Submission (#837) Approved

Even with nothing in sight but a lonely stone, sounds of new life sang a chaotic song as the great starsnare Graves approached Zephyrus’ altar. Trills of toads mucking in mud, plucky notes from tweeting birds, and gentle shakes of twigs in the wind told the story of spring beginning anew. Under his feet, warm earth squelched and small sprouts rose towards the sun’s embrace. It was the season of spring - the season of life - at last.

Graves stopped a few feet from the altar and set down his gift, a wilted white lily whose frail petals and delicate leaves had not survived the harsh winter. Its song had faded away in the background noise of the world, but its story would continue on here, where the horseman of life could reclaim it and breathe into it new notes to sing again. A song wouldn’t have meaning if it didn’t have an end, he thought, but at least Zephyrus could take good care of it for awhile.

(167 words)