The Light in Our Eyes

      The Simmering Cauldron was no stranger to electricity and electronic devices, despite being so out-of-the-way in the wilderness. Far from the city of Burrowgatory, tucked away in the swamp, a lone backup generator quietly chugged along, rain or shine, to keep the cozy witch’s cabin snug and safe. Though knowledgeable of All Sinners Day, Selpie and Decay weren’t eager to celebrate it. After all, their dual vices of envy had plagued them for their short years. Why should they feel the need to celebrate their supposed “sins”? However, Altair and Haven, being sloth and gluttony buns from the city, had returned there as they felt the holiday spirit tug at their desires. Wishing their partners well, the two had set off a few days’ prior, leaving care of the house to Selpie and Decay.

      It was a normal, routine night of preparing dinner in the swamplands. Selpie’s white noise machine was echoing the sounds of wild imps and waterfalls along with a crackling fire, in perfect harmony with those same sounds naturally coming from outside. Singing a little tune, Selpie washed and dried the produce for the meal while Decay prepared some wonderful eggplant and bean steaks on a small grill outside. Various imps helped the pair, with several of Selpie’s menagerie dusting, sweeping, and setting the table. Decay’s imps were more timid and less in sync with their owner. As such, Decay’s inkap Loam presided over the grill, watching as Decay seasoned and flipped the steaks.

      The mood of the evening had been set hours ago. A comfy, cozy, intimate atmosphere was what the two normally aimed for. With their additional partners all nestled together, the Simmering Cauldron was normally awash with camaraderie and love. For whatever reason, just as Selpie finished chopping the onions for a lovely quinoa salad, the lights and machines all shut off. Several imps made small startled sounds as Selpie gasped in fear.

      “Decay! My dear, the power’s gone out!”

      “I know.” Decay said entering the back door, brushing their hooves onto a small rag. “The generator died, it must be out of gasoline.”

      Selpie whimpered. “H-how could that happen, we normally have plenty of backup canisters? I… I wanted this night to go so well, and now I can’t see a thing at all!” Their bottom lip trembled as their body shook with fear. Despite Selpie having numerous stars, flutter motes, glowing water, and hellfire illuminating atop their horns… they were still scared of the darkness outside of their own form. Decay calmly placed a hoof onto their partner’s chest.

      “Come now. Let’s look for the canisters.”

      The two buns searched every nook and cranny they could by the light of small flashlights, but even the tiny batteries of their lights couldn’t illuminate the hiding spot of the cans. Selpie clung onto Decay, when the opposite was normally the case. Selpie’s imps formed a small shield around them, protecting their fragile legs from running into anything in the dark. After several long minutes, the pair came up empty-hoofed.

      “Decay, what’re we going to do?” Selpie clung onto their partner’s stitched ear. Decay thought for a moment.

      “Don’t you have some candles in your workshop for rituals?”

      Selpie’s eyes lit up, and their stars and fires flickered slightly brighter. “Yes! Yes, yes yes thank you soooo much my beloved.” Selpie nuzzled into Decay’s body and ran on their own to their workshop. The sounds of rummaging items and a few clinks and crashes later, and Selpie returned with arms full of candles in all varieties of shapes, colors, and scents. Decay softly smiled at them. “Let’s light these right away so we can get dinner back on!”

      The witch hurried into the kitchen and withdrew a pack of matches, carefully arranging the candles all throughout the room and lighting them with tenderness. Before long, the room glowed with vibrant orange and red flames, the warm combining to make the atmosphere almost as cozy as it was before. Selpie smiled at Decay, who nodded softly. The two set out to put the finishing touches on appetizers and a lovely lemon square desert.

      “All that worrying worked up my appetite! How long until the steaks are finished, my dear?” Selpie asked.

      “Let me check.” Decay walked back to the grill and found its’ inkap Loam standing over the fully-cooked steaks. Loam noticed it and nodded at the food. Giving the imp a quizzical look, Decay returned with the steaks to the kitchen. Selpie had just about put the finishing touches on the quinoa salad when it entered.

      “Are you ready to eat, my love?”

      Decay nodded and began to help set the food out onto the table. Imps arrived for their pieces of the food and went about their business, settling into various beds or heading into the night to play. Loam hopped up onto Decay’s shoulder and wedged himself next to Decay’s cheek. Selpie poured them both glasses of grey tea, and they settled in for a meal. After a few bites of the deliciously tender steaks (which Selpie complimented numerous times) and the delightfully zesty salad, Decay spoke up.

      “I hope the night hasn’t been ruined for you.”

      Selpie gasped and stared at their partner. “Of course not! We’re here sharing a meal that we worked hard together, along with all of the imps. I miss Altair and Haven, but we know they’re enjoying themselves in the city, and they’ll be back in a few days with goodies and supplies. I wouldn’t want to do anything else besides be here in this moment with you, Decay.”

      Decay sighed, putting its’ fork down onto the table. Loam cooed softly in comfort. The candles glowing all around the kitchen gave an ethereal vibe to the room, and when it looked at Selpie, their eyes reflecting all of the light, along with their stars and flutter motes lazily flittering through the air… this was truly everything it needed.

      “I love you, Selpie.”

      Selpie’s eyes filled with tears. “I love you, Decay.”

      The evening continued with the dreamy candlelight illuminating the two envy buns love for each other, chatting and sharing memories from the year, plans for the future, and the feeling they carried in their hearts in the moment.