2 Afua

Universe #I-x34ne

Planet #C-229491vD

It is lush with unforeseen vegetation. There are glass-like, glowing lily pads. Their luminescence comes in an abundance of colours, from light blue to magenta, pink, and orange—all like candy to the eyes. You can see them "breathe" in the sense that they brighten and darken periodically, lighting up the night sky. They float in a coil-like formation, ascending and descending while rotating in a circle; they also spin beautifully on their own axis. They form groups of 3 to 4, all moving in unison, as if a group of ballerinas, dancing a perfectly choreographed play. In the center of it all stands a lone, crystal-like dandelion with two big leaves attached to its person. It moves emphatically, bobbing its fluffy head endlessly and moving its two leaves left to right, up and down—like a conductor directing an orchestral concert. Above the lily pads lay a row of trumpet vines swaying side to side, letting out a symphony of pollen at the dandelion's behest. The pollen acts as a spotlight, following the lily pads and illuminating its surroundings with a gentle sparkle. Behind the lily pads lay translucent ornamental grasses, vibrating sporadically at different speeds, making sounds of varying frequencies that synergize harmoniously, forming beautiful chords, making the scene even more serene. All of this would look alien to the unknowing onlooker, but it is commonplace on this planet. Sumbi troupes like this could be found all over the planet; some would dance, others would make lightshows, the more successful ones would combine it all, performing beautiful plays for only one being. The 'protector' of the forest, Afua. They keep her entertained while they receive her flesh. "Tribute," she calls it. She's an interesting being, as she's the only being on this planet that isn't made of plant matter. She has a 'face' made of sediment, with long, spiky vines that sway as if they're underwater, acting like her hair. There are lines carved on her face where her eyes should be, where two bright crystals protrude at the center of each carved indent. The rest of her body is covered in wood and vine, except for her hands and feet, they are made out of bone-like material. She has unusual proportions; her torso is shaped like an upside-down pyramid. with a giraffe-like neck, her limbs following suit with their lengthy proportions. She has four legs and eight arms, giving her a bug-like appearance. She has countless holes in her neck, which she covers, using the fingers of four of her arms, producing different frequencies and harmonies. She uses two of her arms to slap on the sides of her thighs to produce different rhythms, using all of this together as her way of communicating. She uses her last pair of arms solely for one reason, to clap her hands at the performance the troupes present to her. There are cracks all over her 'skin' that reveal a flesh-like material. Her hands have uncountable appendages, from which an incessant amount of bright red mist comes out. Her torso has a sharp metal shard lodged inside it, that periodically makes a yellow liquid drip on the ground. The yellow puddles creating bountiful flora to entertain her further. She teaches them how to sing, how to dance, how to express themselves—how to appease her interminable loneliness and boredom. All for the sake of a purpose in the torture that is an unfathomable lifespan. There were others like her, but they've already left, either exploring the endless darkness that is space or taking their own lives, for they could not take it any longer. Only she stands here, on this "desolate" planet, where every organism is her creation and every sentient being bends to her greatness. The endlessly depressed mother of the forest, Afua