Luxie

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. This dragon embarked on a trip across Sorneith during Brightshine Jubilee 2020 from June 21 to June 27. She is one of many who are traveling to various lairs and clans in the hopes of spreading love and joy to those they encounter. When it's over, they'll be able to look back at the adventures they had and dragons they met and remember the journey they went on. ____________________________________________ coding // graphics

Luxie grinned. "Hello! Welcome, from the Brilliant Talon Refuge! We're preparing for the holiday of our Lightweaver, the Brightshine Jubilee!" She bustles about, sunflower in her ear. "Janice is organizing everything, like the great clan leader she is, and keeping everything going smoothly. Ferox is trimming her rosebushes to make room for the sunflowers, and then she and her mate, Uritca, are on decorations. Rolling has been practicing for weeks, as he's the entertainment for our clan! Several of our luckiest pairs of mates are nesting for the occasion to have good luck hatches, Blep is busy training exalts to go to our Lightweaver, and Fyre... is Fyre. We're trying to keep him from making too much of a mess. And I'm preparing to travel to other clans, to celebrate the season and represent my clan!" Her excitement fades a bit as she says, quietly, "Wow, I really hope I don't mess this up."

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I took another look at the little slip of parchment I'd received with a location for my first stop... could this really be it? Or did I lose myself in these woods? Okay, deep breaths Luxie, you'll figure this out. You just have to-
"Hello, can I help you?" a little voice said. I looked around for a moment, confused, before spotting a little Fae amidst the roots.
"I'm looking for... Amaris?"
"Oh, you're the Wanderer, welcome, welcome! Allow me to just, one second here..." The Fae disappeared into the tree trunk as a gateway - a portal, perhaps? - appeared in front of me. The Fae had retreated to the other side and was gesturing me to enter. So I did, cautiously. Inside was a sprawling network of roots and tunnels, the walls covered in artwork made from everything Nature has to offer. A couple Coatls were hanging what appeared to be festival decorations across the ceilings.
"Mother," the Fae approached one of them, "our guest has arrived."
The Coatl looked up at me. "Thank you, Korax," she said, "you must be Luxie. I'm Amaris - founder of this little community. Please, make yourself at home!"
I had a quick glance around what would be my home for the next day. It was... quite different from what I'd been accustomed to. My eyes were still trying to adjust to the dim lights. There was a little table with a handful of sunflower bunches, neatly wrapped with beautiful, shimmering silk ribbons. I ran the tip of my wing across the petals. Soft, velvety.
"Feel free to take one with you," Amaris said with a smile. She must have noticed the awe in my eyes. It's hard to hide anything in the Light, after all. I quietly grabbed a bunch. "Thank you," I smiled back at her, "they're beautiful."
"Oh, Koa will be so happy to hear that. He's been fussing over his garden for months now - turns out these were his latest project! They're everblooming. If you plant them once you're back home, you'll soon have a wonderful collection of these. Don't worry about them wilting before you can get home, I know you've got a long journey ahead of you - they've been enchanted to hold water for a little while." She'd put the box of decorations on the floor. I had her full attention now. "Thank you, again, I'll make sure to do that." I put the flowers away in my bag, the blooms sticking out from under the burlap.
"Come, let me show you to your quarters - and then our chef, PizzaWings, has prepared a meal especially for you. A wonderful mixture of the best ingredients the Ruins and the Labyrinth have to offer. I must admit, I snuck a bite earlier and it was delicious, you'll love it!"

Sour Strawberry Plant You probably should have waited a few more days before harvesting this. 70 8

Travelled to the Alstroemeria Clan Your dragon appeared during their sunflower delivery route, through the brambles and blacksand beaches, to end up with the Alstroemeria clan for a time~ With a renewed sense of whimsy and a few weird trinkets, they head off to their next destination! Achieved: BSJ 2020

"Hello Luxie," A pretty green Fae seemed to smile at her. "I'm Torquil, it is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you will enjoy yourself while here. Ah, Ulatl if you would show Luxie around? Thank you."

A lovely pastel Coatl smiled at Luxie. "I liked the sunflower in your ear. It's very fitting. Oh! I know! Would you like to see a field of of sunflowers? Walk though it?" Her smile grew at Luxie's excited look. "Wonderful! Let's go! Yay!"




Luxie approached the towering peak, pausing occasionally to double-check the map on her scroll. This was it, no doubt about it. But unlike her other visits, there was no one waiting to greet her. The field stood silent and empty as a ghost.

She crept forwards. Before her, an unimpressive garden struggled to maintain its last few strains of color. Beyond the garden, an imposing door led into the natural spire. This must be the entrance. With a last, hesitant glance back towards the safety of the trees, Luxie pushed open the door and entered.

She found herself in a small, dark foyer. It was carpeted in pinks and purples—much less like a proud Light clan, much more like one from the Starfall Isles trying to disguise itself in the Sunbeam Ruins. It was sparsely furnished with two sturdy bookshelves, a small table, and another decorative door. Luxie took a step forwards to examine the books and found herself unable to move.

"STOP." The voice seemed to boom from every direction, but Luxie couldn't even cringe or look for the source. Out of the corner of her eye, she could just see the glowing, spectral chains that held her in place. She'd been trapped.

"STATE YOUR BUSINESS, IMPOSTER," boomed the voice.

She felt her jaw relax. The bindings on her speech had been relinquished.

"I'm a traveler from the Brilliant Talon Refuge," she said, refusing to let her voice tremble. Who was this stranger, and how dare they ambush her on her peaceful pilgrimage! "I was invited here to help bring Light's festivities to your clan."

The largest Guardian she had ever seen stepped through the doorway. "You most certainly were not," he said.

At least his voice wasn't deafening anymore. Luxie blinked defiantly at him. "I was, actually. And if you'd release the magical bindings, I'd prove it!"

Her captor's eyes narrowed, and he plucked the scroll deftly from her. It was just the one she'd received before her journey began—it included the clan's name, a map of its location, and the name of the dragon who'd signed the clan up for hosting. She could see him mouthing the words island, sunflower, and Hekate as he read.

"She... did... what?" he muttered.

"I'm... sorry," Luxie said, even though she was not. "I thought you would know by now. Since it's the fifth day and all."

He looked up from the scroll. "There were others?"

Lightweaver, help me. Why was she the unlucky one to get captured? How had the others managed to get inside and out of here without being detected? But Luxie was nothing if not helpful. "Yes, the festival began four days ago. So there would have been four other visitors. Unless your clan happened to host two visitors on some days."

Her captor was pacing now, muttering to himself. “This is not possible. This is a disaster.”

“Excuse me, but...” Luxie tried moving again with no success. “What’s so terrible about some travelers bringing you flowers?”

He bared his teeth and didn’t answer. “The Magi will be hearing about this.”

Luxie could only watch helplessly as he left the room. This was possibly the worst possible outcome for her quest; getting trapped in a small, dark room, her delivery unfinished, unable even to send a message home. She pulled experimentally against the restraints; nothing happened. And nothing continued to happen for what seemed like hours, until suddenly something did.

A Skydancer burst through the doorway. Luxie had heard no sounds of struggle, but he was wild-eyed and panting as though he’d barely gotten there in time. “I apologize on behalf of the Convent,” he panted. “You should have received a warmer welcome. There was a... miscommunication.”

He crouched at her feet. There was a flash of red, and she was able to move again. Muscles quaking, she dashed for the scroll that the Guardian had left at the doorway. “Oh, thank you,” she sighed. “I thought I would never get free.”

“Ryker often... forgets how to treat his fellow dragons,” her rescuer said. “Here. I’m so sorry your visit was cut short, but you’ll need to leave as soon as you can. I’ve brought you rations for your journey and someone to protect you on your way out.”

She heard the telltale clop of hooves, and a centaur made his way through the door. He nodded his head at her.

“Listen closely,” he said. “After you leave here, just head for the trees. Don’t tell anyone where this island is. The Magi are... protective of their secrets, and I suppose the visitors we’ve kept from them are too much of a threat to that...” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m so embarrassed. I wish you could have stayed longer. We really are good hosts when... well... never mind. Go on, then.”

Luxie hesitated, then passed him one of her sunflowers. “At least make this trip worth it. I’m Luxie, by the way. The Brilliant Talon Refuge sends its regards.”

“Ah... I’m Dante.” Bashful, he accepted the flower and tucked it safely into the pouch he wore. “Thank you. Now go! Go!”