Turning to Stone 4: New Leaders (Rewritten)

Chapter 5: Trapped

Pixolotl: Ten days left

Thwok: Three days left

Ailura woke up fairly early the next morning. Ugh, the sun's not even up yet. ...Guess I have more time to prepare, we're leaving today.

Ephex was already awake, looking out the window at the sky. "What are you doing?" Ailura whispered. "Just checking out the stars. ...They're a little hard to see from here, wanna come out and look with me?"

"I've been out for years." She joked, making them giggle quietly. "But sure. Think these guys will be fine for a few minutes while we're gone?" She gestured to the sleeping kids around them. "Yeah, they won't get in too much trouble. I bet they'll still be sleeping by the time we get back."

"I'd be willing to take that bet." Ailura smirked with a dangerously playful look in her eyes. "If anyone's awake by the time we come back inside, I'll get us dinner on Plant Island when this whole 'training leaders, waking Wublins, stopping an evil Wubbox from bringing back the Council' thing is over." Ephex held out their finger for a pinky promise, and Ailura returned the gesture. "Deal."

As they turned to walk out of the room, Ailura spotted Xander opening one eye just a peek. Ephex didn't seem to notice, but the little Ghazt must have been awake the whole time they were talking. She gave them a thumbs up as she floated away, she'd have to thank them later.

They strolled along the island, somehow finding themself behind the castle. "No matter what island, behind the castle always seems to be a peaceful spot." Ailura joked. The sky was still dark, the sun hadn't even risen yet, but the falling moon gave them just enough light to see.

"Look, you can see constellations from here. Those are groups of stars that make shapes." Ephex explained. "Did they even have stars on Ethereal Island?" They turned to ask her.

"No, we just had a lot of glowy things down on the ground to make up for it." She smirked, unable to tear her gaze away from the stars. "What kinda 'shapes' do stars make, exactly?"

"Lots of different things. The most well known are usually elemental signals. That one over there is shaped like a flame, for the element of fire and the celestial Furnoss."

"I heard Fire monsters went extinct." Ailura muttered. "...True. But the stars don't seem to care much." Ephex fell silent, staring at the sky. "Did Basilio tell you..." Ailura's voice trailed off, she didn't want to say it if Ephex hadn't heard.

"About the Celestials? ...Yeah." Ailura and Basilio had come across the statues of the former Celestials on their previous journey, and only their two Wubbox friends knew besides them.

The sun was slowly rising, turning the sky from a darker blue to a lighter one. "Is there a constellation for Plixie?" Ailura questioned. "Yeah, there's one for every celestial. Plixie's is shaped like oozing plasma, and Galvana's looks like a lightning bolt. She's my celestial, the electric one." Ephex explained.

"I know who Galvana is. Who doesn't?" They watched as the sky became brighter and brighter, until they realized they should be heading back inside and stood up to do so.

"Ailura?" Ephex began. "Hm?" The Ghazt looked back at them for a moment, wondering what they could possibly have to say. They certainly seemed nervous.

"...Never mind." Whatever it was, the Wubbox must have changed their mind about saying it. They started the walk back to their room, and Ailura zipped after them.

They seemed to have disappeared when Ailura got back to the room, finding that Xander must have woken everyone else up, although Xander was nowhere to be seen either.