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Dorian looked around his shop of bits and bobs and small oddities. He was proud of what he had been able to achieve in the Aos Si community, though some small echo in his heart called to him that something was lacking. It had been some time since he had created something new with his claws. As proud as he was of the things that lined his shelf, his passion felt stale and itched for newness. A sigh escaped his throat as his gaze swept over everything. Maybe a walk would clear his mind, or small hopes of hopes, give him some form of inspiration.
Dorian closed his small shop for the day and meandered through the forest as he ventured in deeper, farther from the town he now called home. Thankfully he had remembered his satchel in case something caught his eye. He remained in his large form so he could fit more supplies in the satchel. The day was sunny and the wind gentle as he felt it lift the ends of his bangs from his face. Lifting his head, he closed his eyes and breathed the sweet scent of it into his muzzle. The wafting breeze smelled of growth and home and stilled his nerves.
Deep into the forest now, his stride became slower as he scanned the path for things that might spur his creativity. He still wasn't sure what he would make, but he could always figure that out once he got back to his shop. His eyes stopped as he came across a tree with wonderfully cheery branches. He plucked a few with the needles firmly attached and placed them in his satchel. The grass that grew by the trunk smelled divine so clumps of that too ended up into the satchel. If nothing else, he would have a snack for later. A few acorns and feathers joined into with the rest and he was feeling quite happy with himself. Just a few more things and he could rest easy before he laid everything else the next day to begin the process of creating.
He wandered the path as it looped around. He didn't journey on this one often as it was longer than most he trekked. But he had devoted the whole day to his search so allowed himself to revel in the longer path. He also enjoyed how the path he was on now looped around so he could daydream and not worry about remembering the half way point to turn around. His satchel was growing full and heavy now, the path growing nearer to the field that led back to town. But still he felt as if some last thing was calling to him, just out of the reach of his senses.
His claws padded softly into the dirt, a yawn escaped from his muzzle and his eyes shut with the wideness of it. His eyes opened blearily, moisture collecting at the edges and he was struck with stillness at the sight. In his slightly blurry vision he could see tree sap along a few of the trees. It looked magical in the pre dusk light, as if it had an inner glow of its own. He knew exactly what he had been missing now.
It took only but a moment to find the empty jar he had brought with him and unscrew the lid. He had brought it in hopes of finding honey for a snack, but this find had been even better. He used a claw to collect the samples and scrape the sap into the jar. It wasn't as full as he would have liked by the time he finished, but it was enough to get started. He could always come back in a few days and see if he could collect more.
By the time he reached the shop that also held his home he was yawning every other step. He had traveled the whole day and his mind was a mixture of peace and swirling with half formed ideas. He made sure to lay all of his precious finds on his work table so nothing was bent or damaged over night in his satchel. It also helped him feel organized and ready to begin the next day. All he needed now was his soft bed and rest for the day to come. Finally he reached his bed and lay down in the hey, the second his eyes closed he was asleep and dreaming.
A small clutter woke him up. His brows furrowed as his groggy mind thought he heard one of his paint brushes hit the floor. He was sure he hadn't left a window open, so no strong gusts could have done it. Slowly, quietly, he left the hey warmed by his sleeping body and tiptoed to his work space where he had heard the noise, careful not to let his claws make a sound against the floor. When he poked his head out slowly his eyes widened almost to the point of popping from his head. Little blue mice made of starlight stood on his workbench and handled his treasures from the day before. He couldn't help himself but to gasp and whisper to them "Little mice, what are you doing?"
With a squeak they all froze to turn their heads at him. He could tell they were about to skitter away, his heart plunging in sadness, his mouth seconds away from opening to try and tell them to wait. But before he could, one of the larger ones spoke up "We were called here by the magic of the items. They called us to craft with them." The mouse looked at the others and they slowly relaxed again. The mouse that had spoken to him smiled and lifted a paw "Join us in the magic of craft. We can feel the magic in you and know it calls to you too." With a small gasp his head started to spin. The room became a blur and suddenly he was standing atop his worktable looking into the eyes of the mouse that had spoken to him. A small squeak bursting from him as he realized he did not stand there as his flutter self, but as a mouse himself. "Do not be alarmed" The mouse said soothingly "The magic of the items has called you to us. Now join us."
Darian was left speechless. Nothing like this had ever happened to him before. And yet, something about the mouse's tone had him easing into the situation and joining them. They evaluated the treasures he had found in the day light. His laughter joined in with them as they all called out ideas and had a merry time deciding what they could create. Finally, an idea struck him and he was unable to stop himself as he blurted out. "A small forest scene". His original speaker tilted her head, waiting for him to elaborate. Her willingness to listen spurred him on to explain. "What if we took some of the branches and created a small scene so that they look like tiny trees standing? We can cut the grass don to size so it appears the twigs are tree trunks." The mice around him all smiled and nodded. One spoke up cheerfully "We can put some beads of sap on them to look like drops of sunshine!"
Darian tilted his little mouse head in confusion "You speak so beautifully of the sun. I don't mean to be ignorant, I thought you were of the night." The leader mouse smiled at him, warmth and mirth shining in her eyes. "We are of the sky. Day and Night are of the same to us. They are one and the same." Darian nodded slowly. "I'm so glad you found my shop. With you I feel I can make something more beautiful than I have ever before." The mice around him smiled knowingly, he could tell they all loved to create as much as he. They spent the rest of the night working on the small forest scene, putting everything perfectly in place. It came time that he put the last drop of sap into place, the last drop of sun on the trees their joined hearts had made.
He was full to bursting with emotion at this point. A small voice beside him had his little mouse ears drooping. "We must go now. The sun will start to rise and our place is with the stars." He turned watery eyes towards her, his words coming out breathy. "Will I ever see you again?" She smiled warmly at him, the love of friendship clear in her eyes. "You will see us again. Your magic has called to us and now we know the way. Sleep now and you will join us again another night." Dorian nodded and crawled down the leg of his worktable. He was yawning as he crawled into the hey of his bed. Sleepily the back of his mind wondered how he was able to stay awake the whole night after being so tired the day before. He was asleep before he could think more on it.
Dorian awoke with daylight streaming into his eyes. He woke gradually, smiling to himself as he remembered the friends he had made last night. He couldn't wait to see their creation in the light of day. He jumped out of his bed, fully awake now, and rushed to his worktable. Confusion raced through him as he saw plain materials, unworked items undisturbed from the night before. He couldn't understand where all their progress had gone. But he was undeterred. He knew what he wanted to make now, and he knew how to make it. Even if his mice friends had not come in the middle of the night, they had still shown him how to create the piece his creativity longed to make. He got to work, smiling to himself. When he dreamed of them next, he would tell them of what he created. And just maybe, they could create something new together.
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Word count: 1,684
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