Not just a fighter, not just a dreamer
Amazing creator, relentless believer
In who I am and what I got inside
Amazing creator, relentless believer
In who I am and what I got inside
Aching to see her creation succumb to the flower's poison, Seren steeled herself and turned to the second monkey.
"Put the flower in the jar," she urged, and watched with heavy heart how it obeyed. Scurrying hastily forward, it was weakening even before it reached the plucked lily - now lying alone on the ground, the first star-critter already gone. But as its life was tied to her endurance, the little squirrel monkey at least managed to last for long enough to pick the flower up, and put it in the jar. Then it too faded, and it was all Seren could do not to sob.
At the very least, she appeared to have kept a safe distance. While there was something tugging on her eyelids, and thoughts came more sluggishly than before, she was still awake. Still standing upright, her heart beating steadily against ribs that ached to breathe deeply.
There was only a few steps left now.
"Close the lid for me, please," she pleaded, and a third creature ventured forth to die. It was quick, its fingers clever and agile; but it took time for the animal to figure out the snap-mechanism that would seal the lid shut, and it just barely made it in time before stardust was all that remained.
"Bring me the jar," the starchild begged the last two monkeys - and as she watched them go, to lug a container bigger than themselves towards her, she had to wonder where these beings came from. Why they obeyed her. What was magic, and what was this blessing that her mother gave so freely? Did it serve Safrin's purpose? Was her daughter living up to every expectation, as she sacrificed these innocent, mindless beings for a freedom that existed only in her mind?
As the last two creatures came towards her, Seren backed away towards Maeve. Slowly, carefully, step by step. To increase the distance to the remnants of the Gilded Lily, that still emitted its poisonous fumes, and ensure that her summons lasted as long as possible.
When they faded, she had retreated almost all the way to her friend, and the jar landed on a pillow of soft moss only ten feet away from them. Was it close enough? Was the lid sealed properly? Haunted blue eyes turned to look at the woman, desperately seeking confirmation that this was it. That she had succeeded.
It felt much too convenient.
"Put the flower in the jar," she urged, and watched with heavy heart how it obeyed. Scurrying hastily forward, it was weakening even before it reached the plucked lily - now lying alone on the ground, the first star-critter already gone. But as its life was tied to her endurance, the little squirrel monkey at least managed to last for long enough to pick the flower up, and put it in the jar. Then it too faded, and it was all Seren could do not to sob.
At the very least, she appeared to have kept a safe distance. While there was something tugging on her eyelids, and thoughts came more sluggishly than before, she was still awake. Still standing upright, her heart beating steadily against ribs that ached to breathe deeply.
There was only a few steps left now.
"Close the lid for me, please," she pleaded, and a third creature ventured forth to die. It was quick, its fingers clever and agile; but it took time for the animal to figure out the snap-mechanism that would seal the lid shut, and it just barely made it in time before stardust was all that remained.
"Bring me the jar," the starchild begged the last two monkeys - and as she watched them go, to lug a container bigger than themselves towards her, she had to wonder where these beings came from. Why they obeyed her. What was magic, and what was this blessing that her mother gave so freely? Did it serve Safrin's purpose? Was her daughter living up to every expectation, as she sacrificed these innocent, mindless beings for a freedom that existed only in her mind?
As the last two creatures came towards her, Seren backed away towards Maeve. Slowly, carefully, step by step. To increase the distance to the remnants of the Gilded Lily, that still emitted its poisonous fumes, and ensure that her summons lasted as long as possible.
When they faded, she had retreated almost all the way to her friend, and the jar landed on a pillow of soft moss only ten feet away from them. Was it close enough? Was the lid sealed properly? Haunted blue eyes turned to look at the woman, desperately seeking confirmation that this was it. That she had succeeded.
It felt much too convenient.
Seren
