The Glowstone

Ryuu was in the best mood he had been in a long time. Ever since the night Azelea had woken him from his tormented dreamscape, he had been spending more and more time with her during the day; and even during the night. For the fourth night in a row now she insisted on sleeping with him again, and he didn't know what to think of it; whether she was genuinely enjoying it or she just wanted to help him regain some sleep, he wasn't sure… but he wasn't complaining. After all, he quite enjoyed it himself, even though he wouldn't ever say it aloud. He wouldn't dare let her know how he felt! Not so soon anyway…

Because he was finally getting some well deserved sleep, Ryuu felt refreshed, more than he ever felt before, and it showed as he walked in the market place of Wynsiph. Usually he would mix in the crowd, another shadow among others, but now he was a beaming beacon that everyone noticed; as he walked by, holding a bag of groceries in his beak and trotting with light steps across the plaza of the Nova tree, Ryuu appeared like someone else entirely. He'd smile to the Wyngrew he didn't know, he'd nod to those he knew, he acted like he did when he was but a young, young child, polite and kind to all. It felt so great, he wondered why he stopped even looking at people… To think his dreams could make him change this badly, so quickly… Good thing Azelea was here. Chii'Falla, she was such a shining beam of light, she was-

There he went again, thinking about her. Surely, there must be something he could do to properly thank her for her help… Something she would enjoy, something that would show how he thought of her, without him telling her directly. He could get her a gift, perhaps. Chii'Falla knew he wouldn't be able to give it to her directly… Perhaps he could make use of this Heartkindle event going on in town. He heard Hermes was delivering out anonymous letters to Wyngrew all across town… Maybe… he could write one for her. What to say, what to give…

As he thought of all of these conflicting things, Ryuu came upon a fruit stall, making him stop. The weather getting much warmer and the snow finally melting and leaving place for sweet spring, a lot more vegetables and fruits were coming in from various places of the world, much to his joy; Ryuu had missed the variety of fruits that the market lacked during the cold months of winter. And now, he was facing a stall filled with his favourite fruit! Oh, joy indeed! With the remaining money he had from his allowance, he bought as many fruits as he could, and happily walked off with one in his beak, saluting the merchant on the way.

Despite having no money left, Ryuu still walked through the market, looking at all the various stalls arranged across the plaza. Here, someone had set up a whole stall of lively and colourful spring flowers, which garnered quite the crowd at this time of year; there, someone was selling candies and desserts to a bunch of kids; and there, someone was selling… trinkets. Ryuu stopped for a moment. As he listened to the merchant speaking to the small crowd in front of his stall describing each of his little trinkets and the meaning behind them, he stared at a particular set sitting on the side of the stall. Resting on a royal blue pillow, were three sets of necklaces, each with a glowstone in the shape of a heart. Ryuu couldn't stop himself from imagining… Azelea wearing one of them… and he felt his face get warmer at the thought. But, he had no money… He could, simply, take it. He had done it many times before, he could… but no, this was for Azelea… He couldn't steal her a gift, it would be dishonest! He didn't mind stealing other meaningless stuff that he'd forget about, but this… he wouldn't forgive himself! But she would look so pretty with that necklace… Nnng, the choice was so hard!

It was at this moment that, at the stall he had just walked past, one of the many kids hopping excitedly in front of the candy stall accidentally pushed someone taller; and that someone, tripping over another wyngling sitting beside them, ungraciously fell right into the stall, bringing down a few of the candy baskets along with them. The candies all fell to the ground in a sea of colours, and war was declared; kids screeched in delight, taking as many candies as they could while others came over to try and stop them. While he was onlooking with wide eyes, Ryuu saw the merchant of the trinket stall leave his post, calling to his friend as he went to help him gather the fallen candies… that left his stall unattended, and the crowd busy.

Ryuu had a split moment to think.

Would he lie to Azelea and steal the gift he couldn't afford?

…Or would he be honest to the woman he had lied to his whole life?

… 

…

…

…

 He was… oh, so tired of lying.

With his bag of fruits in his beak, Ryuu walked past the trinket stall, leaving behind the glowstone pendants. He would go back to the Nook, ask for some more money from Alma (while maybe not telling her directly who he wanted to buy a gift for), and come back and get it himself, honestly. That was the plan. That was what he would do.

However, things rarely ever go the way he plans them to. He left the plaza and headed into the familiar streets on the way to the Nook, and as he was walking on the road back home, he saw the large house at the end rising like a gigantic wooden temple, and before that large house was a sign he walked by everyday. "Welcome to the Nook", it said in neat lettering. But it wasn't the lettering that caught his attention that day. It was that little, glowing thing, sitting at the sign's foot. Ryuu's heart stopped; he recognized that pink glow… Could it be…?

Curious, and honestly somehow afraid, he walked closer, and set his fruit bag down before bending his neck toward it. Yes. It was a glowstone pendant, shaped like a heart, exactly like those at the market… but why… was it here…? Did someone drop it? Finding this oddly strange and coincidental, Ryuu raised his head and looked around. There was no one near here; the closest Wynglings were playing in the field all the way over there, but none of them actually could afford something like this, so it wouldn't be from them… Did someone receive it as gift and didn't want it perhaps? Nevertheless, Ryuu didn't hesitate for more than a few moments; he gently picked up the pendant in his claws, brushing off the dirt and melted snow off its surface. It was glowing gently in waves, like a beating heart. It didn't seem too damaged either, like it was brand new.

"Oy Ryuu! There you are!"

He gasped; quickly, he slid the pendant into his bag of fruits, hiding it among all the little things he had bought, and turned around, trying not to look too mortified when he saw Azelea coming his way. She waved her paw as she fluttered about, her short wings beating in anticipation as she crouched in a playful manner in front of him, her tail wagging as she exclaimed:

"Mum is making some pie! If we want some we gotta be there now! Come on!"

And without waiting for his reply, she grabbed him by the leg and dragged him off toward the Nook with his bag of fruits, unaware that his heart was beating like a military drum in his chest at her slightest touch… 

Some more plot! I'm on a tight schedule about these plot things lately so sorry for posting so soon! I tried a simpler style for this one as well, still somewhat detailed but much simplified with the sketch being more dominant, it makes it easier and faster to crank these out when I don't have as much time to flesh them out. A bit crude and done rather quickly, but I still like the result though! Ryuu's happy face makes it shine.

Also! The fruit he's eating? Taken straight from Bound Fates, so you'll be seeing those in there as well. x) Little easter egg.

Hope you enjoyed the little story!