[Bug Camp] [Week 01] Night of the Moonweeds

It'd been a long day, at least for the Wynlings. Their feet beginning to drag more and more as each task rolled on into the next. Noki had wanted to show them a beautiful view as reward for all their hard work, they had, after all one more task to complete. None of the wynglings had ever seen moonweeds before, nor had their guardian, in fact. Xanthe’s excitement was more than enough to fuel a swing in her step, her paws once more hoisted upwards as she skipped ahead of the small brigade.

   “Is it much further?” Magnai’s energy was not such an endless well; his lids were falling heavy over his bi-coloured eyes and his head was slightly bowed. Even Kanna drifted along with evermore sluggish movements; however, in the reaching of the silver moonlight, her cyan eyes glittered with enthusiasm. Her mind was a glowing canvas, trying to imagine the dusk sky above them filling with creatures of captured moonlight.

   “We’re almost there, Magnai, don’t worry.” Noki paused for a moment, glancing at the crimson wyngling, a furrowing of concern twisting her brows downwards. “Would you like a piggyback for a bit?” The male’s expression was one of disgust in just a moment, his tongue once more protruding from his jaws and his head tossing upwards. That answered that, one could swiftly suppose. The harshness of this action was swiftly softened, however, as his eyes tapered shut for a moment, jaws splitting in a long yawn. Noki allowed herself a silent smile before Magnai’s eyes would split open once more.

   “What if we miss them?” Kanna fretted, the darkness seemed to be settling swiftly upon them, slow and crawling at first and then all of a sudden in a rush. Soon enough, they were guided only by the pearlescent moon.
   “Wouldn’t that be a shame?” Sarcasm dripped from Magnai’s voice, as he got his quip in ahead of any potential responses.

   “Don’t worry,” Xanthe giggled before Noki could even heave a breath, her voice overlapping Magnai’s drawl. “Noki’s a grown up, that means she knows what she’s doing.” Kanna seemed to accept this answer, smiling and nodding, before a yawn of her own would ease open her maw. Blinking sleepily, her jaws would close with a snap. It certainly did not help things that the grass was as soft as any pillow, beckoning her to curl up in slumber.
   Soon enough, the wind would become firmer, a gentle chill ruffling Noki’s fur and causing Xanthe to shiver. However, unperturbed, this seemed to bring about a smile of relief from the pale bipedal. Just one moment later, the world would fall away from them, a valley cleaved through the horizon. The air sang through the hills, stealing away Kanna’s soft gasp. Even Magnai’s eyes widened, his ears twitching upwards.
   “Worth the walk?” Noki whispered, in many ways, the surroundings, in their magnitude, had a way of humbling a wyngro.

   “Oh, yes,” Kanna declared, serenaded by Xanthe clapping her claws together.

   “Where are the moonweeds?” The cream wyngling fretted, her gaze snapping to and fro, it seemed the wonder of the sweeping emerald scenery had worn off, for now Xanthe was already eagerly anticipating the next event.
   “I’m sure they’re on their way,” Noki chuckled, brushing her silvered plait aside and turning back to the gaping valley. In silent agreement, the group would bend knee to settle into the grass and wait. Their wearied gazes drifting amongst the evening stars.  It did not take long for the wynglings to drift off, even Xanthe’s head dropped with a sigh.

With how much they'd accomplished in one day, it was no wonder; between building the Buddee homes and cleaning up after the Zipslimers, the little ones had earned a good night's rest. Stretched out beneath the stars, Noki supported the sleeping Wynlings; resting a paw gently on Magnai's head, she wondered what they might be dreaming about. Perhaps Moonweeds.

   Kanna twitched slightly in her sleep, whilst Xanthe sleepily babbled, tossing and turning until she settled comfortably. Noki didn’t think she’d have the heart to wake the slumbering wynglings, they had many more days ahead of them, each filled with new experiences and wonder, Noki was sure. The silence was all but complete once more, as Noki came to be the lone sentry, waiting under moonlight for the moonweeds.

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Third prompt of Week one's Bug Camp!

Our team is doing all three prompts! Check out the others here!


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Sketch - sidefury 
Lines/Background/Finishing - rookare 
Basing/Writing - TernOnADime 
Shading - data-bull 

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13/255 (+2, + 3 x 3, + 1 BG, +1 Story)