Veronica gingerly walked through the woods, careful to step only on the deep, spongy moss and not on the baby's breath flowers and purple violets that dotted the forest floor. Each step felt like she was walking on a cloud. The trees were still dripping from the previous night's rain, and the birds were singing as they flew from branch to branch. In the distance, she could hear the rush of water as it cascaded over boulders and across sandbars. "Wow, what a beautiful morning!" She stopped to gaze up at the puffy white clouds that slid across the azure blue sky. The scent of the forest was divine as wildflowers intermingled with fresh rain and pine needles. The maiden finished her apple and set the core on a branch of an ancient oak tree. A squirrel popped its head out of a notch high up in the boughs and let out a squeak of thanks before scampering down to gather up the delicious treat. The maiden smiled, then sauntered through the moss meadow towards the river. Standing next to the river, she wriggled her toes in the sand, then began to undress. She neatly folded her attire and placed it on a sun-warmed boulder polished by eons of running water. The sun peeked out from behind a cloud, and the warmth on her bare skin sent chills up and down her spine. After standing there in the sun enjoying the light, the maiden opened her eyes, undid her pack, and, reaching inside, retrieved a pair of goggles and a snorkel. She loved coming to remote mountain streams like this one to swim in the majestic pools. Watching the fish as they darted to and fro, building nests, caring for their young, and dining on the food the river provided, was a magical pastime. _This was our favorite spot. How many times did he hold me close and kiss me on this very sandbar?_ She gazed up past the towering, stark, black cliffs rimmed with a majestic forest at the azure sky. "Where are you, Hábrók?" Veronica asked as she looked up the valley, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. _He held me so tightly. I miss him so much. Why did he have to leave?_ The maiden pushed her feet into the sand and remembered back to the wonder they had both felt when they first stepped into this valley. _It had taken us an age to find a route into this valley,_ she remembered. _Why did we want to come here in the first place?_ It was a question she had asked herself many times, but try as she might, she could not remember why they had first sought out a route to this ultra-remote paradise. _I wonder if it is just because it was here?_ Veronica shuddered as she remembered how they puzzled together a route to get here. The first obstacle was surmounting the plateau, ringed by blazing white quartz cliffs over a thousand feet tall. The rock was smooth as glass, and finding a path of imperfections up the daunting face was surprisingly the easy part. Once they had found a way up the featureless face, they had to navigate a jungle so thick with plant life that it blocked out the sun. She could still feel the dismay they felt when they finally emerged out of the forest and saw the river far below them, guarded by massive stone walls. Finding a way to safely descend the basalt cliffs, which were so rotten and chossy that the slightest puff of wind could cause a massive rockslide, was nerve-racking. They had all but given up hope when they stumbled upon a cleft in the ground. It was so narrow that they had to turn sideways and wriggle through it. The walls were slick with moss dripping with water, but the cleft cut straight down the cliff. In places, they could see the sky above them, a thin sliver of blue. In others, the sky was closed off, and they were enveloped in darkness. After descending into the valley through this narrow passageway, they finally emerged at the bottom of the valley. It had taken so much effort to get to the valley, they decided that when they visited they would need a place to stay. So they had built a small cabin from stone and logs. The roof was covered in moss, lichen, and mushrooms. It was truly magical – their own private oasis. Now you may be asking why they just didn't follow the river from the top? Well, this was impossible since the river flowed straight from the sky. The source was a mystery. Wherever it came from, though, must have been an amazing place, because the water was so pure, so iridescent, so impeccably perfect that it defied even the most audacious imagination. ![[annihilation-i-violets.jpeg]] Donning her goggles, she slipped under the surface of the water. Using the rocks beneath the surface to pull herself upstream, she made her way into the depths. At first, she didn't see any movement. However, after waiting a few moments, she detected movement as the wildlife's curiosity began to peek out from their hiding places. They obviously didn't get many visitors here. After she waited patiently for a bit, breathing slowly through her snorkel, the fish began to emerge one by one. A few of the larger and braver fish approached her and poked her with their snouts. After a brief investigation, they spun about. It must have been a signal to the other aquatic inhabitants that it was okay, because in the blink of an eye the pool was filled with all manner of creatures darting and frolicking about. The maiden, her dark brown hair blowing in the swift current, smiled when a school of small fish swam up to her and gave her a small bit of grass and a tiny agate stone. A few crabs scampered by, scuttling from rock to rock, trying not to lose their footing in the fast-moving water. There was a variety of swimming bugs: some which looked like oblong slivers, others with long legs, and a few which had wings that flapped front to back (instead of up and down). It was a very busy ecosystem. Bright purple crawfish scuttled about, some of them dragging sticks behind them. She followed them with her eyes and discovered they were building some sort of nest, tucked under a lovely plant, its long green leaves dancing in the current. This is why she loved diving into these pools. From the surface, there appeared to be no life, just an amalgamation of rocks shimmering beneath the ever-shifting surface of the water. However, once she got into the water, a whole world opened up, just waiting to be discovered. Waving goodbye to her new friends, she relaxed and let the current carry her to shallower water. Carefully, she stood and waded out of the water. Shivering in the cold, she built a small campfire. The combination of the hot sun, a large, warm boulder to lie upon, and the crackling fire soon had her toasty and warm. Veronica yawned and dozed off, lying on a rock drenched in warm, golden sunshine. She woke up when a crow cawed noisily from a nearby tree. "Hello, friend." She smiled at the bird before rolling over, reaching into her pack, and retrieving a small round loaf of sourdough bread. "Would you care to share some of my bread with me?" "Why yes, please. I'm quite hungry from my long flight." The crow hopped closer. "Oh, you're a talking crow!" Veronica exclaimed. "Well, of course I am." The crow responded a bit indignantly. "I meant no offense. I've just never met a talking crow before. I've heard about your kind — I thought they were legends…" "Most do. Out of curiosity, what have you heard about us?" "You can fly for ages and not get tired. You hatch out of golden eggs. You're messengers for the Great Queen Mother." "Well, I hardly flew a day to get here and I'm exhausted… but you are correct, we do typically work for the Great Queen Mother. As for the golden egg bit – I can neither confirm nor deny." Veronica placed a piece of bread on the boulder next to her and patted the rock — an invitation for the crow to join her. "Thanks!" the crow squawked as it devoured the bread. "Delicious!" "Thank you." Veronica chuckled. "What's so funny?" The crow cocked its head to the side. "I've also heard it's very good luck to dine with a talking crow." The crow lifted up a wing and stroked its feathers with its long, dark beak. "Only time will tell if that is true or not. I guess it depends on what she needs to talk to you about…" "Who needs to talk to me?" Veronica wrapped her arms around her knees. "Why, the Great Queen Mother, of course," cackled the crow. "Me!?" Veronica gasped. An invitation to speak with the Great Queen Mother was truly an honor. "Isn't it true that she hardly has visitors?" "It is true, she does value her privacy," the crow pecked at a few of the crumbs, then stared expectantly at the maiden for more. "What could the Great Queen Mother possibly want with me?" Veronica asked, more to herself than as an actual question she was expecting the crow to answer. She took a bite of her bread and moved it around her mouth with her tongue as she pondered the nature of the invitation. "I haven't the foggiest idea," the crow said matter-of-factly, startling Veronica out of her daze. "I see…" Veronica gazed down at the river flowing below her warm perch. "Well, I don't want to keep her waiting. Where should I go?" "She's currently at her palace on the south side of the mountain. Since the Fomalhaut's star-thirst event, it's the warmest location on her planet." "Oh, I see." Veronica slid off the boulder. "So, it's going to require a neutron-bridge to get there then. I didn't bring my token bag, though." "Not to worry, I brought you one." The crow reached under its wing and pulled out a small golden coin and set it down on the rock. "Thank you!" Veronica blurted, "Are you sure I can have it?" "Compliments of the Great Queen Mother. She is eager to see you." The crow hopped towards the loaf of bread and helped herself to another large chunk. Veronica didn't notice, or if she cared, she didn't say anything. "There's a portal below this valley. I'll begin heading there now." She slipped into her clothes and tossed her few belongings into her pack. "Wonderful!" The crow exclaimed. "I'll inform her you will be stopping by shortly." The crow hopped back and gave its great wings a flap, and with a whoosh, flew off down the valley, a great crust of bread dangling from its beak. --- "The Great Queen Mother will see you now," boomed the spectacled, kilt-wearing attendant as they smartly held the jewel-studded glass door ajar. "Thank you." Veronica bowed, then quickly shuffled through the open door. She walked timidly into the well-lit room. Standing before her in the center of the room was a great fountain. The water was lit up like a rainbow, coursing from pedestal to pedestal before it plunged noisily into a large, deep pool below. Darting about the pool were tiny fish and all sorts of colored frogs. _Boy, what I would give to jump in and swim in there,_ Veronica thought to herself. Her eyes wandered from the ornate pool to the colorful tiled patterns gracing the floor. If she could have seen herself, she would have realized that her mouth was hanging open. As her eyes followed the tiled floor's mesmerizing patterns, she spotted the stunning tapestries hanging on the walls all around the large room. Their embroidered facades, which must have been done by hand and taken ages for a skilled craftsperson to finish, portrayed imagery from the history of the kingdoms the Great Queen Mother ruled over. _The colors are stunning! The craftsmanship is breathtaking!_ Veronica reached out to touch one before recoiling her hand in shock at her audacity. "The tapestries are quite beautiful, are they not?" a soft voice called from behind a curtain. "Oh, yes indeed," Veronica nodded vigorously in agreement. An elegant, gray-haired woman stepped into view. She was wearing a simple white cotton tunic and was barefoot. In her right hand, she held a great tin watering can. "It takes me half a day just to water the plants in this one room." The woman sighed with relief as she set the can down. "I suppose I could have an attendant do it, but I really do enjoy spending time with growing things." "I feel the same way." Veronica giggled, realizing that this woman was the Great Queen Mother. She had expected more of a grand entrance or maybe a more ornate outfit, one that matched the room's decor. "I'm not what you were expecting?" the Great Queen Mother said with a radiant smile. "Umm…" Veronica stammered, "To be honest, I didn't know what to expect." "I'm sure you're anxious to know why I have called you here?" The Great Queen Mother motioned for Veronica, whose shoulders relaxed a little at the grace of the Queen to drop the uncomfortable subject, to sit at a small table next to the pool. Eagerly, Veronica sat, her hands clasped respectfully on her lap. The Great Queen Mother smiled, "You know I never thought of it before, but I bet it would be a lot of fun to swim in the pool with the fish." Veronica gasped. _Is she reading my mind?_ The Great Queen Mother's eyes sparkled and she winked mischievously, then reached for the kettle in the middle of the table and poured piping hot tea into two cups. Then she handed one to Veronica. "Oh, thank you very much!" Veronica exclaimed as she reached quickly for the cup. "Yes, I'm very excited to find out what it is you need to discuss with me." "Well, I have good news — he's back." The Great Queen Mother grinned as she took a dainty sip of her tea. "He is!?" Veronica shrieked with glee. "Indeed! But before we get ahead of ourselves, I need to apprise you of his role in our strategy against the evil High Priest Induchemara. I'm afraid there isn't much time before you must be off for the space port." ### Next Chapter: [[6 - By the Sea 🌊]] ### Previous Chapter [[4 - Gungan Tribe 🥬]]