A Dance of Fireflies
On a escort mission through the shroud, Mari and Alex share a quiet moment together.
It was supposed to be a simple escort quest, an prudent adventure from A to B...
...But as they wandered further through the verdant shroud the beauty of nature began to swell in Mari's heart. Between the gentle calls of birds and bugs to the sway and shimmy of trees and bushes, it seemed like the forest itself had joined together in a majestic aria that was a pleasure to the ears. Within Mari, the urge to express her passion overwhelmed her, reaching a crescendo once they approached a passage, a natural bridge across a ravine between two waterfalls. The way across was formed of large tree stumps, framed with sporadic glowing mushrooms and biolumensecent flowers dotted along. Fully inspired at this point; she hopped up onto a log that had fallen close to the leftmost waterfall's brim.
She spun around, her dress splaying around her as she offered her hand out. "A Dance?" She asked in a gentle beckoning voice. "Just the two of us, only us and the bugs will know, promise!" She added quickly with her signature shy giggle to flavor the playful tone. She didn't fully expect him to humor her but still asked.
To her surprise, he stepped up to her. He headed towards the middle of the wooden bridge, and took her hand into his. His gaze drifted upwards towards her eyes, meeting them with a look of anticipation.
"Of course. Cannot deny you this opportunity." He spoke with a charismatic smile and thus, their dance began!
Mesmersingly, the music within the forest swelled and spread a magical feeling into atmosphere around them. Mushrooms began to sway from side to side, in flow with the organic symphony. Fireflies flitted about as forest joined them as they waltzed across the small fallen bark, somewhat careful not to slip in the serene candid moment between the two.
Moonlight dappled through the leaves and reflected in Alex's eyes as Mari gazed into them. She smiled as they reached the end of their waltz. Her smile growing into a playful giggle, accented by her blushing cheeks. She spoke softly as to not fully disturb the fairy-tale of the feeling. "I suppose we must carry on." She hopped down, she was unable to disguise the disappointment in her voice. "After all, there's a warm inn waiting for us nearby, and I'm not losing my booking, mister!" She waggled her finger playfully to lighten the mood, and carried on ahead, glancing to get one last look of him - and the fanciful forest around him - to savour for the road.