A Light in the Dark

Siyana had never experienced anything like this before. Collectively raised by several of the residents of Rainsong Forest, she had seen and heard of so many amazing things: the brilliant blues of the Aiti pool, the great Villoso and his many children, the soft bioluminescence of glow worms in the cave system at the foot of the Mountains, but this? This was something else. Never had she seen so many moons in such darkness; never had she seen such uncertainty in the eyes of those who she thought were fearless.

Worried, yet wide-eyed, she cautiously made her way to the Cafe, her large ears swiveling like windmills and her short tail tucked close to her hind legs. She was familiar with the two Shroomkin who were behind the establishment, Cato and Colette, and knew that they were doing everything that they could to keep it going in these trying times. It was a safe haven, at least at the moment; a literal light in the perpetual darkness. She immediately recognized the large tree that the two had carved out so many seasons ago and peeked inside one of the knotholes that had not long ago become a window. There were so many voices and so many smells that the little fawn felt overwhelmed, and she instead shook her head and made her way to the front of the Cafe where Agnès and Kai were taking a break in front of a large campfire.

The darker of the two Shroomkin sighed as her partner in crime and fellow server rubbed his paws together in a ball of claws. Agnès' ears quickly ticked upright before her attention shifted to the approaching fawn. She squinted, "...Siyana? What are you doing out so late?"

"Is it even that late?" Kai mumbled, his tired eyes focused on the flames in front of him as he once again exposed his palms. "Who knows anymore."

Siyana considered Kai's comment before settling next to them and tucking her legs beneath her belly. "I didn't want to be alone," she returned quietly.

"Of course not, sweetheart," Agnès placed a paw on the fawn's shoulder. "You're always welcome here."

Kai nodded in agreement and offered a sympathetic smile.

Siyana could feel her body relax for the first time all day; that was until she noticed a large shadow take shape over the three of them. She could have sworn that the campfire grew stronger in its presence.

There was a great pause and Kai finally spoke up to fill the silence. "Siyana, this... this is Hesek. He's... been helping out around here lately."

"And Aiti knows that we could use the help," Agnès added.

Siyana's eyes grew as wide as the dreaming pool itself as she observed the Vexyn for the first time. He was as large as a Mountain but looked nothing like one, with toes that looked more like a Shroomkin's than anything and scales that ran the length of his belly and tail. "You're not an Aitielkh, are you?" It was hardly a question.

"No, I am afraid not," the Vexyn chuckled quietly, "but I am here to help."

Siyana blinked and all she could do was listen as Hesek cast his fire bright gaze upwards. "Do you see those three moons?"

"They are all that I can see lately..."

Empathetic, Hesek continued calmly as if he were speaking to a Xynlet from his own world. "Those are Trellisa, Oborn, and Yanwei, and they are from where I come from, Lunerest."

"Lunerest?" she questioned with a slight tilt of her head. Agnès and Kai listened, too, as if hearing everything for a second time would help them to better accept, or at least understand, the situation.

"Yes... You see, somehow, a portal opened up and connected our worlds. I wish that I had more information to share with you, little one, but please know that my friends will figure all of this out, and that I will keep you company, keep you safe, all the while."

Siyana paused, the flames crackling in front of her pale coat, before nodding in return. She had to be strong like her friends.

Hiding his halo, the Vexyn began to distribute red and white cups of jasmine tea. Kai accepted one with a hesitant sniff as Agnès returned her paw to Siyana's shoulder, addressing her quietly.

"Why don't you get some sleep, sweetheart. We'll all keep an eye on things."

The fawn nodded, shifting and setting her head on the ground. "Thank you, Agnès... Thank you, Hesek."

The Lunestrian paused as his lips ticked upwards at the corners. Some languages were universal. "You're welcome, little one."