Thunderlight

(Cont.) A Celebration of Love

By the time Hilda and Amari return to the house, the sun is just starting to set and festival lanterns are flickering with life. The evening breeze is gentle and cool, carrying with it a tranquility as the night settles in. The small flames of the lanterns flicker with each whisper of wind, casting dancing shadows throughout the town. Seeing the town glowing in the night is a uniquely beautiful sight. Even with the lights, the night sky is clear and vivid, each star twinkling with diamond-like luster.

It's a perfect night for a festival, especially one celebrating such a warm and pure concept: love. Mott isn't sure he's ever been to a celebration for such an innocent cause. Most parties he's attended were flooded with the rich and corrupt who wanted to boast their illicitly earned wealth. But there's nobody like that at this party. Tonight, this party is for everyone—everyone has love, after all.

Hilda and her family lead them through the streets, showing them the sights of the city. Amari is most eager to show them everything they find cool, shouting "LOOK AT THIS" and "OVER THERE IS MY FAVORITE ROCK." Lenny takes Amari's excitable yelling in stride, matching their enthusiasm by asking a billion questions per second. There's no room between them for another word. Mott is fairly certain the two of them could power a sizable city with the energy of their chattering alone.

It's not long before Amari starts clamoring about the festival. "I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY LANTERN!"

"Lantern?" Lenny asks, tilting his head curiously.

"YEAH! YOU'VE GOTTA BUY A LANTERN AND SEND IT INTO THE SKY AT THE END OF THE NIGHT!" Mott's ears are ringing so much he almost can't hear the next part. "YOU SEND IT OFF TO SHOW EVERYONE HOW THANKFUL YOU ARE FOR THE LOVE IN YOUR LIFE!"

"That's so cute!" Lenny cries, clapping his hands together excitedly. Walking backwards so he can face Mott, he declares, "We gotta get some."

Lenny's smile is bright, and his gait is carefree like a dancer's. With that smile trained on him, Mott can't help but smile in return.

"Sure, why not," he responds.

Swinging his arms with delight, Lenny spins back around, a slight hop to his step. He leaps and skips from stone to stone along the cobblestone street, laughing when Amari stiffly joins in. His laugh isn't one of the pretty kinds, the kinds that sound like wind chimes or music; instead, it's an infectious one. It's the type of laugh that sparks joy, bringing smiles to everyone's faces. It's a dorky half-giggle, half-snort. It's the best kind of laugh.

Mott watches Lenny and Amari jump from stone to stone, apparently playing some new made-up game with no rules. In the lanterns' glow, he looks soft: no hard edges to him, all heart and soul. When he cheers for Amari and praises their stubby-legged jumps, that pure softness overwhelms him.

It doesn't take long for Amari to find the game boring. Eventually, they stop hopping around, flailing their little arms until Hilda picks them up and sets them on her back. Lenny pats their head and tells them that they won the game. Amari beams with pride and shouts to Hilda: "DID YOU HEAR THAT?"

Mott's smile is too big for him to wince. A low laugh chuckles out of him, and he shakes his head. If she hadn't heard, she sure has now.

Hilda's family veers off to find Amari a lantern, leaving Mott and Lenny to wander on their own for a bit. Lenny watches them go for a moment before turning his attention elsewhere. He seems to be taking in the festival, gazing at the sights with wide, shining eyes. Mott can't blame him. The town has always been gorgeous in a phenomenally inventive way, but seeing the same buildings blanketed in night and decorated in love turns it into a whole new world.