Elizabeth Faustina

“A black cloud hurried over the sky. Winter thunder on a wild wind rolled roaring up and rumbled in the Mountain, and lightning lit its peak.”
― J. R. R. Tolkien, J.R.R. Tolkien Reads Excerpts from the Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring

“But then a voice reached out to him across the leagues of his own vast terror. A silver voice, gentle and serene yet cutting like a blade through any boundaries or walls.
Won't you follow me?
The cat opened his eyes. Sure enough, the blindness pressed in upon him, sickening his gut. But the voice still sang, and when he turn his head to the sound, he was able-if only just-to discern figures moving up ahead of him.
And so, not for the first time in his life, he walked Death's Path.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Golden Daughter

“It means starflower," Sairu said. "The temple is named for the Gardens of Hulan."
"Oh," said the cat. "You don't say."
Sairu, startled by the tone of his voice, looked down. But he was gone.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Golden Daughter

“I'll have you know that Dumpling, Rice Cake, and Sticky Bun are the noble offspring of the great Bright Mane," Sairu said, "descended in a long line of royal canines bred from the deified lineage of the Lordly Sun's own watchdogs."
The cat gave her a look. "Really?"
"Well, the come from the same kennels as the emperor's dogs, so that's close enough."
"Useless yapping things, hardly what you'd call proper dogs. What's the point of them?"
"They ward off devils."
"Yet I'm still here. What else?"
"They're fluffy."
"I'm fluffy," said the cat.
"You're a monster," said Sairu.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Golden Daughter