The Light We Share

Chapter 1

Nightowl opened her masked eyes to find herself on her cloud. It was morning and she had candle collecting to do! She stretched, chirping softly.

     Her cape, a pretty turquoise, was dotted with nine stars. She was quite proud of how many stars, or sparkly boys she preferred to call them, she had collected.

     Rubbing her weasel mask, as if to scrub her face, she stood and leaped off her fluffy cloud. Wind rushed around her form as she swiftly descended and she landed delicately.

    Placing her hands on her hips for a moment, she scanned the area. Many 'unlit' Sky Children were running around, waving excitedly at the Traveling Spirit, he returned the gesture warmly.

     Other Sky Kids were leaping through the six gateways that lead to the Six Kingdoms. Isle of Dawn, Daylight Prairie, Hidden Forest, Valley of Triumph, Golden Wasteland, and The Vault of Knowledge.

     Few dared to go into the seventh and largest doorway. The Eye of Eden. The most dangerous place in all of the realm. Nightowl shuddered.

     Seeing some of the kids crowded around another spirit, she made her way over to him. It was the spirit for the Season of Sanctuary. His turquoise hand pan glinted in the early morning light while his manta cape fluttered in the small breeze.

     Waving at him, she nodded, ready for her daily quests.

     "I think you'll find these to your liking," the spirit said happily, handing small, glowing orbs to Nightowl. On the orbs, small symbols in a dark color were visible.

     Upon further examination, she realized she needed to relive a spirit's memory in Daylight Prairie, clear away ten darkness, recharge another Sky Kid's light, and catch the light that sometimes floated around near the Butterfly Charmer's spirit.

She looked up at the spirit and nodded again. "Thank you," she said earnestly. "I'll be back soon!"

     Turning away from the spirit, Nightowl made her way over to a short, stone statue with a small figure carved into the face of the rock. A small basin sat in front of it. A square, orange candle sat in the basin, a golden manta charm melded into the wax.

     Nightowl took the candle and made a content noise. She then began her mission. Hopping through the gateway that led to Daylight Prairie, she appeared on a grassy peak overlooking a grotto of some sort that lead to a larger ledge.

     She stepped off the ledge and floated gracefully down. There was a small pool of water encircling a tiny island with a little bunch of unlit candles. Pulling out her own red candle, she lit the others.

     The candles lit and little balls of light floated towards her candle and disappeared into it. More wax for more candles. She continued this process a few more times to the other bunches of candles around the area.

     The sun was glittering brightly as white birds chirped above her, watching excitedly. Chirping in her jellyfish tone, Nightowl waved to them and continued her journey.

     After gliding down the ledge, through a tunnel of clouds, and landing on a grassy knoll, she arrived at Daylight Prairie.

     Flowers swayed in the breeze, butterflies fluttered in little groups, candles were burning cheerfully, and Sky Children were running here and there, trying to accomplish their quests.

     Nightowl joined them. Flapping her cape, she took to the sky, gliding over the ground, spying the golden light that floated around an oversized-rock-looking structure.

     Flapping her wings, she sped towards the light and caught it with open arms. It pulsed brightly before disappearing. One down, three to go.