The Return of The Wisp.
It was a peaceful afternoon in the forest, sunlight filtering through the thick canopy above. Harry sat cross-legged on the grass, sketching out some ideas in the dirt with a stick. Teeth lounged nearby, its massive form leaning against a tree, emitting soft, rhythmic breaths that sounded more like distant thunder.
Tom stood a short distance away, his arms crossed and expression bored. He was about to voice his disdain for the lazy scene when a flicker of movement caught his eye.
A pale, ethereal light began to glow amidst the trees. It bobbed up and down, weaving through the air with an almost playful quality.
“A wisp,” Tom muttered, straightening.
Harry didn’t even look up. “Yeah, I see it.”
“Well?” Tom gestured toward the glowing light. “Aren’t you going to follow it?”
“Nope.”
Tom blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I said no.” Harry continued to sketch in the dirt, his tone as casual as if he were refusing a second helping of dessert.
Tom looked incredulous. “Why not? It could be something important!”
Harry finally glanced up, fixing Tom with an exasperated look. “Because the last time we followed that thing, it led us to a cursed forest.”
Tom opened his mouth, paused, and then shut it again. “…That’s a good point,” he admitted begrudgingly.
The wisp floated closer, its glow intensifying as if it were offended by Harry’s dismissal. It circled around him insistently, casting soft, eerie light across his face.
“I don’t care,” Harry said flatly, swatting at it like one might shoo away a persistent fly. “You can go haunt someone else.”
Teeth let out a low rumble that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
Tom smirked. “What if it’s trying to lead you to something valuable this time?”
Harry arched an eyebrow. “Oh, sure. Let’s trust the magical orb that has a 100% track record of leading us into danger.” He jabbed his stick into the dirt for emphasis. “You want to follow it, be my guest. Just don’t expect me to come rescue you when it inevitably tries to get you killed.”
The wisp seemed to bristle at Harry’s words, pulsing brightly before zipping away into the trees.
Tom watched it go, torn between curiosity and self-preservation. “You’re really not even a little tempted?”
Harry shrugged. “Nope. I’ve got enough problems without chasing after glowing death traps.”
Tom sighed, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”
“And alive,” Harry countered with a smirk. “Which I’d like to stay, thank you very much.”
Teeth let out another amused rumble, and Tom threw his hands up in defeat.
“Fine,” Tom grumbled. “But if that thing leads someone else to unimaginable riches, don’t blame me.”
Harry laughed softly, leaning back against a tree. “If it does, they can keep it. I’m not trading my sanity—or my life—for a shiny trinket.”
The wisp flickered one last time in the distance before disappearing entirely, leaving the trio to their peculiar peace.