Submission (#615) Approved

On Halloween night in Eternia, the celebration was always a jubilant affair, especially for the Snugzis and Pompis, many of whom regarded it as their favorite holiday. Somnia, for her part, cherished the seasonal change that accompanied the festivities: the cold air caressing the branches adorned with ochre leaves, the warmth of hot chocolate, and the crackling chimneys where marshmallows were toasted. This created the perfect atmosphere for cozying up or drifting off to sleep in her treehouse.

Recently, Somnia had made a wonderful friend with whom she could share warm drinks and a friendship bracelet workshop: Charmi, an adorable Snugzi who had welcomed her with open arms since her moved to her new the tree of life treehouse. Despite the ongoing renovations of her new home, the owl wasted no time in decorating her space to match the spirit of the season, often inviting Aclara over to cook pumpkin treats or play games in the forest. Although Somnia preferred the safety and warmth of her home, she could never resist the pleading eyes of her duckling friend when she asked for company on her explorations, as Aclara disliked venturing out alone.

Rumors swirled about a treasure chest filled with candy lost somewhere in the Gloomy Forest, and Aclara was determined to find it, despite Somnia’s skepticism that it was merely a silly joke. That night, the two ventured into the woods, carrying woven baskets that Charmi had helped Somnia make. As they delved deeper, the light of Eternia’s moon was swallowed by an abyss of darkness, leaving only a few tiny gaps to guide their way. Against all odds, Aclara’s innocence kept her from feeling fear, while Somnia struggled to conceal her anxiety in the face of the looming shadows.

After rummaging through bushes and jumping at the occasional startled insect or Bunzip, they finally emerged into a moonlit clearing, where, at the center, on a small island easily accessible, lay a treasure chest. Aclara let out a delighted squeal, and Somnia was taken aback by the sight. It seemed that, after all, there was indeed a treasure hidden within the forest. The Snugzi, with her duck-like features, wasted no time leaping onto the little islets leading to the chest. With cautious excitement, she reached the wooden box resting on the ground, her eyes sparkling and her little legs trembling as she approached the edge of the chest, only then realizing that Somnia had not followed her.

“Somnia! Come on, we have to see what’s inside! Somnia?”

Her sweet, high-pitched voice sounded confident at first, as she didn’t yet glance back. But as she started to get opened the chest a little, curiosity compelled her to look for her friend, who had yet to respond. To her shock, Somnia was nowhere to be seen; instead, a dimly lit shadow, glinting with what appeared to be the shimmer of a knife, loomed closer. Aclara let out a sound of sheer terror, reminiscent of a toy being crushed mercilessly, her heart shrinking to the size of a raisin. As the figure advanced toward her, panic surged within her, and in a desperate, foolish moment, she flung open the chest in a bid to hide inside.

What she did not expect was a vibrant, colorful Snugzi with sharp claws and dark fur to leap out from within, startling her into falling backward into the water with another shriek like that of a rubber duck. Without waiting for explanations, Aclara swam swiftly to shore and took off running, her sobs echoing as she left behind the two mischievous Snugzis who seemed to call out to her from a distance.

She called her friend’s name repeatedly, and before long, they collided, embracing each other in fright. Without a second thought, they decided to leave immediately, leaving the candy for someone who might not have goosebumps or a beak chattering in fear.

Reward	Amount
Glider Popsicle	1
Bat Bone Candy	1
Droplitz	10
Trick or Treat	1