Golden specks of night Like flicking a paint brush Tiny placed dots You watch them, silent and hushed

Watercolors on a canvas Decorating the dark Waves of purple haunt And gasps of blue smile

Pink dances in, blending the line up Oh, so many colors if you just look deep enough Such a beautiful painting put on display Something for both the rich and poor to enjoy without pay

Looking out the window the stars are shining a very bright white light and on a dark ebony background. The moon is a bright giant ball of fire . I can also feel the cool air on my face. I can also see a bunch of fireflies dancing across the sky

Nothing in the Sidh is unattractive. In fact, Aurora hasn’t seen anything less than beautiful here.

Under the hill, where the folk disappear at day, Aurora finally understands the temptations of foolish mortals like herself. A place so beautiful can be as damning as an enchantment.

The roof is packed with dirt and entwining branches, stretching down with blooming purple flowers like a chandelier. Every entrance and exit, seemingly leading to nowhere, is carved and decorated with blue green stained glass. They have glowing carvings of sirens and pretty fauns.

Everything is dark, too dark for Auroras mortal eyes to make out much. But she can see the glowing petals, gracefully falling from the sky. She can see the flashes of gold and silver jewels the dancing folk flaunt. She can see the pixie dust trailing behind flying beings, zipping by to fast to make out.

Everything is riveting. Enchanting! The though of staying here forever makes Auroras stomach flutter. And then drop.

No beauty like this is meant for humans.

She turns to leave through the grassy vines she entered, but a cold long hand stops her. Aurora can’t see the man who grabbed her and began spinning her in the dance floor. But she has a feeling he’s no more human than the rest.

Throughout the night, Aurora is passed between the hands of many as her heart gets lost in the mirth. No place is quiet as beautiful. And while she tries to imagine it in the day, an ugly hole in the hills, her mind can think of any way a place like this can ever not be enchanting.

Finally, when the last song plays and she leaves the Sidh, Aurora wonders whether hours passed, or years.

// Not the prompt //

Even in the darkness I can see your face Shimmering, smiling, beckoning me But I don’t think I can come I don’t think I can join you I’m not strong enough….

“Koruan?” Fenris stared as crystalline tears tracked down the other boy’s face. “Are you alright?” he tried to keep his voice soft, void of the panic that was swelling within him. “What’s wrong?”

Koruan absently drug a hand across his face, never tearing his eyes from the sky. He spoke as if half-asleep already, a trance-like lull. “I’ve never seen the night sky before.”

Fenris watched, in slight concern, as Koruan sat down roughly and laid on the ground. The boy seemed to not even blink.

He sighed contently. “It’s beautiful.”

Fenris eased himself down next to him and laid back. He’s seen the sky a million times before. It was always beautiful.

Tonight though, the galaxy seemed to have come out just for Koruan. The stars and planets, distant galaxies and the arms of this one all dancing together to create something stunning.

The rich black of the sky settled over them, a cover on their own terrarium, just the the two of them. Pin-pricks inlaid with crystals, celestial light behind each one, were the stars, shinning brilliantly in contrast.

The Tear was stark in the sky, glittering a milky white. A porcelain rip in the world gilded with stars.

The moons were grey against the night sky, almost translucent shining bright white in only a sliver of each. The stars emanating from the Tear and the Tear itself provided more than enough light to see by.

It all seemed to be centered on Koruan. As if he was the one who called the ensemble out to play tonight, out of its months of hiding and haze. The sky was crisp and across every fixture in the great dome above them seemed to be written across and placed as it was for him.

Fenris tore his gaze away, and faced Koruan. Suddenly, he felt he understood the Heavens decision. He was bathed in star light. The boy who looked so gaunt and tired and scared. He seemed so much more alive under the stars. They danced across his skin and hair, lighting a fire within his eyes. The splotches of discoloration seemed to take on the same porcelain glow. He was ethereal and beautiful.

That thought broke Fenris from staring. Firmly averting his gaze to the sky, he tried to focus on it again. He was failing. He felt his cheeks burning with a blush and was glad, not for the first time, his dark skin often hid blushes rather well. He scrubbed his face with his hands as if that would rid him of the blush. At the very least it would prevent him from sneaking anymore glances.

This wouldn’t go well if Koruan caught him staring. It felt a shame not to look though.

• WG (inspired by That Pretty Prison)

The red lines on the circus tents are blood red in the night, only made richer by the contrast of bone white lines. It's a warm night, but there's a breeze carrying a sweet smell and a lovely chill.

The sky is navy blue, as deep as the ocean and just as vast. The stars haven't come, probably never will. Better off, the darkness is more alive without light's cry for attention.

Vibrant green tree tops, shaking in the wind. Darker shades of blue tucked away in the corners, faint traces of purple in the air. The light is hidden away in the tents, fire and sparks and laughter.

It's empty on the rich dirt path, soft soil alive with bugs. Earth worms poke out from underneath the popcorn stand, the yellow letters like a muted sun.

I reach the peak of the road, the hill overlooking the whole scene. Dark without the light of the moon, but the colors glow against the looming shadows.

Like the darkness surrounding a Prima Donna in a spot light, only enhancing the beauty by darkening the stage. Just her, just the audience, just the colors.

With a sigh, and a wistful smile, I turn away from the tent and the trees and the lovely bugs clinging to night dew.

Tonight is brighter than any day could ever be.

She opened her eyes. A breeze was lifting her hair as a bright sunset expanded In the distance. Stars were visible, dotting the sky with their blues and yellows. Swirling among the clouds like paintings from eras past. The grasses shone blue against the bold sky, fighting back at the moon’s beauty, with a piece of its own. The flowers aided the meadow, popping up in just the right places. Bunches of wildflowers perfect for the picking, and blueberry bushes near the tree in which She sat. The blues complemented each other, and the purples added a hue that none other had seen. She has skin as dark as the tree where She perched, black curly strands matching the singed leaves that had been so viciously set fire to. Crickets chirped and bats began to speak as the puddles reflected the galaxies vast glory, sending chills down whoever might be lucky enough to stumble into it. A soft smile formed on her face, and She lifted a weathered hand to the winds. A faint song could be heard, a humming drumming from her throat. It was calm, and She closed her eyes.

Buildings are dipped in ink. The sky a warming violet with diamonds; Twinkle twinkle Oregon night, dark blue partly cloudy is alright. I see Luna peak around her veil, soft orange-yellow; her deep dimples swell. She illuminates the darkness, as the lesser of two great lights, but the sun never intrudes on her dominion even with all his might. I watch her reflection in the river as she crystallizes the waves. Evening breeze puts me at ease, I zip up my jacket, and walk through the vibrant shadow of obscurities.

“As dark and as bleak as the night” I had to reread that line a few times before I could continue. The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. Does everyone have such a negative opinion of the night? I couldn’t help but think of the nights I used to spend at the lake house. Back when I was a kid, I would spend nights out on a boat in the middle of the lake just escaping everything around me. One night in particular came to mind, it was the night before I took my first midterm. I was so nervous I couldn’t sleep. So I snuck out and stole my parents boat. I’ll never forget how beautiful it was that night: The moon reflected in the surface of the lake. It’s brilliant white almost blinding those who looked directly at it. The fullness of it made the moon look even brighter. Everyone always considers the night to be dark. But that’s not always true. On nights like that one, the moon and stars light up the sky. The stars shine so white they look like snow that will never fall. Most people know that the longer you sit in a dark room the more your eyes adjust and the easier it is to see. The same can be said for the night sky. It looks dark at first. But the longer you look the more you see. The closer you look you can see a very dark blue hue in the sky. Have you ever been deep sea fishing? You know as you get further in the ocean, as the water gets deeper and deeper. And as the water gets deeper, it changes in color. That stunning dark blue that you see when the water gets so deep you lose all hope of ever touching the bottom is the same blue that is reflected in the night sky. Then on some nights, it’s a solid black. It’s the black you see when you gaze into a void. Where you can’t see the ending, and you have no idea how far the void truly goes. But this particular void is broken up by millions of tiny crystals known as stars. I aced my midterms the next morning. But could never forget the pure beauty of what I had seen the night before. So the next time someone uses the phrase “as dark and bleak as the night” I want you to think of how misleading this statement truly is. Because the night is beautiful, and bright when you know how to look.

The crisp white snow clenched tightly to the familiar paths I know home lush layers of green grass. I gaze at the Sky while inhaling the crisp air. The stars sparkle back at me with the brightest flames, almost as if reflecting off the blankets of white so peacefully below them. The moon flashes her silver smirk at me, like she's jealous of the attention I accidentally gave the snow. She dances around the blanket of pitch black sky that almost swallows up her star sisters. Their beaming yellow glow saving them from a finial gulp.