Lavender

Into a cold twilight, Pan tends to the woodlings and his own sanity. Hooves trekking through the thick snow in wonderment on the sudden weather change. It was left unsaid as his dark eyes looked upward in spite as he pulled his cloak closer for warmth. Listening to the winds in guidance until finding a frozen lake, yet his will remains on a small figure curled near the bayside.

A wary sigh leaves his being as he nears the slowly familiar being. A grip in his lungs and shaken hands matching the being, says enough. As Pan kneels to the wingless angel boy, sharpen nails just gazing over the blemishes and cuts that appear well through the hazy air.

"I warned you, boyo. They are not what you say they are." Pan hushed, gathering the boy up and deeper into the forest, before the winds and snow grew.

Silence is all that broke through between them, Pan trying not to notice the death grip from the boy and the loose tears that fell on his thin, worn shoulder. Nearing his dwellings, laid the boy down and took to work on starting the fire from just mere embers. Half minded removed his cloak and blanket the child between the wanders in making the cave a bit warmer.

"Pan…"

The goatman stiffened from the weak tone, arch ears flickering on alert. An old habit creeping up on him and it only makes the flute player tired and anger boiling all the same. Despite better judgment, Pan makes a noise to let the boy know he heard him.

"Pan…"

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry."

Pan looks across the fire, seeing those dark gem eyes, red and puffy from crying, stare back at him, black and blue flesh that stayed hidden in the cloak. The crackling of the fire, the only lullaby playing around them as they sit further in silence. Pan stays alert in his bent sit, willing the chill out of him of emotions and winds battling on his nerves.

"There is nothing for you to be sorry for, boyo." Pan stated, leaning against the cooling stones of the cave's walls. Continued with a given voice, that was just done yet still warm. "What you have found and carried is not your words to say. Know this - never and I mean this, do not put all your faith thy gods. Yours or others, but the cleverness of thought and dreams of flying turtles and the greater unknown be your guide. But if anything else, let it be your choice too. Aye?"

"I recall those words in passing. Pan..."

"See them as a lesson retold once more, laddie. They may not be all to oneself, but they never not speak lies. Remember that." Pan stated, messing with the fire when it downed in size.

"Loyalty is not made like that though."

"That falls more to who gives and returns it. There is no right answer either if one should bother."

"I-I guess…"

"Though, if one were to play a different tune. I play for this… what is your reason?"

"They are my brothers. They are my friends. And like you, a teacher and more."

"That means little."

"I do not think so. Every last second in this time is all I need to know that something can be done, so please, please, Pan be better than this. Share it with me."

Pan snarks a chuckle, bitter in reply. "For someone that loves to teach by all else with no skill or talent could prove even more of a heartache about thee."

The boy gives a weak smile, saying. "I learned that's okay. As that's my choice and I am fine with all things in the end."

"That kind of thinking is going to get you more bruises than usual, laddie. Or worse, killed."

"I am aware. They make sure of it. So… what's left to risk?"

"Ask your 'brothers' and that should do enough."

Meanwhile back in the heavens above, Lucifer busies himself in a search through the grand halls. His hands by his side twitching in a coarse anger. Another being following behind, paying little mind on the wrath used as only entertainment.

"You shouldn't-"

"I had little choice on the matter, Sakriel." Lucifer gritted, further in his marching.

"He wanted to know. He has a right to it when he gets his wings. Things will change."

"If he does."

"You can't treat him like a hatchling forever, Luci. Nor acted as you did. If I was there sooner, I would lay you flat on the training grounds after what you did."

"When did you suddenly care about what came to the boy? You didn't even want to help when you were ordered to."

"He's like a fungus. I grew to like him and I didn't mind, yet here you are. Being that old self. Seep with regret. What happened?"

"They happened. They had to tell his place, a reality he has no say in. Just like the rest of us."

"Last I check, you do not mind being on that high throne with the rest of those you bark on. Luci, you are not being honest here."

"Says the murderer of the loss and bares only thee names."

Sakriel stills trailing the other angel, a smirk still on his face yet eyes dull. "Cold. But the point still remains. You became what you fear. All of the Almighty, just take two and call it quits now. My eyes can only take this amount of sadness for so long. Even you can't remain that blind as those in the past did, Lucifer."

"Can I really undo that?"

"No. In all honesty no. But that boy has a big heart. If those fae down there that enjoy his company, says enough. He was going to find out sooner or later about us and our roles. You method needs work though."

"That would it only bares mind, as could say true, as one said - it is odd of how those have said that they just do not believe in us is what makes us thrive to only prove them more wrong but just as right. Mortality is a jest through the winds, pitiful." Lucifer grits, as they neared the edges of clouds and away from the gray towers that hang only in shadows over them.

Sakriel smirk grows, as lean near his bright brother, with a cooing lul. "I would not say I did not just ruin their laws, but to break them into what they'll never be. Is just anew fault in their own ways. Same world teller as yours."

"That's too soon. We are far from ready to do that."

"You and your little crones have enough. It's only a matter of time. And if protection is something newly added. Those in mind can not be left in the dark forever. When the time comes. We have to come clean. It's only fair. He's our little brother after all."

"That's only if he gets his wings."

"Even when he does get them. That will change nothing. His glide told enough. What he is granted will never be enough. As long as this place remains askew. No one really has a Paradise in their last breath."

"That's just a reality, isn't it?"

"For most. Others, this is just another delusion."

"And we'll make it one to remember." Lucifer chuckled, as they guided downward, adding. "Now, let's go find our little brother. We have some things to fix before breaking again."

"Ideally we do, indeed."