Day 6 Prompt

Thanks to everyone again for their submissions! Keep it up! :)

Please put the word Firefly at the top of the post so I know that you are replying to the current version of the story.

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By Taptothebeat


Past the rocks was a hole and so Zima and Yae fell far far down below. A sea of giant fairy mushrooms cushioned the fall. After several bounces going from mushroom to mushroom, Zima was finally able to stabilize herself.

The cavern was vast and there was a beautiful glow off into the far distance, which was enough to light the area even here. The cries of the trolls were too far to hear.

"...Where are we?", Zima asked.

"...Where are we?", The cave echoed back.

Yae didn't answer but instead whispered, "Follow me."

Yae slowly led Zima towards the glows of light that seemed to dance, flicker, and float through the air.

Zima's eyes wandered with curiosity. She noticed little doors and lanterns hanging on the mushrooms nearby. A fountain surrounded by flower gardens. Wooden signs with a language she could not understand.

A light bulb went off in Zima's head as she connected the dots. She exclaimed with a face flush from excitement, "WOW! A hidden firefly Lunemara village!"

Firefly
A Lunemara approached them Yae backed up but Zima just walked closer, the Lunemara looked very royal It greeted them "Salutations, are you new here?", "Yes we are new here." Zima replied. Yae just watched in awe of how calm Zima was! "Let me show you around. I'm Nebula, and you?" "Zima. I'm Zima." Zima said.

Firefly

Yae grinned at Zima. "You see! I knew about this all along!"

Zima tilted her head at Yae. "So were you leading me here from the start? Why didn't you tell me that right away?"

"No lunemara is allowed to tell other Sylestis about this place, otherwise we might get attacked."

Zima felt hurt. "But why didn't you tell me? She cried. You trust me right?"

Yae shook her head in response. "Of course I trust you! Just- I mean, what if you told someone else? And your sister is missing so the lunemaras may not appreciate me telling the suspect-"

"So you dont trust me!" Zima hissed. She couldn't describe how she felt. What if her sister was here all along and she couldnt find her because Yae never told her? Zima whipped around and ran further into the village, leaving Yae behind.

"Wait! Zima! Hold on!" Yae called after her, but Zima didn't care. She just continued running past the huts, into the village ahead.

Eventually, Zima came to a stop, where she was finally alone with her thoughts. However, once she examined her surroundings she realized she was completely lost. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to leave Yae behind. Zima looked at some nearby signs but couldn't understand any of it. The only familiar words on these signs were "Door of Life" with a large arrow pointing right on it. Zima decided perhaps this would be a good lead, and went right.

Firefly

A couple of firefly Lunemara stuck their heads out of their family coccons as Zima weaved through the village. A shrill shriek came from a part of the cave, and as it rattled through Zima's head, a bolt of something furry blasted into Zima's paws were Yae was. "Yae!" it cried, and a firefly Lunemara crashed into Yae, causing both of them to tumble in a bundle. As Yae tried to unhitch herself from the winged Lunemara, it hugged her, catching Zima and Yae off guard. "Oh, Yae, I missed you. I was worried as I went into Metamorphosis! You said you'd be there for me. Oh, Yae. I love you. How are you, and where have you been?" the creature said. Yae looked at Zima, embarrassed but with hope in her eyes. "Zima, meet my sister, Mariposa. She's good at helping find people. She'll help you find Zuri." At her sister's mention, Zima's eyes teared up. "I hope you're still alive." Zima muttered to herself, looking out at the moon from the hole in ceiling as Mariposa and Yae walked away. Reluctantly, she followed.

Word count: 185

Firefly


"Thank you."

Zima whipped around. Yae was about to clamber aboard the kitten but crawled into a crevice instead.

A lavender glow approached from around a boulder, followed by a young Lunemara.


Joaquim Tricolor

Zima said, "Thank us?"

"For not calling us 'glowbutts.' I am Joaquim Tricolor. What brings cute Hatchlings to this hazardous place?"

When Yae didn't answer, Zima said, "We seek The Hunter, hoping he can find my missing sister."

Joaquim blinked. "Is your sister Bengal-spotted?"

"Yes! Have you seen her?"

"No, but a gossiping Aurleon described a kitten he'd seen frolicking with some Zolnixi puppies. The Hunter flew toward Umbra's Veil to investigate."

"Frolicking" doesn't sound like she's in danger. But . . . "I never heard of 'Umbra's Veil.'"

"It only exists during the Fall, disappearing after a few weeks."

"Oh no! If Zuri is still there when this land vanishes, what will happen to her?" Zima looked from him to Yae, but Yae was gazing starry-eyed at Joaquim. Oh, great.

"We don't know that Zuri is inside the Veil," he replied. "Even if she is, we still have time to get her out. I'll go tell The Hunter there's definitely a lost kitten out there." From behind the boulder, Joaquim pulled out some Illusionist's Equipment. It magically fitted itself to him.

"How will you find him?"

"I'll blink a certain pattern. He'll find me. You two wait here."

Yae's gaze followed his flight out of the cavern. Zima waved a paw before her eyes.

"Huh?"

Firefly



Zima still in awe from the beautiful view turned to Yae.

"What a beautiful village!" Zima exclaimed happily. Her big blue eyes shined brightly.
"Yes it is, its a safe haven for us Lunemara. It protects us from all our natural predators outside." Yae explained calmly.
"Really? Wow, thats so amazing!" Zima jumped with excitement.

Yae replied with a nod before making her way over to one of the wooden signs. She could make out some of the words but the rest were stumping her. The pair stood in front of the sign, with puzzled looks on their faces when they heard a voice.

"Are you ok, young ones?" came a smooth voice.

The pair turned around to see an elderly female Lunemara. Her body was a beautiful brown with the fluff surrounding her neck being darker and covered in golden spots. Her wings were gold and adorned with white rings. Also her abdomen glowed brightly illuminating the area.

"Ah, hello. I can't read this script, it's written in an ancient text and I can only make out parts of it. Can you help us?" Yae asked kindly.
"Yes, I can certainly help. That is known as old firefly text and that sign is saying welcome to the firefly village." She responded.
"Thank you" Yae replied. She paused for a moment before asking "Miss, do you know where the Hunter is?"
"Yes I do, they're in this village. I'll take you to them. Follow me." She replied calmly.

Word Count: 248

Firefly~ Ah sorry, didn't mean to ping! Also, I went a bit over if that's okay, It just kinda spewed out.

They stared into the bright, but also oddly still village, Zima's ear turned to a loud racket behind them, it sounded like a... Roar? Lunemara's didn't roar, from what she knew, they were naturally quiet! Yae turned to her, her antennas still, almost like she thought it would make noise.
``What was that?`` Yae squinted, a puzzled expression smeared her face. Zima gulped, ``It sounded like a very angry something. I think It came from over there.`` She pointed her tail, her eyes glazed with fear. ``Wait! Zima... That's not lights... That's fire!`` Yae's breathing fastened, her body quaking. Only now did Zima realize how hot it was in here. They both held back a scream, or at least tried. With the crackle of fire in the distance as the only sound for what seemed like hours, was broken by a feet-misplacing-shake.



A small Ny'vene stood in front of them, a fresh wound on his cheek told them he had recently been attacked. Zima and Yae relaxed, he didn't seem of any harm. He looked at them, his eyes blazed with fury, but not like he was going to attack them. ``We need to leave right now!`` He suddenly yelped, his wings extended as he ran towards them. Zima and Yae moved, for him to only run right past them, heading towards a small tunnel that would barely fit him. They questioned him but figured he was right as two angry looking Draeyl emerged from the cave in the wall. Zima and Yae ran after the Ny'vene. They finally emerged into the open to meet the panting and bleeding dragon outside. He seemed glad they followed him. ``I never introduced myself, i'm Varrow.`` He weakly grinned, trying to be formal.

Firefly.

Zima looked at her small companion. "Did you know this was down here." Yae smiled her eyes sparkling, we lunemara have a sense about these kind of things." Zima looked around smiling to herself. "Alright, your the expert down here. Where to now?" Yae shook her head, "I'm hardly an expert, but I do know a few things about them. As long as you are polite and respectful to them we will be fine"

Zima frowned suddenly, "Will they be sympathetic to our cause, or turn me in to the vulnyx council?" Yae paused her happy crawling. "I am not sure. They may not even have any contact with the vulnyx council...all the same it might be safer if you didn't give your name. At least not your real name." Zima looked at the cave thoughtfully, "What name to you suggest?" Yae munched a leaf pensively for a moment. "Hmmm. Maybe something non threatening like Kitty or maybe fluffy." Zima looked at her friend with dismay, " Fluffy! You want me to call myself Fluffy!"

Firefly
Yea nodded!"Yeah.Follow me!" she said wiggling off to where a bunch of lune's were."Aunt Circi!" she said to a firefly lune."Me and my new friend Zima we're looking for her sister and the hunter" she said introducing the two."This is my Aunt Circi,Circi this is Zima"

"nice to meet you,and why are you two looking for the hunter?" she asked curiously,leaning down to the two."u-uhmmm."Yea looked at the others."Can we talk in your nest?" she asked.Circi nodded to the tiny lunamara."You two can get to it right?" she asked gliding up a bit to a pastel yellow hive/nest that was embedded. Carven stairs made a easier way up to it.Slowly Zima followed her friend up to the nest.Circi opened the door and led the two into what looked like a very nice nest?house?whatever it was.A glowing mushroom sat on the banister,it seemed to have legs?Zima slid her head closer to the mushroom.