A/N: My entry for CarlisleCullenIsMyHomeboy12's Twenty Word Contest. Rated T for possible future chapters.
Number one: Dawn.
Pairing: Gavner Purl/Liz Carr.
Disclaimer: I'm not Darren Shan.
The sky was glowing a comforting orange colour when Liz stepped into the garden of her small house: the huge yellow morning sun was just starting to rise above the fields that spread far behind her garden and stretched on seemingly forever. She smiled at the feeling of familiarity and safety as the cool morning breeze swept her long, light brown hair up and twirled it around for a moment, before letting it fall gracefully on her shoulders again. The scene, the moment, was perfect and what really set it off was the burly vampire sat in the middle of the lawn.
"Gavner?"
The vampire turned at her voice and grinned, motioning for her to join him. Liz smiled and sat on the dewy grass, placing her hand in Gavner's, "What are you doing out here?" She asked quietly.
Gavner pointed at the rising sun, "Watching the sun rise."
Liz frowned, "But, you'll burn."
Gavner laughed and ruffled his lover's hair affectionately, "I can withstand dawn, Liz. It's the rest of the day that fries me."
They both laughed and settled against each other, waiting for the sun to rise and the sky to entertain them with many beautiful colours. Liz sighed and nuzzled closer to the vampire, "Why are you back?"
"I needed a break." Gavner answered, somewhat distractedly. When he caught Liz's questioning stare he elaborated, "General duties were getting a bit too much."
"But that's your job: to complete those duties. Surely you can't just leave."
"I got permission to take a break," Gavner grinned, "and you sound like Larten. It's scary." Liz pulled a face and the vampire laughed.
They lapsed into silence, watching the reds and oranges of dawn dance across the sky, "How is Larten?" Liz asked after a while – she had met the orange-haired vampire a couple of times before, and she liked him: he was polite and sometimes a welcome change from Gavner's immaturity.
Gavner hesitated before answering, "I haven't seen him for a while. He left the mountain a few months ago." His voice was sad with a hint of worry.
"Why did he leave?"
Shrugging, Gavner sighed, "I don't know. He didn't tell anyone he was going: just one night he wasn't there anymore. I mean, I can understand him not telling me – we don't tell each other everything – but he didn't even mention anything to Seba. Or Arra." He shook his head sadly and sighed again. Liz gave him a questioning glance so he explained, "Seba is his mentor, and Arra is – was – his mate."
Liz nodded but a frown found its way onto her face after a minute, "If they're – they were – mates, then surely he would have told her where he was going. Actually, he wouldn't even have left at all, right?"
Gavner nodded thoughtfully, "You'd think. But apparently not." He paused before continuing, "They were made for each other too . . . . " He trailed off and pinned his eyes on the brightening sky, "I don't know why he left, I don't know if I'll ever see him again. But I'm going to try to find him."
"When?" Liz asked, squeezing his hand.
"Tonight." Gavner nodded determinedly and shut his eyes, signalling he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
Nodding in recognition Liz sighed, "We'll have to make the most of today then." She gave him a sly grin and he smiled down at her, giving her a passionate kiss before lifting her up into his arms and carrying her into the house.
