Wonderkind

She seemed happier on the trail, letting go of his arm and walking alongside him easily, occasionally skipping to keep up with his long strides.

 

She blinked in surprise, looking up at him with a half-smile.

"About me?"

 

She seemed surprised but shook her head in thought.

"Yeah, I mean... what do you want to know?"

 

“Elf culture...?” She considered this for a moment, biting her lip thoughtfully. “I don’t know. I haven’t travelled very much. We’re very friendly, I think. Really affectionate.”

 

She hesitated, glancing up at him uncertainly.

“We... we have dances,” she said, her voice relaxing as she spoke. “Big ones. Everyone knows the patterns and they’re really fun. You get to see everyone, and you’re so tired by the end of the night, but you’re with your community, you know?”

 

“It is,” she said, her tone brightening. “And we make our own lanterns that we all release at the end of the night, and it’s so clean out there that you can see all the stars, and everyone brings their favorite foods, and the band plays... it’s wonderful.”

 

She looked up at him curiously.

“What do you mean?”

 

“They dance with us too,” she said, sounding confused. “There’s not a racial divide.”

 

“Of course not,” she said with a small laugh. “Elves set up the dances, generally, but no, everyone is invited.”

 

“Once a month,” she said, her tone turning wistful. “During the full moon.”