Shadewood stars, hide your fires

there was no mockery on her countenance, only a gentle smile. 

(her kind, selfless, hatchling brother! his denial could blind the sun, but it was a crime on her part, to keep him from fated nest and lover.)

that is, until yonder gave his ultimatum, and her beak parted in a grin.

"if i should die, it'll be in a manner most narratively satisfying." she hopped over to him and preened that shock of iridescent-purple upon his head; a sister's kiss.

then, back to the end of the branch she went.

"onto business! you fly east, and i shall go a ways south. in an egg's time we are to meet on the same spot, and regale each with tales of mischief these beasts had never before seen!"

hereby, known to shorten goodbyes until the gleam in her eyes couldn't be caught, fell backwards off the tree, wings spreading like a phantom's cape.

"onwards, then!" was her last croak before the white raven turned in mid-air and flew off towards a cloud-engulfed peak.