Resonance celebrates the Rite Of The Reef

As the dusk settled in and the skies darkened, Resonance carefully trodded through the weeds and shrubs lining Lylluna reef. She wagged her tail happily and descended towards the ocean. With her bright blue lantern hung in her mouth she moved her way along the shore to a secluded area of the beach. There were a couple larger rocks covered in algae and barnacles that may have posed a threat to the lantern’s journey along the current, but it didn’t matter much to Resonance. 

Resonance's lantern, adorned with intricate patterns, mirrored the complexity of her own spirit with golden swirls in the shapes of moons and speckles in place of stars; it elegantly reflected her love for star gazing. Shimmering layers of seafoam crashed against the sand beneath her paws, and scurried back into the current beckoning her to give her precious lantern to them. The glimmering blue light from her lantern danced along the wavefronts invitingly. 

Little by little, the distant specks of light from other lanterns from Faians on the larger bay area littered the horizon line in a constellation of different hues representing each and every Faian who let them go. Resonance’s gaze shifted to the lights and a smile grew on her face. Even if the thought of hundreds of other Faians crowding the beach made her a bit anxious, she mustered up the courage to let go of her lantern. Even if she was a bit wary of so many other Faians, it didn’t stop her from participating in this cultural event. 

She watched as her glistening lantern was pulled into the currents and whisked away to join the other lanterns at sea and rested her head against her paw methodically. The vibrant glow of the moon was outshone by the sheer number of lanterns in the ocean for one night, and Resonance knew that her little lantern played a pivotal point in the rite of the reef, even if she wasn’t surrounded by others. Once the lantern drifted away into the vast expanse of the dark waters, a sense of tranquility washed over her and her anxiety was quickly quelled.

Resonance’s ear perked up, and she turned her head towards the sounds of laughter and singing from other Faians further down the beach. She took a deep breath and sat up to collect herself before meeting her fellow Faians to participate in the festivities. Before she left however, she traced her path along the shore and picked up a couple seashells that have washed up since she let her lantern go. She searched for a moment until she came along a little star-shaped seashell. She dug her claws into the sand to get a clearer look at the shell and held it up to observe it clearer. Her eyes lit up in joy as she eagerly washed the seashell in the waters to clean it up a bit, as it both represented her and the moment of letting her lantern go off into the sea. She pressed it close to her chest before placing it in her pouch and running off to the sounds of her friend.