The Lantern Festival (7) : Scientists have been hard at work trying to understand the strange, glowing qualities of the luminescent caterpillars found in the caves by the reservoir. The caterpillars still shrivel up if they are taken out of the caves but their glowing secretions have been processed into an organic paste that can withstand the outside world. The city is selling paper lanterns infused with various seeds. The glow paste is full of minerals to support healthy plant growth without risking damage to the environment; all lantern purchases come with a small packet of activating power that will heat the paste up enough to mimic the effects of a candle without the concerns of flammability. When the glow paste loses its heat, the lantern will return to the Earth and upon the first rain (or any contact with water) the paper will dissolve and the seeds may begin to grow. All proceeds from the lanterns are put right back into the community to support local conservation and environmental protection efforts.
What was with the Star Festival this year? It almost seemed as somehow darker intentions had found their way to pollute what was normally seen as an enjoyable time of the year. First it was that wish that she had pulled down and which Eleonora had thankfully destroyed. Illyria's fur still bristled with anger at recalling the words that had been written down. How could someone have been so deceived by propaganda that they'd risk running the only people who just wanted to protect the civilians of Destiny City out of the city. Shaking her head the feline shifted anxiously before looking at the lantern that was tethered to the ground in front of her. It seemed as if whomever it was had bought this lantern had left it to be released by a volunteer and with no one currently observing it, Illyria detached the string holding it with her teeth and simply walked away with the lantern. Was it stealing? Technically yes. But someone else had paid for the lantern already. This lantern had a special mission in its future and Illyria wanted to take it to the highest lookout point within city limits. Would it have looked odd to see a cat walking around with a lantern trailing behind them? Most definitely. This was why, once she was in the clear Illyria retreated to a small copse of trees that blocked her from sight before activiting her civilian glamour. It would hold for three hours which was more than enough time for what she wanted to do.
Simply holding onto the lantern now with hands that were now human Illyria blended into a fair-sized crowd and lost herself amongst the bustle of those leaving the Festival grounds. Soon though she found herself taking a side street exit which lead to a more suburban area of the city. Slowly Illyria took note of the street names before she turned down one and walked the length of two blocks before coming to a park. She had been here before and knew that there was a pretty impressive hill that one could sit upon and it was this hill that was her destination. The park was blissfully empty for a change and Illyria felt her shoulders relax before she stretched and began to climb. The muscles in her legs complained about the exercise before she simply ignored the strain. She was here on a mission and nothing would deter her now.
The idea she had had for this little lantern escapade was not actually her own. It was having seen a scene in a movie that inspired the Mauvian to at least try. It was highly unlikely that a missing friend would be imprisoned in a large tower far, far away but it was the thought that maybe, just maybe, the lantern would act as a beacon, silently whispering ...follow me to set yourself free to the individual that Illyria was trying to reach. Finding a sturdy stick in which she tethered the lantern back down to the ground, Illyria waited.
Even as the sky darkened and once more a few stray lanterns began to appear on the horizon did Illyria simply watch the spectacle in silence. Just before the timing on her glamour wore out did she tear open the packet of activating powder in order to sprinkle it onto the glow paste that was just waiting. Within seconds the lantern began to strain at the string that was holding it down. Illyria's form blurred and shrank as she returned to her feline state before she simply bit through the string and severed the cord. Without the string to keep it grounded the lantern began to rise up into the air and as it did Illyria's eyes tracked the object before she whispered the name of the one this lantern was meant for.
"Meissa... use the light of this lantern to guide you back home, wherever you may be."
She wouldn't forget the Senshi of Bobcats. That would be asking the impossible of a Guardian Cat. Even as she turned and began to retrace her steps though Illyria knew that in her heart the space that she'd made for Meissa would always ache until they were reunited again. But in the meantime ... Illyria had to go on ... she wasn't going to give up, but she had to remember that there were others that needed her as well.
Goodbye may seem forever
farewell is like the end
But in my heart's the memory
and there you'll always be
