#rayvana

Inside of a clearing surrounded the colorful flames of a burning forest danced a being of pure fire, surrounded by many other beings like her. Her limbs fluidly moved around like wisps of fire, and her hair flew about like a flickering candle flame as she stepped across the rainbow-lit grass to the beat clapped by the others of her kind. Around her flew various orbs of different colors, leaving behind trails as they went, chirping with excitement as they followed her movements. As they danced, the orbs grew their own limbs, heads, and bodies, and they all took hands and formed a circle, like young children playing a game!

The taller being in the middle stared with pure-white pupils, smiling kindly as she clapped her hands and watched the child-like fiery beings dance around her, leaping into the air and spinning with their newfound bodies! The shouts of other adults at the edges of the circle added to the energy of the dance as all of the children moved faster and faster, like a rising ring of flame surging across the ground. The spun around and around, until they were almost blurred!

All the while, the fiery woman kept cheering the children on with a rhythmic clap.

And then, they stopped as the woman spun on a pointed leg and raised a hand into the air.

The children all raised their arms into the air, and-

Poof!

Some of the children suddenly changed back into mere balls of flame, while others kept their bodies!

The adults all cheered and applauded the dancers as they moved into the clearing to congratulate the children with bodies.

The woman lowered her arm and smiled proudly at the children. "Well done, children! You danced wonderfully this year!" she praised the kids, clapping her hands together as she beamed.

The children with bodies all cheered, while some of the balls of fire went over to chirp their congratulations!

One small sphere lowered down to the ground, however, making a sad little noise.

The woman saw the little flame and smiled sympathetically, moving over to kneel down next to the forlorn child. "Oh, I thought for sure that the fortieth time would be the charm," she remarked, patting the ball of flame. "Maybe next year will be your moment, Almira!"

The ball of flame made a series of chirping noises.

The woman gently scooped up the flame in her hands, shaking her head. "Now, now, there's nothing wrong with not having a body yet, sweetie!" she reassured the ball, "It just means you're not ready for one, yet. But some day, you will be."

She pointed a finger at the ball. "And when that day comes, I will bet that you will have a most spectacular dance!"

Almira seemed to rotate a bit, as though tilting an unseen head in thought. Then, she rose up a bit, seeming to nod with renewed energy!

The woman smiled, patting the orb again. "Now, would you like some cake?" she asked the ball.

Almira zipped around the woman a few times, stopping right above her hands!

The woman giggled a bit. "Okay, then let us join the others!"