Interstellar Wonders

Ah, finally. The perfect leaf! Just big enough, and not full of holes. Super grabbed her prize, sparkling as she set it down a short distance from the shore. Just big enough for her little furry butt. Plopping down on the leaf, she allowed herself a content sigh, pleased to avoid the disgusting sensation of mud in her fur. Her feet? She’d rather not think about those now, thanks.

As she gazed out over the water, Super came to a realization. She had no idea what she was looking at. There was a vague memory of a picture in the back of her mind, something she’d been shown before she entered Burrowgatory, but she had never imagined it could be anything like this. Super began to count the wild imps as she watched them lackadaisically wave through the strange water plants. Just how many imps could a puddle this size hold? Once she hit twelve or so she lost interest, mind wandering toward the city folk and their reactions to something like this. A puddle that can fit hundreds of imps! Not a pool, not a bath, just a gross dirty puddle! No one will believe her.

A sly grin took over as she once again fantasized about the reactions she was sure to receive. Not only to this puddle, but to all the things she’d seen on her travels. The journey had been long, her goal to see everything there was to see. Though she certainly had yet to see everything, the incredible sights and terrifying creatures she'd seem so far had left her with so many stories. Her grin fell as she glanced around. So many stories, and no one to share them with.

Perhaps it was finally time for her to return to the city.

Lost in her thoughts, Super hadn’t noticed the little imp that popped out of the water. Though it had seemed nearly catatonic only moments before, the little blob had grown alert, zipping back and forth as it reveled in the cave air. Oh, but that strange purple thing on the shore quickly caught its attention. In no time at all the imp had swooped above and behind Super, just out of her line of sight. The little orbs resembling eyes turned upward as the tentacled creature schemed, floating cautiously behind the daydreaming bun. Just a little closer, a liiiiiittle closer, and…

“EEEEEEEEK!!!”

Super was startled out of her thoughts by a wet squelch, and something slimy worming its way into her scarf.

“GET OFF GET OFF GET IT OF-” In an instant the scarf was torn off and tossed to the ground, the creature pinned between Super’s front hooves. She squeezed it tight, her wit at its end. “Now listen here, ya ‘lil….” ...now that she got a good look at it, it was kinda, “cutie!” Somehow making her compliment sound like a threat, Super loosened her grip. Just a little. “Ya can’t go ‘round scarin’ folks like that! What’ll…” The tentacled imp began letting out a quiet wine, its eyes drooping as Super spoke. “...ugh. Ya know what, just… just go.” Releasing the imp with a sigh, Super didn’t manage to hide her smile as the creature squealed in delight. 

“Yeh, t’was ‘bout time to take my leave anyway.” Dusting herself off, she retrieved her fallen scarf, frowning at the dirt that had stuck. Oh well! A vigorous shake later, and she was as good as new. “The pleasure was all mine, little guy!” With a wave and a wink, Super began her trek out of the cavern. For once, she chose to go back the way she came. The city was calling, and who was she to decline?

She hadn’t even made it to the tunnel when she picked up a little squeak behind her. Super whipped around, ears sloshing as she preemptively raised her arms to defend herself from another imp attack. Peeking over her hooves, she was unsurprised to see the same imp as before, just a little floating ball of eyes and tentacles. “Whatcha want, pal? I already told ya I gotta take off.” This only received a curious squeak as the imp zipped to her side, flying in small circles around her head. “Hey. Hey! I gotta go!” Laughter peppered her voice as she halfheartedly waved off the excited imp.

“C’mon lil guy, ya know where you belong.” As the imp began to calm down, Super offered another wave, once again turning her back to the waters. She hadn’t made it three more steps before there was another squeal, and she felt a slightly-less-slimy squelch on her skull. Super sighed. “I’m just gonna keep walkin’.” 

So she kept walking. Through cave after cave, she was surprised that the little creature continued to stay by her side. It only took a couple days for her to accept she had involuntarily adopted a pet. Any proper pet needed a good name, and as she hardly even knew the species of the tentacled wonder, it seemed any name she fancied was on the table.

Obviously, the name must have to do with the stars. The myths of the stars were always her favorites, the idea of glowing orbs floating even farther away than the deepest caverns of Burrowgatory made her heart race. What she wouldn’t give to travel through those fantastical stars, visiting uncharted planets and seeing sights like nothing she could find in Burrowgatory. One brisk evening she was recounting these myths to her companion, speaking of the interstellar wonders she could hardly imagine as she lay on the rocky bluff.  “Ya know, you’ve turned out to be pretty stellar yerself!” The companion squeaked in agreement. “Hmmm… Yer pretty stellar, eh? Stellar… stella… hey, what about just Stell?” A short, simple name was befitting of the staccato trills of the creature, and the tentacled ball seemed to like it well enough. “Alrighty then, Mx. Stell it is!” 

Stell swooped into Super’s chest, snuggling into her scarf and sending a ripple of laughter through the bun. She held her imp close, a soft smile finding her face as she drifted off. Super couldn’t wait to resume her life in the city. Things would be different there, but through mayhem and madness, she felt Stell would have her back. Together, they could brave even the harshest of storms.