The Spirits Animals Cult Story Remastered

The Summer Solstice

"That's a lot of lanterns," Rollan noted, staring at the rows of paper lanterns stringed in the air.

 Meilin sat back on her haunches. "Well, it took a lot of time to put them up. ESPECIALLY since our beloved resident Featherbrain couldn't be bothered with helping."

He held his hands up. "I mean, I was in the kitchen. I was working, too."

"Working on your appetite, you mean," Meilin grumbled.

The Summer Solstice celebration Greenhaven had been preparing for was soon about to begin! The next day was the long-awaited celebration, and they would party all day and night. She had lain out her outfit and made sure it was ready a few hours ago because she was planning to stay up all night on the beach, under the lanterns, with Rollan.

There was the sound of someone tripping over the sand with a little 'oof.' "Guys!"

Well, maybe it would be Rollan and a few others. "It's nice out tonight, isn't it?" Meilin called to Tasha, who was holding her skirt and skipping down the beach, tripping every once in a while.

"It is- it's very nice-" the girl said breathlessly. "Okay, has anyone seen Dawson?"

Rollan raised his hand. "I have."

Tasha lit up. "Where?"

Rollan smirked. "Well, in your dreams, of course."

Meilin laughed as Tasha turned red in the dim light. 

"Who else is coming down?" she asked.

The girl glared at Rollan and turned to Meilin. "Shadow said she was taking Worthy for a walk down the beach on the other side, then she's going to join us. I said sure - I'm not sure when Raisha and Song are coming, but I'm sure they will."

"At this rate, the inner castle of Greenhaven is going to come crashing down on the beach, and the party's gonna start early," Rollan said.

"That would be catastrophic," Meilin added, leaning back. "What about C-" She paused, blinking.

It was silent for a few seconds. "I'm sure he's going to come back one day," Rollan said quietly. "It's like Shadow and Raisha said. He'll be missed. We'll be waiting."

"You're right." Meilin held her hair up. "Tonight, we're going to have fun. And it's way too hot, does anyone have water?

"Shadow ran along the hard sand of the shore, feet digging into every step.

"You sure that's safe?" Asked Worthy as the waves washed over her bare feet.

"Yes, you scaredy-cat," She said, kicking up spurts of water.

"SHADOW!" He screeched as water droplets landed all over him.

"OH MY TELLUN, I'M SO SORRY!!" She ran up the beach to aid him.

"Why did you do that!?""I didn't mean it, you know I didn't!"

"Shadow!" She hugged him.

"It's okay, it's okay. Come on, let's get you to the party."

"I'm soaked! I can't go to a party like this!" Shadow looked at the single droplet caught in his hair and the few wet patches already drying on his clothes.

"You'll be fine," She grabbed his hand and began skipping up the beach. "I was thinking about going wild swimming at the end of the party. What do you think?"

"I am NOT going in."

"No, I didn't mean you go in. I meant I go in. What do you think of me going in?"

"As long as you promise to stay safe. I do not want to have to get wet to come and save you."

"Worthy, I'll be fine." She caught sight of some lanterns floating in the distance and broke into a sprint.

"Shadow!" Meilin said, jumping up to greet her.

Tasha ran over and tripped. They all realized too late she was gonna hit her head on a rock... but then, out of nowhere, Dawson grabbed her, and she fell into his arms instead. While the couple glowed bright red, Shadow sat down under the lanterns.

"I'm hungry," Worthy complained.

"Then get food," Shadow instructed.

"I can't be bothered," He said, putting his arm around her. She leaned into him, looking at Meilin and Rollan. She could see the jealousy written across their faces. Dawson came over with some party food, and Worthy jumped up and grabbed it off him, Shadow bursting into laughter as she sat upright and took some herself.

"What?" Said Worthy, mouth half full and more food in each of his hands. She rolled her eyes.

"Nothing."

"Of course," Dawson mumbled. "Stealing off my plate always."

Song sat deep in the ocean, watching the fish swim around her. She laughed as Seaspray chased them. "Hmm, I wonder how wet everyone would get if I made a tsunami?" The empress decided to chase the other creatures around before deciding to return to the shore. Song made a wave to carry her. It grew in size fast. Tasha looked up from where she was in Dawson's arms. Her eyes widened. 

"Song's doing it again!" Worthy looked up and screamed as he ran away. "WATER!!!!" Shadow pulled him back. "Hold on, Scaredy-Cat! This is normal. Besides, if you're this afraid of water, how can you live with Song?" 

Just then, to his bad luck, Shane walked in. "What's going on guys?" Rollan shouted. "Shane, run!" The Crocodile King raised an eyebrow. "Why?" Then he turned his head, just to have Song jump off the wave and go flying onto him. The wave crashed onto the two and washed back into the ocean to reveal Shane groaning as he lay face-first in the sand with Song on top of him. The empress patted his hair. "Thanks for taking one for the team!" She skipped away. 

Shane sighed and dropped his face into the sand.

Meilin sighed. "She didn't even apologize." Rollan snorted. "Something's seriously wrong with that girl. I mean-" Song shouted from the distance. "I love your hair, Rollan! It looks so good coming out of one nostril like that!"