Ephemera. I recently commissioned four pieces of art from someone who does amazing things with flora & fauna. So I paired Ephemera with significant flowers from the Amaranthine Saga, and the results have been charming! First up, a pitterhind.
Pitterhind | art by Ren
The whistling flutter of wings drew Hazel’s attention to the shrub, where two pitterhinds swung low for a landing. Even in the pre-dawn dim, she could see enough to tell the male and female apart as they scampered on clever paws toward their nest.
Pea green fur.
Tufted tails.
Tiny antlers.
Adorable.
She’d always wanted to catch and tame one. If only Pennythwaite didn’t keep insisting he was allergic.
Hemmed in Silver (Songs of the Amaranthine, #5)
He spent twenty minutes on his belly in the moss, waiting for an antlered mouse thingie to decide he wasn’t a threat.
The instant the shutter snapped, it was gone in a flurry of wings.
Cute little weirdo.
He almost felt bad for scaring it off.
Captured on Film (Songs of the Amaranthine, #6)
A tiny paw reached between the fingers, accompanied by a soft peep.
Rinloo’s tail wagged. “Joonta was right. The Ephemera around here are mostly tame. Will he run if I turn him loose?”
“No,” said Cedar. “I am here and so is Char.”
Mother Moss bustled in, a milk can in each arm. “Ephemera may run from predators, but they fly to imps and reavers alike.”
Slowly, Rinloo parted his fingers. The pitterhind sat back on its haunches and spread its wings. Then in a streak of green fur, it launched itself at Char, who cuddled it to his chest and stroked its head, right between its tiny antlers.
Bathed in Moonlight (Songs of the Amarathine, #7)
. . .
And the flowers? They’re of the same variety as Zuzu’s (from Fumiko and the Finicky Nestmate), which are also the dominant variety of Amaranthine tree on the island that the Farroost clan calls home.
FORTHRIGHT 