Though the young fledgling spent most of her time around the others, she still made it a point to visit with the ones who had protected for as long as they had and as much as they could. Jeremiah always welcomed her back with a hug, usually on the steps of the Pantheon, it was still a slow progress at them leaving the safety it provided most of them had taken to at least stepping out on the great veranda that circled around the outside of their Pantheon.

She tended to avoid Sariel, who continued trying to order into doing what she presumed to be the best for her wellbeing and keep her from leaving when she made to move on to see other friends she had made. The Choir Head had stepped in at one point to put an end to it, to keep tension from building between them, Akeelah was stubborn in her ways and Sariel was a worrier.

It didn't mix well for the free-spirited fledgling to be coped up in one place for too long.

Sariel had finally tried to step over the Head's word when she found the fledgling telling another, the second youngest in the group, of her adventures outside the protective walls.

"What's he like?"

"He's so big!", She raised her hands up high as if to try and imitate how tall the person of interest was, "And he's really tough too. He fights really good and protects everyone. He has this really big sword and carries it during his tasks, it's really sharp looking and big, big enough to take down a Leviathan in one swipe!" the other fledgling, just a few millennia older the she was, opened his mouth in awe, eyes wide in fascination and childlike curiosity. "And he lets me help during training and lets me ride on his shoulders! He looks really tough but he's really good. We're best friends!"

"Wow, I can't imagine the Chief Power being anything but fearsome, does he ever yell at you?"

"Only when I get too close to someone sparing but then he says sorry and lets me walk with him as he walks around to watch. I promise he's really nice!"

"I wish I could meet him…."

Akeelah jumped up excitedly, catching the older fledglings' attention, "You can! I can show you!"

Sariel took that as he cue to intervene, in her opinion it was bad enough that they let their youngest be with those coldhearted monsters and if she were Head, she would surely forbid such things, she stepped in between them and snatched the other fledgling away from her.

"Absolutely not! It's bad enough that you're there, we shouldn't even allow that, why if I were Jeremiah I would forbid you from everything leaving our side again!", she tugged the other behind her, "You may be able to leave our protective walls but you will no drag him into that rabble."

The older fledgling looked nervous, but sure, and tugged on his arm that was caught in her grip.

"But I wanna go! I wanna see too! I wanna go with Akeelah!"

"No! Absolutely not! And you shan't leave either! You will stay here where we can protect you!"

Akeelah crossed her arms and glared, "You're not my boss!"

"I am your elder and you will do as I say."

"No!"

"What is the problem here?", it was only in their fortune that Jeremiah decided on that moment to venture out into the sunlight, eyes studying the three of them carefully, and he set a hand on the young fledgling's shoulder to calm her nerves. Despite him transferring his guardianship on to another, his touch still calmed the fledgling, and she settled back against his hip. "Sariel?"

"She is telling him all these fables! Convincing him to leave our protection!"

"I am sure he will return at days end?", he looked to the older fledgling who nodded in agreement, "And for Akeelah, it was my decision as her guardian to decide, I know your intentions are for the better, but you have to calm down, sister. The war is over. It is time to rebuild and reunite."

"You can never be sure!"

"That is true, but the decision is not yours to make whether he goes or stays, it is up to Mabel. And I have spoken to her on the matter and she acquiesces so long as he returns at day's end."

He knelt to address the fledgling in question, "Jezaniah, the decision is yours alone now, do you wish to go explore with young Akeelah or to stay with us?"

The fledgling boy looked unsure for a moment, before the determination filled his eyes, and he nodded in conclusion to the internal debate. Part of him was frightened at the aspect of leaving mostly all he's known, but the other part was encouraging, he wanted to see what there was to see.

"I wanna go."

"Jeremiah!"

The Choir Head smiled at the fledgling fondly and nodded, guiding him forward with a gentle hand on the back of his head, watching as he took his friends hand and they both scurried quickly down the steps. Sariel huffed and crossed her arms, unhappy with his allowance, and he had to resist the urge to roll his eyes as he guided her back inside.

…

"Where are we going first?"

Jezaniah had never seen so many angels in one place before and watched in wide eyed fascination at the crowd that walked the Axis around them, his fingers clutching tightly to his friends' hand, as they made their way along the street. Akeelah turned to look at him, smiling excitedly, and pointed to the vast garden they were coming up on.

"We're gonna get some peaches!"

"Peaches?"

She smiled wider and tugged him forward, "You'll love them!"

The gentle Gardener greeted them as they entered the magnificent garden he maintained and cared for, greeting the frequently visiting little one before softly introducing himself to the new face that had joined her today. He walked them to a patch of ripened trees and sought out for them the juiciest peaches he could find, rubbing them on his robe gently and handing them down, watching the new fledgling take a tentative bite, and smiling when his eyes widened in wonder at the sweet taste.

"And who might you be, my new young friend?"

He was shy, curling back on himself, but much like the friend's hand he held he refused to back down from him, "I'm Jezaniah."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, young Jezaniah.", the Garden turned to return to his task at hand, "I do hope to see you again."

They waved by to the friendly, soft spoken Gardener and turned out of the Garden back onto the Axis, Jezaniah looked around at all the sights there was to see, peering into carts and shops, feeling the softness of the fabrics and running his fingers over the various trinkets as they walked passed them.

"Where are we going now?"

She pointed at the looming round temple above in front of them, "The Infirmary!"

"The Infirmary?"

"Come on! You'll want to meet him too!"

They ran up the stairs together, hand in hand, and scurried quickly through the gaping entrance. There was healers of all kinds bustling about, angels being tended to, so many in one place and he tried to take them all in. They wove around them as they moved, receiving many oft greetings as the passed, and made their way to the tall figure bent over another, donned in deep emerald robes, and nearly as dark as the night, curls pushed back just behind his ears and the glint of a gold ring curled around the outer shell of his ear. Akeelah let go of his hand, for only a moment, to rush forward and hug the tall angel around the wait.

"Hi big brother!"

The older angel chuckled and stood back up, pressing a hand over her head, tilting it back to look her in the eyes, "Hello my little one." Akeelah squeezed his waist one last time and back up to take her friends hand again. The taller angel turned with her; the older fledgling's eyes widened at just how big he was and followed to meet her friend she had brought with her.

He knelt and held out a big hand to him, "Hello little one, I am Raphael, what is your name fledgling?" he reached out to take the big hand tentatively, long fingers curled over it and he bent to press a light kiss to the back of his hand before sitting back up again, "M-My name is Jeza-Jezaniah."

"It is nice to meet you Jeza-Jezaniah.", there were smile wrinkles around his eyes, and they themselves glistened with amusement, as he smiled once more at the nervous fledgling, "How do you fair?"

"I-I'm okay I guess."

"You guess? Are you not well?"

He turned to look to his friend for help and she giggled at him, "He's a Healer, silly! He always worries! Asks me all the time!"

"With good reason, of course, little one."

The Archangel, Archangel, turned back to smile at him and nodded in understanding, he could see rather easily that the young boy hadn't explored the outside of the Pantheon in quite some time, and thus tried to make him feel as welcomed as he could.

"If you ever find yourself in need of help, I will come to see to you myself, all you need do is call."

"O-Okay."

His friend bid him a cheerful goodbye, to which he waved back to her in kind, turning back to what he had been doing before he had been surprised with the hug he'd been given. Akeelah tugged him along, going just slow enough for him to take everything in, from the passing angels, to the colors, everything. He wanted to take in everything.

Next they made it to a building that was more open ledges then anything else, hopping up the steps one at a time, giggling softly with one another as they did. Their hands swung lightly as they dodged fast moving angels coming this way and that, there was one face he recognized, the brown wavy-haired boy that was reading a parchment just before them. He often came to see them while they shunned themselves away, bringing reports and news to the elders, and sometimes he'd sneak in treats with him for the younger ones.

"Hi Zaves!"

He looked up at the sound of his name and grinned widely at the sight of them both, rolling the parchment back up and stuffing it back into his satchel, "Hey little guys! It's good to see you again Jezaniah!"

"You too."

The older messenger showed them around, he was awed by the beauty of it, it was big but almost completely open. The breeze danced around them to its own happy tune, there was a lot of angels about, but it never seemed too crowded.

He guided them through to the center, walking them through the atrium, slowing down to let the other fledgling see everything he could, and slowly they made there way through the resting areas, "He's this way, the boss man, he's great! You'll love him!"

Zaveriel knocked on the closed door of the office and waited silently for the permission to enter, turning the handle as he smiled and waved them forward over his shoulder, opening the door for them to enter.

Another tall angel sat behind a great desk, the office space was cluttered with scrolls and parchments and the like, but the desk was well organized. Golden colored sparkling eyes looked up to greet them, and the bigger angel smiled brightly, setting the writing pencil down as they drew near. Akeelah leaned forward to bump her little fist to his in greeting, and he leaned forward on his desk to see them better, smile never wavering as he did.

"Good to see you this fine afternoon, little nugget, who's your young friend here?"

"His name is Jezaniah! I'm showing him everything there is to see."

"That's mighty nice of you nugget", he smiled at the new fledgling in turn, reaching somewhere in his desk for something, and passed over a treat much like the ones Zaves used to bring for them all. It was clear to see where he had gotten them from. "It's mighty nice to meet you Jezaniah. I'm Gabriel, but you can call me Gabe if you'd want."

"H-Hi Gabri-Gabe."

The Messenger smiled at him again, "Hello, you're welcome to visit anytime you want. Don't be so afraid, bigger nugget, I promise most of our barks are worse then the bite. Don't tell 'em I said anything but we're all a big bunch of softies.", he gestured towards his friend, Akeelah giggled as she munch on her little treat, but nodded in agreement, "They are Jeza! Big softies!"

"I'm so gonna tell Mike you said that about him."

"Do it, he doesn't scare me!"

He tilted his head to the side in disbelief, "You sure there nugget? You sure run from him when he comes after that little pudgy belly of yours."

"You got a pudgy belly!"

Jezaniah turned to look at her in awe at her daring to say such things to an Archangel, he would never have dared, but from his side Zaves just laughed at the look that crossed his master's face, and he prepared himself for the worst. But the Archangel only laughed at his friend, pointing a finger at her in warning from over top his desk "Just you wait until days end. I'll show you a pudgy belly alright. Oh, I'll show you really well."

She giggled again, tugging her friends hand back with her as she took a step backwards, "I not scared of you neither! You're old, can't never catch me!", she bolted for the door, pulling her friend along with her, when the archangel made as though he was going to jump forward.

Zaveriels laughter echoed behind them, and, "Just you wait little nugget! You're gonna get it later!"

They ran down the steps quickly, and he tugged her to slow down as they stepped back up onto the Axis to move on to their next adventure, and she slowed to match his pace.

"I can't believe you did that back there."

"What?", she turned to look up at him, her eyes wide and shining with curiousness, wondering what he meant by that, he stared at her in awe for a moment, "What you said to the Archangel, you're so fearless Akee, I would never have been able to do that.", the younger fledgling merely shrugged a shoulder and tugged him towards a set of stone steps leading into the side of a rocky wall, "It's just fun. He wouldn't ever hurt us. Its not like that anymore." They stepped up the stone steps slowly, and he twisted his head all around to see it all, it was a massive field, where angel of all sorts were training; archers and combat fighters and swordsmen and it all. Swords were clashing and punches were being thrown and arrows were zipping through the air. Angels were dodging and flipping and turning and dancing to the beat of their war drums. Above them, carved out of the fine stone, was a Pavilion where he had heard from his friend was where the legendary Powers stayed.

Walking among the training warriors was a small group, surveying and watching and guiding, stepping in to correct and review, watching them all with close attention.

He recognized the one who she had told him about, tall and sword and all, he had his back to them, conversing with another who he couldn't see from this standpoint. Akeelah pulled him forward and they scurried through the training warriors to greet them, she hugged his waist tightly, like she had with Raphael, and he was forced to take a step forward suddenly at the impact her little body made behind him.

He set a hand on her head and smiled in return, "Hello Baby Power.", she beamed up at him brightly and gave his waist another squeeze, "Hi Nisroc!", she stepped back, the Chief Power turning to follow her, revealing the older angel behind him; raven haired with bright blue eyes, he was tall just like the Power was but perhaps a few inches more so. "Nis, this is my friend Jezaniah, I call him Jeza, I told him all about you!"

The Chief Power knelt before them, a gentle smile gracing his supposed grim features, as he watched them with surprisingly bright eyes, "Oh? I hope it was all good."

"Most of it was. Gotta keep you humble."

He chuckled softly and poked her belly, she giggled and curled in on herself, turning away from him slightly, "I appreciate your intention, Baby Power.", Jezaniah watched him with wide eyes, clearly unsure as to what to say or how to say it, he had heard stories, mostly from Sariel of course, about how harsh and unforgiving the Powers were to others, but the Chief didn't seem like that.

The Power had smile lines around his eyes too, the smile he had looked as though it was something he wore often, and his eyes hadn't darkened in the slightest when they turned to him too.

No, he didn't strike him down like he was said to do, no, he poked him in the belly too. It enticed a soft giggle from him as well, and the Power smiled wider at him, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Do all fledglings giggle when one pokes them in the belly?"

Akeelah stuck her tongue out and he chuckled again, miming as though he was going to do it again, and his friend jumped around to protect herself. The Power laughed softly and stood, pressing a hand to both of their heads, and guided them around towards the other tall angel.

"Sir, we have some small guests with us today."

Like the Power had, the dark haired angel with the blue eyes knelt too, elbows resting on his knees in similar fashion, "It is an honor to meet you young Jezaniah, I am Michael.", his eyes went wide at his name and he took a minute step back, a stab of pain went through him when he saw the slight tinge of hurt flash over the Archangel's eyes but understanding followed soon after. He too reached out and poked them both in the belly and smiled when they both giggled in tune with each other.

"Nisroc, I do believe that inquiry to be true, at least for the fledglings we have the honor of having with us today."

"Quite an interesting discovery, Sir. Shall we look into it more later?"

"Indeed." He smiled kindly at the new fledgling, "I do hope to see you again, little one. Would you two care to walk with us?"

Akeelah nodded, and he too followed in turn, and they both got nods in return. His friend let go of his hand and tugged on the Power's trousers leg, the taller angel looked down to her in question and knelt when she motioned the desire to whisper in his ear. He grew worried when he saw both of their eyes turn to him, and the Power nodded to her whispering, and stood back up.

Large hands were held open for him to see, as though he was intending not to accidently startle him, "Would you want up?"

Akeelah had already left him, darting to the Archangel's side, and he nodded to her request of him. He lifted her into his arms, and up above his head, for her to climb up onto his shoulders. Nodding his head, the other Choir fledgling looked up to the Power, Nisroc was gentle as he hooked his fingers under the young Choir angels arms and lifted him up like the Archangel had to his friend, allowing him to climb up to perch on his shoulders.

Large fingers curled around his ankles to hold him in place, and they turned, "Let us see if we can't find you something interesting to see."