SAORA サオラ

❝ SAORA, an ancient jellyfish that hails from an
otherworldly, nomadic race. She currently resides
amongst humans as a virtual streamer.Her heart would be huge, if she had one.
Her brain? Not so much.She has a sweet and bubbly disposition, and
loves humans of all kinds. Don't let that fool you, though–
when upset, her words can have a sharp sting. ❞

In the deepest reaches of a vast ocean lies a nomadic tribe of jellyfish creatures; untouched by the world above, but hold expansive knowledge about worlds beyond mortal understanding.That is their way of life— to travel among celestial bodies and uncharted voids alike to find their new homes.On this special day, a great migration is prepared, one that occurs every few million years. All the creatures would collect themselves in a carefully chosen spot, to minimize the chance of any interference in their sacred pilgrimage. As each member takes the leap to worlds beyond, their numbers slowly dwindle, leaving barely a trace.One member, however, had missed this momentous occasion. Saora, one of the younger members of her tribe, seemed to have overslept this migration and is now seemingly stuck in this world.As she woke, she could feel the deafening silence of what used to be an active town.If a jellyfish could speak, it would cry out for someone, anyone to hear its calls.Where are they all?, she would think. They couldn’t have just left me, we aren’t scheduled to leave for a hundred more years. In her absent-mindedness, it completely slipped Saora’s mind that there was some reason they had to leave earlier than they usually do between worlds. She can hardly remember the why, and certainly not the when, but she knew that she was now the last member of her species on this planet. A feeling of uneasiness and guilt crept upon her.However, she then decided that this was too much for her, and went back to sleep— a rather unfavorable tactic she tended to default to when she became overwhelmed. I’ll figure it out the next time I wake up. Maybe there’s still a chance for them to come get me, she thought.Regretfully, the perception of time for Saora and her kin is not the same as those inhabiting the world above. Her slumber resumed for some thousand more years, with no change to her current predicament. Upon her next awakening, she would have no choice but to steel her nerves and go to the world above. She had little practical knowledge about what she may encounter there, but she had to try to find her way back to her family. As she reached a nearby shore, Saora thought back to something she learned early on in life. The inhabitants of the world above are finicky creatures who don’t often take kindly to creatures beyond their understanding.Luckily, all of Saora’s kin are born with the ability to change their forms at will. Despite the deceptively simple appearance of their default jellyfish forms, it’s quite easy for them to shapeshift to adapt to new surroundings. Saora could feel her body shift and morph, muscle and tissue fusing into a brand-new form. She stepped over to a nearby puddle to admire her new look.It was of a human girl, in the prime of her youth. Satisfied with her new appearance, she walked on and on.The sights and smells of the dry lands overwhelmed her. Everything was so vibrant and alive. It really was nothing she had ever experienced before.Just before nightfall, she would come across a small human encampment. It was there that she would meet a young boy, who was out in the woods gathering small branches for his mother. Saora could hardly speak, nor did she have any understanding of what the boy was saying. She could only point or make noises to indicate her intentions and needs. The boy and his family would offer her food and shelter in exchange for her help in tending the fields. Saora was touched by these gestures, if a little taken aback by their kindness.For the first time in a millennia, she could feel something spark inside her. Like something that she’s been missing was suddenly brought back to her. Who knows for sure how long it has been since she’s seen anyone from her tribe, but maybe one day they’ll come back and have her in their loving arms (tendrils?) once more. She promised herself that she’d see them again, that she’d do her best to carry on and eventually return to her tribe. Perhaps she’ll even thrive here in these unfamiliar lands until then.But for now, she basks in the comforting warmth of the fire burning in front of her. This new life might be the thing she’s needed since her last awakening. Saora smiles, already beginning to feel like she’s no longer alone.

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