f l o r e n t i n e
Florentine follows Pan’s attention to the north. She had been restless since arriving in Novus and explored much of the landscape, although she did not yet know all their names.
A wing, long now with adult growth and bearing its full feathers, points to the cliffs rising in the distance. They stretched out bordering Terminus Sea and glowing a soft white beneath the glow of the sun. “That is the border of Terrastella, the cliffs meet the sea…” Florentine pauses, her amethyst eyes, such a contrast to the sea, yet just as spirited, flit back to Pan. “But we have no beaches like this. Only strong coastal winds that disturb my petals terribly.” The young girl adds with disdain.
Florentine allows Pan to pull her thoughts back to Rift, to her parents, homeless and roaming through the Time-worried lands. She had never known them more at peace, particularly her father, since the Winter Court was ruined. There is so much that the honey-girl has seen through her travels across Time and Space. Flora knows what their future holds and she smiles to her friend, “No, I don’t worry about them.”
Flora pauses then, her brows furrowing as she thinks of what they may make of her absence. The look is fleeting, there for only moments before her small little smile is back, curling her lips. “They are used to me disappearing. Now they know I won’t go and get myself killed in a war, they are a lot more lenient. But daddy will always be angsty over everything anyway. ”
Pan’s concerns do not reach Flora, even as she gazes out across the sea and feels the strangeness of this new land. “There is always a way to leave, Pan. But don’t forget that we have the dagger!” As if to remind him of her instrument of time travel lying about her throat, she lifts it carefully to let the gems of its hilt sparkle in the sunlight. ‘The dagger will see us home.”
Had the flower girl not been so absorbed, so full of confidence, then she may have heeded pan’s concerns and felt the absence of magic upon her dagger. But alas, she does not, so distracted, so absorbed in exploring Novus.
A wing extends to brush against Pan’s side and then lie across his spine. “We will find your companions. I am sure they are having a lovely time where they are and you will all be reunited before too much longer. In fact, I bet they will find their way here!” She smiles, full of confidence, too blind to even consider the possibility that Pan’s companions could be gone for good. Time will be hiding them somewhere, they just needed to find where….
“Well,” She begins, “My adventures really have not revealed much beyond the fact that there are different courts and each has a god.” Florentine pauses then, before her voice lowers to a whisper, just in case a particularly devout stranger might suddenly pop out and declare her a blasphemer for all of Novus to hear, “I don’t want to believe in just one god, Pan. I have seen so many gods and so many places that don’t even have gods…” The flower girl pauses once more, going even quieter, “Do you believe in gods, Pan?”
@Pan
★ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future ★
