Hello all!

So here is yet another oneshot and oooh look, it's an AU too XD

This one is probably my longest one yet {9,960 words}, and it was born of an idea that took several days to cram down into a oneshot LOL. I'm happy to finally present it to you though, because if I had to listen to the song on repeat one more time there could very well have been a death.

This isn't my usual style of work but I had a lot of fun writing this:) Enjoy!

Song this was written to is Warrior {the remix} by Beth Crowley


Warrior


Birds chirped and flitted between trees in the large forest, sunlight dappling the ground from where it shone down through the thick tree canopy. Through the dense woods moved a lone figure, cloaked in midnight blue and holding a basket of herbs and vegetables.

The young woman brushed black hair behind her ear and rifled through her basket, mentally counting the food inside.

"I have everything, perfect. Homeward bound." She hummed to herself, cloak snapping out behind her in the brisk wind as she strode through worn paths in the dirt that wound through the trees.

As she moved through the woods she began to notice an unnatural silence, animals peering above at the top of the tree canopy before scuttling underground and birds silencing their songs in favour of hiding in their nests and amongst the trees.

"What in the...?" Mel murmured, brows furrowed in puzzlement as her steps slowed.

Above the trees, she heard a faint yell before the shockwaves of a magic blast washed over the forest. Mel's eyes widened slightly and she froze, looking around worriedly only to let out a soft shriek and leap backwards as much further ahead she watched someone break through the canopy and begin to fall.

"Oh goddess!" Mel gasped, staring in shock and horror as a man with black feathery wings slammed into branch after branch as he spiralled through the air towards the forest floor.

Slipping slightly in her haste, Mel sprinted through the forest towards the stranger as with a final crack of a branch breaking under the force of the stranger hitting it he landed on the forest floor.

"Holy crap, ooh I am not equipped to handle something like this." Mel whispered as she dropped to her knees next to the stranger, taking in his tattered and bloodstained clothes, deep gashes and cuts from what she guessed was a blade all over his body. His forehead was matted with blood, the stranger unconscious although when one of his wings that was bent at what should have been an impossible angle shifted under him a cry of pain escaped the man.

Far above the woods Mel heard the sounds of powerful and angry voices carrying over the treeline. She stared fearfully above, relieved to see that the top canopy had returned to as it has before the stranger had fallen through. It was the broken branches below that showed proof of his fall.

"...we lost him!" A woman's voice yelled angrily.

"No! I can still sense him! Come, we may find him and finish this!" A man snapped back, Mel's eyes instinctively moving back down to the unconscious man next to her.

He was completely defenceless, lying there broken and bleeding from the fall. Her eyes flitted back up as she heard the yelling get closer, before making an impulsive decision she knew she might regret. But she just couldn't sit idle while someone unable to protect themselves was killed.

Before they could sense the man she pulled on her magic, extending it out over the broken man as well as herself to tie it into the magic in the fairy forest. Her heart pounded in her chest, Mel pressing her hands against the forest floor both to concentrate her magic around them and to steady herself as she attempted to pull of the stupidest stunt she had ever considered. She heard them flying above, then the wingbeats suddenly stopped above. Mel's heart dropped through to her shoes as she held her breath and prayed that they wouldn't notice her.

"He's gone! I can't feel him anymore!" One suddenly snapped, voice tense.

"There's only one way that would have happened to have vanished. It's if he's dead." The woman said, sounding triumphant.

"There is not point in finding him. Let the crows rid the world of his carcass, our job here is done."

With that there was several loud flaps before the sound faded quickly, they creatures were leaving.

Mel swallowed hard and slowly released her magic, looking down at the unconscious creature she had just saved.

"Now what am I supposed to do with you? I don't even know what you are!"

The winged man predictably did not answer and Mel heaved a sigh, standing to her feet and grabbing her basket of things. She would certainly need some of these herbs now, to make salve for his wounds.

"I am not even a healer, I cannot believe I'm doing this." Mel muttered, flicking a hand that glowed with magic at the winged man and watching as he began to lift off the ground.

Her magic encased him, holding his limbs still and protecting his wings as she walked through the forest with the large form of the winged man floating behind her. They moved through towering trees and thick brush until they reached the mouth of a small cave, bones of several small animals that had been licked clean by some sort of large wild animal were thrown into a haphazard pile in front of the cave.

Unlike anyone so hopelessly lost that they might come across this cave, Mel ignored the bones as she calmly entered the cave. She walked though the blackness, pausing a few feet in to flick her hand. A sudden flash of light as torches on either side of her lit up and she reached out to push aside a large curtain to reveal a small cozy home hidden in the back.

Carefully she stepped through and used her magic to pull the man through, letting the curtain fall as she guided the winged stranger through the room to the bed further back. After carefully laying him down and using various small tables to brace his wings on she stepped back and studied the damage to the male.

"Okaaay, let's start with stopping the blood flow. Goddess help me..."

This was probably the stupidest decision she had made yet, she just hoped it wouldn't cost her too much.


Several days later and long stretches of no sleep found Mel standing at her table tiredly, mixing yet more salve for her unwanted patient as she worked to remind herself that if she did this she would have successfully done her good deed for her lifetime.

"W-what...?"

The sudden groggy and confused reply from behind her made Mel blink before turning, bracing herself as the man began to stir slightly. His long black lashes fluttered slightly, the man shifting only to give a grunt of pain as his eyes finally opened.

Mel was still, not approaching as she watched him stare up at the ceiling in confusion before slowly moving to sit up with a groan.

"Where-"

"Hello, and welcome to my home." Mel said, cutting off his statement and stepping forward to making her presence known.

His head snapped down to stare at her but rather then reacting like any sane person should after waking up Mel found herself diving out of the way as a blast of magic was fired at the exact spot she had been standing.

"Woah! Are you insane?! Stop!"

Another blast and Mel knew that she would never survive if one of them hit her, so she made a split second decision and played dirty.

All it took was a soft hit on the splint on the man's wing and he let out a howl of pain, the blasts stopping as he let out a long list of foul explicative.

"Would you stop, I'm trying to help you!"

He snapped his gaze to Mel, blood red eyes filled with rage and pain as he waited out his wing recovering the blow. He went to move off the bed only for his body to give out on him, the man collapsing back on the bed with a hiss. Mel rushed to his side to help him only to have her hand slapped away with a snarl.

"How dare you touch me, filthy human."

Her jaw dropped, both at the loathing in his deep and the words he had spoken.

"Filthy human?! This filthy human saved your sorry carcass and is sacrificing her space to patch you back up so you can shove that opinion as far up your rear as your head appears to be!"

Her angry retort brought the stranger up short and he stilled, glancing down as if only noticing for the first time that his entire torso was covered in bandages. His eyes widened slightly before flitting back and forth between his wings to stare at the wooden splints holding them in place.

"What is this?" He questioned sharply, sounding angry and unnerved.

"Those are splints, you broke both your wings in several places and this is to try and make sure that the bones will set correctly." Mel said, holding her hands up cautiously. "Please don't touch them, they've only just gone a couple days ago and I really don't want you to mess up that work."

He glared at her, lips curled back slightly to reveal two pointed fangs.

"I need nothing of your worthless human inventions to heal, I have done just fine on my own for many centuries."

Mel did a double take at his comment, mouth silently forming the word centuries.

"Centuries...what exactly are you?!" She demanded, taking in his inky black wings and raven hair that made his blood red eyes that much more noticeable as he bared his teeth in a cruel grin.

"You don't recognize me? Seems my reputation has not spread as far as they would have wished, but perhaps the name Gyendal might ring a few bells."

Mel blinked, her mind racing to place the name she recognized somehow. It took a few seconds, but when she finally placed where she knew it from her jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me..."

His eyes narrowed dangerously as she fell back a step, shaking her head incredulously.

"Gyendal, the angel who fell after creating a world war because a human ruler disrespected the angel guardians over Aia." She breathed, gaping and the man. "The fallen angel."

"Smart girl." He purred, eyes glittering.

He thought that fear would keep her here, that much was clear. But Mel wasn't about to stick around, this was just another example of her fantastically bad luck and she was getting the hell out of there!

"Screw this!"

"What-?!"

But Mel was already gone, sprinting out of the cave and tearing through the forest like the demon king himself was on her tail.

"What the hell, what the actual hell?!" She squawked into the air. "The one time I actually have a heart and help someone is the one time I NEVER SHOULD HAVE! A dark angel. The fallen angel of legend and I saved his flipping life!"

She slowed her pace slightly, her mind racing out of control.

"Do I go to the village for help?" She mumbled to herself, before glancing down at her arms where she could see the edges of winding symbols peeking out from under a glove.

She flinched slightly, tugging down the sleeve of her jacket before shaking her head.

"No, they would believe me cursed by his presence. I can't go to them. Ugh, I just wish there was a way off this damned island! But it's not like I can fly, I wish I had wings like the angel..."

Her thoughts came to a screeching halt of a sudden and Mel froze mid step, eyes widening as the idea hit her like a runaway train.

"Wait. A. Second." Mel slowly put her foot down, gaping at thin air as her mind pieced together an idea.

A stupid idea.

A reckless idea.

One that just might get her killed.

...it was brilliant!

As quickly as she had fled her home and the angel inside Mel turned back around again, racing through the woods with determination in her eyes. She reached the outside of her cave quickly and she hesitated, taking a deep breath before striding into the cave and through the curtain in the blackness.

"YOU! You drag me to your cave and then abandon me unable to move! Trust me mortal, when I can move you will-"

"What are you doing on the floor?" Mel asked, cutting off the raging angel who was collapsed on the floor with his splinted wings behind him.

He turned rage filled red eyes onto her, Mel tensing as he snarled.

"Well when the only being around who knows what you are flees while you are left behind like a sitting duck for whatever mob may accompany them back the only intelligent thing to do would be to leave, but your worthless human medicine clearly has done nothing to help me as I am very clearly unable to even walk a straight line."

Mel ignored his hateful words, reaching out with magic to instead lift the angel and manoeuvre him back onto the bed. It was a significantly more awkward affair when said male was mad enough to spit fire and was glaring at her the entire time but Mel managed to do it before moving over to deal with the mandates she was boiling to clean over her firepit.

"Actually, they did help. When I got you here you were steadily getting closer to death. I went over twenty four hours without a moment of sleep as I fought to bring you back and stop the blood flow. Two sets of completely destroyed bed sheets covered in blood had to be burned through the process. The fact that just mere days later you're actually awake is a miracle."

Mel's hands were busy as they folded already clean bandages for use, actions done automatically as she focused on how to word her next statement.

"You know that if I go down to the village you're dead." She finally said, Gyendal jerking in the bed as his body glowed slightly but she continued without pausing. "See, you clearly have as bad luck as I do since the only beings on this island just happen to be the fairies. They have direct connection to the Angels, one call and they'll be back to end you since after learning who you are I'm nearly positive they're the ones who did this to you."

The air pressure in the cave dropped, pain filling her head as Gyendal shot up with a grunt, hands glowing black with power.

"You kill me and you'll die here too!" Mel instantly cried, throwing her hands up defensively in front of her.

"Speak fast mortal, for I have long since surpassed any patience with you."

"You had patience?" Mel muttered under her breath before hurriedly explaining. "You aren't strong enough to take care of bandages or apply the salve to keep infection from whatever was on those blades. Not to mention your back and your wings and you certainly won't be able to feed yourself which you need in order for your body to hear properly. But I can do that, I'd be willing to help and get food until you're fully healed...on one exception."

Gyendal let out a snarl, surging forward slightly despite the flash of pain across his face.

"You would dare to try and bargain using my health?!"

Mel raised her chin challengingly.

"You're the one that crashed into my forest, not the other way around. If you're going to live here until you're healed I want something out of it."

He narrowed his eyes dangerously, the red glow unnerving.

"Does keeping your life seem like a suitable reward?"

The venom in his tone made her flinch, she was wholly and completely over her head when it came to this situation. But she refused to back down now so she calmly set aside the bandages and started towards the door.

"Fairie village it is."

She had barely gotten a few steps when she felt magic grab onto her in a vice grip, jerking her back towards him roughly.

"You're not leaving, and I'm not repaying you a second of work." He hissed.

Mild panic washed over Mel and without thought she gathered her magic, slamming it down onto the magic around her with al the force of a frightened Mage. There was a blast and Mel was thrown backwards where she landed onto the floor with a grunt that sounded in time to the startled shout from the male across the room.

"What the-?!"

She gave her head a slight shake to clear the fuzziness as she pushed herself to her feet, looking up to find Gyendal staring at her wide eyed before he let out the longest sigh and slid back to lie on the bed.

"Very well. You may make your offer. I do not deal with mortals, but you are something more...your little display was most interesting."

Mel studied him warily, puzzled by the sudden change in attitude.

"I-okaaayy?" It took her a second to gather her thoughts before answering. "I'll take care of you and get you back on your feet so long as once you're able to fly out of here you take me to the nearest human civilization that accepts mages."

Gyendal snorted.

"Such a simple request. I accept your deal little mate, and I swear to fulfill my side of the bargain."

There was a flash of light s the oath took effect and Mel let out a relieved breath, a burden lifting off her shoulders ever so slightly.

"It's agreed then."


Mel shoved through the trees with unusual anger, branches cracking and breaking away to make room for the angry young woman as she left the fairie city far behind. There was a large bruise already beginning to form on her cheek and she gritted her teeth as she stormed into her cave and through into the back sleeping area.

"Well aren't you in a pleasant mood." A mocking comment echoed from the far wall where Gyendal was sitting in the bed with a book.

She sneered at her unwanted house guest, slamming her things down on her table before reaching in to grab a strange knotted flower out to cast into the fire. They was a sound like a small explosion, bright green sparkles blasting out of the fire before dissolving.

"Typical." She spat, "Do they think that I know nothing about fairies enchantments?"

She raised a hand to touch her bruise with a wince before sliding off her gloves and shoes to set them aside, Mel glancing up only to catch Gyendal's eye.

"What happened to you?" He enquired, sounding bored as he gestured to her cheek.

"I unfortunately got too close to the fairies city for their liking. I only needed some herbs, but the younger fairies and the guards over the city thought that was enough reason to run me off with a few reminders of why I live on my own in the first place. Stupid elitist misquotes, they can't even acknowledge one who shares their blood as worthwhile." Was her sneered reply, Gyendal seeming amused by her anger.

"Their own blood? You have fairie ancestors?"

Mel barked out a hard laugh as she roughly undid her coat, yanking it off to bare her arms to his view and reveal the shimmering curls and flowers up her arms and he raised a brow. She saw his eyes move from her ever so slightly pointed ears to her large and unusually vibrant dark blue eyes.

"I wish that was all it was, but..."

"One of your parents was a fairy." The dark angel concluded, Mel giving a sharp nod as she came over to check the bandages along his arms.

The cuts on his chest and torso had healed the quickest despite being the most severe and no longer need bandages much to her relief, as it had taken a great deal of them. He rolled up his shirt sleeve to his shoulder to give her full access and she could feel him studying her as she worked.

"What already?!" She finally snapped, glaring up at him.

He snorted, shaking his head with his eyes fixed on her bruise.

"Willing to take on the dark angel yet unable to defend herself against a few mischief making fairies. Such weakness is deplorable, what a pathetic existence."

Anger flashed through Mel and in a moment of childish revenge she snapped his bandage much harder then necessary, Gyendal flinching before fixing her with a threatening look.

"Well isn't that nice for you to come in and make an unwanted observation. As it happens, I don't know anything about combat magic. Everything I can do is basic and born from watching the fairies from the cover of the trees so excuse me for not knowing how to defend against a bunch of pure blooded magical beings." She shot back at him, rolling her eyes angrily as she turned to grab a fresh bandage. "Unless you have a way to change my knowledge and skill keep your mouth shut."

"Well if you wanted me to teach you while I'm trapped in this infernal bed you could have just asked. I need something to do anyway or I shall go stircrazy" Gyendal said slyly, Mel turning immediately to protest.

"What?! I don't need your help-"

He cut her off with a smirk, seeming far to pleased with himself for her liking.

"Your weak and pointless existence was request enough. You'll never make it out in the world of mages if you can't even do the simplest of offensive battle spells." His hand reached out and caught hold of hers, Mel jerking at the sudden contact.

He reached up to tap her fairy markings and she inhaled at the feeling of a pain, a burn under her skin.

"That is your magic, locked away inside just waiting to be released the way you did when I grabbed you that first day. You have potential, but you must learn how to unlock that strength. I will teach you how to fight" Gyendal said simply, tone serious.

Mel pulled her hand away quickly and retreated to her table to start preparing their dinner, unnerved by his words. He said nothing more, returning to his book as she worked on the meal and tried to ignore the questions in the back of her mind.

Could she learn magic that would allow her to stand against the fairies despite their strength. She truly doubted it, she was part fairie but that by no means made her a powerful Mage.

Still...

"Fine. I'll let you teach me. At least you'll be doing something useful around this place for once."

Mel's words came off as harsh, but it was as if that damned dark angel could sense the unsureness behind it as he never bothered to look up from his book, but allowed a small smirk to flit across his lips.


Night had fallen over the fairie forest and the inhabitants of the cave deep inside the magical woods could be both found fast asleep. In the bed a dark angel in a restless sleep with both his wings extended and splinted out on either side of the bed, and in the opposite corner a pile of blankets and rugs all gathered together to provide a nest-bed for a black haired young woman.

However the peace of the night was quickly ruined by a clatter and a growl outside the cave. Both occupants were awake in an instant and Mel stitched the massive curved knife off the small table next to her before soundlessly racing across the cave and through the curtain towards the entrance. She could feel a presence behind her but she never fully registered it as she leapt out of the cave with her knife at the ready and magic illuminating the entire clearing around her cave.

"A wolf!" She gasped out, relief coursing through her at the sight of a woodland creature rather then a monster or worse yet, a fairie.

"Well that was a pleasant wakeup." Came the dry voice from behind her, Mel nearly leaping a foot off the ground as she whirled to face the individual who had spoken.

"Gyendal! You're standing!"

The dark angel smirked, towering over with his arms lazily crossed.

"Astute observation. Close your mouth, you look idiotic gaping at me like that."

Her jaw snapped shut as she gazed up at him, for the first time getting a bit of a reality check at who she was truly housing.

In the moonlight he looked terrifying, red eyes glowing and white fangs reflecting the moonlight that illuminated his bronzed skin. His height was intimidating, especially with his wings outstretched on either side.

The only thing that ruined the image was the wooden splints.

"Since when could you even get out of bed muchless walk?!" Mel demanded, urging him backwards into the cave once again so that she could get out of e cold breeze.

"I've been stretching my legs and moving around whenever you were away hunting or doing whatever it is you mortals do in the forest. You look so shocked, did you somehow expect me to come running to tell you all about being able to walk when I first was able to?" His tone was mocking and Mel's temper flared.

"Uh, yeah?! I've been trying to to everything around you being an invalid in bed so even a small update in passing would have been nice!" She snapped, Gyendal snorting as they reentered the living space of the cave. "How long exactly have you been up and moving during my hunting trips.

"Three weeks. You needn't be so startled, I have done little moving because I tire quickly. The venom from the attacking angels blades was deep inside my system by the time you finished cleaning my wounds and it is taking my power a long time to burn it out completely."

She had no idea how to reply to that and he never waited for her to make comment as he began to cross over back towards the bed. He had only taken a few steps before she saw him waver slightly and without thinking Mel quickly rushed to his side, catching hold of his arm as he stumbled slightly.

"I can take care of myself!" He snapped, moving to pull free. "I do not need to be walked several feet across the floor Mel, release me!"

"Oh look at that, somehow I don't really care what you say about your care since you clearly overestimate your stamina when you're like this." She singsonged as she proceeded to ignore him and steady him to the best of her abilities as he dropped down to sit heavily on the bed.

"You are an insufferable creature." Was the muttered reply to her words and Mel grinned.

"Glad I can repay you for what you're putting me through. You have got to be the worst patient in existence."

Amusement flickered across his features as he carefully reclined backwards onto the bed.

"I'm sure I should feel bad for that but I can't seem to find it in myself to care. You brought me here, I never invited myself into your cave unwelcomed. You even had a chance to run away yet here you are, being an irritant that tries to coddle me." He said mockingly.

"Yeah, well I wasn't about to leave you to die." Mel muttered as she crossed over to her own blankets and burrowed deep down under them.

There was silence after her reply and as Mel began to drift she wondered if he had fallen asleep.

"You would be a first to hold that sentiment."

Somehow she knew that his words were not meant for her to hear, perhaps it was the soft tone or the bitterness they held but they stuck a cord in her that resonated deeply. Sleep did not come after he made that statement, as a question played on her mind with nagging consistency.

What exactly had happened in his life to bring him to such a place as this?


"Pull it in carefully. Too fast and you'll strain something."

Gyendal hissed out a sigh at Mel's instructions and she wondered if he was going to ignore her just on principle but for once he followed her instruction instead of going out of his way to contradict her words. Carefully one black wing was pulled back towards his bare back, Mel's hands resting on the joint at the top of the wing as she sat behind him to feel for any unnatural movements within the bones and joints.

Once it was fully tucked into a resting position Mel let go, folding her hands in her lap as she watched him carefully extend and pull back his wings to test.

"They are fully healed, I truly loathe admitting this but your mortal "splints" have done well in preventing the wings from healing in the incorrect positions." Gyendal finally said, Mel breathing a sigh of relief that everything was generally in working order.

"Well that's relieving. I've splinted bird wings plenty of times before, I hate to see a bird as powerful or majestic as a hawk among other large predator birds die because of a broken wing. Your wings seemed similar to bird wings so I took a chance."

He laughed lowly.

"As insulting as it is to be compared to a bird, I appreciate having mobility in my wings again so I can look that over I'm sure."

Mel snickered before her amusement faded away, replaced with curiosity as she studied the midnight black wings in front of her. She began to reach up towards them before stopping herself inches away and glancing up at Gyendal who had turned his head partially to watch her with a unreadable expression.

"Uh...can I?"

She could see his hesitation before he finally gave a sharp nod, turning to face in front of him as Mel ever so carefully reached out to brush a finger along his wing. She had of course handled his wing when putting the splint on, but only barely and the bit of contact with the top area stretched over bone had only made her more curious.

Her fingers gently slid over black feathers, Mel letting out a soft oh of surprise at how silky they were. After a moment she gained a little bit of confidence, her hand going flat to stroke the feathery wing.

"It's so soft." She murmured to herself, fingers trailing up along the edge of the wing to smooth over the long feathers.

With one finger she carefully traced over the top of his wing to follow the curve down towards his back. The skin right along where the wing was connected to his back was raised with several small scars and without thinking Mel allowed her fingers to brush over the connection of his wings to his back.

Gyendal let out a startled breath at her touch, tensing and instantly Mel pulled back.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"It's fine." He snapped, cutting her off as he slowly relaxed his muscles. "I just am not used to physical contact that isn't violent. It was just...startling."

Mel nodded, ears burning with embarrassment. She would never usually have done that, she had just been so caught up in her curiosity about the wings.

"Can you feel when someone is touching your wings? Or is it more calloused and deadened to feel?" She enquired.

He pulled his wing back fully before turning on the bed so that he was partially facing her.

"I can feel touch, my wings are actually more heightened to touch then most of me. I feel things more acutely when it comes to my wings then I would if someone touched my arm for example." Gyendal explained, the feathers on his wings ruffling ever so slightly before settling.

"What would that feel like on someone without wings?" She asked, curious.

He studied her with a raised brow before smirking slightly.

"It would feel something like this."

His hand reached out, brushing over part of her head with his nails scraping ever so slightly against her scalp before he pulled away. Instantly Mel's hand flew to her head, eyes slightly wider then usual as she felt her scalp tingle ever so slightly.

"Oh..."

He chuckled and stood, giving a wave of his hand as a black tunic shimmered into existence over him and he strode towards the entrance of the cave.

"I'm going for a walk to stretch my muscles." He announced before exiting the cave.

Mel stared after him a moment before quickly standing and busying herself with cleaning up the bandages and splints. It took some time to clean up the mess, and as she was working a glint of black caught her eye. She paused before bending down to pull it out from under the bed to reveal a long black feather. She glanced over at the wastebin for a moment before giving a slight shake of her head and carrying the feather over to place it with her things.

She never noticed the set of red eyes watching her movement from the shadows, eyes lingering on her fingers as she carefully laid the feather down.


Further back behind the cave there was a small stream that led down a mini waterfall into a deep pool of sparking and clear water. At the very bottom glittering crystals could be seen growing and reflecting colours through the water and along the walls. Sitting on the rock that jutted out over the pond was Mel and Gyendal, enjoying their lunch in the sunshine.

"The other fairies don't know this place exists?" Gyendal asked around a mouthful of food.

Mel shook her head, leaning comfortably back on her elbows as she lazily kicked her legs that hung over the side and were submerged into the water.

"Nope. They never really go out here because the more aggressive animals that inhabit the fairie forest reside closer to the edge. That's why I live in the cave, they haven't found me because they aren't interested in exploring this area."

"''Tis a foolish view, you were smart to ignore such worries and explore deeper." He commented offhandedly.

She laughed at that.

"I didn't exactly have a choice but thanks all the same."

He shrugged and reached over to grab a piece of fruit from one of the plates as Mel glanced over at him.

"Hey. I never asked but, what happened that you were attacked and hurt so badly?"

He twitched at her question, glancing over at her sharply.

"Pardon?"

Mel fidgeted with her sandwich, glancing away.

"When I found you, I had never seen anything like it. You were soaked in blood with wounds all over you, you fell through the forest and landed unconscious on the ground. I had to use magic to shield you from the other beings in search of you, they thought you were dead. I want to know what happened that brought you to the fairie forest."

Gyendal was silent for several long minutes before he began to talk.

"Ever since my fall I have been enemy number one of the guardian angels over Aia. I was the personification of the wrong in the world. A guardian who created war and had the blood of thousands on my hand." He grinned slightly then, expression dark and reckless. "Oh I gave them many a reason to hate me. If I was going to live an outcast, I was going to do everything in my power to make them regret casting me out. Eventually I grew tired of my revenge games, but even as those that were in my generation moved on in their lives the younger generations still burned against me. I am stronger then all of the angels of the younger generations, but even I can be taken unawares."

He exhaled, looking up at the sky above.

"That month had been one of constant attacks, relentlessly going after me. Their numbers were overwhelming and even an angel of my strength and power can eventually be overcome with constant battling and attacks. For every one that fell away it was like two more replaced them. They were determined to see my end. By the time I ended up over the forest it had been a full month of straight attacks, and their blades were enhanced with weakening venom. My wings would have been the worst, like shredded meat, but I was constantly fuelling my magic over and through my wings to keep them healed. I had lost too much blood finally, and when I received a blow to the head I was knocked unconscious. That's when you found me."

Mel listened silently, her food forgotten I hand.

"If they had never been part of your fall why were they so angry?" She finally asked.

He glanced over at her.

"I was a representation of my generation of an all-powerful guardian. I had the physical strength, I was intimidating even before I gained the fangs, red eyes and my wings changed. I was the most powerful mage of my generation. But I was young and angry and I fell, and to those younger generations that I was held up as an example to it was a betrayal. Thus, even when those that knew me had grown past it and no longer sought my destruction due to my choice to seclude myself from mortal and angel affairs both the younger ones were not yet sated."

Mel shook her head slightly.

"I can't imagine how that must have been, living your life on the run the way you do."

"Yet your story is not so different. You hide out trapped on the fairie island with beings that harm you and run you off simply for existing. You have your own story, one I'm sure would be most interesting."

He raised a brow and Mel laughed slightly at the obvious hint before going serious.

"My life isn't nearly as action packed as yours. My father was a fairie who had an affair with a human woman. His fellow fairies turned a blind eye to his actions, right up until that human ended up pregnant. They allowed him to bring the human here for care, so long as the woman and the baby left and never returned once the birth was over. It was agreed, my father never wanted a child anyway. He was only doing this because he didn't want the woman dead by birth complications which are common for mixed children of different kinds." She shrugged then, glaring out into the water. "Fat lot of good that did, since my mother died anyway. The fairies were furious when my father decided to keep me, he hated it as much as they all did but he felt honour bound since I was his blood. He lasted for five years before he up and left, abandoning the fairies that made his life hell and abandoning his "burden" right allong with them."

Mel reached over, grabbing a rock and throwing it out over the pool irritably.

"They let me stay in the city until I turned thirteen, I guess even the shallow and cruel breed of fairies have morals. They would never forget to remind me how worthless me and my mixed blood, mocking my existence and going on about how it's too bad I wasn't born to the illusive fairies that live within the land of the elves. But those fairies had no contact with these ones for obvious reasons, so there was no way to send me away. In the real world I would thrive, I could even one day come back for revenge so they refused to send me off the island. They chased me out into the forest instead so that I wasn't "polluting" their precious city. That's how I ended up where I am now."

Her statement was met with silence and Mel closed her eyes, enjoying the peace as she found herself lost in thought and memories. They finished their lunch wordlessly, before gathering their things and starting back towards the cave.

As they reached the entrance, Mel felt a hand brush her shoulder and turned to face Gyendal with a questioning look.

"You'll be leaving the island once I'm healed enough to transport us both. Consider it a personal request, but when you come back to repay them for their "hospitality", be sure to send my love won't you?" The sarcasm was thick in his tone and Mel couldn't help the slightly unpleasant grin that crossed her face.

"Oh trust me, I'll be sure to pass that along."


"I am honestly so jealous right now." Mel muttered, watching wide eyed as Gyendal crouched down before surging into the air with a powerful flap of his wings.

He shot up into the air, wings being pulled tight to his body as he spiralled up through the air. It was breathtaking, the midnight black wings twirling through the air as he dived down and spun like a corkscrew towards the ground before pulling up and slowly lowering himself to the ground.

A look of extreme satisfaction filled his features as he gave a brisk snap of his wings to rid himself of any old feathers that had come free before turning to Mel with dancing eyes. His face looked the most open Mel could ever remember as he gave his head a brisk shake to get the loose black strands out of his face.

"It'll take some more work to strengthen my wings and rebuild stamina for a long flight carrying extra weight but we're well on our way off this island." Gyendal announced, sounding pleased with the progress.

"How long do you think it'll take?" Mel asked, Gyendal shrugging elegantly.

"Unsure at this point. No more then a couple more months though, now that the hardest part is over it won't be very long now." Suddenly he paused, studying her calculatingly. "However, getting some practice flights with an extra person just might be a wise idea to help build up to leaving."

Mel blinked and he shot her a wicked smirk, stepping up to her.

"Better hold on tight, I'd truly hate for you to fall."

Her eyes nearly tripled in size as he wrapped an arm tightly around her waist and then without so much as a pause to let her brain catch up with what was about to happen he shot into the air, this time with Mel in tow.

"AAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Her arms were wrapped so tightly around him that somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if he was going to have trouble breathing, but a much louder and very much in control of her brain was far to focused on the fact that he was flipping through the air with her and she was so about to die!

"YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME!" She shouted, the deep rumbles of laughter that she could feel through his chest doing absolutely nothing to calm her as the wind whistled in her ears.

Then, just like that it stopped.

His wings snapped out and right there in the middle of the air they stopped abruptly. Mel took several huge gulps of air, arms shaking with how tightly she was clinging to the insane and quite clearly psychotic angel.

"You can relax Mel, I have you. I'm not going to drop you, and you're half strangling me at the moment which is not a pleasant sensation." He said teasingly, it taking Mel several moments before she could recover enough to open her eyes and peer around them.

The sight of the clear blue sky and the sparkling ocean below made Mel gasp, the sudden wonder pushing her fear to the back of her mind as she gazed wide eyed around at the tree tops below and the smaller islands close by that dotted the crystal waters.

"It's...beautiful." She breathed, wonder filling her face.

"It is, isn't it. This is one blessing that only angels and those on the backs of dragons could ever understand, the beauty of the world below you. You cannot see borders and people from here. Only the lands they inhabit." Gyendal said, his voice quiet.

She smiled unabashedly at the vision below her before glancing up at Gyendal, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"You see this every time you fly. No wonder the goddess made angels immortal, at least someone can see the beauty of Aia and appreciate it through all it's changed over the centuries." She said, Gyendal raising a brow at her observation.

"It certainly makes everything else worth it when you can fly above it all and see the world as I can." He said, shooting her a genuine half smile before lifting his eyes to look out over the woods past her.

"Now, how does continuing this flight sound?"

Mel let out a laugh.

"How does that sound?! I'm not sure I ever want to stop flying so do what you want."

He grinned wickedly, grip tightening ever so slightly before they took off across the way to zigzag over the trees below.

This was like nothing Mel could have ever imagined, and more breathtaking then she had ever expected.


Mel reached up to pluck fruit from a branch above the one she was currently balanced on, before carefully placing it in the basket next to her. One thing she would miss about the Fairie forest was the star apples that grew there.

"Mel!"

A voice called from below and she shifted to look down, Gyendal standing in the clearing under her.

"One sec!" She called, leaning down to grab the branch she was standing on to swing to the one below before jumping off to land easily on the ground in front of Gyendal. "What's up?"

He raised a brow at her casual greeting before giving a soft snort of amusement at her appearance.

"You look like you just got into a fight with a bush and lost."

Mel glanced down at herself and laughed, seeing bark stains on her clothes and reaching up to few leaves tangled in her hair.

"Not at all, I'm trying to blend in here." She said with a snicker, pulling leaves out of her hair.

"Clearly. Anyway, there's a small family of rabbits trying to move into your cave and I figured I'd ask you what you want done with them. I'm always up for roast rabbit but-what are you doing?"

Mel muttered a few choice words under her breath as she tried in vain to unstable a small twig with several tiny branches from her hair.

"What does it look like I'm doing?! And no, I eat rabbits but I draw the line at baby bunnies. I'll get rid of them when I get back."

Gyendal rolled his eyes and shook his head, amusement playing at the corners of his lips.

"So softhearted." He muttered before reaching up to push her hands out of the way. "You're only making it worse, let me do it."

His hands took over and Mel froze in place, feeling his fingers running through her hair as he carefully untangled the strands. His fingers brushed over her scalp, and she could feel a hint of his breath across her head as he leaned down to better see what he was doing.

As he moved his hand to push some of the hair aside his finger brushed over the shell of her ear and Mel couldn't help the gasp that escaped her, a shiver running through her instinctively.

She felt Gyendal still, hand freezing in her hair and she looked up at him with startled eyes.

When their gazes met, Mel swallowed hard. The question in his scarlet eyes fading as he stared down at her. His hands rested gently in her hair, breath stirring the strands across the top of her head. It was like her eyes were locked on his, she couldn't have looked away if she had tried.

The sudden tension in the clearing made all the nerves in her body stand on end, her mind racing to find an explanation only to come up empty as she found herself swaying ever so slightly towards him.

His hands in her hair tightened ever so slightly and Mel's lips parted as if to ask him what was going on because she sure had no idea!

Then his eyes widened slightly and suddenly the moment was over. He yanked his hands free, backing away several steps before turning and striding away without a word.

Mel was left standing here in the clearing, frozen as she watched after the dark angel.

What the hell was that?!"


Mel walked back towards the cave with her hunting kills tied to a branch. She whistled under her breath cheerfully as she approached the entrance to the cave.

However just as she reached the mouth she was met with a baffling slight, as Gyendal exited the cave with a small bag of things in hand. He never even spared her a glance, ignoring her as he had been for the past several days since that strange moment at the fruit tree.

"W-what are you doing?!" She demanded, Gyendal sparing her a indifferent glance over his shoulder as he answered.

"I'm finding somewhere else to stay until I'm strong enough to take us off the island."

Mel gaped at him, watching as he walked further away before putting her kill down and rushing after him.

"You're leaving?! Why!?"

He answered without turning this time.

"Because I no longer wish to share space with another and I've invaded your home for long enough."

"W-what the hell are you talking about?! You've been fine all this time, we don't get in each other's way since one or both of us is out of the cave most often during the day! And since when do you care about "invading my home"?!" She demanded, hurt and confusion swirling through her mind.

"I believe I've made by thoughts very clear. Do not bother looking for me, I'll do just fine on my own until it's time to leave. I have no desire for company." He bit out, his tone striking Mel in a way she never thought anyone could.

Her steps slowed before coming to a halt, fists clenched at her sides as she swallowed a lump. His words hit her to her core, she had talked with him and joked with him, but most of all she had trusted him with her story and he was cutting her off like her existence meant nothing other then obligation.

Just like her father.

Rage welled up in her and she took a jerky step forward, glaring after his retreating back.

"You know, I actually thought that I might have a friend in you. Someone who wouldn't judge and would just accept me for who I am. How stupid, you aren't any different then the other monsters that inhabit this island who use people and throw them away. You just come in a different form." Her words were thrown like fiery barbs, anger and pain clear in her tone.

"Oh that's rich, coming from the girl that abandoned a dying man in her home based purely upon his kind." He spat venomously over his shoulder.

"Are you kidding me?!" Mel shouted after him, nails biting into her palm with how hard her fists were clenched. "That was the mistake and fear of someone who has lived most of her life alone where new faces meant pain. Yet even then, you have never been "just a dark angel" to me! How the hell was I supposed to judge you based on the surface when even in the beginning I could see so much more, how could I do to someone else what has been done to me all of my life! The term dark angel means nothing to me applied to you! I care about the person, not some stupid title even if you're too shallow to look past that yourself."

His pace slowed, but Mel wasn't finished.

"You aren't a dark angel to me! You're a friend, you're-"

Her tone cut off as he abruptly halted and whirled to face her with glittering eyes and intensity in his expression that caught Mel off-guard.

"...just Gyendal." She finished, but her tone was uncertain now as she took in the way he stared at her so intently.

There was a single beat of nothing, neither of them moving as Mel waited for whatever came next.

Then Gyendal's bag slipped from his fingers, and Mel watched as the male in front of her crossed the clearing in wide steps to come to a halt in front of her. His hands came up to cup her face, and he leaned down the remaining space between them to crush his mouth against hers.

The sensations were overwhelming, terrifying and exciting all at once as he kissed her without giving her even a moments break to register what was happening. A sensation like nothing Mel had ever experiences as his mouth moved over hers she found herself leaning into him as she tilted her head further up to respond.

Then it was over, Gyendal pulling away slowly and straightening to full height while Mel caught her breath.

"Gyendal, what..."

She trailed off and he merely tilted his head in reply, muscles rippling as he tensed and stepped back. Mel stared at him, eyes widening as she noticed the shimmer of magic encasing the dark angel as he dropped his head back and closed his eyes.

She was just about to ask him what he was doing when the first feather fell.

It was a sight that Mel could hardly believe, the midnight black feathers falling to the ground with increasing speed from the bottom up as his wings began to shrink with every feather gone. The glow around Gyendal brightened as the skeleton of his wing began to be revealed, and then as the last feathers fell to reveal white bone, the skeleton too began to glow. Then it began to dissolve, the remains of the bones becoming stardust that spun around Gyendal before flying into the sky and exploding over it.

When the glow faded, Gyendal was left surrounded by black feathers looking as human as any of them.

"Gyendal?" She breathed, voice pitchy and fearful.

His eyes slowly opened, revealing intense forest green as he shot her a gentle and slightly pained half smile.

"A-are you okay?! What happened?! Did I-"

A long finger settled over her lips to silence her as Gyendal gave a slight shake of his head.

"No. It was not your fault, at least not how you think." He said, his voice having lost the razor like quality it once had.

"So it was my fault somehow?!" Mel squawked, Gyendal letting out a soft chuckle as he dropped his hand.

"Mel, do you know anything of the laws that govern the angels? I know that those on Aia know our laws, I do not know if you learned of them."

Mel shook her head in reply and Gyendal let out a soft sigh.

"It is written in the Law of Angels that an angel is forbidden to become involved with any of the beings on Aia. Our roll is to protect, we do not live among and develop relationships unless it is with a fellow angel. To break such a law, to fall for a human and act upon those feelings is a "sin" so to speak according to the laws. If we fall for a human we will "die" in that moment. We lose our angel wings and immortality, we become mortals ourselves." He explained, gesturing at the pile of black feathers around him.

Shock and guilt took turns battering Mel's brain as she stared at Gyendal.

"You became mortal?!"

He let out a soft laugh at the look on her face, reaching up to brush the tips of his fingers over her cheek.

"I did. It seems that you're my fatal sin."

"That's why you wanted to leave and avoid me, because of the law." Mel muttered, piecing her answer together before looking up at him. "I don't understand! If you knew that you would lose everything, why the hell did you kiss me?!"

His face went serious as he studied her and Mel waited nervously for his answer.

"Because I knew that the chances of finding someone who would see me as something more then a dark angel, and who was strong enough to stand with me especially amongst the angels was near impossible. I wasn't interested in leaving that behind just to save a pair of wings. Nearly nothing made me happy through the centuries of being an angel, but as a mortal not only am I free of the angels but I can start over with a new life."

His simple answer made her anger with him for throwing away all that for her vanish, his answer bringing realization that mortality came with a freedom that was held from him when he was an angel.

"So I have a different kind of question for you. Would you be willing to join me in my journey over Aia, leave behind the Fairie forest to travel at my side? We can explore all that this world has to offer, perhaps find those other fairies. I'm sure there are plenty of lucrative ways we can amuse ourselves at the expense of the humans..."

His question made Mel laugh, she never had to stop and consider her answer.

"Not sure what else I'd do with my life. I tried to stay aloof in the beginning but pretty soon I was entangled in the mess of your life thanks to you crashing practically onto my doorstep. Besides, through your harsh ways and training, you made me see what you knew was inside me all along." The last part of her answer was met with a chuckle from the male across from her and she shrugged.

"You acted as weak fairy halfling before." Gyendal stated calmly, before reaching out to offer his hand. "So what are you now?"

Mel smiled at his question as she recalled the last confrontation with a large group of fairies. A confrontation that she had won without struggle and instilled a fear of her that allowed her peace from their games. Firmly she set her hand in his, his fingers closing over her.

"I'm a warrior."