The Light in Aquala

The group of children had begun gathering closer, drawn by the sight of the sisters preparing to leave, whispering and pointing at the equipment and the glowing colors on the sisters' faces. The youngest ones tugged at their older siblings' clothing, asking questions that were answered with shushes or whispered explanations.

Tavi was among the first to see Lena and Mara leaving their home, coming up the path towards them. He had positioned himself strategically at the front of the group so he could be the one to announce that they were approaching.

The children's voices started overlapping as they excitedly pushed their way closer to the sisters who had by this time reached them. Everyone wanted to be nearest to Mara and Lena, to hear every word exchanged between the sisters.

A small girl with bright eyes and tangled hair from her morning swim pushed to the front, clutching a woven pouch that smelled of fresh bread and fruit. Another boy, younger than Tavi, stood on his tiptoes trying to see past the taller children, his face filled with wonder. Both smiled widely and offered Mara and Lena some of their breakfasts.

Tavi watched, standing tall and trying very hard to look as though he had not been waiting impatiently for the sisters to finish getting ready. He looked at Lena's enormous pack with open suspicion before asking how long it would take them to reach the falls. Mara explained that the journey would probably take them at least two full days, maybe more, depending on the trail and the weather, while Lena confidently assured him they would be there before sunset.

Tavi looked from one sister to the other and decided that Lena's answer was the better one, nodding with approval.

Mara laughed and told him that he would understand why her answer was more detailed when he was old enough to make the journey himself. Tavi immediately asked when that would be, his voice carrying the eagerness of youth and his face lighting up in expectation.

"When you finally stop complaining every time a trail becomes steep," Lena replied with a smile, her eyes sparkling with affection.

He protested that he never complained, which caused several of the other children to burst into laughter, because everyone knew that wasn't true. The sound of their laughter carried across the beach and one of the a small dogs, hearing the laughter, began barking excitedly and running in circles, adding to the general chaos.

Mara and Lena waved to the group of children who were cheering and shouting goodbyes, then turned and entered into the jungle.

Little did they know this would be their last traditional send-off.

As Mara and Lena walked further into the jungle, their footsteps began leaving impressions in the soft earth. The canopy was thick and heavy, and it protected the ground from the sun, always keeping it slightly damp.

The children's voices, the ocean waves crashing onto the shore and the morning activities of the village started to slowly fade into the background as the dense vegetation closed in around them.

This part of the path was familiar, worn smooth by generations of travelers, yet somehow it always felt new to them. The broad leaves overhead filtered the sunlight into patterns of gold and green, and the air was thick with the scent of the rich soil and the blossoming flowers, the wild berries and new fruits.

Both sisters were older now and were living far away from their village.

Mara had moved inland to the Academy base, where she taught eager students and conducted research that pushed the boundaries of what was known about the Neon and its effects.

She traveled throughout the surrounding areas, studying the Season’s changes in carefully mapped-out regions, recording patterns in the vegetation, weather and the changing Neon. Her patience and precision had earned her the respect of her colleagues.

Lena could never remain in one place for long. She had made a life out of exploring and creating new maps of the less familiar areas of the island, following trails simply because she wanted to know where they led.

She often came back with stories full of wonders, told around oceanside bonfires. Her journeys always ended with updated maps and new resources found for her village.

Although their personalities and work had taken them in different directions, the Season change brought them together again. Mara and Lena always returned to their village to make the journey to Aquala, the massive waterfall.

It was a tradition they had kept since they were in their late teens. A promise they made to each other that no matter how far they traveled or how busy their lives became, they would always come home and be together for the biggest change of the Season.

Apparently, it was a tradition their great-grandmother had also kept.

As Lena and Mara hiked, they each remembered how much they loved this area of the island and their home village. The time they were able to spend together with their mother was also so special, the three of them laughing over evening dinners.

Here was where the rich, familiar scent of the jungle, the salty, refreshing smell of the ocean and the warmth of the sun filtering through the canopy overhead felt like a welcome embrace.

Mara felt the tension of her work at the Academy slowly release from her shoulders, replaced by the simple pleasure of walking beside her sister on a familiar path.

Lena felt the restlessness that always plagued her when she stayed in one place too long beginning to ease, replaced by the anticipation of new discoveries that made her heart beat faster.

Her orange Neon had begun to move quicker across her cheeks as she started to walk faster, looking forward to what awaited them this year.

She glanced at Mara, whose blue-green Neon had started swirling rapidly too.

Unbeknownst to them, the Neon glows behind them were starting to change.