Flower among the Weeds
Posted: July 23, 2013
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Lycoris looked over her shoulders at the stretching shadows of Darkwood Hollow, making sure none of her fellow imps were following her. She was already ostracized enough for her delicate skin and colorful clothing—they didn't need to know anything else.
She stepped carefully around a decayed tree stump and a worn boulder, into her secret grotto. Several injured misticpals bobbed their heads up at her arrival. “Hello everyone,” she greeted sweetly. “Is your ankle better, Mr. Kanga? You'll be feeling stronger soon Ms. Antiloat; your fever has already broken.” Lycoris knelt down, stroking the head of daydream Brandie.
Several voices laughing menacingly echoed around her, causing Lycoris's heart to plummet to her stomach. She sat up in alarm, clutching the Brandi close to her chest.
“Some imp,” spat one of her peers, stepping out of the shadows. Three more joined him. “Coddling creatures like some stinking sprite. Makes me sick!” He spat by her feet.
“Go away,” said Lycoris, trying to hide the tremor in her tone. “We mean no one any harm.”
“But we do,” sneered another. And at that word, all four imps pushed forward.
“No, don't!” cried Lycoris as one grabbed a cage of Biruda. He threw open the door and shook it violently, sending the scared misticpals flying even with their wings in splints. Lycoris tried to stop him, but he threw her to the ground. “Stay there in the mud!”
The others did the same, scattering her pals, terrorizing them, sending them fleeing into the forest despite their injuries. Lycoris felt tears sting her eyes as the imps turned on her, tearing her dress and throwing mud at her to hide the colors. “Serves you right; you don't belong here and you never have!” cursed one as they left, leaving Lycoris crying alone in the grotto.
But she wasn't alone. Not completely. The daydream Brandi slid out of her arms when all went silent and licked the tears off of her cheek. “Thank...thank you,” Lycoris murmured, trying to force a smile for the pal's sake. She brushed off her dress the best she could and then stood. Her legs were shaking, but she managed to walk from the shade to the nearby clearing.
Lycoris was silent for a long time, watching the fluffy clouds drift across the sun. “They...they are right though. I don't belong here. And I'll never find happiness in darkness.” The Brandi nuzzled her cheek again, and Lycoris raised up her arms, allowing the misticpal room to fly. Sunlight reflected off of its wings like a small rainbow. “I'll find my own destiny!” As if suddenly freed from a long-kept burden, Lycoris laughed joyfully.
~Mistic Team
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