Big thanks to Sona for writing this, we worked closely together to make this cute little story, its a day in the life of Mylar, the sorts of things she gets up to on her home planet. Hope you all like it.

[Story by  shatteredsona]
[Characters and world belong to  discreetuser]
[Sona’s version of the story: https://www.quotev.com/story/135065.....-Storybook/142]


"Mylar, Mylar! Wake up!"
I opened my eyes, seeing two familiar faces looking down at me with excited expressions. Mine was less so, my good dream having just been interrupted.
"Ayebi. Eli. It's-"
I turned my bleary gaze towards the wall, where the sun's rays clearly struck a circle of engraved stone.
"-the fifth notch in the morning. Let me sleep."
"But we gotta go now!"
"Go ask your brother, then."
"Path said to ask you!"
Of course he did. I groaned and rolled sideways, trying not to catch sight of their eager, expectant eyes. I can't exactly let them go on their own, but if I don't go with them, they may just go anyway...
"Path said they'll have orange juice!"
Grumbling, I sat up from my bed, watching my younger cousins bounce increasingly excitedly as they realized that I'd be going with them.
"...Give me a few marks to get ready. Go boil some water for breakfast."
After corralling the two little balls of energy away from my bed, I properly fixed my dreary appearance, smoothing my ruffled fur and wearing my good clothes. After checking myself in the mirror and confirming that I looked positively radiant, I stepped out of the den and onto the bridge to the eating hall. While doing so, I glanced back to make sure that nobody else had been disturbed... all good.
In the small stone hall, From the circular window on the wall, a focused beam of sunlight was concentrated into a smaller disc of glass, projecting a ray of pure heat towards the kettle in the center of the table that had now come to a boil. The other two don't seem to have eaten yet, probably thinking that they could have breakfast when we arrive.
"No. We're not leaving until you eat."
"But-"
"No. You woke me up, you get to make your own breakfast."
The last thing I want to do is be halfway there and have to listen to whining about hunger. With a sullen look, Eli pulled out three bowls, filling them with equal portions of a golden flour. Ayebi took hold of the steaming kettle, pouring a portion of water into each one. The hot liquid reacted with the powder, disturbing it and causing it to rise... and rise, and rise a little more, until it formed a lovely browned muffin within the bowl. It wasn't the fanciest meal, but it would fill our stomachs until we arrived.
Eli and Ayebi wolfed down their meals, but I ate at a more reasonable pace while enjoying tea brewed from the leftover water. I could practically taste their growing excitement and impatience, to the point where the moment I laid down my spoon, they took my bowl and cup in order to wash it themselves.
And just like that, I don't have to do my own dishes.
From there, I leisurely strolled back through the den, careful not to wake the sleeping community. Instead of moving directly towards the exit of Barking Stones, I instead walked towards the connected storehouse. My cousins were visibly annoyed now, wanting me to, whatever it took, just hurry up!
"What are you waiting for!?"
Instead of answering their question, I reemerged with a bushel of golden grains in one arm, and a bundle of shed fur in the other. Slung across my shoulders was a satchel of smaller items, including a few knots of glowing thread to make lanterns with, a collection of coins, and list of things to buy or barter for that we'd compiled since the last time the traders were here. A grin was spread across my face as I reminded them that we'd probably have an easier time getting what we wanted if we had something to give in return.
As soon as we exited the building, I turned around, spying the figures sitting cross-legged on the roof. Each one is in deep meditation, not to be disturbed.
"Mum, I'm taking Eli and Ayebi to the traders today!"
She didn't respond.
"We probably won't be back until the seventh mark of sundown!"
Her ears flicked. It was slight, but I saw it.
"Is there anything you want us to pick up for you?"
Silence.
"We're taking the leftover fur!"
Stillness.
"Can we take some of the cake-oats too?"
Serenity.
"Say nothing if we can take the cake-oats."
"No."
"Aw, why not?"
"Because we still need to eat, Mylar. There's a bundle of extra tea in the chest."
I passed the bushel of grain to Eli, motioning for him to put it back and haul the tea leaves she was talking about instead. Even without it, the fur would be enough to trade with. The visitors always loved anything woven of Kyri fur.
"Have fun, dear."
"We will! Bye mom! Sorry for disturbing you!"
She returned to her meditation, letting out a barely-audible sigh as she did. I'm sure it's got nothing to do with me.
With that, I finally allowed myself to be pulled by my cousins to the edge of Barking Stones, where the cobbled path fell away to a sheer cliff.
From that cliff, a line of stone pillars extended outwards, forming a path to the next peak over. The valley below was shrouded in a perpetual mist, making it difficult to travel through even after ignoring the general difficulty of climbing several mountains right after waking up.
Eli lightly leapt across the first few pillars, barely tall enough to do so, while Ayebi-
"Oh no you don't."
"Aawww, why not?"
"You're not old enough to go on your own. Here, I'll carry you."
The young Kyri tried to leap to the first pillar anyways, but I caught the back of his shirt and pulled him up before he could land.
"Here, I'll give you a ride. It's probably one of the last ones you'll get before you get to walk on your own two feet."
"Can I pleeeeease go on my own? I'm never going to learn how to cross the pillars if I never try!"
Ayebi looked up at me with his cute little eyes. I know he's trying to act cute.
He knows it's working.
The pillars were built close enough for a grown Kyri like me to step across without jumping, but a pup like him would have to put in more effort, and a slipped-up step is all it would take for him to get hurt.
But he's right. He'll have to start someday, and it's best for it to be when he's eager.
"Fine, fine. Eli, be ready to catch him if he falls."
With a squeak of glee, Ayebi followed Eli onto the pillar path, leaping between each one with an admittedly steady stride. I followed him soon after, but not before retrieving my walking stick from a pile of rocks kind enough to hold onto it for me. It's not particularly special, but it's not like it really needs to be. It's a walking stick.
I like my walking stick.
Eli, being ten years old, had enough experience with traveling between the mountains of Ietera that I didn't worry about him, but Ayebi, being only eight, didn't do a great job of pacing himself. It was only the next peak over that he was breathing heavily, though he still looked energetic.
"Do you want to take a break?"
"No! I want to be the first one there!"
"Alright then lead the way."
He did exactly that, running forwards and forcing me to speed up to keep pace with him. He's got the passion to carry him where he wants to go, an admirable trait... but his legs haven't quite caught up. A good ten marks after we set out, his leaps began to shorten, and he was forced to spend time readjusting after each one. I focused from that point on. He'll be taught a valuable lesson soon, and I need to be ready whe- ohp. There it is.
Lunging forwards, I hooked onto Ayebi's shirt with my stick, preventing him from losing his balance and falling. This time, he didn't protest when I lifted him up and placed him on my back alongside the rest of my load.
"You did well. I'll take it from here."
He mumbled something intelligible in response. I hope he's not too tired when we get to Whistling Tree.
After taking another moment to rest, I continued onwards, Eli in step with me directly behind. The early start to my day wasn't great, but the sun's warm glow is cheering me up. The promise of orange juice certainly doesn't hurt.
"Hey, Eli! What do you want to get once we're there?"
Ayebi seems to be fine.
"Everything, duh! I'll get the peaches and the puzzles and the toys and the books and the little statues and- ooh! You need to try chocolate!"
"What's that?"
"This delicious dark stuff they make out of beans that's bitter and sweet but it's so good- oh, but you can't hold it too long or it'll melt and make your fingers brown and you have to lick it off of your thumbs. Path gave me some last time."
"What? Why didn't I get any!?"
"Because you snuck onto the Aethership, dummy! You got in trouble."
"Yeah, but you won't believe what I found in there."
"What?"
"I'm not telling."
"Hey!"
Ayebi blew a raspberry in Eli's direction and I had to bop him with my stick to get him to stop.

Whistling Tree was a 45-mark walk away from Barking Stones. By following the familiar lighthouses on the different peaks, I could easily pick my way across the pillars and towards our destination. I'd taken this path before, of course, but the bright towers in the distance cast a comfortable steadiness over the rest of the mountains.
When our destination finally came into view, I could see that the merchants had just arrived. A vast Aethership had docked next to the mountain, having been moored to the jetty built in the open air. Its solar sails were extended, basking in the perpetual sunlight to keep the vessel afloat while its residents unloaded boxes of cargo. A smaller skiff zipped around nearby, ferrying boxes to the ground from the upper deck.
The ship arrived a few times a year, bringing goods and stories from the rest of the Aether. While it wasn't allowed to dock any closer to the nearby Kyri settlements, that didn't at all affect their business. We were the first ones to arrive, yes, but I could see others in the distance, eager to see what the travelers had brought this time.
When we drew close to the peak at the sixth notch, I could see a young girl huging an older Canan while looking our way.
"Look, pa! Stars are coming!"
He chuckled, patting his daughter's head.
"Yes, honey, they sure are. They're friendly stars, too. Why don't you go say hi?"
When I finally stepped onto Whistling Tree, that merchant's daughter was there, staring up at me with shining eyes.
"You um- you look really pretty, miss!"
I knelt down, both to let Ayebi off my back and take the young girl's hand in my own. It was probably her first time seeing a Kyri, and I certainly didn't want to let her down. She couldn't stop staring at me, drinking in my brightly-glowing fur. Ayebi and Eli walked around me to see what the market would have to offer this time around, but the girl paid them no mind. They were still young, after all, only the tips of their ears and muzzle giving off a faint light. In comparison, the only parts of my own body that were still dim were my hands, feet, and the tip of my tail.
"Do- do you want to buy some cloth? I think it would look really good on you!"
Ah, she's a merchant's daughter at heart.
"Of course I do. Lead the way!"
Standing up, I let her guide me to her father's half-complete stall. There were open crates stacked behind it, a few clothes arranged on the counter. The merchant was still occupied enough with checking the quality of his goods that he didn't notice me until my glow illuminated the inside of the wooden boxes.
"Wh- Oh! Good... uh... morning?"
"Morning. Very early morning."
"Good morning! I hope my little Patra didn't bother you, she's usually a lot more shy."
"She was no bother at all. In fact, she told me that you were selling clothes. May I have a look?"
"Of course you can. And if I may ask, is that, on your back..."
I unslung the bundle of fur, displaying the roll of glowing fluff before me. There were varying levels of brightness from the younger Kyri of Barking Stones mixed in, but it's the job of the thread-spinners to sort through them, not ours.
"Kyri fur. Some from me, some from others."
I separated a small fluffball from the greater fluffwhole, passing it to the still-wide-eyed patra to play with.
I certainly wasn't against looking for new clothes, but we weren't in any desperate need for them. Rather, the reason this stall was the one I visited first (aside from cute little Patra) was that a seller of fabric would be the one who would buy the golden, glowing Kyri fur. We didn't have much use for it, considering our being made of the stuff, but the cloth made from it was beautiful stuff, especially when highlighting a darker color.
I wanted to hunt down the subtle scent of fruit in the air, but I needed to exchange my goods for the coins the merchants used first.
"Yes, this is... wonderful. How much will you sell?"
"Half."
He looked a little disappointed at that, but the bundle wasn't exactly small, either. Textile merchants weren't the only ones who sought out such fur. It would be a pity to have none left to give to other brave young pups like Patra. After separating half of the roll and measuring its weight, he placed a small stack of coins onto the counter, each stamped with places I've never been and faces I've never seen.
Smiling in thanks, I turned to the few clothes on the counter. They were all darker fabrics, and their colors meshed well with that of the Kyri and their world. My eyes were drawn to a particularly vivid burgundy. I held the reddish-brown fabric to my arm... it's perfect. The texture is quite nice as well. It wasn't cut and sewn into clothing yet, but that's probably for the best. I'd much rather have something fit for me.
"Ah, you've got a good eye. This one comes all the way from the far side of the Collective. It may seem normal to you at first, but try and place your arm behind it."
I did so, draping it over my arm and shoulder, but there didn't seem to be any unique qualities-
"...I can't see any light through it."
"Exactly. It's rare for a cloth this thin to so perfectly block out such a bright light, right? As soon as I laid eyes on it, I thought of the Kyri. So?"
"It's lovely. I'll buy it."
The merchant nodded in thanks, allowing me to gently tuck the thin cloth into my satchel. As payment, he retrieved some of the coins he'd set out, and only then did I claim the rest for myself.
"By the way, do you know where the fruit sellers are? I'm looking for a-"
My words were cut off by a rumbling in the earth around us. The merchants jumped in surprise, but what few Kyri were already here knew what this was.
"Get down! Stampede!"
I immediately pulled the cloth merchant and his daughter to the ground, holding them close just as a massive boulder came tumbling down the mountain. It crashed against the ground, flattening anything in its wake, and it was followed by a number of smaller stones, all bouncing towards the growing market at increasingly fast speeds.
When they arrived mere seconds later, they luckily managed to bounce and roll in just the right way as to sail straight over and around most of the stalls, passing beneath the aethership docked nearby. Had anyone still been standing up, they would've been hit by the stampede, but by ducking down and huddling up, the only harm done was the kicked-up dust.
"HEY!"
As soon as the last rock had passed, I stood up and vaulted over the stall, chasing after the descending stones furiously.
"YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"
The stones didn't listen, continuing to roll down the mountain.
Well, all but one.
The largest boulder turned, beginning to roll back up the mountain in my direction. I held my stick defensively across my chest, as if it would make a difference, as it continued to accelerate up the steep slope... and launched itself straight over my head, tracing an arc directly towards... the cloth-seller's stall.
It came to a stop in the air right above it, giving enough time for the poor father to haul his daughter out from under the delinquent stone.
"HEY! NO! BAD!"
The stone drifted lower, growing closer and closer to the stall beneath it.
"UP! GO! AWAY!"
I ran back towards the stall just in time for the rock to oh so gently lower itself onto the flimsy wooden structure, immediately crushing it beneath its weight. It then rolled off in another direction, too fast for me to catch up to no matter how quickly I dashed, until it eventually tumbled too far down the mountain for me to give chase. I waved my stick at it, but I don't think it really had the effect I wanted it to.
I stomped back to the cloth merchant, helping him to his feet and apologizing for the mess. He seemed to be half-lucid, only speaking in a barely-audible tone.
"Are- are all the rocks on this world like that?"[/b]
"Of course not. Most of them are nice. It's just some that keep pulling those stunts REGARDLESS OF HOW DANGEROUS IT IS!"
I shouted again down the valley, and heard only a crash of colliding rock in response.
"Pesky stones."
[i]"...Mm."
While the stall and the crates themselves were destroyed, the cloth within it was thankfully intact. Dusty and a bit crushed, but nothing that couldn't be washed out.
"You were looking for something, miss?"
"Oh, I was looking for someone who sells orange juice. Do you know where that is?"
"Ah, probably... her, over there. She makes it fresh, but you may have to wait a little for her to get... set up."
I patted him on the back, wrapping my tail around his daughter so that she wouldn't cry.
"I'll... I'll be fine, really. It's just some wood. Thank you... uh..."
"Mylar. Mylar Bezier."
"Miss Bezier, thank you, really."
He seemed to be okay. I gave him a quick hug before moving towards the fruit stall he indicated.
Unfortunately, as he warned, they were too busy dusting off their products and assembling the rest of their stall to make any juice, so I had to sulk away for a few more marks before they'd be ready. While doing so, I looked around to see where my cousins had run off to. Around now should be the time when they realize-
"Mylar!"
"Eli. What's up?"
"I don't have any money!"
-that.
"What are you trying to buy?"
"C'mere, let me show you!"
He didn't wait for me to follow before breaking off into a run, forcing me to dash after him through the rows of stalls. Through the corners of my eye, I spied all sorts of things that were on my family's list or that I'd want to check out later. There were books stacked high, a wide array of combs, a colorful assortment of beads, a dangling line of decorations, piles of multicolored spices, a tinker's watches, shelves of fresh bread, a bowl of choc- ooh, chocolate.
"Here! She's selling chocolate!"
Ayebi was already present, peering into the bowl from his tippy-toes. Each treat was wrapped in a thin cloth, revealing only its shape. The smell could easily leak through, though.
"Are you sure it's chocolate and not soap?"
The two of them had to pause at that. The merchants did have the habit of always bringing the strangest scents with them. I wouldn't be surprised.
"I assure you, they're real chocolate. Would you like to buy some?"
"Yes. Three, please."
Once she received her payment, the merchant held the bowl out, allowing Eli and Ayebi to carefully weigh each wrapped piece to try and get just that little bit more. I reached over their heads, selecting one at random. Unwrapping the bar, I found that it was still quite cool. The stall was probably placed in the shade of the mountain to keep them that way.
It was wonderful. Sweet and just a little bit bitter, with a rich taste and a texture that melted in your mouth despite all attempts to keep it solid. Ayebi devoured his piece in a few quick bites, his eyes widening when he discovered just how good it was, while Eli carefully suspended his own upon the cloth stretched between his fingers, only taking a small nibble every half-mark or so and properly savoring in the meantime.
Both ways are good, but mine was far better.
Chocolate wasn't the only thing the sweet seller sold, after all. She hadn't yet had the time to reveal all of her goods, but I could practically taste what I was looking for on the air. That, and I could see them inside a bag that had been haphazardly tossed on the ground.
"Do you have any marshmallows?"
"Oh, yes, we do."
I slipped another coin to her, and she passed me a small handful of the fat puffs in return.
I pressed the chocolate onto them, popping both into my mouth at the same time.
Delicious. The heavy sweetness of the marshmallows blended with the- Eh. Can't be bothered to analyze it. It was good.
"Can we have more?"
"Not today. It's only special because it's rare, you know. Here, have a marshmallow."
Remarkably, Ayebi didn't seem to be pacified by my gift. In fact, he looked like he was about to pout.
"...How about this. I have more shopping to do, so why don't you tag along? If you see something you like, maybe you can get that."
His face visibly brightened, immediately taking hold of my outstretched hand.
"Here, you can hold the tea."
Whether his face was bright or not was no longer a concern to me, as it could no longer be seen behind the bundle of dried, fragrant leaves. It wasn't good to spoil him like this, but it's a special day, so it's probably alright.
Anything to keep him away from that aethership.

As much as I wanted to stop by every stall I passed, I held myself back. Checking the list on my pack, I made sure that I hadn't already spent too much to buy what I was asked to. I should be good, though that depends on how much the tea will sell for.
"Th- this is heavy, Mylar."
I suppose I should get to that.
The old woman was sitting cross-legged on a rug near the ancient tree at the edge of the cliff like always, a trail of smoke drifting up from her long, thin pipe.
"Aah, if it isn't Mylar and young Ayebi. How have you been?"
"We've been well, ma'am."
I sat down on the earth before her. She nodded in approval, turning her eyes towards the bundle of tea leaves with legs. I relieved Ayebi of his burden, placing it before the woman so that she could measure its worth.
"Mh. It's not as fragrant as last time."
"We dried them more evenly. The scent is locked within."
"We'll see about that."
To her right, a kettle was already silently boiling, the lens behind it focusing the sun's rays into the opening of the polished vessel, causing light to freely spill from its open top. The woman's movements were deft as she plucked a few leaves from the bundle, grinding them into powder and casting them into a cup. It was only a mark after she poured water over it that she deemed the tea complete, taking a sip with practiced grace.
"Wonderful. Barking Stones has outdone itself."
From a chest to her left she extracted several small stacks of shining coins, placing them before us while moving the tea leaves farther back on her rug. We stood and left while her eyes were still closed, enjoying her drink.
"She's weird, Mylar."
"But she's kind. Thanks to her, we can taste what the rest of the traders have to offer."
And that's exactly what I planned to do, right after getting everything on the list in my satchel.
By now, much of the market of Whistling Tree had formed. Most of the traders had finished preparing their stalls, and more Kyri had arrived to visit them.
One of the unluckier traders was moping by the side of the cliff, the majority of his fragile bowls and cups having been damaged or broken by the earlier stampede. He knocked a nearby pebble off the edge, only for it to clatter right back up the side. Before he could aim a stronger kick, he was stopped by a nearby Kyri and informed in no uncertain terms that it had done nothing wrong and he was being a little rude, really.
Voices were raised and echoed off of the mountain, of merchants hawking their wares and buyers haggling their prices. I quickly joined them. A brush for mom, a book for Path, a necklace for Aunt Pav, Spices for... well, all of us, really. Ooh that's a lot of spices.
I could hold my own if they were already in the little glass bottles in our pantry that had the names carved in, but the barrels filled with multicolored piles before me had no such thing, and the merchant overseeing them was occupied with someone else. The scents stung my nose, too mixed up for me to tell anything about their source, and they wouldn't it if I tasted them. That one's even blue! What kind of spice is blue!?
Just as I began to consider sticking my nose into one while nobody was looking, I felt a hand ruffle my fur.
"Need some help?"
"Mom! I didn't think you'd come!"
"Of course I had to come. Who knows what you'd buy if I didn't."
"Hey, I'm getting what we need, see?"
Showing the contents of my satchel, the older Kyri nodded in approval.
"That's good. I was worried that this would've ended up like last time when you had a bit too much orange-"
"Okay, alright, no need to remind me. Here's the rest of what I got for the tea and what I bought for the others. Do you want to choose the spices yourself?"
"That is probably for the best. Here, Ayebi, let me show you what we put in our food to make it so delicious."
Without the responsibility of both watching over Ayeb and shopping for the rest of Barking Stones, I was free to explore the market on my own again. I no longer had any of the traders' coins, either, but I still have one last thing to sell: A few knots of longer fur, given to me by my grandfather.
This one would be sold to the larger group of merchants near the center of the market. There were already a few others talking to them, but I was greeted within a few moments of arriving at their stall.
"Hello! What can I do for you?"
"I would like to sell some fur."
I extracted a small cloth pouch from my satchel. Rather than directly showing the trader its contents, I instead aimed the opening towards the stall's counter. A circle of golden light immediately splashed against the wood, the bouncing light illuminating her face from below.
She nodded, donning a thick mask with black-tinted lenses while taking the pouch from my hands. Only then did she peer inside, careful not to blind any of her companions with the fur's bright glow.
There were four knots of fur inside, each bright enough to fill a lantern on their own. On the hastily-constructed shelves behind the traders there were many empty shells of such lanterns, waiting to be filled with light. The finished product was a treasured item to wielders of light magic, acting as a source and focus of their spells. Even for us, they were works of craftsmanship and symbols of our race.
Any Kyri fur could fill the lanterns, but the brightest came from that of the elders, so attuned to the light around them that their glow is visible mountains away. Had any other race of the Aether looked directly at them from such a short distance, their eyes could be seriously damaged, so even these small locks of fur had to be treated with respect.
The merchant nodded, carefully placing the fur into a metal box that was quickly shut.
"This is... incredibly bright. Where did it come from?"
"My grandparents in Barking Stones. Oh, one may have been from Windy Walk. Will you buy them?"
"Of course."
While those small locks of fur didn't earn as much as the tea did, that was only natural. Every Kyri village has their own lighthouse, and within every lighthouse is an elder. Their fur isn't common, but it's not rare, either. The spending money I got in return wasn't a lot, but it could carry me through the rest of the day if I'm frugal.
I thanked the lantern seller, turning around to rejoin the growing traffic of the market. In doing so, I immediately bumped into the person standing directly behind me, my nose knocking into his forehead. He backed up a half-pace, but didn't seem bothered by my lack of care.
"Ah, I apologize! But miss, did you say that you had relatives in Windy Walk?"
"...I did. Is there something you need?"
"They've ordered a shipment from me to be delivered today, but I can't seem to find anyone from there to pick it up. I'd go myself, but..."
He wasn't allowed to. Despite all our community, the Kyri are a solitary people, and the traders were allowed only at the otherwise-bare Whistling Tree. Even on the rare occasions the other races of the Aether are invited elsewhere on Ietera, they're unnerved by the pillar paths and the neverending dawn. The man before me certainly can't be faulted for not being able to fulfill a delivery nobody comes to pick up.
"I'll pay you for the trouble, I swear. I just don't want to throw away the trust they have in me."
"You don't think they'll come later?"
"They usually arrive much earlier than this. I'm afraid that if I wait too long I won't find anybody. Can you help me out here?"
Windy Walk is a good notch away both ways... but it's not like things will get too exciting here until later on, and having more spending money is always nice. Besides, if I'm going there anyways, I can take the opportunity to visit my grandfather.
"Sure, I'll try to help. Where's this delivery? If it's too big, I may not be able to do it."
"No need to worry, miss, it's right this way. Oh, thank you so much, you're a lifesaver."
The frazzled merchant led me back to his stall, where many still-sealed crates were stacked in a pile. He effortlessly lifted one that was the length of my outstretched arm, placing it in my hands and- Whoof that's heavy.
"What- what's in these?"
"Books."
That'll do it.
He was quite worried upon seeing that I was struggling with the crate's weight, but I assured him that I would be fine. After readjusting my grip and finding my stride, I left him behind and made for the opposite side of the mountain. He's putting his trust in me doing this job, so I can't get distracted.
"Fresh fruits for sale! Apples, pombas, oranges, you name it, we've got it!"
...Can't get distracted after picking up a cup of orange juice.

"Here you are!"
I smiled in thanks, taking the wooden thermos from the nice juice-maker. I wanted to drink it all now, I really did, but I've got a long walk ahead of me and it'll be that much more enjoyable if I have something to look forward to at the end. I made sure the cap was screwed on as tightly as possible before tucking it in my satchel and hauling the crate up once more.
The sun never reached the back of Whistling Tree. Or any mountain, really. Because of that, grass naturally didn't grow and the bare rock was cool to the touch. A path had been carved around the steep slope, leading to another line of pillars stretching into the open air.
I was sheltered from the breeze here, letting me take in the silence while padding forwards.
...Until that silence was interrupted by the sound of grinding gravel.
Rounding the next bend, I saw a familiar horde of stones slowly rolling up the mountain slope.
They didn't seem to have noticed me.
"Kh-khm."
As soon as they did, they froze, as if that would help them to hide.
"What do you think you're doing?"
They didn't respond. They didn't have mouths, after all. Or ears. Or much of anything, really, being rocks.
"How many times do I have to tell you this? You can't just go flinging yourself off of the tops of the mountains! I get it, it's fun to go stupidly fast and bounce around, but someone could get hurt!"
They shrank back slightly, retreating just as I advanced.
"You need to use your eyes! Sure, you don't have eyes, but- but you're seeing me right now which means you could see all those people you almost rolled over! All those people you may just roll over again!"
"You're being very bad stones!"
They were shivering now, huddling close together while cowering away from me at the same time. I felt a little mean.
"...But nobody got hurt this time, so... be more careful, alright? Look, over there."
They turned to face the direction my fingers were pointing.
"Nobody lives on that mountain over there. It's even got this awesome slope near the bottom. I bet you could do some really cool jumps if you got enough speed. Nobody would be in danger, either."
I turned back to them, and they turned back to me.
"So? How about it?"
They rolled away, not up the mountain... but not back down it, either. Rather, they went ahead of me, following the path hewn into the slope. They were slow enough for me to follow, so I did, and at the next bend, rather than turning, they simply rolled off the side.
They didn't go far, though. Instead of tumbling down, they instead stuck to the cliffside and floated nearby, forming a makeshift bridge.
It was a shortcut.
"Oh, thank you!"
I didn't want to waste their kindness, so I quickly readjusted my grip on the crate of books and stepped across it, saving me a few marks of walking.
Only when I was fully across did they roll towards the mountain that I'd pointed to.
"Have fun!"
I continued on my way with a spring in my step.

By the time the lighthouse of Windy Walk came into view, my arms were aching with pain. I'd underestimated how tiring it would be to carry the box such a distance.
I should've asked for some straps or something to haul it on my back. A few marks later, when I could finally lay the crate down at the edge of Windy Walk, I had to sit down for a few moments and let my fingers recover. Where should I even bring this thing, anyway? The merchant didn't tell me, and it's not like I know how they'll want all these books distributed- ah. Right.
The library.
Even if they for some reason don't want books there, there'll probably be a caretaker or visitor who can point me in the right direction.
I just need to move this crate the rest of the way. Oooh my back.
The library itself was at the end of a short path up the mountain, positioned so that the light from the tower on the other side of the village could illuminate the inside through a wall of tall windows. It was a wonderful, scenic location.
The box was heavy.
I was panting heavily by the time I finally reached the door, carefully nudging it open with my foot and stepping through. There was someone inside, thank the light, who looked up at my entry.
The wall to my left was covered in books from floor to ceiling. A significant achievement, considering the size and height of the room. The shelves on my right, on the other hand, were scattered with a strange assortment of objects; pots, forks, unlit candles, even an umbrella that must have been made elsewhere in the Aether. The shelves weren't full by any means, but they carried no less value than the books opposite.
The other Kyri was making use of them, holding a book of her own. Its pages were filled with glowing symbols, and a thin thread of light stretched from its spine to what must have been the newest addition to the shelves: A wooden statuette, carved in the shape of some alien tree.
Through that book (and no small amount of expertise, I'm told), the librarian was engraving her thoughts into the object's mind, immortalizing them in their purest form. Every item on those shelves was the same, bearing a lesser mind with the capacity to hold thoughts yet lacking the ability to think.
Everything in the Aether has such a mind, but such objects must be no less carefully selected. Lesser minds can only hold so much, and some minds aren't lesser at all. Some such objects will think for themselves, and they'll even move around if they figure out how. Keys will wander off, tools will work on their own, and some rocks will roll uphill if they're feeling bored.
"...Can I help you, Mylar? Is there something you're looking for?"
Ah. I've been standing here for a few marks now, haven't I.
"I've brought a delivery from a trader at Whistling Tree."
Her expression shifted from surprise, to concern, then to anger within the span of a single moment. My heart sank. If they didn't expect a delivery, that means I'll have to take it elsewhere, which probably means at least another notch of walking. I felt my legs ache at the prospect of having to move these books even to the other side of Windy Walk, much less back to Whistling Tree.
"Did- did you not expect it?"
"Oh, no, not at all! We did order books, yes. But what happened to the one originally meant to deliver it?"
"I don't know. Nobody came to the merchant, so he asked me to carry it over. I didn't see anyone along the path, either."
I could see the librarian's eyes furrow, and I got the premonition that someone was in deep trouble.
"...I see. I am sorry for troubling you, then. Please, set the crate down there. I will be right back."
I sighed in relief when my task was finally complete. Sitting on the box, I reached into my satchel for my reward. It had lost most of its chill in the past notch, but it's sweeter when it's not too cold, anyways.
Mmm, orange juice.
In the distance, I could hear the sound of something sliding across dirt. That, and the cries of pain from someone begging to have their ear released, followed by a stern word of refusal from the librarian. A few moments later, she returned with another Kyri in tow. This one was older than me, but not by a lot.
I decided not to comment on how they were dragged through the doorway by their lower ear.
"This is the one who was meant to receive the delivery. What do you have to say to the woman who so kindly did your job for you?"
"A- ah, thank you, truly. I am sorry for making you do this by- ow! Hey! -by oversleeping. If there's anything I can do to make it up, please, let me know."
The librarian nodded in approval. He seemed more eager to get away from her than to apologize to me, but I suppose both have the same result.
"...In that case, could I perhaps borrow one of your striders to get back to Whistling Tree?"
The man before me opened his mouth to respond, but the woman answered before he got the chance.
"Of course you can. Haven, you'll go with her to lead it back when you arrive. As soon as you arrive. Are we clear?"
"Y- yes ma'am."
I sat up a little straighter, tucking my hands closer to my stomach and trying not to make too much noise.
"Well? She's waiting."
Haven scurried away, and only then did I remember the other reason I took this request.
"I- I've got a stop to make before then. I'd like to visit my grandfather before we go. Verces Aydena."
"Of course, you go right ahead. He'll be up in the lighthouse."
I followed Haven out the door, making sure to take my cup with me.
The lighthouse in Windy Walk was a small distance away from the rest of the village, much like the library, allowing it to illuminate everything around it. It was a tall tower, and the climb up wasn't by any means pleasant, but I grit my teeth and took another swig of juice. I've got this.
The uppermost room was covered in glass windows that stretched from floor to ceiling. Pots hung from the top, with foreign ivies and vines dangling down, sustained by the vast brightness emerging from the center of the room. There, sitting upon a small cushion, was an elderly Kyri, his legs crossed and his eyes closed in meditation. He spent his days in this lighthouse, basking in the distant sunlight and watching the world that was lit up by his glow. I could barely make out his form. It was hard to see through so much blindingly bright light.
When I quietly closed the trapdoor behind me, he opened one eye, taking in my appearance with a smile.
"Mylar. Come to visit your old man? I had nearly thought you'd forgotten about me."
"I visited you just ten days back, grandpa, don't be dramatic."
"Aah, but it seems so long to me. Here, have a seat, make yourself comfortable."
I sat on the bench at the edge of the room, setting my juice down on the desk.
"How have you been since then? Has anything happened?"
"Oh, nothing of note. There was a bit of drama just a few marks back, but I imagine you're already aware of it. What about you? How were the traders this time?"
"Like they've always been. Boxes full of such wonderful things. There was a little bit of trouble just as they were setting up, though. A group of stones decided to roll down Whistling Tree, and they very nearly did a lot of damage."
"You know how they are. Was anyone hurt?"
"No, but one nice man's stall was destroyed. He was selling some wonderful cloth... Oh! That reminds me! I've got a gift for you!"
He turned his eyes towards my satchel. I pulled out the beautiful burgundy cloth, holding it out so that he could feel it.
"Ah, it is quite nice. I have clothes of my own, though. Clothes that have already been cut and sewn."
"It's a special cloth. It blocks out light very well."
Verces, ever the curious Kyri, immediately wrapped it around his arm, seeing that it did indeed prevent any of his vast brightness from leaking through with only a single layer. Whenever an elder like him wants to travel, they'll always cover themselves up in so many layers. If they didn't, they would blind any of the younger Kyri pups and confuse the travelers trying to find their way. It always gets so blisteringly hot in such wear. It's no wonder the elders are seldom seen outside their lighthouses.
"...Thank you, Mylar. This is a wonderful gift. I will be sure to use it."
"With this can even join us at Whistling Tree! Haven's going to bring us there with a strider, so you don't have to walk yourself. I'm sure mom would love to see you again!"
"Oh, Mylar. The heat isn't why I don't travel, nor is it the walk."
"What? Why don't you want to leave, then?"
"Take a look out the window. What can you see?"
After a moment's hesitation, I did as he asked, walking over to the glass wall and observing the mountains beyond. Luminant as my body was, it still cast a shadow onto the landscape, visibly darkening the fields below.
"...I see light. Everywhere I look."
From here, the only shadow I'd ever see was my own.
"I stay in this tower not because of discomfort or fear, but because of love. I love the village, I love the land around it, and I love any traveler using this lighthouse to guide their way. I will use this cloth well, when I must, but I do not need to go anywhere now. I would much rather stay up here in my little tower and watch the world around me. I've gotten sentimental in my old age, you see."
"You were always sentimental."
"Maybe so. Maybe so. Here, have a cookie."
I selected one of the pastries from the box on the desk. It was soft and chewy, still warm from whatever oven it was baked in. It wasn't the chocolate cookies that the traders would often bring, but it's still quite good. May as well chase it with the rest of my... empty cup.
Cheeky old man.

After stealing the last of my orange juice, grandpa didn't want to tie me down. In fact, he practically shooed me off, telling me to bring him some fruit next time I come. I didn't really mind; I was eager to get back to Whistling Tree myself. Haven had finished preparing a strider by that time, so once I descended from the lighthouse tower, we set off.
Haven seemed rather skilled at handling the animal, calming it down when someone it didn't recognize climbed onto its back, and gently coaxing it away from Windy Walk. The avian creature, lacking any wings or feathers to fly, used its incredibly long legs to traverse the mountains and valleys of Ietera, making them quite good mounts.
If you can get used to their odd appearance and the strange, shrill, shrieking sorts of squawks they tend to make, that is. They're pretty cute once you do. Kind of. Ish.
Looks aside, they're rather fast, and can take a direct route where a Kyri on foot would have to zigzag. Haven didn't speak much during the journey, just guiding the strider to our destination. The fact that we arrived in only twenty marks was a testament to the mount's speed and the handler's skill.
When we arrived and I was let off, he seemed to want to leave immediately.
"Wait here for a mark, I'll be right back."
Two marks later, I placed a small parcel of chocolate into his bewildered hands. There were a few servings there, to be split how he chooses.
"Thank you for the ride."
"She- she'll think I'm slacking off again-"
"Then tell her it was from me. It's really no huge deal."
Besides, that wasn't even a third of the payment I collected from the grateful bookseller on the way to the chocolate stall.
The market was bustling with life by now. The stalls that sold food were working as fast as they could for the hungry crowd, and still the lines stretched rather long for the more popular foods. The smell of roasted meat filled the air. Judging by the fact that the barrels of spices were a lot more empty than they were this morning, they were probably put to good use.
The merchants from afar weren't the only ones cooking, either. Several Kyri from the neighboring villages had brought their own tools and ingredients. They were giving the visitors a run for their money.
I should get lunch.
As for what to choose, uh...
...
...
...Noodles! I love noodles. Noodles are hot and tasty and filling and delicious and the line is always short because there's a lot of people working at the noodle stand.
"What kind do you want?"
…

While I was blowing on the chef's choice to make it cool faster, I saw a small group of Kyri walk up to the front of the empty clearing that I was seated at. Their destination was the mountain's namesake. It was a half-hollow old tree, perhaps even older than the Kyri race, with enough space for several people to stand comfortably inside and still have room to move. Of course, they didn't directly walk into the tree, but instead sat down before it, facing away from the crowd of people enjoying their lunch.
They opened their bags, uncovering a small collection of instruments. Some were local, carved from wood and stone and strung with glowing strings, while others were the product of some faraway planet, carried to Ietera on vast aetherships by the traders sitting eagerly around me now.
What it was about that tree besides its age that makes it special, I have no idea. Maybe it can think like the stones do, but is perfectly happy where it is. Regardless of how, every plucked string and every beat drum could be heard clearly from across the mountain if it was played in front of the Whistling Tree.
The melody was slow at first, but as the musicians grew more comfortable in their seats, the tempo began to rise and more faces joined the ensemble. Not all of them were Kyri, either. I would have added my flute to the growing chorus, but I left it at home in my haste and I'm really all too busy with these tasty noodles anyway.
The song wasn't one that could be practiced, nor was it one that had ever been heard before. The musicians moved to one beat, each adding their own unique sound to the accumulated music. None did so continuously, and they frequently paused and resumed their their playing, allowing the tune to ebb and flow like a great snaking river. It set my heart aflame. Or maybe the noodles were too spicy, hard to tell.
The song would go on for some notches yet, so once the bowl of noodles had been emptied, I returned it to the nice noodle-makers and returned to my browsing. Music still drifted on the breeze throughout the market, and every Kyri present slowed down in order to listen.
"The stars really like the song, pa!"
"Of course they do, Patra."
"Is it because they have four ears?"
"It sounds good no matter how many ears you have to listen."
Of course, most of the children didn't bother to quiet down. In fact, they took full advantage of the rest of the market slowing down, dashing through the crowd and giggling amongst themselves. Ayebi and Eli were among those who did so.
Is that my stick? I think they're holding my stick.
"Eli, can-"
Eli jumped in surprise, immediately dashing off.
With my stick.
"Ooooooooh you get back here you little scoundrel."
The children around me screeched with laughter when I gave chase, and it was only with the combined efforts of two pups clinging to my legs and three others tossing the stick between themselves did they manage to escape from my pursuit. At least I couldn't see any bite marks on it. Yet.
The rest of the day passed by in a total blur. I kept alternating between wandering the stalls, looking for trinkets or knicknacks, and sitting in the clearing, listening to the swelling music. Some of my purchases I gave to the kids as peace offerings, and others I tucked away for later. I would've kept buying snacks, but the chocolate seller mentioned something about me getting sick and blacklisted me for the rest of the day. I moped around with the stones for the next few marks after that.
Several notches later, the festivities began to wind down. The musicians' lungs were tired, their fingers were sore, and one particularly enthusiastic bongo player had run out of instruments to break. The traders, as well, gradually began to sell out, thanking their last customer and packing up their things.
Without a watch, it was difficult to tell how much time had passed, and the tinker had already long since finished selling her last one. Regardless of how long it had been, I was worn out, and many of those around me clearly felt the same way.
Lines of Kyri began to stream out of Whistling Tree, returning to their villages beyond the mountains far in the distance. The visitors bid their final goodbyes, filing back onto the Aethership. It was a sad parting, but it was the calm sort of sadness that you knew would never last.
It was a shame that Ayebi had long since fallen asleep. He would've liked to watch the floating vessel raise its anchor and drift back into the sky from whence it came.
The pup mumbled a bit when I picked him up and went to join the rest of the Kyri of Barking Stones, but he was ultimately too exhausted to open his eyes. He settled with trying to nip my finger when I booped his nose. He failed, of course, being slower than me and also asleep.
My arms were still tired from this morning, sure, but Ayebi was light and the path was familiar. The only moment on the trip where I had any real trouble carrying him was when we encountered a collapsed pillar. There hadn't been any on the way there, so it must have been quite recent.
Looking down, I saw a rather large boulder embedded in the earth in the valley below amongst the rubble of the fallen pillar, clearly unable to free itself no matter how hard it tried. On top of it was a small stack of little pebbles. Whenever the boulder rumbled and they were knocked off, they clattered back into place to assert their dominance over the larger stone.
I lightly leapt across the gap and continued on my way. All is right with the world.
The sight of Barking Stones in the distance, when it did appear, caused a wave of fatigue to wash over me. It's getting quite late, and though the sun hasn't really moved at all from its place on the horizon throughout the day, I couldn't help but feel that the surroundings were just a little bit darker, as if the world was as tired as we were.
I tucked Ayebi in first when we finally arrived at our bed, following suit myself a few moments later. Ayebi, Path, and several others were quick to copy us, illuminating the sleeping chamber with a comfortable glow.
I curled up under the bedding, hugging my tail and closing my eyes.
My mind drifted off into dreams of dancing among clouds.