The Light in Aquala

The perimeter lights had settled into a warm yellow glow, casting soft shadows that drifted at the edges of the canopy.

The cicadas had resumed their songs, rising and falling in waves, and the fireflies started drifting between the trees, their lights blinking on and off in shades of gold and purples, sometimes blue green or orange.

Every time one of them passed near Jaxx, he tracked it with his eyes without moving his head.

“Thank you for coming down,” Rivia said encouragingly. “I know what it feels like to be unsure and needing to hide.”

Lena shrugged, breaking the silence.

“It was easier coming down than spending the rest of the night up in that tree. Those branches were not comfortable.” Her face broke into a cheeky grin and her eyes twinkled as she stretched and tried to rub her own upper back.

Rivia laughed, a sudden, bright sound that seemed to surprise even her. It echoed strangely in the clearing, and Jaxx's ears perked up, his head tilting as if he too was startled by the unexpected sound. The Neon on Rivia's face flared briefly, a flash of gold that matched the warmth of her laughter, and the purple grass at her feet brightened then settled back to its steady glow.

“I can imagine,” she exclaimed, her voice still carrying the echo of that laugh. “Jaxx and I have often slept on the ground for days at a time. Which I must admit has not been overly comfortable either.”

She rubbed the back of her neck with one hand, and something in the gesture made her seem like someone the sisters might have known all their lives.

By this time Rivia had let go of the pendant around her neck and her hand had come to rest on Jaxx's head once again.

“Jaxx and I have been traveling for a long time. We came through that huge waterfall and the light you saw which exploded, well, it brought us here.” She paused, her gaze moving between the sisters.

Mara felt a chill run down her spine remembering that moment. The cold blast. The fragments of blue and silver and gold tumbling away into the dark.

“Are you saying that light is why both Jaxx and you are here right now?” she questioned in disbelief.

Lena took a step forward towards Rivia, her earlier nervousness replaced by curiosity. The grass brightened under her boot with her Neon orange glow. “I’ve never heard of a light bringing people somewhere.”

Rivia let out a long breath then sighed patiently, with a weariness that spoke volumes. The wind had grown stronger and was stirring up the leaves in the jungle, even causing the hanging vines to sway.

“It’s a long story and I am not sure you will believe it. I know I didn’t when I first heard it.” She looked at the sisters, and they saw that the weariness in her face was gone and only hope remained. “But I will tell you if you want to hear it.”

Mara glanced at Lena, who nodded eagerly, her orange glow moving in faster swirls than it had a moment before.

“We want to hear it,” Mara said as another gust of wind hit them all. “But first, we should get somewhere that is more sheltered and where we can rest. The wind is picking up, and this is not the best place for a long conversation. It's dark, but between all of our Neon colors glowing, I should be light enough to travel safely to where we can rest for the night.”

Rivia smiled gratefully. “Thank you. That’s a great idea, especially since Jaxx and I have not slept for a while now.”

When he heard his name, Jaxx lifted his head and looked at the sisters one at a time. Sensing a walk was coming, he then started to eagerly weave around them, obviously having decided a walk was exactly what they all needed.

Lena and Mara gathered their belongings and with Rivia and Jaxx joining them, they all began walking past the massive tree.

The Neon was still faintly moving through the bark, following the lines of the trunk, gathering in the deep grooves and brightening where the surface was smooth. Blues and greens, purples, silvers, oranges and yellows still flowed through it. Threaded gently between these colors were thin lines of gold that brightened once every few seconds and then faded.

The group followed a narrow trail which Lena and Mara knew would lead them to a small clearing. It was near one of the higher pools that the water from Aquala plunged down into.

The path there was winding and uneven, with exposed roots and loose stones that required careful footing. The vegetation pressed in on all sides, broad leaves brushing against their arms, catching on their clothing and *lowing the Neon colors of whomever walked closest to them.

Fireflies floated lazily around the ferns alongside the trail. They glowed brightly with the Neon colors of the women. The jungle air was thick with the scent of night-blooming flowers and everyone enjoyed breathing it in, letting the stress of the day go.

Mara studied Rivia from the corner of her eye as they walked.

The woman moved with a quiet grace, her steps light and sure despite the difficult terrain. Her clothes were travel-worn but well-made, and her face held the kind of calm that came from someone who had seen a great deal and learned to accept it.

Rivia’s Neon glow was affecting literally everything around her, causing things to glow the same rich purple, silver and gold colors.

Mara also noticed that Rivia was talking to Jaxx, who seemed to appreciate the discussion. She spoke quietly in a constant stream of words. "This way, Jaxx. Careful, there is a root. Good boy. We are almost there."

It was as if she was narrating their journey for him, reassuring him, or perhaps herself. It was a small thing, but it made Mara respect Rivia since her reassuring Jaxx in unfamiliar surroundings was evidence of someone who cared about others.

Jaxx, meanwhile, had relaxed considerably. His tail was wagging constantly, knocking into the plants along the way and causing the glowing fireflies to dance away just in time.

As he moved with a steady, confident gait, he would occasionally stop to sniff something along the trail, his nose working intently before bounding ahead of Rivia.

The yellow glow in his eyes had softened to a slight ring around his pupils, and Mara found herself thinking that he looked so much more relaxed now in his new surroundings and with his new friends.

Hopefully this peacefulness would last.