mouseyear

Prompt: Moon

“It is high time for some changes around here.” Ficiyi turned to face the intruder in her home slowly. The Wolf had not been invited but it hardly mattered. Ficiyi saw dozens of people everyday. Most of them knocked but if anyone did not have to it was a Wolf. This one had spoken to her before. He lived at the church a few streets over and had been sent to her to transmit messages to the Starlights before. She did not speak a word after turning, just watched him from behind closed eyes. The Wolf would have to explain himself for the conversation to continue. None had yet come to her asking a wish, and if anyone was to it would be the Wolves. “Join us in bringing change. The elves have been in charge far too long.”

Ficiyi was ancient, had been a piece of the moon for a very long time. She stood like a statue in front of the Wolf that was now shifting on his feet. “This planet is at peace. There is no need for change. There has been no blood for centuries.”

“We are going to make it so the Vampires are in charge. Join us. The rebellion is almost here.”

Ficiyi opened her eyes and the Wolf flinched as her eclipsed eyes met his. “We have not given our blessing for any such changes. Who told you to make a mess of the planet?”

“We do not need permission from you. The rebellion is a long time coming anyway. We’ve just decided to help them. I am here on behalf of them all to ask you to join us.” Her eyes fell closed again, leaving the Wolf staring at their red painted backs. Her awareness of the present room faded to a constellation line as she looked down on the planet from above, on the sleepy cities and the denizens inside that stared back at her. The peace washed through her. The miniscule problems sent her way soaked into her surface.

“Do not do this.” The sound is just a breath coming out of hardly opened rusty lips. It is a plea, disguised as a command. Surely if anyone would understand it would be a Wolf, yet if anyone were to disregard her it would be a Wolf.

“If you do decide to join us you would be welcome. Bring it to the other Starlights. If you tell anyone else our plan we will treat you as an enemy.” Ficiyi is left, standing statue still, eyes closed and lips still parted, facing her door where the Wolf has exited. She feels the weight of her headdress heavy on her head as she slowly returns to her body, returns to the room.

Prompt: Sunbeam

He is wading waist deep in mud in full armor when the clouds part to reveal that it is midday. He has not wished for this moment of reprieve but he gets it anyway and he is grateful. He pauses for a moment, sinking in the rays of the sun that he has not seen in what feels like years.

His eyes flutter closed before snapping open and he squints against the suns glare, now an enemy instead of a relief, to see into the undergrowth. Very aware of his visibility he calls out to whomever is watching him and gets no answer.

He dares not move and hopes beyond hope that whoever is out there is on his side, has perhaps been looking for him. He announces himself, gives his name and waits for his fate, wishing for more good luck.

The sun is out now – that is a sign of calm, a sign of peace.

The sing-song voice that answers him sends chills up his spine: “The smoke has cleared Little Prince and you have been found a winner no longer.”

The war is over then, and his people will be hunted now.

The sun is in his eyes – it is a sign of contentment.

He doesn’t run from the voice – he won’t leave the protection he has gained from the sunbeam (a symbol of safety).

The hunter reaches him and he screams.

The sun shines softly on, paying no attention to the atrocity being performed in it’s gaze.

Title: Glitter of Dead Christmases
Author/Artist: mouseyear
Length/Size of work: 600 words
Summary: The elves decorate their common area the same every year, one of the support workers becomes enchanted.
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Other content notes: Day 2: Glitter
Fandom: Original Work



Lia stood back and supervised as the elves decorated the common room, it was a common activity, done every few months in an effort to give them something new to look at, but in her years of working at the home she had begun to notice a pattern in the decorating.

Every year at around the same time the elves would begin to complain about the décor, prompting a decision to let them redecorate. And every year they would decorate the place the exact same way. Every year they insisted on a tree, and they insisted on so little that no one could resist.

She watched as their grand plan for this year took form, watched as three of the elves danced around the tree, trailing silver and gold strings behind them. She watched as Yel spotted an elf who had decided to pin a glossy leaf to the ceiling. She watched as silver circles of needles were placed on doorways, supervised as glittering baubles were hung on the tree, emerging from who knows where as pretty things often did in the presence of elves.

Her shift ended, Terixes came to relieve her but Lia decided to stay just a little bit longer. She felt like an outsider, like she was watching through a window instead of someone in the same room as the elves laughed and danced and kissed each other.

The lights were dimmed and Lia caught her breath as the remaining light scattered across the decorations, casting glitter onto everyone. No wonder the elves love this décor, she found herself thinking, as the elves themselves gasped and smiled. If I loved glitter as much as they do I’d never want to change the décor, yet next month she remembered, the elves would grow tired of this décor and beg to change it.

She watched for what felt like hours and perhaps it was, loving the beauty and knowing deep in her bones that it wasn’t for her. They may have accepted Yel but something told her that Yel was a special case, a different case.

Then Lilian approached her, the elf reaching out to grasp Lia’s hand in her own. Slowly Lia let herself be pulled into the light, let the glitter sparked light cover her body, keenly aware that someone was glaring at her, poison in their eyes but not wanting to turn and find out who.

There are smiles on the faces of the elves around her, genuine smiles, smiles she rarely saw on them, and she knows that she doesn’t deserve to be part of their celebration, knows from the glare piercing her back and the ghost of memories she hasn’t yet gained access to and yet are making her feel guilty anyway.

She pulls her hand from Lilian’s and steps back, out of the circle. Lilian jumps forward to catch her hand once again, her eyes pleading. “Christmas spirit is free for everybody, no one should be left out.”

The eyes on her back are gone now, and Yel comes around the circle, putting her arms around the two elves nearest to her. Lia doesn’t know why but her eyes are seeking Yel’s for emotion. Not for the first time Lia is reminded that Yel has eyes of sadness, but today that sorrow has a layer of happiness above it. “Well? What are you looking at me for? Are you going to join us or not?”

Lia only smiles in answer, and the elves descend, spinning her around to see the glittering light emanating on her body.