Don't go on expecting updates to come this frequently now. I had an idea and I didn't want to lose it. So here you go guys!

And a slight spoiler, if one can even call it that, North is in this chapter, so I attempted to write in his accent. I am an amateur in this aspect, so I apologize if I offend anyone. If you have any tips for writing one, or would like me to get rid of it altogether, please notify me.

Disclaimer: I literally own like two characters. That's it.


Constellations of People
Roaming the Land like the Skies

He had to find her. He had felt her belief slipping, slipping, and-

It was so faint he could hardly feel it. He didn't know why he cared so much for this child. This child whom he knew would forget him and would pass from this world whilst he remained eternally. It had happened countless times before, and it would happen again, but he was scared. Scared for this child of whom he had no connection other than the magic that kept him living, and her dreams and wishes of someday, somehow, joining the moon and the stars in the sky.

He flew and flew, sending haphazard streams of sand into bedrooms as he searched, not daring to completely neglect his duty but unwilling to let her be lost.

Her window had been left open, he'd already checked, and saw the chopped bits of what he knew to be her hair strewn across the floor and angry voices emanating from the floor below. So on he flew, over homes and roads, looking for her under streetlights and hoping beyond hope that she was somewhere safe even as lightning crackled all around, but never caught sight of her. And then he felt it.

One final tug on an invisible strand that he knew was her unique magic tethered to his own in her belief. One final tug, then it snapped. And then it was gone.

There was nothing there. It was as if she had-

No. She was ok. She had to be. There was no possible way that a being of such light could simply be snuffed out.

He fell to the ground, his cloud of sand dissipating as weakness settled in, born out of grief and the absence of a large fraction of his life force. He grasped blindly on those broken strands, barely managing to catch hold, desperately tried to find the origins and ran with no clue as to where he would end up.

He ran and ran, the strands faded, the magic weakened, and then it was gone. And that was when he stumbled and fell, and his tears fell as a silent cry of grief was let out.

He had found her.
Just moments too late.

And the Sandman wept.


Her laugh rung out through the open air, and the empty night sang as it had never done so before. She felt so light, her soul free, and her wings strong, her companion by her side.

The beautiful lights of every color gleamed like nothing she had ever seen before, which didn't say much, as she had only just awoken, sending out waves and waves of power and magic and light.

She loved the light, the power of the moon's glow, the faint gleam of what she knew to be the stars above her, calling to her, encompassing her in their light.

But she loved the darkness as well, enveloping her, giving her a place where she could shine.

And as she soared as fast as her wings would carry her, appearing as nothing more than a light shooting across the sky to any who could see her, the words of the moon echoed throughout her mind.

She again laughed, and her companion joined her in song, filling the darkened sky with some much needed light.

I am the light that lives in darkness


"Ze darkness," the man paused, "Eez spreading. Ve cannot expect it to just go away! Ve must be doing something!" With the final word, a large fist was forcefully pounded onto the table that lay before him and separated the five present, successfully gathering the attention of those who weren't paying attention.

The lax attitude displayed was only expected by one member, one who appeared as nothing more than a boy no older than seventeen who walked on bare feet with hair as white as snow, who had silently glided over to the second, in which this attitude was noticed by none except himself.

"Wow," the boy whispered to the small golden man beside him. "I've never seen North so worked up before. Maybe this is kinda serious." Since his entrance into their ranks, there had been few meetings, seemingly inconsequential and of no importance to him, but seeing someone he'd come to see as a good friend of his like this? It put him on edge as well.

The golden man didn't respond, not that the boy expected him to. Aside from the obvious fact that he simply couldn't speak beside the use of his sand, he had seemed more reserved than usual. It was strange to not see his friend in his usual slightly sleepy, slightly eggnog addicted state. With a final pat to the man's shoulder, he rejoined the group around the table in their discussion.

"How?" A creature that slightly resembled a kangaroo inquired. "It's not like we know what it even is! So what if we can't see the stars as easily? It doesn't mean it's that big of a deal, mate."

"It eez big deal because Manny says it's big deal, Bunny." North replied, unintentionally giving out information he had left out before.

"Manny?" another voice interjected. "You spoke with Manny?" accusingly inquired the only female present, a being that mostly resembled a hummingbird as opposed to a human.

Letting out a deep sigh, North responded, "Da. I spoke vith Manny. He has expressed some of ze same worries I myself have." Here he paused, gathering himself. "I did not tell of zis because truthfully, I do not know of vat he wanted to say."

"Well," said the boy after a few moments of silence. "What did he say?"

"He said," here he paused, ensuring that he had the attention of all present, including the downtrodden Sandman whom had nothing to add to the discussion so far. "Do not look for ze light in bright places, for ze stars-"

"The stars shine brightest in the dark," interrupted an unknown voice, sending any and all near scrambling for their weapon of choice before the words had even registered, leaving them confused and wary once they had.

"How did you know zat?" questioned North as he gestured towards the origins of the stranger's voice with one of his twin sabers, more curious in what they had to say than cautious of their sudden and unknown appearance.

"I just did," they replied. The stranger had yet to appear, their voice echoing throughout the deathly silent workshop before they made the decision to step forth.

Bare feet padded around the corner, giving all those present a view of who they were speaking with. A young woman appeared to them, robed in white that contrasted with her dark skin, wings of silver dragging on the ground behind her. She payed them no mind, gazing around curiously with eyes of starlight at all the workshop had to offer, her short, midnight tresses swept back from her face so that she may see. A small, red bird trailed behind her, occasionally perching on her shoulder as they gazed about them, the small flames that burned along its back seemingly causing neither of them harm.

"Who cares about that? How'd ya even get in here, Sheila?" questioned Bunny angrily, boomerang held aloft as wary eyes tracked the movement of this winged stranger and her fiery companion.

"The voice told me how," she answered simply, continuing in her exploration of the room that they were situated in, her eye drawn to the massive globe before her, unaware of the confusion in those behind her as she turned to face them again. "You know," she pressed, attempting to receive a reaction other than confusion and hostility, "The big voice in the moon?"

That certainly garnered her a reaction, if not one she was expecting.

"Manny let ya in here?" The large furry man questioned her as his arm dropped in shock, all hostility replaced with even more confusion.

"Well, yes," she responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I followed the lights, and I flew in through the hole he was pointing to." She gestured to the skylight where the moon could be easily seen shining through.

She was confused. Was she not supposed to be here? She just followed the lights! Was she in trouble? She sent her gaze across all present, just pausing for a fraction of a second on the short man with sadness in his eyes and a wish in his heart, unnerved by his calculating gaze.

The confusion and fear must have been obvious on her face, for a voice interrupted the furry man. "Bunny stop! Can't you see she was just confused?" That stopped him right in his tracks, as his mouth was open in preparation to ask her yet another question. "Come here sweetie," the lady who interrupted Bunny gestured, swiftly flying close to her and holding her hands out for her to take and gave a bright smile. "What's your name?"

"My name?" she asked, warily. When the colorful lady nodded, she took her outstretched hands and allowed her to gently lead her to the large table the others all stood around. "Well, this here is Keahi," she said, gesturing to the small bird that was once again resting upon her shoulders, before continuing, "I only just named him, and he hasn't told me whether or not he likes the name. I just thought it suited him." And it did, his plumage adorned with embers and flame matched his name perfectly. Looking to him, the small bird cocked his head to the side in thought, before giving one definitive nod, and her shoulders sagged in relief before turning her attention to the kind lady in front of her. "As for me, the big voice, Manny you said his name was, called me..." Here she closed her eyes in an attempt to remember what he had told her what seemed like years ago but in reality had only been a few hours, her flight delayed by her own curiosity along the way, leading the others around her to completely drop their guards as they realized just how young this spirit was.

"He called me... Apotelesma. My name is Apotelesma," she finally responded with a smile as she opened her bright eyes, causing the big man with the white beard to rest his hands on his hips and let out a large belly laugh as he directed his gaze to the moon above, confusing all present.

"Apotelesma. I should've expected nothing less from you Manny. Welcome, welcome Apotelesma! Come, come. Ve must warm you up! The pole is very cold, da?" And so he gently pulled her away from the colorful lady and led her to a nearby fireplace for her to warm herself, Keahi taking wing and exploring the workshop on his own.

The others slowly trailed behind with confusion and curiosity in their steps, all except for one who stayed behind with tears in his eyes, looking to the moon with a smile.

The Sandman bowed his head in respect and thanks, and joined the others with happiness in his heart and a wish fulfilled, for he felt her magic in his veins once more.


Keahi: Flame

Apotelesma: the influence that stars have over human destiny