Were-Night

Into the Forest We Go

And finally, a deck of cards. For either card tricks or passing time. Putting on her lucky amulet - a little yellow topaz in the shape of her sun - Solaria left the house, maybe forever. Taking the key out of the lock, she slipped it into her pocket. 

"Hey! Soli!" came a bright shout.

"Hi Tourmaline." 

"Where you going?" 

Solaria took a deep breath. "To the forest."

"Ooh! Can I come?"

Not 'What the, you hate the forest?!' or 'WHY?! Isn't it dangerous?!'. Tourmaline really was an idiot. 

"Have you packed?" said Solaria, hoping she'd say 'no' and they would run off without her. And immediately felt bad - having a third person would be wonderful, even such a dummy.

"I'm always packed!" answered Tourmaline, and Solaria looked at her skeptically. 

"I don't see a backpack, or anything, in that case, on you."

"I don't need to! Stuff gets stuck in my hair! It's like a inter-dimension or something, but one day I just put in all the necessary stuff! I checked it this morning, don't worry!"

"Really. And I'm supposed to believe that."

"Sure! Look!" 

Solaria's eyes widened. It really did look as if Tourmaline had stuck her hand in her hair, and it just didn't come out the other side. Then it came back out with a flashlight. "See?"

Tourmaline waited a couple seconds, but Solaria couldn't say a thing. Surprised much. "Yeaah, that the usual reaction when I do that..."

"Fine. I'm going to Cleo's."

-

"Soli! I was worried! You're late!"

"Sorry. But now we have a third person!"

"Really? Who is it?"

Tourmaline popped out from behind Solaria. "ME!!!"

"Oh. Hi..? You're..."

"TOURMALINE!!! Call me Tourmy though! Rhymes with wormy. Kinda."

"Okay, Tourmy. I've packed. Have you? Because you don't look like it..."

Solaria decided it was the perfect time to interrupt the conversation. "My Will-o'-the-wisp is calling! Please!"

That's when Cleo noticed the yellow flame hovering over Solaria's shoulder. "What?!"

"It appeared right after Eclipse ran into the forest."

"Oh... That's why you wanted to go."

"I don't. I need to."

--

Taking a deep breath, Solaria screwed her eyes shut and stepped over the threshold. Darkness enveloped her, the only light now being her Wisp. Is this how Eclipse felt? Probably not. She was brave. And running after he bright blue Wisp. Most likely forgotten everything, with only one goal in mind, follow the light. 

"We're in." breathed Cleo, gazing at the light behind them. Tourmaline bounced forward. 

"Do you know where to go?"

"The Wisp will lead us."

"Very reassuring!" smiled Tourmaline, not a drip of sarcasm in her voice. 

She hopped on, from mossy log to overgrown stump, farther into the forest.