Chapter Text
The sun peered from behind the Metilo Mountain, reflecting off water drops on the plants below. Birds chirped and cawed, rustling through the trees. Through the lush forest, a small group of various creatures ran through it- playing a friendly game of tag.
The current tagger- a small and quick maroon dreamian named Nuloaii, pounced onto a large, teal demonicus. They tumbled, quickly stopping to laugh after.
“Come on! I stick out!” The demonicus whined, playfully punching Nukoaii. They both began laughing again.
The dreamian then stood up, “Kilax, let's find the others- the sun is rising.” Nukoaii spoke through small giggles, tapping the young demon on their back before running. Kilax stood blankly for a moment, but shook his head and ran to keep up.
The two sprinted past a large variety of plants; trees, bushes, a shifterlet- wait, that isn't a plant? Kilax struggled to see them through the trees- his friend, Eoutus, giggled as she ran to them. Her scales quickly changed from a camouflaging green to her normal palette- deep reds and magentas with splashes of pink. The duo grinned back, slowing down to let the pink creature keep up.
“So,” Nukoaii panted, “Where are the others?”
Eoutus stayed silent in thought, but then responded as they gradually slowed down. “Back at the village, probably bothering the merchants as usual.” Eoutus giggled.
Nukoaii jumped between the two. “Let’s go find them!” He shouted boldly, his scratchy voice making Kilax giggle as usual. The maroon dreamian charged past them, sprinting ahead. The two left behind quickly caught up, stopping behind Nukoaii as they left the forest.
The great smells of spices and foods hit the young creatures hard, along with the strong chatter of the markets. Kilax blinked, hesitant, but eventually he stepped ahead of them- then sprinted into the street. The other two stayed with him, all three searching. The vibrant blue demon paused, his eyes meeting his fourth friend. Kilax jogged towards her, giving a greeting smile.
“You guys finally came back?” The hooded girl teased, punching the taller boy in his shoulder.
“Yup!” Nukoaii trotted over, slinging an arm around her.
“I still don’t understand why you need this hood. You won't really stick out.” Eoutus stood next to Kilax, folding her arms as she raised a brow.
The hooded girl blinked. “You say that like I’m not a human with random alephiod traits.”
Kilax shrugged. “I see no problem with it.”
Suddenly, a fifth jumped in- shouting as they frightened the other four. The hooded girl groaned.
“Trunn?!” Eoutus hissed, quickly changing her frightened, white scales back to normal with a few extra red spots.
The cenntarikey laughed boldly, their standoutish rosettes shimmering in the sun. Trunn wiped a joyful tear from his eye, cackling. He danced on his four hooves, bringing his talons to his face, then slapping his chest as he calmed down.
“I got you all good!” He wheezed.
The hooded girl frowned, her pupils narrowing. “Real funny, Trunn.” She huffed, twirling a loose piece of hair with her finger.
“But I DID get you, right Lunaire~?” He taunted, stepping into her face. She pushed him back, then going to rub her temple.
Kilax shrugged. “Well- all of us are here, except for Waile.” The blue demonicus glanced around, his wings shifting on his shoulders awkwardly.
“That fish-brain is probably stuck training with his father again.” Eoutus huffed.
Lunaire then loudly groaned, “Don’t remind me of my training later.”
The group then chuffed, some nodding as they remembered.
“You gotta learn how to fly.” Nukoaii pointed as he spoke, then frowning as he brought his paw down.
“When even is that?” Trunn folded his arms.
“Soon,” Lunaire mumbled, grabbing a small stick and spinning it with her fingers.
Nukoaii then awkwardly laughed, stepping back with his hands behind his back. “Well- I should get going- won't be long before sundown!” He shuffled his posture, standing more upright as he glanced at the waning sun- the floating city reflecting the light neatly while it was in view.
“Oh, alright!” Kilax blinked, tapping his foot.
“I should go back too.” Eoutus frowned.
“Same here.” Trunn sighed dramatically.
Lunaire gave Kilax an awkward glance before nodding off the others. She then turned to the teal demonicus, folding her arms neatly.
“Well then, just us two?” She raised a brow as she tossed the stick. Kilax nodded.
“Yup.” His eyes then moved to the forest. Lunaire followed his glance.
“Hmp. Want to go hunting for some night-time creatures again?” She looked back towards him.
“Sounds fun- why not?” He chuckled, then began walking past the shrinking crowd of people, making his way to the thicket.
They both looked around, their eyes slowly adjusting to the developing night’s darkness. Lunaire hesitantly pulled the hood from her head, clumping up the cape into a ball to stuff into a pouch along her belt. She dramatically stretched, her dark colored wings reaching from her back, head, and waist- the white tips on her main set of wings sticking out. Lunaire stumbled as she brought both her wings and arms down, then jogged after the albino demon. They both stopped at a cave, which was dimly lit by glowing moss and plants. Lunaire nonchalantly walked past the teal demonicus, her near solid black tail dragging behind.
Kilax blinked, but followed her. “I thought we wouldn’t come back here without the others..” He raised a brow, eyeing his friend up ahead.
“I mean, I came here for some critters- It wouldn't hurt to also reread the writing along these walls.” Lunaire turned around, bringing her hands behind her back as she walked backwards. Kilax frowned, bringing his eyes to her tail.
“If you’re gonna walk backwards, at least pick up your tail.” He exhaled, a small puff of smoke exiting his snout. She shrugged, turning back around.
The two then halted, Lunarie calmly sitting down. Kilax then sat next to her, adjusting his scruffy shirt to sit more comfortably around his neck. Lunaire closed her eyes with an inhale, collecting herself to be in a more complete posture.