Wild Indigo

The winds were strong. Expeditious rain pour from the heavens, awaken the vast creatures of the area to seek shelter. Wary as it was when debris flung about of mud, tree rot, rock, and decease unable to survive. While darkness grew, thunder strikes enlighten the world in brief seconds, leaving the lighting to smite patches of grass and trees to and from the lands. Stumbling the rivers unsuitable for crossing or source of subsistence. Cyclone of chaos as the most purest form.

A whisper of chirps and hissed echoed lowly from the depths of the few grottoes hidden in the oasis.

"Aye, it's going to be a mighty terror this year." Pan huffed, leaned heavily by the edge, watching in arid whims as the dense rain matted his fur that snuck by. Eyes watching fellow fae and other make do in the harsh weather. Soon, in the hitch of his shoulders had his eyes look to the sky. Shaking off the uneasiness that raked through him like a stab in the calf.

Another row of animalistic sounds come, enough that had the goat man wander deeper inside for safety. Groaning back a baa that was curling on his tongue from annoyance. Taking a lay by the roaring firepit, finally speaking. "How will I know that the laddie is fine? He is not my kin."

The Naiad slipped out from the shallow pools with a pout halong to its fangy jaw. Letting melody whisper gentle, almost lost as white noise to the hammering outside.

"Don't be a young about this. That angel is in no trouble. You're at fault you grown attached to the likes of their kind." Pan growled, turning away from the watery nymph, blocking out the other woodsy fae. He stated, harsh that he himself wasn't sure it was his own voice. "We grew close. This is punishment. You know this. They're all alike. We should have listen to the harbingers to fill in fear to those not of us."

The Naiad huffed a watery plea, in anger flicked a splash of water to the goat man. Jolting the furred fae to yell, only for the nymph to dive into the shallow pools as disturbance never lingered. In rage to die, the goat man threw a lump of wood into the fire that wielded it to expand dangerously out of firepit limits. Sitting crisscross in a sudden drop, pulling his pipes out his sachet, willing notes to be soothing against the wild storm. Alone. In a form of doleful peace that unknowingly lulled the goat man to sleep.

Bound of chirps and woodland chatter awoken the goat man from his sleep. The fire long ago in ash and chip burn bark. Using the stony walls to help him back on his hooves and neared the grotto opening. Eyes slanted by the arising sun, a sinking feeling set when catching the state of the oasis. It was in ruins. In careful steps, the goat man scouted further in how far the damage spread. Enlonged ears twitched when catching the eerie undertone laments that creaked and swirled through the broken woods.

"Your healing. Slowly my marrow, but you'll grow and stand tall once again." Pan hushed, placing a gracile hand to a tree mending along many akin.

Strolling gently to the lapping begrime lakeside. Making eye contect to wide black peepers in the water. Spare in blinks before the Niada formed, once grace of lush weed grass, lotuses, and shine now in sully dim brown waters and matting debris.

"You have seen better morns, my dear."

Pan wandered closer, holding out a hand in kind that weave through the thick wet moss. Smiling weakly from the comfort purrs from the other. He speaks lowly in asking how her other siblings were fairing after the storm. Mashed in churrs and clicks echoed in conference, that eased the tension in his shoulders, as they moved through the shoreline. Until the Niada perks at a sudden wind change. Pan letting the nymph to certain away to where the disturbance came from. Confused on how the wary stance turned happier and wild, diving into the lake, leaving for the goat man to follow the ripples.

Deeper into the lost and turned meadows, that has shown signs of increased healing compare to the rest. A whiff caught Pan's nose that it was ghostly crisp and cold as a fiery lighting strikes that goosebumped his flesh as he neared the scorce. A scowl on his lips when it came together in thought, of the parasitical extraterrestrial sorcery that threaded surgically throughout the forest. Angels were in the oasis.

He trotted deeper into twine vines and trees, finding a sturdy limb to use as a crook, keeping all senses to the unwelcome guests. Concealed in the shrubs, dark eyes honing on the Angels that were minding through the woods. One angel in bluejay wings with white tips and another, robed and wingless. Familiar nerves ran cold in his being.

"I hope you know that if we get caught. I know nothing." The tall blue winged being hushed, a large book in a death grip in his arms, eyes looking around wary.

The smaller one nodded, a tired sigh given before saying. "I know. I know. Stop. Just find another spell, Zaphkiel. The woods need it." Continuing onward and bowed to a patch of dead flowers and a scorched tree. Placing hands near the roots, hands tinted in a whisp glows that spread and shed away the ashy burnt bark.

"Is this one hurting?" Zaphkiel asked, kneeling by the other and grabbing the closest hand.

Pan catched the blue angel jerk and hissed at whatever the turned out. Listening as he neared through the rim of the clearing.

"I can take over. Give your theurgy a rest. Those welts are going to emit, young one."

The other shook his head, answering. "No. You need to be clear. If they catch on that one of their best scholar lower themselves to this... it just won't end well. Please."

The other angel stayed silent, while a hard arch adrift in his stance, saying unsurely. "Alright. I'll see what I can find. This is the last one and I have to hurry back. You'll be okay?"

"Yes. One of my brothers are aware of my... strolls." The young one said with a shrug, grinding his teeth with a loose hiss, when one of the welts discharged, leaving the open wound nerves to be segmental beaten waved by his casting magic.

"Oh no. Stop." Zaphkiel dropped the large leather book, grabbing the hands to stop, roasted and scarred as if pulled out of fire burnt to almost third degree. "I am regretting not holding you back sooner."

"What else I can do? This is all I have, Zaphkiel. I have troubled you enough to join me and these teachings. Besides, I don't mind."

"Try explaining that to Lucifer or even the higher ups. You clusters are going to rise a lot of questions."

"That I like reading and grasping basic tells? I thought that was our first classes taught us to be hidden swells." The younger one said, a sneaking grin at a fail try to lighten the mood.

Zaphkiel only gave a slight back, standing them both up and wandering to the slow running stream. Warning the other to keep the hands wet until he came back with the book. Leaving the young angel alone, dipping his hands wrist deep before rising just enough to test his joints. He nearly fell forward when hearing a water chirp.

The young one leans enough to the stream, meeting mere inches of a trawl scale and weeded face. Large black eyes, slanted nose, and angled sharp enlonged teeth immerse in form through the crease stream flow. The angel had a fair smile to the forelong one.

"Hello." He said, sprouting when a squirt of water was shot at him. Shaking his head and shouldering to wipe dry. Hollow in understanding when saying in a low whispers. "I deserve that. I'm sorry."

A soft chirp and gentle caresses he could feel through the stream, in tended to the tears and and blisters. The Niada was careful not to leave irritate infections. The course of the touches were lighter to the threading he was using before on the forest.

"Fascinating..." A note for later on how to understand these hex mistes, twist in the young one's mind. Forgotten quickly as the Niada hid back in the depths, when hearing Zaphkiel returning, pages scrabbling in his speed searching. Pausing when seeing the odd state the young angel was in.

"What happen to you?" Zaphkiel asked, kneeling with the book open on his lap, pages still flipping.

"Nothing."

"Honest?"

"Well... I was thinking to immerse myself with nature. Given books and oral teachings can only do so much."

Zaphkiel held the book close to his being, a mock glare to the other. Huffing out in a snide. "Don't mock my passions. I have half a mind to leave."

The young angel gave a toothy smile that was returned just the same. The young one adding in kind. "My thanks for doing this. I know it was a lot."

"It's fine. Worst case I lose visiting hours to the library for a while." Zaphkiel said jest, adding. "Given what they need me for, it won't last. They would never want to miss on the forever updating notions." Zaphkiel stated, amused on the sole thought, finally finding the pages he needed. "Here we go."

"Won't take long?"

"It should not. This book needs a edit, my gods. All the spells are all over the place. I need a heal and look... I find myself in object projections. My goodness, the lords before me were hackles."

"Be nice. Those are your roots there, Zaphkiel."

"Hush. Give me one of your hands, please."

The young one did as told. Biting his tongue to hold back a pitch groan. Unknowingly, made a try to pull away when the heat and stitching of the hex was too much. Zaphkiel kept his hold, whispering in kindness to the other to relax and stay calm. The young angel tried, but when spell simmered down to a different welt near the wrist, the nerves jerk and he jawed a squall. Sudden in sound and motion, Zaphkiel found himself on his bad and a demonic watery sprite growling and baring jaws of an anglerfish with eyes dark as space spouting from the stream like a geyser.

"Niada, no, don't hurt him!" The young angel called out and reaching cautiously when the nymph looked back.

Zaphkiel looked as well, frighten and stilling himself not to shiver. Watching with wide eyes as nameless angel lure the creature away. The monstrous figure trimming away layers of a more enrichmenting winsome yet haunting lifeblood. The young angel hushed lulls to the creature as it curled around him, snake-like, eyes soullessly staring at Zaphkiel. On a sign of comfort, Zaphkiel used his book as a shield. Meaningless, but it was better than nothing.

"She's not going to hurt you."

"Sorry, if I don't believe in your words."

Zaphkiel watched as the creature gave a hoty chirp to other. The nameless angel laughed when catching how the tones sounded very alike. Petting the wild tangles of the nymph, humming offkey that Zaphkiel found odd, while the nymph relaxed well.

"Is this why you here?" Zaphkiel found himself asking.

"Not just her. But others. This is a second home to me, you could say."

Zaphkiel could only stare at the angel.

"I'm in trouble aren't I?"

"Not my place to judge. Though, what would the Lords think? To mingle with the other myths... humans, animals, and plantations is what we are lucky enough to have. Limitations are made for a reason."

The nameless angel smiled gently, saying. "Excuse you, sounds like you are judging."

"I'm just stating facts. Worlds like this won't last forever. Need I remind you of those large scaly beasts centuries ago? If the Almighty is not pleased. Poof." Zaphkiel said, jolting back when the nymph growled at the older angel.

The other angel wrapped an arm around the creature, letting the water sprite to hide her face in his shoulder. Letting him say. "I don't think she like your tone. Also, thy word may be finally, but even the most greatest have faults in those follow."

"Bold. Honest as well." Zaphkiel mindlessly placed a hand on his side, inches away from his ribs. Adding offhand. "May Pahaliah's followers not hear you. I would hate to lose a fellow lover of books."

"You're concern is enthrall as always." The nameless angel said, soon joining the other in laughter.

"Find larks in this as you will. It doesn't take away the fear."

"As Hakha once said to me. The greatest tales of one's life, is where drama thrives. To be the hero that stops it, the villain that leads, or lost in the background. Until they come. I want to just be here, happy."

"Even if it last forever?"

"We were taught that nothing last forever." The nameless angel looked to Zaphkiel's book, saying in a hollow truth. "Not even ourselves. The cycle just won't end. The Almighty knows that too. There is always something going on and in this case, why act like it means anything."

"Yet..."

"Yet, I choose to feel and even to immerse deeper into something that might not be here. I still wish to show something in return, to delay the pain."

"At what cost?"

"I guess I'll find out one day when it comes. Until then, I'm just a wanderless wingless swell that has no place in the heavens, yet. Other than that there traits they find promising and are waiting to dive. That's all I am now. And I am just fine with that."

Zaphkiel noticed how the water creature curled tighter around the other. No sigh of a threat. But it strike something of nostalgia to himself. Choosing to look away and stay focus on the sky. Heaving a furlong sigh.

"I see. Strange. I hope for the best of your future, young one."

"To you as well, Zaphkiel. You are being called for?"

"Yes. I best to get back."

"Be best."

"Your wounds though?"

"Niada has this. She feels that you were not doing a good job."

"Charming. Very well though. I look forward to see you at the library."

"Same."

To that, Zaphkiel was gone in a gust. Once the nymph felt the blue holy one was gone, dragged the nameless child's hands back to the stream. Much to the holy one's dismay, but remained quiet when getting snippy hiss from the Niada. Though the small smile was given back in kind.

"Don't think what you did with Zaphkiel was forgotten. That was not called for."

"I learned the hard way that the course of the female nixes are just snafu. Believe me, laddie, you are not going to win that fight."

The boy looked over his shoulder with a wide smile, yet didn't reach his eyes. The goat man did well in not questioning and sat by the boy. His dark eyes focusing on the boy's hands being tended to.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Ah. You want to play the fool. Very well, laddie. Though, keep in mind, you can only be ignorant for so long."

"I'm fine with that."

"Oh, so does that mean you don't need my teachings then?"

"I didn't mean that! Pan!" The boy called as the goat man up and walked away only a few feet. Pouting when hearing the teasing snerker from Pan. Laughter growing when hearing. "Why must you be this way?"

"Laddie, I could say the same for you. Heal up. The day is young and the forest needs rest."

"Yes, sir."

"Ah. Ah. What did we say about that?" Pan asked, when catching the boy walking alongside him. Flexing his tender fingers that roughed in still healing seams. Mindful of grasping a pear from a passing tree by the stream.

"Your name is Pan." The boy puffed, when catching the smirk from the other. Taking the fruit as a silent offer. Sharing those smiles that meant peace for each other.

"Aye. One day, laddie, you'll have a name I can shout when you're on my nerves."

"Cruel you are." The boy said, in good nature. Sharing the pear bits with a gleeful Niada that followed along.

"Isn't that how we all are."

"I don't think so."

"Aye, laddie, I guess not."

"But I know it takes a lot to mend those differences."

"Aye. That it does. You're learning."

"You too?"

"Anything is possible. Unlikely. Yet, that's the daring fear and pounderment to immerse into the unknow."

"I knew you were near! I knew it!" The boy gloated.

"Don't temp me to throw you into the river. I will."

"After this. I'm shock you haven't." The boy said, soon standing in front of the goat man in puzzlement. Stopping them from moving further. Asking just a simple. "Why?"

Silence rolled between them.

"Pan?"

"Laddie, you keep asking that and the answer will never change. I don't know."

"I don't either. But if it does help. I do hope one day keep you all safe."

"Because you see this place as a home?"

"Yes... well... in the simple matter of speaking. Any place could be a home. To, I guess... ah... anyway!" The boy, strutting in words with a rosy hue to his cheeks. Swifty as the boy could from further embarrassment, asked. "What are we going to do today?"

Pan side glanced to the child, amused by the bashful sound, humming in thought to the boy's said and unspoken words, to say. "I think for today's lesson should be away from the forest. How a trip to the center core. I think what we find there will be entertaining. What you say, laddie?"

"That's fine. But... wait, Pan, what you said before. Pan!"

"Come on, laddie, don't burn the daylight now. Let's go!"

"Pan! W-wait up!"