I found myself in a rainforest. To be more specific, a clearing in a rainforest. The woods teemed with life, and the clearing was full of flowers that were nearly indescribable with how vibrant and wild some of them were. In the center of the clearing, a glass patio table with two chairs stood. One of those chairs was occupied. I began to approach the table, assessing the seated woman as I did. She was tall, maybe a hair or two over six feet. She had skin the color of dark chocolate, and hair that seemed so white and fluffy it could be made of clouds. It flowed out in a mane down her back, which was left open by her green sleeveless dress.

As I got closer, I realized several things: Her dress was actually made out of some kind of soft green moss, the ‘patio table and chairs’ were made from still planted flowers with translucent leaves, and her hair actually was made of clouds.

Suppose it’s fitting, though. Vita was the goddess of life, after all.

Finally approaching the table, I asked “May I be seated, ma’am?”. She looked at me with dark, ocean-blue eyes and after seemingly considering for a moment, responded in a voice softer than snow. “You may.” I seated myself, but still feeling that it was still ‘her turn’, waited. After a moment of regarding me, she said “You went through a lot of trouble to speak to me.” “I did.” “Why.” A demand, not a question. Of course, this was certainly an answer I owed her. “I want to know if you can get this off of me.”

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That said, I pulled off the cherry red scarf that had covered my mouth and neck for most of my years here. “Hmm. Closer.” I leaned in so that she had a better look at my adornment. “My. She must have spent a fortune between getting you here and obtaining a collar of this quality.” I went back to my original position as I responded “From what I’ve gathered, she spent half her hoard and called in favors from all sorts: demons, fae, even other dragons. It’s… why I came to you. I figured only a major god with a lot of authority would have the means to remove it.”

A moment of silence, and then- “And if I did? What could you offer? What trade could you make? What deal could you afford that would be worth an act of this magnitude?” I lowered my head, and a long silence passed. Finally, I looked up, and said “I would do anything you asked. Truly anything. I just want a hand in penning my own story again. I don’t want to be stuck ending hundreds more lives. I just want to live one. I would do anything.” Once more my head dropped, realizing my greatest chance at freedom had likely fallen through my fingers.

I began numbly going through my next options in my head, each seeming more grim and less likely to succeed than the last.

Eventually, Vita spoke. “I suppose you’ll owe me one then.” Shocked, my head snapped up, and before me on the table sat the gilded loop that held dominion over me. Or… used to, rather. Meeting Vita’s bemused expression, I acknowledged, “I suppose I’ll owe you one then.”

And I awoke.