AT DOORMS
Late at night in the dorms, the group returned after dinner. The city lights had lit up, and darkness had settled in. Almost everyone in dorm 3 had gone to sleep, except for Jimmy, Adam, Selena, and Sharika. They sat on the floor, surrounded by snacks, pillows, and blankets.
Jimmy had wrapped himself in a blanket like a cocoon, while Adam was organizing his books. Suddenly, something fluffy fell out of Adam's duffel bag and landed on Sharika. It was an owlet plushy.
¨oh?¨ she said ¨whats these?. anouther owlet¨
Jimmy looked up from his blanket cacoon ¨wait. You brought yours¨
Adam turned red ¨n...not on purpose. i packt to fast and didn't check¨
Selenas tilted her head curiusly ¨wait¨. Then she pointed at the bed where jimmys owlet was. Then the second owlet that was in Sharika's hand. ¨¨there two owlet plushies.¨
Jimmy nodded quickly ¨y...yhe myns named owlet¨
Adam added quickly, and mine's named o...owlo¨
Sharika raised an eyebrow ¨two boys, same face, same pout, same plushy. We need to hear the story.¨
Selean leaned in, smiling ¨please tell us, we want to know.¨
Jimmy and Adam looked at each other. Then at the girls, then back at each other.
¨...fine¨ Jimmy mutterd
¨...I guess they deserve to know¨ Adam said.
FLASHBACK 14 YEARS AGO
Demon King Prime was still in power at the time. jimmys mom was deployed to scoute and Ashfall City was heavily guarded at the time. No monster, demon, or any hostal cudent make it through. Guards patrol the streets. Many Walkt normal sens it was safe.
In Ashfall City was a toy store, and the toy store was big. And in the toy store were dolls, toys, and plushies. And on one shelf was an owl monster plushy, and it was the last one. And then 2 toddlers, 2 years old, notice it. they weren't old enough to form a sentence,
then bothe kids notice the plushy and both reach out for it. Then both kids grabbed it. They look at echuder and poute both pouling.
Adam said ¨mine¨ his fist balled up as he pould
¨no mine¨ Jimmy said, tears welled up
¨I saw it first¨ Adam yelled
¨but I grabbed it first¨ Jimmy yelled louder
They pout harder then droppt plucy and start throwing fists. not hurtful fist but like kids punching each other. Jimmy's fist meets Adams shulders and Adams's fist meets Jimmy shulder. they poust. then startde to cry.
Then the store owner a old woman with a cane and kind eyes, sighted. ¨boys. boys dont fight.¨
¨he stoll it¨ Adam said
¨hes lying¨ Jimmy said
Both boys glared at each other.
the owner laught ¨its just a plushy¨
¨but its owlet¨ both screamed in perfect harmony
The owner looked at them both in amusment ¨you now what?¨ she pickt up a second owl from the back of the store. ¨ it's buy one get one free¨.
They both blinked and then both grabbed the 2 owlets and hugged them close.
The owner said ¨now both you have one each¨
Jimmy mumbled thank you, Owlet¨
Adam hugged his to ¨my named Owlo¨
And just like that, the war ended for ten minutes. Jimmy bit Adam for trying to switch them, and adam punst jimmy, and the fist fight began again.
FLASHBACK ENDS
back in the dorm. sharika doubel baclk lauthing.
¨you to fist fight and bite each other¨ she said laugthing ¨ower a plushy¨
¨he tried to swap them whill i wasent looking¨ jimmy said red fact
¨they look identikal¨ Adam protested
¨they smell defrent¨ jimmy snappt
Selena giggeld ¨you 2 look adorable.
Jimmy and Adam pout again. Then they all contanude there night and then went to bed.
The dorm room was quiet. The light was off, and everyone was sleeping in their beds. Outside Ashfall city towers had become dark, with lights out. Everyone was sleeping. Jimmy lay in his bed, hugging his owlet close. and then ember inside of him sterd
DREAM
He dreamed of a memory that happened 14 years ago. Jimmy is 2 years old again. The world around him was warm, and he stod bearfoot at smooth wood floor. sunlight pourinf throw the windows. The air smelt like lavender baked bread and soft brezzes fluterd the red curtains. Jimmy held a plush in his arms like hes life depended on it. It was his owlet plush.
he totteld forword clutching the plushy then ¨mamaaaa¨ he called out hige and sweet ¨look¨
a figur turnd around her name was VivIan Saito, and shes Jimmys mom. She knelt down slowly. her crimson cloak pooling to the side. Her dark short hair was tousled. Her armor is made of soft leather and tough steel. her gloving sword strapt behind her back. even in these peacful moment she carried her fire. Her face softened as she saw Jimmy.
¨my little ember ¨she whispered with a smile
Jimmy ran to her, wobbling. And she scooped him up. eferncly and put him on her lap. Her hands were strong, but gentle. One brust trow Jimmys messy hair as Jimmy proudly showed her his plush owl monster. He named the owlet.
¨hes name owlet¨ Jimmy anounce proudly ¨not owlo that Adams plushy name¨
Vivian laughs, of course. yours much cuter¨
Jimmy giggled. Vivian looked at the pulse for a long moment. Then back at her son, the flicker of sunlight danced across her face. reviling something deeper, tiredness, sadness, and fearcly love burning through it all.
¨you really love him huh? ¨ Vivian askt
Jimmy noods ¨hes soft and brave¨
She smiled. ¨just like you¨
Jimmy blinked, and eyes widen ¨im not... th...that brave¨
¨oh but you are¨ Vivian said, placing her hand on his heart. ¨right here. You feel to mutch, Jimmy thats not weakness. ¨
Jimmy tilted his head ¨its not¨
¨no¨ she said sotly¨ it means you have a heart big enough to carry light for people who cant carrie ther own¨
Jimmy didn't quite understand. But the way she held him warm, strong, and safe told him everything.
¨one day¨ she whispered ¨the Ember inside of you will light the way for others even in the dark.¨
Then she leaned her head, pressing her forehead with his
¨you my little Ember¨
DREAM ENDS
Jimmy woke up at night after a dream, gasping. breath cought his trout, tears ran down his cheeks. he lookt around the room. the fiant snores of Adam and the rustling of Selena turning in bed in sleep, and Sharika a sleep half blanket over her.he wipt hes tears and went to sleep hugging his owlet.
¨i miss you mom¨ jimmy wissperd then went back to sleep
the ember inside of him pulsed