Farscape Holiday Drabble entry - The Memory of Trees
Title: The Memory of Trees
Setting/Spoilers: Pre-series, none
Rating: G
Disclaimer: None of mine.
Author's note: Thank you, simplystars, for running the Farscape Holiday Drabble Exchange. And for the look-over! ♥
For astrogirl2, who requested Zhaan and/or Stark, snow. It ran a little over.
She first experienced snow within her father's arms. Flakes of white falling slowly, light and scentless, drifting across her vision, clinging to her skin. The sun itself had grown dim and pale, a bare dot in the blanketed sky. It was a rare event for this part of Delvia, and welcomed.
The fur of her hood tickled Zhaan's cheek when her father pointed out the approaching courier. The University transport settled within a few motras, kicking up accumulated layers of snow into a brief whirlwind. Zhaan's father tightened his hold on her, and she squeezed her arms around his neck.
"Go back inside," he bade her, kneeling down. Zhaan reluctantly let go and stepped away. "I'll be back tonight."
She stood in the falling snow and watched him go, a tall man with deep blue skin and gold-chased cheeks, snow dotting his head and the fur of his robes.
Zhaan tugged one glove free and held out a hand, palm up. Crystalline particles, powdery and cold, began to layer within the cup of her flesh. It didn't melt at once. "It is a mystery of the Goddess," her mother had said, cool hands cradling her daughter's head. Her father had laughed and rubbed his knuckles across her mother's cheek, their eyes passing secret messages. "Science can explain how, but only a priest can tell us why."
The snow in her palm began to glisten, growing transparent. Within a few more microts, water sank into the creases of her hand, and ran out between her fingers. Frozen water, returning to its original state, only to freeze once more within the layers of snow and ice laid down during the night.
One form and then another, but still itself.
"Can not one person do both?"
Zhaan smiled up at the distant star.
Setting/Spoilers: Pre-series, none
Rating: G
Disclaimer: None of mine.
Author's note: Thank you, simplystars, for running the Farscape Holiday Drabble Exchange. And for the look-over! ♥
For astrogirl2, who requested Zhaan and/or Stark, snow. It ran a little over.
She first experienced snow within her father's arms. Flakes of white falling slowly, light and scentless, drifting across her vision, clinging to her skin. The sun itself had grown dim and pale, a bare dot in the blanketed sky. It was a rare event for this part of Delvia, and welcomed.
The fur of her hood tickled Zhaan's cheek when her father pointed out the approaching courier. The University transport settled within a few motras, kicking up accumulated layers of snow into a brief whirlwind. Zhaan's father tightened his hold on her, and she squeezed her arms around his neck.
"Go back inside," he bade her, kneeling down. Zhaan reluctantly let go and stepped away. "I'll be back tonight."
She stood in the falling snow and watched him go, a tall man with deep blue skin and gold-chased cheeks, snow dotting his head and the fur of his robes.
Zhaan tugged one glove free and held out a hand, palm up. Crystalline particles, powdery and cold, began to layer within the cup of her flesh. It didn't melt at once. "It is a mystery of the Goddess," her mother had said, cool hands cradling her daughter's head. Her father had laughed and rubbed his knuckles across her mother's cheek, their eyes passing secret messages. "Science can explain how, but only a priest can tell us why."
The snow in her palm began to glisten, growing transparent. Within a few more microts, water sank into the creases of her hand, and ran out between her fingers. Frozen water, returning to its original state, only to freeze once more within the layers of snow and ice laid down during the night.
One form and then another, but still itself.
"Can not one person do both?"
Zhaan smiled up at the distant star.