A Starlight Night

Chasm stood on his balcony, the cold air pierced his lungs as he breathed in.

A smile crossed his face as he watched the Yumenari down below hurry inside, the chill in the air seeming to pass right through them. With a chuckle, he returned back inside his dwelling where he found a pleasant surprise.

Mononoke stood in the kitchen humming a tune as they poured a steaming liquid into two mugs.

They noticed Chasm quickly enough, their ears perked up at his arrival.

“Chasm! I didn’t know you were awake yet. I wanted to sneak in and surprise you.”

“You still achieved your goal, Mono. So, well done, I suppose.”

Chasm was handed a mug, noting the extra marshmallows within his own mug. Mononoke grinned and grabbed their mug and the opened bag of coco garnish.

As he enjoyed his drink, he watched the Dream Yumenari feeding marshmallows to the shadows that lived within Chasm’s miasma. The sight brought a smile to his face, he found it so amusing to see Mononoke get such joy from something so trivial.

“Chas, are you doing anything this evening?”

“Do you mean if I have plans? No, I don’t, I’m off for now.”

Chasm tilted his head inquistly, just what did Mono have planned for them?

“Good! Keep your night open then! I hope you don’t mind, I invited some others too!”

He paused, others? This was turning out to be quite an event..

“And pray tell, just who did you invite?”

Mononoke’s tails swished around as they grinned.

“Just some of our friends, I thought it might be fun!”

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

Mononoke let out a giggle as they cupped their own face. “You’re just going to have to be patient, my love.”

Chasm pouted and lightly flicked the Dreams nose before sitting back into the couch.

This got a laugh out of Mononoke.

“I don’t need to take you back to the nursery, do I?”

Chasm glared at his lover as his own tails twitched with annoyance, his shadows also pulling away from Mononoke with a hiss.

“I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings, Chasm.”

Chasm shook his head. “I appreciate that, but I’ll be fine.” With a quick peck on the cheek, he continued to speak. “So, when and where am I meeting you tonight?”

Mononoke perked up as they responded. “The entrance of the Cove, at dusk! See you there!”

They bounded up and with a flash was gone from Chasms adobe, leaving him exceptionally confused but looking forward to whatever Mononoke was planning tonight.

🕯️❄️🌟______________🕯️❄️🌟

Chasm walked toward the entrance to the Cove, he paused when he saw multiple yumes waiting for him with Mononoke.

Mononoke waved at him as he approached, he smiled and took in the group that had been assembled.

There were six other Yumenari with them all in differing versions of cold weather clothing: Astra and Paramour; Corvus and Cordi; then the odd group out, Hedae and Retro.

Corvus was bundled in the most clothing and spoke first.

“Took you long enough, Chasm! We’ve been freezing our tails off out here..” The Delusion stifled a laugh within their scarf while wrapping another one around Corvus.

Chasm rolled his eyes at the young Nightmare, such a drama king.. “I wasn’t aware that I was late. Mononoke told me dusk, so here I am.”

With a huff, Corvus pulled his wings closer to him in an effort to keep warm.

Mononoke took Chasm’s hand with a smile and began walking away from the group. No one seemed to follow the couple as they each went to their own little areas within the grassy plain.

🕯️❄️🌟______________🕯️❄️🌟

Chasm took in the sights as the sun lowered. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed the starlight above them.

“The stars are beautiful here, right?”

Mononoke’s whisper cut through the air around them, causing Chasm to look down at them.

He could see the starlight reflected on their eyes as he gazed down at them. The moonlight made Mononoke’s hair take on a silver gleam to it.

“Chasm?” Their voice had a hint of humor within it as they waited for a response.

“Hm?”

“Hello? Earth to Chasm? You with me?”

With a scoff, Chasm rolled his eyes. So much for the tranquility of the moment. “Yes. I’m here, and the stars are rather pretty.”

Mononoke playfully poked Chasm’s cheek, with a giggle they spoke.

“Heh, they aren’t as pretty as you, though!”

The two of them shared a laugh as they settled into a nice patch of grass.

Chasm noticed that the Dream Yumenari next to him was shivering in the cold. Promptly, he had taken off his coat and wrapped it around them. “Mono, if you don’t like the cold, why the hell did you come all the way out here?”

“For you. I thought you’d like this.” They snuggled into Chasms chest with a purr.

The warmth from the other Yumenari was nice in the cold air and the words certainly warmed Chasm too. He pulled his many tails around his partner.

The scenery was indeed beautiful but truly the gem that would be treasured, long into the future, would be the time that these two spent together.

Chasm spent a fleeting thought on the others that had come there with them; were they still around within this cold air, or had they retreated back to their home to warmth and comfort? Deciding it was unimportant to him, he turned his attention back to his lover next to him.