The Stars in My Eyes

1

Time felt different. Time didn't feel infinite but finite, tangible, and slow.

The sound felt strange, as well. There was a force of wind that blew his eyes open.

Gentle, like a mother waking her child. This was not the mother he knew, this was one with a body.

It was not a mass of possibilities and energies but of dictation, direction, and volition.

Flesh, movement, gravity—eyes full of pure light, that memory of their true form inside their neurons—neurons, those were new—but now it had been warped into a memory, like their truth was only a dream in the chasm of creation.

Everything was strange. The way his body felt, and how it felt the world. Under his palms—solid palms with nimble fingers—the grass was soft and dewy. He could smell—with what nose, he wondered—crisp oxygen, moist dirt, and life. Life, which was organic and floral to him.

Looking up, using his new hands to brush his shaggy, long hair out of his face..

'Stranger and stranger,' he thought to himself.

He was so used to black, with only speckles of lights far away to guide him.

Now it was blue, with the tiniest hint of yellow on the horizon to signify early morning.

The air moved—breathing, perhaps in greeting—the grass provided his first touch.

Soft. touching a single blade enlightened him to the sharp prickle of organic life. Was he ever a star?

Then, there was a loud yawn.

The star next to him was slower in waking. Their shirt and jacket were disheveled, barely hanging on their shoulders. They rubbed their blurry eyes with their palms-so much more substantial compared to his own, brushing out the sleep from their long and dramatic eyelashes.

He stared, mouth agape. The light from their pure eyes radiated. He knew they were like him. Waking up in this new world, wherever that is.

They, too, seemed confused. After they saw the little blue-gray star, they brushed their short, sun-red hair back. "Hey."

The blue star stammered a bit before composing himself. "Hey."

Their skin was sunset orange; from appearance alone, they exuded warmth. Once, twice, they tried to tame the extreme cowlick in the middle of their crown. "I guess we are in the same situation, huh?"

"Yeah," he agreed. "But what is the situation?"

Looking around, feeling the grass, they concluded: "Must be a dream state. You know of them, right?"

"Dream-state... Yes, I am aware. I didn't imagine it like this, though."

"Neither have I, but it's nice."

The blue star took a moment to familiarize himself with his body. He patted his chest, flexed his fingers, and rotated his wrists when the orange star stood above him, offering their hand.

"I'm Pulse," They smiled. "You are?"

"I'm Quark," he took their hand. Their grip was strong, yet delicate. Careful.. "Thank you."

There was a catch in Quark's throat when he stood up and only came up below Pulse's chest. Making a noise like a choke and a gasp.

Pulse tilted their head. "You okay? I didn't want to startle you."

"No! No," Quark rushed to answer. "Just didn't expect you to be so tall, that's all." He cleared his throat, pulling his sweatshirt over his wrists. It felt a touch scratchy against his new skin. "I think I recognize your name though... Aren't you part of the Cosmic Choir?"

Pulse smiled—prideful,but Quark could tell they were trying to be humble. "Yes, I am."

"To end up with the pulsar of the Cosmic Choir, now that's amazing." Quark ran his fingers through his hair. So far, the movements of his body were automatic, yet somewhat unnatural. Every motion felt peculiar, and he grew self-conscious.

"What about you? I'm going to guess you're a white star?"

"Ah, well, a white dwarf star..." Quark confirmed. "Nothing famous like you. Just a wandering star."

"A wandering dwarf star," Pulse thought, "Don't get to meet many of them, so I think that's pretty amazing."

Quark smiled, feeling another strange sensation in his cheeks. Some tingling warmth. It made him feel compelled to hide his face. He looked down at their feet, noticing a piece of papyrus pinned to Pulse's jacket. Quark took it.

"What's that?"

Quark gave it a skim. "It's a summons. We need to meet someone in town. An initiation. Is that normal?"

"I'm not sure," Pulse admitted, fastening their jacket snugly along their shoulders. "I never had to do this before. But let's head to this town. Any directions on that paper?"

"Just says to walk forward, the town will come to us."

They both looked around. It was an endless prairie with grass, grass, and more damp grass.

There was only a blue sky speckled with calm, fluffy clouds.

The only thing to separate the sky from the ground was the break where the horizon faded over the green hillside.

Quark watched the clouds behind Pulse's head, drifting lazily behind them.

"I suppose we just... go that way?" Quark pointed out what he gathered was north.

Pulse slid their hands into their pockets. "After you, good sir."

Pulse moved with an easy, enviable grace, while Quark took some time to get used to the fact they must move with legs.

The quest was on, the stars treading seemingly nowhere in particular, with a paper, some questions, and a dream.