Maeve

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Maternal. Wrathful. Unknowable.

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"Death is a spectrum, not a line."




A tiny Pearlcatcher burst from her shell into a world of darkness and ice. Nearby the hulking form of her mother, Jezebel, watched with shining eyes as the youngling shook out her wings and peered out into the frozen night. the Pearlcatcher's eyes were white like the snow that fell around her. It melted when it landed on the dark wings of her mother.

"Hello, my child." Her mother's voice was a clarion bell in the little one's ears. "You, my elemental daughter, you will grow strong in this dark, cold place. Stronger than your siblings before you, and all those who may come after. You will be called many things, by many dragons. The Dark Defined, Mother of Midnight, Sower of Seeds, The Night Bloom. Eventually they will know you as the Queen of Air and Darkness. But here, and now, and always in your heart-" Jezebel sighed and nuzzled her daughter's tiny head, "-you will be known as Maeve." A whisper of power suffused Jezebel's breath and wafted over Maeve wrapping her in a swell of Light magic. Above, the clouds parted for a moment and shifting green and blue magnificence of the borealis appeared and lit the surrounding snowbanks with aqua light.

Maeve stood and rested her head upon the great expanse of her mother's Imperial cheek. A stunted green plant by her feet was slightly squashed and looking wan from all the snow. Maeve reached down and touched it and a feeling she didn't expect or understand welled up in her chest and coursed down through her fingers to the plant. The gray leaves slowly plumped with spring green and a perfect white flower grew and burst into full bloom before her very eyes. Maeve understood none of it, but knew that she loved the perfect starry flower that smelled sweet and new beneath her fingers. Jezebel lifted her head and sniffed the flower, her eyes distant and thoughtful. "Interesting. A Night Bloom indeed. You have strong magic my little one, but not of the Ice. You are welcome to stay here. You are always welcome in my embrace, little Maeve." Jezebel paused, eyes searching the horizon. "But I suspect... I suspect you will travel far from this place. To somewhere green. Somewhere growing."

Maeve, tired from performing magic she didn't even understand, nestled deep into the musky hair of her mother's mane. And dreamt of flowers.



Darkness surrounds me
Air swirls through my mane
'Mother' They cry out
The name sounds insane

The midnight moon illuminates
My kingdom glows before me
'Mother of Midnight'
That's what they call me

Maeve, my dear
I tell myself
Maybe it's time for you
To take a small rest

Magic will be here tomorrow
The kingdom will understand
After all a Queen cannot rule
From beyond the land

Poem by GuardParade



Art by Evsaurus
Art by Hayobun