Nostra had found a spot near the front with Hilda beside them, leaning against them like a pillow with her arms around them in a side embrace. The pile of wood was a vast miniature mountain, a dormant volcano. Patrick and Rain stood by the pile, anticipation waiting in the air. Then, Azura and Stella returned with flustered but cheery looks. Stella linked arms with Rain and skipped into the crowd as Azura took her place next to Patrick. Patrick raised his arm and the crowd fell silent.
"Welcome, welcome all! Tonight has been a tremendous one, not just for the celebration of All Hallow's Eve but for the discovery of an End Crystal!"
That got people talking again. Patrick and Azura glanced at each other, amused at the crowd's reaction. Nostra's heart skipped a beat and they stiffened. Hilda tightened her hold around them as if trying to soothe them. Patrick cleared his throat and the crowd went silent again.
"The discovery of this End Crystal, while shocking, is a much-welcomed surprise. We are now even closer to defeating the Nether Horde in this perilous war! However, let's not forget the reason for our gathering tonight. We light this bonfire, not just for this End Crystal but for the spirit of All Hallow's Eve."
The crowd cheered for Patrick's speech. Patrick bowed as he stepped into the crowd and Azura headed closer to the wood, smiling to the audience.
"Let the bonfire begin!" Azura cried before bringing out a matchstick and striking it, the flame clear and bright in her fingers. Azura stepped a safe distance away from the wood before throwing it on the pile.
The fire started quickly, clambering to the top. Everyone shuffled back slightly, trying to escape the heat. The fire danced across the wood like phoenix wings, making the crowd respond with a few oohs and aahs. Nostra simply stared, their eyes wide with pursed lips. Eventually, the crowd began to disperse, heading back to the fun of the stalls and the tents. The voices of the crowd faded away, leaving Nostra alone with the fire.
Well, except for Hilda, who was now loudly chewing on something. Nostra's attention snapped to Hilda, chocolate now splattered on her lips. Hilda smiled awkwardly as she fished out a purple wrapper from her pocket, handing it to Nostra. Nostra tore the candy open, confusion evident on their face.
"Is this a chocolate fish?"
"Have you never had one before?"
"No, I have. It's just... How did you get a hold of one? They don't produce these in this continent."
"I ordered these myself."
"You what?"
"I wanted to surprise you?"
"Hilarious. It's almost like you're celebrating April Fool's on the 31st of October."
"Do you want the fish or not?"
Nostra nodded as they took a bite, a whimper of approval escaping their lips. They pulled Hilda closer as they finished the chocolate fish. The two watched the fire in silence, the occasional sounds of sparks flittering in the air. Finally, Nostra pocketed the wrapper and turned to face Hilda.
"Shall we head back now? You have to announce the winner of the pumpkin carving competition, don't you?"
Hilda didn't hear them at first, somewhere lost between the Overworld and Faerie. When she responded, her voice was barely above a whisper. "Lyria's got it sorted. Right now, I just want to stay with you, under the stars, watching the fire until it burns out."
A blush crept onto Nostra's face, but Hilda didn't notice. She leaned against them again, now linking her arm with theirs. They both settled down on the grass and Hilda rested her head on Nostra's chest, contently watching the fire dance in the peaceful quiet night.
An hour later, the bonfire had dwindled to a smouldering heap of embers, casting a faint glowing against the dark atmosphere. Nostra and Hilda remained close together, finding comfort in watching the dying flames.
Just as Hilda was about to doze off, the sound of someone skipping towards her snapped her out of her sleepy daze. Nostra and Hilda turned to see Stella, holding a jar of candy and two white pumpkins, the carved one now fully lit.
"There you two are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Stella cried, the excitement clear in her voice.
Hilda blinked sleepily and yawned. "I take it that you won the competition?" she asked, stretching weakly.
Stella nodded, practically bouncing up and down. "Lyria let me take a spare white pumpkin for my potions too. I tried to give her some of the candy but she refused. She said she was already on a sugar rush."
Nostra snorted. "Did you shove some candy down Ciara and Kane's throat yet?"
Stella shook her head. "I haven't seen those two anywhere! They must know what I'm planning, aren't I?"
"Need some help finding them?" Nostra asked, standing up. Hilda followed suit, still clinging onto Nostra's arm.
A cheeky grin spread on Stella's face. "That would be most wonderful! Come on, you two lovebirds!" she cried as she skipped to the stalls.
The skeleton's face burned as red as the bonfire, watching as the fairy flittered away. The Valkyrie yawned, a tired chuckle escaping her lips.
"She's never going to let that go, is she?" The Valkyrie asked the skeleton.
The skeleton sighed. "I'm neither a bird nor in love," they retorted.
The Valkyrie snorted. The skeleton rolled their eyes. "You know what I mean," the skeleton said.
The Valkyrie shrugged her shoulders. "This is why we're only friends."
The two stood silently for a moment before exchanging a glance. Then, the skeleton offered a bony hand to the Valkyrie. The Valkyrie looked at them, her surprise turning to joy as she took it. As she took their hand, they began to sway together, moving in a gentle rhythm. The skeleton's movements were fluid and the Valkyrie's laughter echoed softly in the night. They spun around once, twice, their steps light and effortless.
Their brief, graceful dance ended with a shared look of contentment. With a final squeeze, the skeleton released the Valkyrie with a smile on their lips. The Valkyrie linked an arm with the skeleton before they began their walk back to the bustling stalls of the courtyard. Behind them, the bonfire's final spark flickered and died, leaving the night in peaceful silence.
YOU ARE READING
Random Rainimator Stories
RandomRandom Rainimator stories that I've written, I guess. Some of these may have been written out of boredom, others may have been written for school assessments.
