Star-Lore

The hidden trail behind the temple wasn't something most people talked about but Ako walked like he'd been there many times before. His small vine-covered feet padded over dried leaves and old tree roots, and he kept glancing left and right like checking for someone who might be watching.

Bobo followed close, his eyes wide with wonder as they passed twisting vines and low wooden fences. He nearly tripped over a mushroom the size of a pillow and laughed quietly to himself.

After a moment, Bobo tilted his head and asked, "How do you know this path? You live here?"

Ako gave a small smile without looking back. "Yeah. I live nearby. But this place?" He pointed at the dirt path snaking between tangled trees. "This is the old service trail. I've tried coming here lots of times."

"Trying to sneak into the temple?" Bobo grinned like he was proud.

Ako nodded seriously. "Every time the ceremony happens."

Bobo blinked. "Every time?"

"Yeah. It's always after the Floranian ships return from space," Ako said, brushing some hanging leaves aside. "When they all come back home safely, we thank the god we believe in. This celebration… it's important."

He paused near a thick wall of twisted vines. The path continued behind it but barely.

"This used to be the way," Ako explained, tugging at the vines gently. "But over the years, the roots here have gotten tighter. Big, thick ones. I couldn't push through before."

He stepped back and stared at the tangled wall like it was an old rival.

"One time, I tried cutting through with my toy blade." He gave a small laugh. "Didn't even make a scratch."

Bobo nodded like he understood deeply though he really didn't. "So, this time… we go in?"

"This time," Ako said with a spark in his eyes, "I brought this."

He pulled out a small weaponoid, a playful-looking pistol made of bark and smooth metal. Its barrel had a glowing green core that shimmered like a drop of sap.

"This is sticky shot," Ako said proudly. "It's not for fighting. It shoots glue balls. Real sticky. It's for catching bugs. Or bullies."

Bobo's eyes lit up. "Cool! I wanna try!"

"Later," Ako said, hiding it again. "If there's danger."

They stepped closer to the wall of vines.

Suddenly, one of the glowing petals from the great flower behind the temple floated down in front of them, like a glowing feather drifting through the wind. It landed softly between their feet.

Ako and Bobo both looked up.

The top of the temple peeked above the trees now, and behind it, the Great Flower glowed in the sky like a giant breathing star. Its petals slowly opened and closed, pulsing with quiet energy. Every breath it took, the nearby trees shimmered in response.

Bobo pointed. "Is that part of the ceremony?"

Ako nodded. "It's what the celebration is for."

They moved forward slowly. The path began to curve, leading behind the temple's rear wall. It was quiet here, almost too quiet, as if the forest was holding its breath. The ground sloped slightly, leading them to a corner overgrown with moss and bark.

"Here," Ako whispered. "I found this hole last month. It's small, but if we slide through, we'll land behind the ceremony hall."

Bobo crouched beside him, dusting off his knees and peeking into the space.

"Let's go," he said with a goofy grin.

And together, they crawled toward the place where no kids were allowed…

And where something ancient was already watching.

The hidden path curved around the back of the temple, where the land dipped and opened into a narrow clearing.

A small cave-like opening sat at the base of a low cliff, but it wasn't made of stone. Its entrance was covered with thick roots dark, twisted, and pulsing slightly like veins under skin. They wrapped around the cave mouth tightly, as if guarding a secret, keeping something in… or keeping something out.

Ako stepped forward, frowning.

"There it is," he said softly, voice echoing in the stillness. "That's the entrance. The back way into the temple's ceremony hall."

Bobo stood beside him, blinking at the strange sight.

Ako dropped to his knees and reached out. His small fingers grabbed one of the roots and pulled hard, gritting his teeth but it didn't move. He tugged again, then slapped at it. Nothing.

"Ughh!" he groaned, sitting back on his heels. "This is why I never make it in. These stupid roots never move."

He stared at them, frustrated. "I've tried cutting them, pulling them, even yelling at them once. They don't care."

Bobo tilted his head and stepped forward. "Let me try?"

Ako shrugged. "Okay, but it won't work. Trust me."

Bobo didn't tug. He didn't fight.

He just walked forward… slowly… casually… almost like he wasn't even thinking.

He stood right in front of the cave entrance, barely a step away from the vines.

And then, it happened.

The roots twitched.

Ako blinked. "Huh?"

The thick vines, which had been as still as stone moments ago, began to move. Not wildly, not sharply but like they were waking up. Slowly, they unwound, curling backward and pulling themselves away from the entrance. The wood creaked, and dry dust fell from the top of the arch.

One by one, the tangled roots peeled back like fingers letting go of something precious until the entrance stood wide open.

A low breeze flowed out from the cave, cool and ancient, brushing against Bobo's shirt.

Ako's mouth hung open. "Wh...what… how did you…"

Bobo looked over his shoulder with his usual silly grin. "It liked me, I guess."

"But… it's never done that before. Ever!" Ako stepped closer and touched one of the roots now resting beside the cave. "It's… warm."

Bobo looked at his chest for a second. That faint hum… it was there again. Not glowing yet, but softly thrumming like something deep inside him was answering a voice no one else could hear.

He touched his chest gently.

Ako stared at him, confused and amazed. "Who are you?"

Bobo shrugged with a goofy smile. "Blast Bunny."

And without waiting, he ducked into the now-open cave.

Ako stood for a second longer, heart thumping, then hurried after him because something told him this path had just become far more important than either of them knew.