Source: HarmonyWyrm on dA | Date: 2.27.25
The quiet hum of the early morning breeze carried a hint of anticipation through the air. Cynder paced restlessly in the small clearing outside their village, her fur rustling as her large Draco ears twitched with every sound. Her tail flicked energetically behind her, betraying the excitement that was bubbling within her.
“We’re finally about to start our Purity Trials!” she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “We’ll head to our starting point soon!”
Behind her, Cali was sitting calmly beneath a tree, her tail wrapped neatly around her paws. The elder Vayron was methodically packing their travel supplies into a well-worn satchel, her feline eyes scanning over each item with sharp focus. While Cynder was bouncing around, Cali was quietly organizing, ensuring that everything would go perfectly.
The Purity Trials were a sacred rite of passage for young Vayron, a tradition passed down through generations. It was a test of endurance, wisdom, and balance—both in the physical world and within oneself. The trials would take place in only a few more days for her and Cynder- and only those who had prepared properly could succeed without embarrassment or scorn. Due to this, the elders were watching closely, and the pressure was on.
“So,” Cynder bounded over to Cali, her eyes wide. “What do you think we should bring first? Should we bring extra water, or… or more snacks?”
Cali raised an eyebrow, her calm demeanor unwavering. “We’ll need both, but more importantly, we need to make sure we don’t over-pack. We can’t risk getting weighed down by things we don’t need.” She carefully placed the dried meat and fruit into a separate pouch and double-checked the water skins, making sure they were sealed tightly. “The journey to the trials is dangerous. We’ll need to be light on our feet but also prepared for anything.”
Cynder, feeling a bit frustrated by Cali’s meticulousness, bounced on her paws. “But we could bring a little more! What if we get hungry or thirsty on the way? The trials could take days!”
Cali gave her a soft smile, her feline eyes gleaming. “We’ll pack exactly what we need, nothing more. Trust me, Cynder. If we pack carefully, we won’t need to worry about getting too tired or running out of resources.”
Cynder nodded, but her ears twitched impatiently as she glanced around, still eager to get moving. “Okay, okay. But I still think we should have a few extra treats!”
Before Cali could respond, Cynder dashed off toward the nearby trees, gathering pawfuls of dried berries and seeds to add to their supplies. Cali sighed softly, shaking her head as she watched Cynder’s enthusiasm.
But just as Cynder reached a cluster of berries, she heard a strange rustling sound coming from behind a nearby bush. Without thinking, she turned to Cali, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Cali! Do you hear that?” she squeaked. “It could be something really cool! Should we go check it out?”
Cali’s ears perked up, and she stood slowly, her expression calm but alert. “Cynder, we’re in the middle of planning. Don’t get distracted—”
But before Cali could finish her sentence, Cynder was already darting off into the brush, her ears flicking in every direction. “I’ll be right back, Cali! Just wait here!”
With a deep breath, Cali shook her head, muttering under her breath. “Honestly… you never slow down.”
Cynder’s voice rang out from the bushes as she called excitedly, “It’s a—”
There was a sudden, loud rustle of branches, followed by a soft thud. Cali’s eyes widened. “Cynder!”
Without thinking, Cali rushed forward, her paws moving swiftly as she rounded the corner of the bush, her eyes scanning for the young Vayron. What she found was Cynder tangled in a mess of vines, her legs flailing in the air as she tried—unsuccessfully—to free herself.
“Just my luck…!” Cynder groaned, half-laughing and half-frustrated. “I thought I saw something neat, but I didn’t think it would just be vines …and that those vines would be so… grabby!”
Cali sighed, her tail twitching in mild irritation but also with a hint of amusement. “Really? I leave you alone for five minutes, and you get yourself stuck in a mess of vines?”
Cynder’s ears drooped in embarrassment, but she looked up at Cali with a grin. “Hey, you have to admit, I’m good at finding trouble!”
Cali reached down with a paw, carefully tugging at the vines. “You don’t need to find trouble, Cynder. It finds you.”
With a few quick pulls, the vines loosened, and Cynder was finally free, her fur slightly disheveled but still full of energy. “Okay, okay, maybe I got a little too excited. But hey, what if there really was something cool out there?”
Cali narrowed her eyes. “Next time, Cynder, let’s focus on the task at paw before you go chasing after mystery noises. We have the purity trials ahead of us, remember? And we don’t want to disappoint the elders.”
Cynder’s excitement faded just slightly, but then her large eyes brightened again. “Right. The trials. But come on, Cali, can’t we just have a little fun before we leave? You’re always so serious!”
Cali paused for a moment, her tail twitching thoughtfully. “I know, Cynder. But this time, we need to show the elders we’re ready—prepared. That means careful planning.”
Cynder grinned mischievously. “Fine. But after the trials? We’ll have all the fun we want, right?”
Cali smiled softly, a flicker of affection in her feline eyes. “I think that can be arranged.”
The two stood together for a moment, the stillness of the clearing settling in as they looked at the supplies. They had packed everything they needed—no more, no less.
“Alright,” Cali said, settling her pack onto her back. “Let’s head to the elders and show them we’re ready. And no more distractions, okay?”
Cynder, though still a bit bouncy, nodded in agreement. “Deal. But only because you said so!”
As they walked back toward the village, Cali couldn’t help but let out a quiet chuckle at Cynder’s antics. Even when things didn’t go according to plan, the young Vayron’s energy was contagious.
And as much as Cali liked to keep things in line, part of her wouldn’t change Cynder for the world.
The fire crackled softly as the night grew darker, the stars above twinkling like distant lanterns in the velvet sky. Cali lay with her back pressed against a sturdy rock, her eyes heavy with the weight of the day’s planning. The exhaustion from their preparations had taken its toll, and soon, she could hear the soft, rhythmic breathing of Cynder beside her, curled up in a heap of fur.
The air was cool now, a relief from the heat of the day, and the scent of the desert night mingled with the earthy fragrance of the nearby trees. Everything was peaceful. Everything was still.
Except… Cynder’s stomach.
A low, grumbling noise broke the silence, rolling through the night like distant thunder. Cynder shifted in her sleep, her round eyes blinking open, startled. She raised a paw to her stomach, which growled again, louder this time. The sound echoed in the stillness, a reminder of the remaining days preparations and journey left to come.
“Ugh…” Cynder muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m so hungry.”
She glanced over at the neatly packed travel bags, each one tucked away beside them, securely fastened with straps to avoid any mishaps. But as her eyes fell on the one bag with their snacks—delicately wrapped in soft cloth, packed at the very top of the pile—something inside her was suddenly stirred. It wasn’t just hunger. It was temptation.
Her tail twitched, and her ears flicked back as the scent of dried berries and sweet-smelling fruit wafted toward her.
She glanced over at her companion. There was no sign of Cali stirring. Her friend was sound asleep, her breathing slow and steady, unbothered by the rumbling of Cynder’s stomach.
Slowly, Cynder lifted her head, scanning the sleeping form of Cali. With a quick glance at the bags, she inched toward them. The bags were close now, just a few paw steps away. Just… just a small snack. No harm in it. Just a few berries.
Cynder’s paws shuffled carefully as she made her way over to the travel bag, her excitement growing. The rustling of the bag was barely audible, but in the stillness of the night, it felt like a loud creak. She held her breath, listening for any sign of Cali waking up. Nothing.
With one swift motion, Cynder tugged open the bag, revealing the carefully packed bundles of snacks. Her eyes lit up as she spotted the dried fruit at the top. “Perfect,” she whispered to herself, grinning. “Just one bite, and I’ll be good.”
Cynder fumbled with the cloth wrapping, her excitement growing with each second. But as she unwrapped it, a small snack fell out of the bag and rolled toward the edge of their campsite, landing with a soft thunk against the rock.
Cynder froze, wide-eyed.
“Please don’t let that be loud,” she whispered, her tail flicking nervously. She turned slowly, eyes fixed on the sleeping form of Cali, who remained undisturbed.
Relieved, Cynder took a deep breath and picked up the fallen snack, popping it into her mouth. The taste was everything she had hoped for—sweet, chewy, and utterly satisfying. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment. Maybe she could sneak just a little more…
But then, another rumble from her stomach cut through the stillness. A bigger one this time.
Cynder’s eyes widened, realizing the situation was getting out of hand. “Okay… maybe only just one more…”
She carefully reached for another snack, this one a bundle of berries wrapped in a soft cloth. As she opened it, the sweet aroma hit her nose. But just as she was about to take a bite, something moved behind her.
Cali finally stirred.
Cynder froze.
The older Vayron sat up, blinking in the darkness, her feline eyes adjusting to the low light. “Cynder?” Cali’s voice was groggy but sharp, filled with a mix of sleepiness and suspicion. “What are you doing?”
Cynder’s ears flattened, her paw mid-air as if frozen in time. “Uh… Cali! Hi!” she stammered, her voice high-pitched and guilty. “I wasn’t… uh… I wasn’t doing anything! Just… checking the bag!”
Cali’s eyes narrowed. “Checking the bag… at midnight? Cynder, don’t tell me you were—”
Cynder’s face flushed a deep shade of red, and her tail twitched nervously. “Okay, okay, I admit it! I was hungry! And the snacks are right here! I couldn’t help it!”
Cali sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I knew I shouldn’t have packed them so close to the top.”
Cynder dropped the snack she was holding and sat back on her haunches, looking at Cali sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Cali. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just… really didn’t want to wait until morning. You know how the trials make me nervous, and I just—” She trailed off, her ears drooping as she avoided Cali’s gaze.
Cali’s face softened, and she let out a small chuckle. “Cynder… I swear, you’re worse than a hungry pup sometimes.”
Cynder’s ears perked up at the gentle teasing. “Does that mean I can have more?” she asked hopefully, her eyes wide.
Cali shook her head, but her lips twitched into a smile. “Not unless you want me to scold you for being a glutton. You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Cynder’s tail wagged excitedly, and she couldn’t help but grin. “Well… if you’re sure, I’ll just wait until morning.” She sat back down beside Cali, the temptation of the snacks still lingering in the air. “But tomorrow, promise me we can eat all the snacks we want before we start the trials? Not “preparation” snacks I mean…”
Cali nodded, a genuine smile on her face. “Fine. But only if we make it to the trials without any more midnight snack raids.”
Cynder flopped down onto the ground, her paws tucked under her chest. “Deal. But I’m keeping you to it!”
As the two Vayron settled back into the quiet of the desert night, the stars above seemed to twinkle in approval. Cynder’s stomach was still growling, but now, it felt a little easier to ignore. Tomorrow was a new day, and they still had a journey ahead of them—one filled with adventure, challenges, and yes, maybe even a few more snacks along the way.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast and a final check of their supplies, the two Vayron set out again across the desert. The sun was already high in the sky, and the air was starting to heat up. Cynder trotted happily ahead, her energy renewed after the small midnight snack raid, while Cali followed closely behind, her expression one of deep concentration.
“I can’t believe we’re doing this again,” Cali muttered, her voice low but tinged with annoyance. “We just restocked the snacks yesterday, and now you’ve already eaten half of them. You’ve got to have the appetite of an entire herd of Chasers.”
Cynder’s ears drooped slightly at the comment, but she bounced back quickly, her tail wagging excitedly. “I need my energy for the trials, Cali! And I thought you said we needed to eat the snacks to stay strong for the journey!” she countered, her eyes wide with mock innocence. “Besides…we can restock again in the next town!”
Cali gave her a look that was somewhere between amused and exasperated. “I didn’t mean for you to eat everything in one go. At this rate, we’ll need to restock every few days- town or no town.” She sighed dramatically, her paws digging into the sand with each step. “Why can’t you be a little more disciplined with your food?”
Cynder shrugged, unfazed by the playful reprimand. “Well, maybe if we had even more snacks, I wouldn’t eat them up so quickly!” She shot Cali a cheeky grin.
“Ugh, fine. We’ll restock when we reach the next town.” Cali’s ears flicked in frustration, though her lips curled into a small smile. “But no more midnight raids. Deal?”
Cynder’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Deal. But only because we’re going to need all those snacks for when we do the trials… right? We WILL get to eat them at some point?!”
Cali rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help but laugh softly. “You’re impossible.”
CP Counter
Added Reos + 2 (Cynder 17262) 2401 words + 24 Total = 26