Light on the Gray (short story)

Fireflies wove spiraling patterns of light as Yukito wandered the idyllic little harbor town of Mist Harbor. The entire place was like a children's story come to life, with vibrant colors, and perfect little shops lining the flower-filled streets. The scent of passionflowers, hibiscus, mangoes, and other luscious fragrances drifted on the brisk evening breeze. His nose twitched slightly; weaving through all of it, wild roses caressed the senses with their heady and insistent presence. He batted at a nearby bush with a flick of his hand, sending agitated insects flitting to the sky. Roses were pretty and he liked their visual appeal, but the scent of them made him want to reflexively flinch or duck at times, and that jittery feeling made him grumpy.

He sighed to himself as he walked the path up to the wooden lighthouse, deep in thought. His friend Akenna had mentioned concerns about the island in the past, but maybe he could be there for his friends if they needed it now. Certainly, he should look after his own interests in the place. It was too important a trade hub to allow to fall to any enemy; that factor alone explained its defenses and apparent wealth.

The letters read in Ilsola's office had been a puzzle, but he'd been content to only passively pay attention until the messages had been deciphered. The method of delivery and the magic itself had interested him more. That there was a threat to the island was a given. Even if the letters were pure mischief, the level of such would need to be discerned. The magic used to write the missives seemed familiar, and could even be replicated at some point. The timing of the delivery was bothering him on a more subtle level, but there wasn't much he could say about it that held merit.

Yukito reached the tall white pillar of the lighthouse and watched as its brilliant beam swept out over the dark ocean waters. Charl's Teeth glistened wetly in the distance, just visible. Head canting slightly, he turned and squinted. His pupils bloomed in the evening gray to allow his keen sylvan gaze to capture a flickering light. As the lighthouse ground heavily overhead, the blue ring of his irises swallowed the darkness of his gaze, obliterating the gentle lick of far off fire from view.

This island was full of supposed secrets. It was like a trail of tantalizing sweets to lure the unwary. He didn't consider himself particularly good at puzzles, but he was tenacious about solving ones he considered interesting until something else shiny caught his attention. This place was starting to put him on edge. It wasn't exactly threatening, because it wasn't overtly dangerous yet. He could also be wrong in his musings, and he was aware that he examined obscure possibilities. Knowing those things made him feel safe to continue his explorations. He wasn't looking forward to some of it, because it required effort on his part, but...

A wave of water crashed nearby and droplets of ice cold water rained down around him. "Ugh!" His growl was a soft whisper of irritation as he scrubbed a hand through his hair. It didn't snow on the island, but it didn't mean it didn't get cold at night. Gathering his cloak close, he turned away from the lighthouse and headed back down the path.

"Kiss From a Rose" - Seal