Wanted Wisps (11) : Small, wispy orbs are floating through the city. They can be found during the day but are far more visible at night. They seem to bob along a few feet off the ground and sometimes flicker in and out of sight. They are warm to the touch and seem to be somewhat magical in nature. Anyone can gather them in their hands; they do not quite feel solid but cannot slip through fingers or escape any container. If you find one of these, you must return it to the merchant. If you do not roleplay with him, it will be assumed that you returned the piece to him anyway; there is no way to keep these. Please see this post for information on turning in the Wisp and claiming your prize.
Kurma floated lazily above the nighttime scenery of Destiny City, enjoying the view while engaging in some deep thought.
In all his eons flitting between the stars, he'd never actually been to Earth before, not before this era and this life as Perry Westerman. And usually, when he was born on a planet, he was destined to leave it for the rest of his life. That was the way things were, time and time again. His bond with the cosmos left him unbound to any place. And he wasn't meant to linger for long in any place.
But this era was different. All the stars and planets he knew of had become grave sites, struggling to come back to life again. And everyone who was supposed to be from those places had been born on Earth instead. Somehow, this planet had become a haven for lost souls from across the galaxy.
This planet was still full of life, and change, and people.
Suddenly, this world that had escaped his notice for ages felt like the center of the universe. So he wondered what had caused things to turn out that way.
The lights of the city below, from stores and streetlights and cars, didn't reveal any answers. Instead, they just reaffirmed how thoroughly busy this world was compared to the rest of the galaxy. The music of the spheres remained an ever-present, ever-changing reality, of course, but the music of society was a different story. So far, Kurma had only found it here.
No wonder he'd come back. It was lonelier out there than ever. And he'd assumed he would only be returning for a moment... but now he wondered.
Then, a tiny light, different from the rest in view, caught his eye. With a curious smirk returning to his face, he sailed down after it to take a closer look.
"Now, what do we have here?" he asked as he made a gentle landing on the rooftop where he'd spotted the light. It was still there, wobbling and flickering like a flame looking for its candle. As he stood and watched, the little wisp occasionally blinked out of sight only to reappear a second later. It was quite fun to just look at, but something about it made the guide feel like it wasn't just there to be observed.
So, he asked, "Are you lost?" in his usual friendly tone. The wisp continued to hover this way and that, not seeming to head in any particular direction. For Kurma, that was as good as an answer as any. He walked carefully towards it leaned in closer until it brushed up against his nose. It was warm and illuminated his face in a strange color, which made him laugh a bit.
"Don't worry," he said. "We'll get you back home." He held out his hands and slowly, gently, closed them around the wisp, as if he were handling an injured butterfly. Then he allowed himself to detach from the roof and drift away in search of where the little being belonged.
