Swiftcurrent Creek Giselle

The child watched as a dark figure split the light like a shadow impenetrable. Silver eyes reflected the sky and in them, Cygnet saw the faint gold of clouds hanging on the horizon, until she came close enough for the illusions to disappear. A clutch of vibrant feathers danced and fell above her head, and the child reached up with a paw and posed as they fell around her. She looked from one to the next, observing her new playthings with the reserved poise of royalty choosing which set of jewels to wear. 

With a careful paw, she selected a black feather, lightly iridescent along its quill. She reached for another feather on impulse- one that was silver, striped with grey. She placed one atop the other, and tilted her head to observe the pattern she'd made, where just the very edge of the black feather showed around the grey one. 

A cardinal feather was next- and when it was dropped, its quill pierced through the two layered feathers, and remained upright for a moment; a red arrow piercing through both silver and black. 

Chance, perhaps; or something more sinister.