You walk into a strange land that seems somehow impossible though your eyes insist that everything is normal. How did a relaxing backwoods hike end up here? This land hums with magic and possibilities and even though it can't be seen you can feel the one who rules this land. Intrigued, you continue on your hike and find a creature as strange as the land feels, and as beautiful as any dream. You are always getting into trouble for your curiosity but now you find yourself grateful for it. How else would you have come to see such a marvel? If you could get closer, just a little closer, you would have seen enough to satisfy even your curious heart.
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"Hello. How did you get here? My name is Sparkle, and I am the first to know of this land."
"I--I'm Leilani. What is this place? For a forest it sure is open."
"This is my home. Why would it need another name that that?"
You don't quite know what to say to this so instead you just look at the marvel before you. He was talking. And you were talking back. It seems like a curious mind comes in handy for these things. Somehow you aren't surprised by what he says or even that you found him. And he is so beautiful with the markings on his sides and the golden hue of his main and tail. Perhaps if you kept going you would find more of these friends.
You stare at him as these things go through your mind. He looks back at you and then sighs as he flicks his tail and dashes away between the trees. He moves playfully, not fleetingly, so you follow close behind, hoping to see more before you have to go back.
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Before you can though you come across a beautiful white she-wolf. You find her laying in the shade of a fern, half hidden in its shadow, and looking right at you. Even you aren't prepared for what happens next.
"There's a girl following you Sparkle. Did you know that?"
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She was talking too! Then, even as you watch, she shimmers before your eyes and turns into what looks like a young elf with long, ice-blue dragonfly wings. The wings are darker at the tips, a vibrant midnight blue color that would blend in with any shadow. She has long, flowing, white blond hair and a slight breeze plays a single loose strand across her face. Under it you notice a light scattering of freckles, just barely kissing her nose and cheeks and looking like so much dappled sunlight. Her skin is pale, almost transparent, and she's so small and frail looking you fear that anything stronger will knock her down. Then you notice that she's wearing a dress that vaugly resembles a toga, hanging across one shoulder and stopping halfway to her knees. It's a pale cream color, so it could blend with her skin and not be seen unless it's looked for. The girl appears to be about six to eight years old but you can see the well formed hips under the dress that suggest a much greater age. You also notice her breasts for the first time, so naturally fitting with her garment that you'd missed them before. It's only her hight and her face that suggests youth.
Your eyes wander to her pointed ears and you find that they aren't as pointed as they should be-the edges are slightly rounded by a blur. All her edges are so the creature looks as if she's only half in this world. Her feet are so small that they're hidden under a few leaves, making it look like she comes from the forest itself. And her voice is soft and small, a sound that reminds you of christmas and family, rides in the snow and long nights spent singing your joy to the heavens. Though, oddly, you have done none of these things. There is only preasent sharing and food at your house, not the overflow of love and play you just thought of.
"Are you the one they call Songhue?"
Even Sparkle didn't know her! But she seemed to know him. How odd.
Smiling, she looks at him and then you, a look that somehow seems all so rare on the pretty, heart rounded face. "Yes, I am Songhue. And I see that you are sociable. Take a look at your new home and then see about making friends. Welcome to Sunlit Shadows, Sparkle."
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With those few words of greeting she shimmered once more and this time turned into a great couger, majestic and strong, though somehow she still seemed frail looking. The only thing that you can find that didn't change about her are her eyes; soft blue-gray, kind, caring, and far too wise on areas of life that the lucky remain unaware of.
"Wow," Sparkle sighs as the wolf-elf-fairy-couger thing slips back into the shallow shadows of the forest. "I've never met a wind sprite before. I've only heard tales about them."
He sighs again and then looks back at your awestruck face before flicking his tial and bouning away, calling for you to hurry if you wanted to see the rest of the realm. If you wanted to see the rest of Sunlit Shadows. Laughing, thinking youself in a dream, you run after him, hurrying towards strange new things that would always have a home in your heart.
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Sparkle proves to be fast though and extremely energetic. As you chase him you notice that the trees are thinning even more, allowing more light to come through and an odd warmth that seems to come from the inside out. You laugh, enjoying the chase, wondering what marvel you'll see next when you suddenly stop, almost stumbling over your own feet and still bumping into Sparkle. A wonderful mare stands before you, As golden as the sun that warmed you, and she didn't look too happy.
"Hi," Sparkle grins, prancing happily at this new creature. "I'm Sparkle, and this is Leilani."
"Path," the mare replies and you're so taken in by her deep, soft voice that you step forward, forgetting that she could easily crush you. She watches you and you stop to touch her main, wondering at the heat that came from her and thinking that you're now as much at home as you ever were. You stand and stroke her main, her neck, just touching to reassure yourself this isn't all a dream and her look slowly softens.
"This is a nice place," she comments, looking at Sparkle as you continue to marvel. "What's it called?"
"Sunlit Shadows. Welcome home Path."
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You start at the voice and when you look you see Songhue agian, this time in the form of a white squirrel. It seemed she could only ever have those colors. White and the palest of yellows with the almost shaped blue-grey eyes. She barely spares you a glance though, but she does offer the small smile that means you haven't disturbed any rules.
"I'm glad to be here," Path says and gives a deep bow, apparently extremely noble. She was reserved and warm and old fasioned to the core and someone that would be the perfect balance for the hyper Sparkle. Songhue returnes the bow with a slight grin and you notice the odd light in her eye.
"Path, you know something that few others know. You came here with that knowledge so you could understand me better and know that when I say something it's not out of ignorance. My past is my own to share. I hope you remember that."
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She bows again at her words and Sparkle gives a little grin, not caring that he didn't know since it was her past to share. Songhue jumps to the ground and shimmers into her real form, the one of a wind sprite, just long enough to give both serians a loving pat. Then she was a golden eagle, the colors true this time as they'd been for no other creature, and was gone. Stunned, you follow the pair as they start their exploration again, thinking of all you've seen already and of all that must lay ahead.
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It turns out though that what lay ahead decides to take a swipe at yours. You duck, stunned, and put a hand on Sparkle for comfort as you see the flying apparition circle over head and give out a cry that chills your bones. Sparkle shudders under your hand but the cool-headed Path seems unaffected. In a way you envy her distance.
"What is that thing," you wisper, fighting not to shudder like the welcoming Sparkle. "A Windskrae," is the answer you get, though Sparkle's voice is so tight from wonder you can barely hear.
"It's another of the creatures that live here," Path explains, her deep, calm voice sounding as if she spent every day ducking blows to her head. "This one's a Wind Trapper, a kind of breed as there are breeds of dog. She doesn't seem to trust us."
"She's named SeaCrest," the tree you're leaning on mumures and with a little cry you jump back to see Songhue in her squirrel form agian. She seems to be smiling. "And SeaCrest thinks you're here to invade her home. She pretty much keeps to her own so she's not used to visitors."
With that the little squirrel's eyes glaze and you can feel the connection being made between her and the creature called SeaCrest. A moment passes before she lets out another of those chilling caws and sweps over some mountains on the horizon. Songhue is definately smiling now.
"She's friends with some others creatures here, the Jinxes. They live on the other side of those peaks. She shares their water and watches over them from the sky, so she's not that friendly to new commers. But if you happen by her again she might take a moment to play with you now that she knows you're friends."
With that, and a little flick of her fluffy tail, she dissapears into the leaves. Path simply snorts and looks back at the two of you still huddled together, raising an eyebrow in obvious contempt. "Do you still want to see this home or have you been scared off?"
If there's one thing you always pride yourself on it's that you don't scare easily, no matter how much others try. You say as much and you see the corner of Path's mouth twist up in a parody of a smile.
The trees have stopped by now, given way to a sunny meadow that's filled with light and heat. It's a nice place for a picnic or for just lounging about. The land seems as magical as the creatures, always changing to suit them so that all kinds could call Sunlit Shadows home. Even this seems unpredictable, and you find yourself exited to guess what might show itself next. As you walk you let your mind wander, beaming at everything around you and gaining approving looks from your new friends. Who else might you meet on this adventure?
So far you see the forest behind you, the warmly lighted field in front of you, and the mountains with their smell of the sea beyond that. Anything could lay between the place you know and where you are. With a giggle you decide that after your travels here have done you'll see those creatures Songhue mentioned, the Jinxes. They sound cute to you and you'd like to meet them. But the field that Path calls home is ending and for now there are new mysteries to discover; perhaps one can unravel is the elegant SeaCrest.
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The trees are getting closer again and as you continue on you keep an eye out for the strange looking SeaCrest. Because of this you very nearly trip over a small little creature that blended perfectly with the growing underbrush. Letting out a startled little cry, you jump back and watch as it blinks at you in a slow, languid manner. "Hello," he says in a voice that's completly at odd with his sleepy manner. "Please watch where you step."
He turneS to leave at that, but by now you've gotton over your shock and step past Sparkle and Pixie to pat him softly on the head. "I'm sorry, you say as he turns back to give you a curious look. "I was looking for someone else."
"It's no problem," he answeres with a sweet smile. You just nearly got my mate is all. I'm Grindle, and this is Sheela."
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As soon as her name is spoken, Sheela stepps out from behind a shadowy bush, where she had blended in perfectly. Part of that might be attributed to her transparent crest, which for a moment you can't help but stare at.
"I'm sorry," you sputter after a moment, though rather it's for staring or nearly crushing her you're not sure of. She really is quite a sight, and something to think over. She seemed to have almost constant colors exept for where a bit of green showed here and there, and you have to believe that these clever little spots are not there by accident.They show where the shadows would be dimmest on her.
"They call themselves rinnacles," Path rumbls and nods to each respectfully. "they come from a land of volcanoes and storms. I do believe these two in particular are trying to mate?"
With a rather wry grin, the two look at each other and then back at each of the others in turn. Finally, there eyes land on you, and with a smile of your own you scratch at their scales and stand up. They don't seem the kind used to visitors, and they certainly have thier own agendas. These are not creatures to entertain you, no matter how facinating.
With a small, playful kick Sparkle jumps forward and you follow after with a little giggle, you follow after him, wondering if any more strange, sleepy creatures await your discovery. And you're careful to watch where you step.
