A/N: I had trouble coming up with a title, something that rarely happens after I've actually finished a "chapter". So I picked Side-Quests in the end, something to illustrate that, while the characters in this poem collection may have directly or indirectly influenced Lief's quest(s), the scenes in which I depict them in are related to them somewhat independent of that quest. For example, Ava's love for the sea may have caused her to build and maintain her shop so close to the Isle of the Dead, but her love for the sea in and of itself wasn't something that directed that quest.

Aside from that, this poem is a part of the 100 prompts challenge on the Poetry Craze, prompt #012 – tide, and for the 5,10,20,50,70,100 fandoms challenge, fandom 59: Deltora Quest 3, and for the Freeverse Frenzie Competition, poem 50.

Enjoy.


Side-Quests
1. Ava and the Sea

The waters climbed her walls
and then fell back
into caves that reached
far below.

Even her sight could not reach
that far – or at all the body
of salty air which rumbled
louder than the gulls squawking
all round.

She could imagine it though,
from the photos her dear blood
sent to her, and by her
ever-listening ears

And she was fine with staying
in its blind embrace,
privy instead
to a different sort
of sight.