The Light in Aquala

A few hours later, something else caught Mara's attention.

A lone firefly was drifting slowly through the entwined trees next to their path, a tiny light against the dark green foliage of the leaves.

It was so unusual to see one out at this time of day, since most fireflies had already settled into the shadows to rest.

But that wasn't what made Mara pause.

Its familiar soft white glow carried an exquisite turquoise tint, barely enough to notice beneath the growing daylight but obvious against the giant leaves that surrounded them. In all her years of observation, she had never seen a firefly with that color before.

Mara looked toward the dew-covered plants surrounding them.

Tiny traces of the same turquoise and some oranges had begun to appear on several broad leaves, like light traveling through intricate veins. The effect was subtle at first, but grew in intensity as they came closer.

The Season was changing quickly.

Both Lena and Mara knew the signs. Most years, the changes were gradual and predictable, following patterns that had been observed and documented for generations.

But this year, the spectrometers at the Academy had begun detecting subtle shifts in the vegetation's glow three weeks too early.

Usually before the main Season change occurred, the Neon colors would emerge slowly, first in the depths of the jungle around Aquala, then slowly spreading outward like a wave.

But this year was different and Mara was the first to notice.

She had been in the field collecting samples and taking readings and measurements for a project at the Academy. It was here that she first noticed a strange new symbol appearing and then disappearing. Then there were all of the unusual differences in the Neon. She immediately began recording her readings and observations.

Mara contacted Lena as soon as she could, trying to convince her that they should leave sooner than planned.

Lena followed her sister's concerned gaze toward the unique glows of the jungle, her earlier playfulness fading as she registered the meaning of what she was seeing. Her own Neon colors had begun to move faster across her cheeks, the warm orange hues swirling with a restlessness that matched her growing unease.

"It has started already."

Mara nodded, her blue-green glow brightening. "Much earlier than it should have."

"Three weeks earlier, like you had said?" Lena whispered, her earlier amusement over the monkey’s antics disappearing from her expression. Lena had seen that look on her Mara's face before, and it always meant something important was happening.

"Yes." Mara replied quietly, her voice carrying a weight that made Lena's stomach tighten as she retold the events of the past few weeks.

The Season changes were as dependable as the sun coming up, and they both knew that something new and incredibly powerful must be interfering with it.

Lena looked toward the jungle, hearing the buzzing of awakening insects, the rustling of leaves as the wind swirled through them, and the distant calls of wild animals.

Some of the excitement slowly returned to her face as she breathed in the smells of damp earth, the sweetness of flowering plants and jungle’s wild berries ripening.

They had made this journey many times, and no two Seasons had ever looked exactly the same when they reached Aquala.

Aquala, the majestic waterfall, lay deep enough in the jungle that the surrounding vegetation responded to the Season’s changes in temperature, rainfall and sunlight in ways that produced some of the most remarkable colors anywhere on the island.

Strangely, the colors were already beginning to change here in the middle of the jungle, where they normally appeared only after the main shift had passed.

This Season was definitely different, and both sisters felt the weight of that knowledge and what it could mean as they walked.

Their steps became slower as they observed more carefully the changes around them.

What could be causing this?