[Gift] stargazing

The sun was just beginning to set when Zelune began to stir. She took a lengthy stretch, accompanied by an even longer yawn. She flapped her wings, using her tongue and paws to fluff all of her fur back to normal after being flattened from laying down for so long. Turly a spirit of the night, she slept during the day and only left her home when it was dark and the moon and stars were out.

She gets out of her comfy bed, her paws swiftly moving across the wooden floor. Once, this lighthouse was inhabited by others, though Zelune did not know who. The old wood creaks in certain spots, but she pays it no mind as she moves over to her bookshelf. It spirals around the inside of the stone lighthouse. In fact, very little of the original walls of the lighthouse were visible. It was, almost entirely, all bookshelves. Though, many things decorated these bookshelves. Trinkets, decorated book ends, and some cute moon and star themed decorations.

She flaps her wings and finds a book--one she hadn't yet gotten around to reading--and settles back down to read it. The tale is captivating, but Zelune found herself a bit disappointed in it. It, like most fairytales (it would seem), only had good things happen during the day. The night, it would seem, was a time of evil, darkness, and monsters.

There was evil in darkness, like Voids, but there was also evil in the light. Just bad people. She had seen plenty, back when she was still alive, at least. The truth was, no matter light or dark, there was always bad. And though Zelune didn't like bad things (by nature) and feared Void (as most Stelciar do--she was no fighter, afterall), she did wish that darkness and night didn't have such a bad connotation.

Isn't it darkness that makes light shine so much?

By the time she hadn't finished her book, she could tell from the window that the beautiful full moon was out. Excitedly, she shoved her book aside and trotted through the door, using her magic to open it. Her paws landed on the sand, still warm from the sun, but not overly hot. She trotted along the beach sand, flapping her wings every now and then if her paws sank in the sand.

It was a bit of a trek to her favorite stargazing spot, but it was always, always worth it. In Zelune's mind, there was no where better to view the stars. It was far enough away from the town that the stars were visible, and it was almost like a cliff the way it overlooked the sea. However, as she approached, Zelune realized that she wouldn't be the only one tonight. There, on her favorite stargazing spot, was the silhouette and blue flame of another Stelciar.

This did not annoy Zelune--in fact, she was merely surprised. Normally, this area was quite deserted. That was why it made such a good stargazing place (and a good place to live as a nocturnal creature--who'd want to live somewhere where people were busy and loud during the day?). In fact, she really hadn't remembered the last time she saw another Stelciar in this area.

Feeling a bit nervous and unsure, she trotted up the cliff. The other Stelciar heard her, quickly turning her head around. The sharpness of it causes Zelune to draw back slightly, though she sees that the other Stelciar was just frightened.

"Hi," Zelune says, voice quiet. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay," the other Stelciar says quickly. Shadowy arms moved around them, and the seaside breeze caused their veil to billow slightly. Their white fur that shone in the moonlight contrasted the thorns that wrapped around their neck and tail and the corruption of the void. Zelune tried not to stare, but for the first Stelciar she'd seen in a while, she hadn't seen such bad corruption yet either. "I can leave," the Stelciar says, clearly looking awkward.

"No!" Zelune shouts, loud enough that they both flinch. She adds on, much quieter, "I haven't had company in a while. That's... why," she explains.

Awkward silence fills the gaps for a few moments, until eventually the other Stelciar nods, and Zelune moves up to sit next to them.

"I'm Zelune, by the way," she says, finally introducing herself. She feels a bit awkward, like she's somehow forgotten how to interact with anyone. "It's nice to meet you."

The stelciar looks over and gives a soft smile, though it looks slightly sad due to their liquidy eyes. "I'm Asteria."

The two are quiet for some time longer, their gaze pointed upwards at the sky rather than each other. Then, a shooting star crosses, and Zelune gasps. "Look! A shooting star! Over by the winter constellation!" She realizes that the winter constellation might not be well known by all, but before she can go to point with her paw, Asteria's head whirls around to see it. They both stare at it happily, before talking about constellations and such.

They end up staying much later than expected, feasting on some delicious chocolates that Asteria had brought. She said she had picked them up in town, at a confectioner's store. It was decorated in a beautiful pink box with the words 'make your wish' on it in cursive. It felt perfect to share them, now that they had even seen a shooting star tonight as well! Does that mean they each would get two wishes?

When the sun was beginning to rise and the two were yawning, they descended down the cliff with promises to meet again soon. For once, the pair of them felt like they had a good time socializing with another, without having to worry about whether they were doing it right or not. After all, it was so easy to talk about the stars!