Chapter 13: Lampyridae

                                    

                                          
"Chi," a low voice mumbled, jerking her out of the depths of sleep. She cracked open her eyes to find herself in Levi's room, still dark, yet lit by the flickering candles and a small fireplace. With a tiny yawn, she rubbed her eyes with her fists and propped herself up on her elbows.
                          
Her eyes landed on the face of a sleeping Levi, threatening a yelp of surprise from her lips. She pursed them and laid her head back down on the pillow, keeping her gaze on him. He looked to be still in a deep slumber; he must have murmured her name in his sleep. Chi smiled and planted a small kiss on his forehead before she clambered out of the bed.
                          
"I'll be right back," she whispered, slipping on her cloak and boots. Quietly, she slipped out of the room and tiptoed down the hallway, careful to keep her footsteps muffled. 
                          
As she walked past the kitchen, memories of eating together with the Elite Squadron were pulled from her memory and displayed before her very eyes for a second, before dissolving again into nothing.
                          
Inside her chest, she almost felt a thin layer of ice grow over her heart. It was an attempt to steel her from the stabs of pain and regret she felt; she grimaced and turned her face away, nearly unable to stop her tears from falling. The question echoed clearly, relentlessly, throughout her head: had she only been there, would everyone else still be alive?

                          
Willing herself to move forward, she continued down the hallway and out the front door. She stepped out onto the soft grass and took in a deep breath of the still night air. Everything was still dark, only the moon and stars giving her light to see through the shadows. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted something flashing. She turned her head to see a small fleck of light flashing on, then off again.
                          
"What is that?" she wondered aloud. Something foggy began to solidify in her head—something indistinct and strange. She shook her head and pushed it away, drawing her attention back to the light.
                          
Then, another small dot began to flicker a small ways away from the other. It glowed a bright yellow. Her eyes widened in awe as she went over to it. Before she reached it, yet another began to glow; and another; and another. Soon, she was surrounded by small floating dots of light. For some strange reason, she had the urge to reach out a splayed palm. One of the beings landed in the middle of her hand, which she drew closer to inspect.
                          
"Lampyridae," she murmured. "Fireflies?" The firefly fluttered off of her hand and joined with the clusters that floated around her. She spun slowly, taking in the wondrous sight.
                          
Why did this moment seem so familiar? It was like a forgotten memory that lived on the tip of her tongue. The peculiar feeling spiked, and the fog from earlier in her head turned into a boulder.
                          
Before her eyes, another scene flashed in front of her. Two people, two dark silhouettes, and many fireflies.
                          
~~~~~
                          
"Momma! Daddy! Look!" Chi cried out. Her short, stumpy legs ran as she tried to catch a firefly. "Lampyridae!" She glanced back to look at the two figurines, trailing slowly behind her. Their faces were blurry and unfocused, only blobs of features.
                          
"Lampyridae?" a deep, resonating voice boomed. "Where would you learn that, honey?"
                          
A giggle, one that sounded like bells chiming, rang through the air.
                          
"That's a very big word, my dear," laughed a loving, comforting voice. "I'm surprised you knew how to pronounce that."
                          
"I read it on one of daddy's books." Chi bent over to pick up a crawling firefly, reaching for it with tiny fingers. Her golden eyes glittered with fascination.