softly, "I ap-p-preciate your help, you can be my k-k-knight if you wanted." She felt a weight on her chest, even with the beauty that surrounded her. "It might be a b-b-bit before I am able to travel alone once more."

     The large kittom looked over at Rynn with a wide grin. "Ah'd love t' be ya knight Amirynth! That be a mighty fine idea!" The blue elnin gave a small bow from where she sat and then shifted to lean her back against the chair and settled in the watch the lights fall once again. "Probably t' best idea of t' night!" They sat quietly for a while longer before heading in to settle Rynn back to bed for a long rest after the days excitement.