Travel Preparations

Summer sun seeped into Shoreline's bedroom, highlighting the soft effervescence that rolled out from under the fountain across the room. Shoreline immediately leapt up from excitement, accidentally smacking Duffy, her resident Smorkip, awake with her tail. 

"Duffy duffy duffy, did you know?" Shoreline exclaimed, coiling her prehensile tail around Duffy as he blinked offendedly at her.  "Today is the day of the long-anticipated Rite of the Reef!" 

Duffy squeaked confusedly, tilting his head to a side. I don't understand. Fine then. Duffy was hers and hers only. Shoreline would go to any lengths to show him the true beauty that Faia beheld. 

"Well then!" Shoreline said, "It is certainly not appropriate of a Faian to not appreciate the charm, nor the exotic beauty, of the Lyullana Reef." She paused mid-sentence, realizing that she'd found Duffy in Alysera, quite literally in her hometown, and that he had probably never seen any sights besides mist and snow. 

"No matter! Tonight I shall take you to experience the divine festivities. What do you say we both make lanterns and then toss them out to sea, under the moonlight?" She grinned ecstatically at the little Smorkip, who gave a reluctant nod. 

"Perfect!" Shoreline beamed, scooping Duffy up in her arms. She flitted around her bedroom, gathering all her makeup, mist-mane stylers, and her classic, glowing star charms which took all the attention from the oh-so-drab stars of the night sky. She sat Duffy down in a comfortable nest made of Starberry moss next to her vanity, and quickly got to styling her curls, using scissors and clips to carve her mist-manes into whatever style she pleased. 

Of course, she couldn't forget about that rascal Duffy! Shoreline looked down, and realized that he was almost fast asleep in his translocated nest once again. Well, that wouldn't do. 

"Duffy. Duffy duffy duffy duffy duffy." Shoreline cooed, realizing that the little rascal was almost fast asleep in his translocated nest once again. Well, that wouldn't do. She smushed her face into the Smorkip's pillow-like fluff and nuzzled him, eliciting a startled yelp from Duffy. "I literally just woke you up. Don't you dare drift off to dreamland again!" With a happy sigh, she got to styling Duffy's soft fur, combing and misting it thoroughly such that it would retain its shine. He clearly didn't care much for appearances, as the moment Shoreline released him, he instantly did a backflip and dove headfirst into the waterfall-tub. 

"Ugh, and you just have to undo all my hard work, simple as that." Shoreline rolled her eyes as Duffy splashed around in the warm water, pointedly flicking some into her face for styling him for so long. "Whatever, you do you." 

It was almost time to go anyway. Shoreline took two large carrier bags and slung them across her back, swiping anything off the shelves that she and Duffy would need for their trip to the Lylluna Reef. Toiletries, sundries, spare lightkeepers' eyes.. surely they were all necessities. 

Before they left, though, an idea popped into Shoreline's head. "Hey, Duffy." She signalled with her tail, gesturing to two large cushions on the floor. "Why don't we try meditating before the ceremony?" 

Duffy shook himself dry, and in a flurry of water droplets, padded over to where Shoreline sat. "Meditation is like sleeping, but you're sitting upright." Shoreline continued. "Or you can do that instead." She noted, as Duffy promptly tucked his paws neatly underneath his tail and curled up into an adorable little Duffy-loaf. Yet another loss for Shoreline as she had to resist the urge to instantly pet him again. 

"Close your eyes…" Shoreline spoke softly, as she, too, shut her eyelids and the world went from vibrant and warm to just a muted blend of sun-baked orangeness. "And this is a good opportunity to get back in touch with your surroundings." 

The two sat there for a while. At this point Shoreline let her senses seep into every corner of the room, entwining with the lively rushing of the waterfall, the energetic rays of sunshine flooding through the open window, and the brown, sun-baked rocks which made up her room. It was so different to the rest of Alysera, almost as if it was its own little summery bungalow amidst a sea of confusing, desolate mist. If given the opportunity, she reflected, she would certainly move to the Lylluna Reef. The last time she'd been in bloom season, it had felt so warm that it was almost like bay season. 

"Duffy?" Shoreline asked, after what felt like an age. Her senses recollected and found their way back to her. She'd expected him to be fast asleep by now. But he wasn't. He'd actually taken the meditation seriously, and was now staring at Shoreline with an expectant glare. Fair enough! About time they got moving when everything around them was itching for them to take action. 

"Ready to go?" Shoreline slung the bags over her back, and Duffy squeaked happily, jumping into the air and flapping his tiny wings excitedly. 

"Okay." Shoreline practically kicked open the front door, diving directly down below the clouds with Duffy already racing ahead. 

"Rite of the reef, here we come!"