Short written interaction between Candle and moths she is training for Eden. Inspired by a conversation, I wanted to use it to help describe who Candle is as a person. Eden discussion and spoilers.
Candle sat in the Wasteland Temple with her Troop - a group of 'Seven-Star' Sky Kids that Reef had asked her to train for Eden. Several were out of breath from playing tag with Dark Dragons at the gate, but the kid with pigtails sitting nearest to Candle was staring at her.
"Is that all we're going to do, dodge?" Pigtails asked.
"In Eden you need to dodge." Candle replied.
"But I've seen Sky Kids riding the Dragons! We could do more than just run or fly by them..."
"You've seen veterans toy with Dragons here in Wasteland perhaps. In Eden there are rocks and you can't always trust the wind to be on your side. I am training you for Eden, moth."
"Yinche. My name is Yinche." Pigtails mumbled, "We have names."
"I'm sorry Yinche. I am... Quite old. I don't tend to remember new information until it lasts several cycles, and generally the moths I train don't stick around after Eden."
"How old are you?" asked a Sky Kid with a red cape, "Oh, uh, if it's not too rude to ask."
"In my first memories I was alone. Its difficult to know how long it was until I saw another Sky Kid. I am not the first by far, but I am from a time before Sky Kids knew each other and banded together."
"What did you do?" Yinche asked.
"I felt the pull of Eden. I met the Spirits on my path. I pitied the strange glowing figures that empowered my wings... I began my first cycle. And then my second. And my third. Until numbering them lost meaning."
"You did Eden alone?" A Sky Kid with a horn asked.
"Many times. When we are new we are called moths for a reason - we are drawn to the flame. It is one of the first things we know. Before we know ourselves as people we hear the mountain call to us."
"Were you afraid?" Red cape asked.
"Not the first time. I was following instinct. After that I went through a few fears. The fear I wouldn't be reborn. The fear I would be reborn. The fear none of it mattered. But the routine has made the ordeal almost mundane by now."
"What is the first Sky Kid name you remember?" asked Yinche.
"Not as old as I am, no. But she stuck around, and I've seen her through many lives, so her name is hot and bright in my mind."
"Will we start to lose our ability to remember after Eden?" Yinche sounded concerned.
"I don't think so. I think my memory issues are my own. A mix of age and stunted development due to a lack of social interactions while I was becoming who I am."
Yinche stood and turned to look at the statue of Tsadi. Red Cape played idly with the sand, watching it fall from their hands like they were an hourglass.
Finally Yinche spoke, "I want to be remembered. I will burn myself into as many minds as I can."
Candle chuckled, "It will be an honour to die with you, Yinche."
