Atomies are the Faerie expression of fireflies. As adults, they are amoungst the smallest of the Faerie Races, never exceeding seven inches. They spend their thirty year larval stage as oversized but otherwise unremarkable firefly grubs. They look like dusky black wingless humanoids with long antennae. At will they can cause their entire body to pulse with varying intensities of light. Atomies can glow a variety of soft colors, but seem to prefer yellows and cyans so long as they're not excited. Atomies cannot speak, but can communicate amoungst themselves by flashing patterns and ariel dances. Atomies are Golden Faeries and delight in doing Good Deeds, especially leading those lost in the Darkness home again. During the day they sleep under rotting logs. Adult atomies do not eat. They mate during in late Evening, after a long season of courting dances. The female lays her clutch of five to ten eggs in damp soil, and they hatch the following year. Very, very few larvae reach adulthood.