Drips of water fell onto the cold cave floor. They came from the rain that fell often in the jungle. Years of water falling onto the cave wall eroded into a pathway to large holes. The water then pooled in those holes. The holes were deep enough for the water to not overflow. The cave was a dark green with gray and dark teal spots.
The color mix was the result of rocks being pressed against each other, till they crumbled and mixed. It was rather pretty in his opinion. To those who did not live in the caves of Mafrica, the water would be annoying. But to those who lived in the caves, the water was their source of liquid.
It cooled the caves when it got too hot. It was a food source for small fish that lived in it. It was where they bathed. The water was used to water the underground plants that they used for a back up food source. The water was always cool, so drinking water was always cold.
Kirjec Sparkle lay on the cave floor. Large green leaves protected him from its chill. There was no need to have a leaf across his back because of the jungle's warmth. His transparent wings quivered as they lay on his back. His greenish blue mane lay across his neck.
His eyes were closed, but he wasn't quite asleep. He was in the period where he was somewhat asleep and yet not asleep. A noise sounded off behind him. An insect-like appendage twitched. He opened his eyes, and rose.
Kirjec glanced behind him. A slightly glowing half cocoon was there. The top was missing. Soft moss, leaves, and bits of woven vines lined the cocoon. One leaf was covering something.
A filly-shaped bulge was inside. It had snored loudly, which had awoken him. Kirjec walked over to the cocoon sack. He placed his hoof onto the bugle. It moved.
A larave crawled out from under the leaf. She owned a greenish blue mane and tail. Her coat was black, and she had tiny transparent wings that quivered now and then. There were a few holes in her legs, and she had a tiny, twisted horn. She had huge yellowish green eyes.
She yawned, and sleepily looked at him. A hoof covered one eye. "Dada." She burbled out. Kirjec smiled, and embraced the larave with his hoof.
"Hello, little princess. How's my Sunlight Sparkle? Did you sleep well?" Sunlight Sparkle nodded slowly. She was only half awake.
Kirjec nuzzled her belly. Giggles came forth from her mouth and she grabbed at his face with her hooves. "Dada, that tickles! Ah ha ha ha ha." Her laughter echoed throughout the cave.
Kirjec lifted her up from the cocoon sack and placed her on the ground. Her mane and tail were a mess. Pieces of dried dirt clung to her hard black smooth body. Playing out in the jungle like that wasn't such a good idea now. Tutting slightly, he grabbed an orange seashell with spines running up its shell.
The beach of Mafrica was full of these. Placing the shell against her mane, he tugged gently. Slowly, the tangled mess in her mane and tail turned smooth. Once he was finished, Kirjec spat out the shell, and took a leaf in his mouth. Dampening the leaf, he stroked it over her coat, washing away the dirt.
Sunlight Sparkle held still as he did this. She was a very well behaved larave. When she was clean, she ran to the edge of the cave. Wings buzzing the larave tried to fly to the cave above. But her wings were still too small.
Kirjec chuckled, and lifted the larave to the cave above. The cave belonged to his sister in law, Nectar. Nectar was asleep on her own pile of leaves. Like Kirjec, she owned a horn that was twisted. Her eyes were a bright mysterious purple.
Nectar had larger wings than Kirjec, being a female. Kirjec's wings were thinner. Nectar could fly better than Kirjec, but Kirjec was physically stronger in lifting and carrying things. Her greenish blue mane and tail were spread out like a curtain on the rock. Sunlight Sparkle ran over to Nectar.
She bounced on Nectar, grinning madly. “Wake up Auntie Nectar, wake up!” Nectar groaned, and lifted her hooves to her insect-like appendages. “Five…more minutes please.” She mumbled.
Sunlight Sparkle kept bouncing. “But its feeding time soon! We can't miss feeding time! I'm hungry!” Nectar rolled onto her stomach, making Sunlight Sparkle jump off.
“I…am tired. I'm not waking up.” She flopped back onto her side and covered her head with a leaf. Kirjec walked over and laid a hoof onto her back. “I'll eat your feeding for you.”
Nectar raised the leaf in order to glare at him with one purple eye. “Ha. Ha. Ha. Very funny.”
Kirjec nudged her onto her feet. “Come on now, or we will be late.” He said cheerfully. Nectar groaned a final time before shaking her head, and walking to the edge of the cave. “Fine.”
Sunlight Sparkle jumped with joy, her little wings buzzing fast. “Let's go, let's go, let's go!” Nectar sighed. “Eager, aren't you?” Sunlight Sparkle giggled.
“Uh huh!” Kirjec lifted her onto his back, and took off. Nectar followed behind, yawning. They flew past other caves where the changeling inside were beginning to take off to feeding time. Feeding time was where changeling got to eat.
Once a month, the changeling got to feed upon love, energizing them until the next month. In between the months, the changeling feasted upon edible plants and liquids from the caves. It was usually made into some sort of gumbo soup. Kirjec entered into a very large cavern. Changelings were filling in, taking their spots.
He landed onto a clear one with Nectar by his side. “Wonder what's in the gumbo soup today?” She wondered aloud. Kirjec shrugged. “Maybe they found mushrooms.”
Nectar grinned. “Ooh, mushrooms. I hope they did. Yum.” Hive mother, Chrysalis was sitting in the center.
Her daughter, Dream Catcher was sitting beside her. She was still only three years old. Three changelings dragged out a large pot. It was filled to the brim with a tasty smelling liquid. Lots of wooden bowls were piled up beside it.
One changing grabbed a bowl and the other filled it all the way with soup. The way changelings ate was odd to other creatures. The larave, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and those that were carrying young inside them were served bigger portions of food than the healthy ones. But the bigger portions were watery, and less tasteful. The healthy changelings were served smaller portions, but they were much tastier.
The bowls with the watery soup was handed out to those who were getting them. Sunlight Sparkle received her own bowl of soup, and began to greedily eat the contents. Then the three changelings filled the bowls with the bottom contents, which owned more flavor. Once they were filled, they were passed out. Kirjec and Nectar received theirs.
There were indeed mushrooms in the soup. Nectar ate with pleasure. “I'm really happy right now.” Kirjec agreed that the mushrooms were rather pleasant. Sunlight Sparkle happily finished her bowl of soup, smacking loudly.
She gently placed the bowl on a rock beside her, and looked at Kirjec. “Can I go play with the other larave?” Kirjec smiled and nodded. “Yes, you may. Go right ahead.”
As Sunlight Sparkle ran off, Nectar glanced up once. A couple was sitting in front of them. They were cuddling, and whispering sweet words to each other. Once in a while, a kiss would be shared. “…Kirjec?”
He turned to her, noting that her purple eyes were filled with sadness. “What is it, Nectar?” She hesitated, then sighed. “How do you do it?” Kirjec's eyes blinked.
His heart began to sink. “How do I do what?” He asked gently, dreading the answer. “How do you stay so cheerful? After…after what happened with.”
Here a choked sob came out before her words, cutting off her sentence. Kirjec sighed as well, his eyes welling up with tears. He knew what she meant. After what had happened with his wife. Petunia.
The mint green eyed changeling had stolen his heart when they were young and carefree. She was kind, honest, loyal, generous, soft spoken, and always had a smile plastered on her face. Nectar had been his partner when they went out to find edible food in the caves. She was Petunia's big sister. Kirjec had met Petunia through Nectar.
Petunia and Kirjec got to know each other more, and began to hang out more often. Finally, they expressed feelings for each other, and after a six month period, they married. Petunia had always been frail, and sickly. But to Kirjec, that didn't matter. As long as they were together, he was happy.
But then Petunia got pregnant with Sunlight Sparkle. She died giving birth to Sunlight Sparkle. With her dying breath, Petunia had begged him to look after their daughter. He had sworn to do it, as tears ran down his cheeks. “I guess I stay so cheerful because Sunlight Sparkle needs me to be cheerful.”
His head cocked. “Why do you ask?” Nectar's head bowed. “I had a nightmare, where Sunlight Sparkle died.” Kirjec nodded.
“I see.” He placed a hoof around her shoulders. For a moment his heart gave a twang of fear. What if little Sunlight Sparkle were to die? What would he do?
Petunia's death had been hard enough. But dealing with the death of his only child? The thought sickened him to the core. “I won't lose her.” He thought fiercely.