Giving up for lavender

The pond was purple. It could be because of the amethyst mountains that lay crushed in its depth. It could be because of the candied sunset in the sky. It could be the light dusting of the purple snow that graced the world that evening. 

But no matter what the reason was...the pond was purple.

Lykio sat by the pond and twirled some flowers. They were for her daughter, Nola. Nola liked flowers with five petals. Although she was a little baby and couldn't count to five. But Lykio did believe that her daughter's favourite number would be five when she grew up. Or that's what the pond had told her before it had washed up to the banks last season and taken Nola away. 

Lykio had cried and pleaded. But had now been worn down to wise negotiation.

A million twirled five petal flowers in return for a baby with a little lavender birthmark.