Crystal Lights...

"Hey, lower your light Hope.  You're blinding me!" grumbled Graw.  He and Hope were out on their nightly fly-over looking for those in need of their special magic.

They were hovering in the air over what looked like a forgotten path when Hope responded. "I think I hear someone coming."

While as Lil' Boots walked this dirt path he had not traveled before, he saw two bobbing lights in the forest.  "Someone out here?" he asked as the lights traveled closer.  Hiding behind a large tree trunk, he waited to see who it might be.  Soon two little fae could be seen carrying glowing lanterns and scanning the trail as if they were looking for something.  Deciding they were probably not a threat, Lil' Boots moved out into the middle of the trail knowing that they should discover him soon. As the first lantern light touched him, the two fae stopped and the lights went instantly out leaving everyone in the dark. 

"Hello," said Lil' Boots.  "I don't mean any harm.  I am out looking for daisy petals for a friend.  My name is Lil' Boots."  As he heard some whispered conversation somewhere ahead of him, it wasn't long before the fae must have made a decision as the lanterns both came back on.

"Hello," said one of the fae.  "My name is Hope and this is my friend Graw (Love).  Why are you looking for daisies in the dark?"

"It's a long story," started Lil' Boots, "but a friend asked me to find him some and I need something to do.  What are you doing out in the dark?"  ​The two fae looked at each other and finally with a nod to their heads decided they would answer Lil' Boots question.

​"We are Light Faeries," answered Hope.  "It is what we do.  We shine our lanterns to help shine out the light of hope."  "Don't forget to mention the ray of Love too," butted in Graw.

Looking at Lil' Boots, Graw continued, "Graw means love in the language of the faeries.  I prefer to be called that instead of 'LOVE'," Graw nodded to Lil' Boots.

Being the curious fae that he was, Lil' Boots noticed that there were no flames in the lanterns that his new friends were carrying but brightly glowing crystals!

The two Light Faeries soon noticed his attention on the glowing crystals (since everyone always eventually did).  "These are special crystals we  use to keep our lights of hope and love glowing," said Graw.  "Unlike a flame which can go out, the crystal will always shine and enhance our powers of hope and love," Hope told him.

​"Tell me more," replied Lil' Boots as it wasn't too long ago when he was in a place that he felt was without hope.  Being held in the World of Whispers, he certainly could have use Hope's lantern then.  It was then that Lil' Boots thought to share his tale with them.

​Several hours later (because time flies when faeries get together), and when the Light Faeries had heard Lil' Boots tale, Graw told him that he should follow his heart for this was that adventure that he had always wished for.  "You will need a crystal to help light your way and to see the truth in what is before you," Graw told him as they gave Lil' Boots a crystal.  It wasn't until Lil' Boots was almost back to the cave before he realized that he still had not picked the daisies that Allspice requested. "That's all right," he thought as he turned around to head back to the wild flower patch.  "But this time I will use my compass to get me there and back faster so I can crawl into my cozy bed," he told himself.  "From what the Light Fairies said, it sounds like this adventure has more to reveal and I'll be needing to get some sleep to be refreshed for it!"​ as he pulled the crystal from his satchel to light his way to the daisy patch.