The Gifters
Under the star-sparkled sky of the Wishing Wood, the wise but mischievous gnome Zef sat cross-legged beneath the ancient Firefly Tree, his beard fluffed like a cloud and his robe stitched with moons and mushrooms. Around him, the fireflies danced in lazy loops, lighting the glade like a gentle lantern festival.
Zef hummed a tune made of memory and honey as he waited, his heart warm and expectant.
From between two root-burrowed stones, Snorb appeared... the purple goblin with twitchy ears, bright eyes, and a nose that had once sniffed out an entire candy hoard in a thunderstorm.
His little claws clutched something bundled in a leaf-wrapped package, tied with thread spun from rainbow silkweed.
“I, um… made you something,” Snorb mumbled, one foot scuffing the moss. “It’s a Pride gift. ‘Cause you make me feel like I’m allowed to be exactly me.”
Zef leaned forward, eyes twinkling brighter than the stars above. “Oh, my dear Snorb, that is the most precious kind of magic.”
Snorb handed him the bundle. Inside was a scarf.. slightly lumpy, utterly vibrant, and filled with every proud hue of the heart. It had clearly been stitched with care, love, and the occasional goblin-sized grumble.
Zef didn’t speak right away. Instead, he wrapped the scarf around them both, tucking Snorb close beneath his arm.
“You, my darling goblin, are the finest gift this weary gnome has ever known.”
The fireflies shimmered in rainbow patterns around them as they cuddled beneath the tree.. just a Gnome and a Goblin, wrapped in pride, warmth, and something beautifully brave.
Zef hummed a tune made of memory and honey as he waited, his heart warm and expectant.
From between two root-burrowed stones, Snorb appeared... the purple goblin with twitchy ears, bright eyes, and a nose that had once sniffed out an entire candy hoard in a thunderstorm.
His little claws clutched something bundled in a leaf-wrapped package, tied with thread spun from rainbow silkweed.
“I, um… made you something,” Snorb mumbled, one foot scuffing the moss. “It’s a Pride gift. ‘Cause you make me feel like I’m allowed to be exactly me.”
Zef leaned forward, eyes twinkling brighter than the stars above. “Oh, my dear Snorb, that is the most precious kind of magic.”
Snorb handed him the bundle. Inside was a scarf.. slightly lumpy, utterly vibrant, and filled with every proud hue of the heart. It had clearly been stitched with care, love, and the occasional goblin-sized grumble.
Zef didn’t speak right away. Instead, he wrapped the scarf around them both, tucking Snorb close beneath his arm.
“You, my darling goblin, are the finest gift this weary gnome has ever known.”
The fireflies shimmered in rainbow patterns around them as they cuddled beneath the tree.. just a Gnome and a Goblin, wrapped in pride, warmth, and something beautifully brave.
To Fin - thank you for making me feel like I was a part of Pride Month for the first time ever. [June 2025]
