[AW] It's only forever, it's not long at all

[Pavetta]

p a v e t t a - - - Would she always be drawn to this place? Pavetta was not here for love. She searched for pieces of herself, wondering if she could put them together to make someone new that would suit this new land of light better than the valley of shadows she had left behind. She returned for the first time since Somnus and his owl had found her injured and crumpled among the willows. A place of love and secret affairs, she had later learned, much to her amusement. (What exactly was regal Somnus up to in these parts?) Pavetta returned now, healed and refreshed from the sanctuary of the Dawn Court, to discover if the portal itself had manifested—to find part of herself she might have left behind. Would she return, if such a thing were possible? To the land of darkness and monsters? She had been nothing there, a mere whisp of a shadow, if even that. A servant and then a bride. She recalled the pyre burning, the embers floating in the dark as she had fled into the darkness, a shadow within shadows. No, she would never return. But her father. Could she leave him behind, possibly forever? They did not know each other, of course, but that had never stopped Pavetta from spinning childish fantasies that they would be reunited one day. She did not care to know her mother, a vain sorceress, or so she had been told by the priestesses who had raised her in the mountains.  She didn’t know what her future held. For the first time in her life it was up to Pavetta to decide, no one else had a say in her destiny. But now that she had a choice she didn’t know what to do with this freedom, this new life. Pavetta wandered aimlessly, not knowing where to look for a portal that disappears, but found herself near the crook in the stream where she had collapsed in the willows, where she had first emerged from the flashing green light. The dawn was silver and pearl; the water threaded with sparkling veins of moonlight and the glimmering surface reflected the remaining stars glittering on the horizon that now heralded dawn.  Pavetta hesitated. A golden lady stood as if frozen in the heart of winter instead of the blush of spring. Pavetta hardly dared to breath, the stranger’s beauty was so devastating. The dawn’s pearly rays glimmered on the lady’s skin, setting it ablaze in light and gleaming gold. Flowers were woven through shimmering strands of flaxen hair and dew glittered like starlight on the fae creature’s wings. (For surely, she was one of the Fair Folk that roamed the Wood with their haunting beauty?) The winged creature was elegant and fair, legs like spindles and a face delicate and eyes bright like a summer doe. She seemed deep in thought; so still and silent Pavetta was not sure she could even see her golden flanks draw breath. It was only when Pavetta decided to draw closer did she notice the dagger sheathed in a delicate case around the pegasus woman's neck. So she was dangerous and beautiful? How exciting. Who was she, and what was she? Pavetta finally spoke, wondering if her voice would shatter the sunrise illusion. “Are you expecting someone?” isn't it a little late, shouldn't you fly away?  little dove with cigarettes ---

@Florentine