chances are we are the same
against the odds, against the grain
She stood with her family in the court as they came, floating like petals on a breeze, except they seemed to move of their own will. Her earth eyes watched them dance around, expanding and contracting, shifting between colors as they went. It was magical, she thought, having no other word to describe it, as they multiplied and filled the air, pressing close to others lining the streets, stopping to wonder at the display before them.against the odds, against the grain
When the first one floated toward her, Eulalie’s gaze dropped to the orb, watching it reflect rainbows like sun through the rain. Until it came into contact with her skin, when it settled on a single color—a light, grassy green, like new growth. It floated over her skin, pushing its way through her gilded waves, and slowly, more joined it. They prodded her, tempting her, coming closer and then pulling away as if asking her to follow it.
When Somnus spoke her name, she glanced over to him and their eyes met. It was sort of silly, she thought, how they kept finding themselves in the company of small, glowing, flickering lights. Fireflies or not. She found that she agreed with him. Somehow she knew they wanted the Deluminians to follow, as if they had somewhere important to take them, something special to show them. “Yes, I think we should,” she said, gently nudging her children forward after their father, who were no doubt as mesmerized by the small orbs as the adults.
The trail of lights led them northeast, past the meadows, parallel to the river, all the way to Viride and there among the trees and the underbrush was a path hidden deep within the overgrowth of bushes and vines and plants. Still they followed, until the path opened up to expose something more grandeur than even Eulalie could have dreamed up in her sleep. Rising above them were walls formed of the very tree trunks that surrounded them, and she could not believe the sight that her eyes drank in, the fine details carved into their surfaces. It was surreal, and more beautiful than any structure she had ever seen.
Her thoughts mirrored the words spoken by the dunalino man at her side, and she smiled, a warm feeling spreading throughout her being. “It’s… breathtaking,” she said, her words formed of whispered reverence as she tried to take everything in. The ivory woman could not begin to imagine how such a thing existed, but her delight and curiosity and awe were bottomless wells, rising up inside her. “Let's go inside and see what other secrets it may hold,” she agreed with a nod, once more gently urging Anemone and Regis forward.
