Feral

Chapter 5

**Picture of Sage**

I frantically looked around in every direction. I couldn't find the owner to the voice.
       "Where are you? Show yourself." I demanded.

    "If you call down your mate, I don't want him to kill me." The voice answered. I glanced over to Caelan who was no growling, his eyes scanning the forests.

    "Stand down Caelan. I want to know what the hell is going on. And if he has answers, I want to know." He growled but nodded. I knew it was killing him to do so but I need answers and no one around here was answering any of my questions about my recent differences. "Alright come out."

    Suddenly I heard flapping of wings and then dust surrounded something that landed a couple of feet beside me. Alaster and I jumped back a couple of feet. I tried to see what was beyond the dust, nothing. Another flapping sound happened, winds came and drove the dust up, revealing a tall man standing there. He had big wings of a bird attached to his back. His wings were as black as night just like his shaggy hair. He had gentle blue eyes and they seemed to hold so much knowledge. His body was built like he trained at least one or twice a week at the gym, strong, muscular but not bulgy and it held so many scars. I was memorized by this strange being and I don't know why.

    "Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm known by many names but my most well-known one is Death. My name is Azrael, the angel of death."

    For some reason, I felt no fear which I smelled coming off of everyone else. I walked up towards him, feeling like I met him once before.

    "Do I know you? You seem vaguely familiar."

    "Of course sweetie. Why wouldn't you recognize your own grandfather?"

"Grandfather?!" I screamed in disbelief. "But you're so young!"

    "Angels never age."

    I ran up to him and hugged him, startling the poor guy. I cried into his bare shoulder. He chuckled and embraced me back.

"Grandpa." I whined. I actually had a grandfather.

    "Yes I'm here. I can't believe I found you."

    "Wait you've been looking for me?" I sniffed.

    "Yes." He placed a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. "I've been searching for you ever since your mother told me that you were being hunted down."

    "I was being hunted down." My voice cracked at the sudden news.

    "Yes. Your parents died protecting you from the people who are trying to harm you." He held me protectively as if someone was about to take me away.

    My parents died protecting me! So they didn't just abandon me! My eyes started to tear up. "At least they died heroically."

    My grandfather pulled me back and playfully punched my shoulder. "That's my girl." He ruffled my hair.

    "Az!" I shrieked. He was shocked at the nickname I gave him.

    "That's a cute nickname." He smirked. I smiled. Suddenly the burning happened again. I looked down at my arms, the red symbols turned black and glowed. Azrael grabbed my arms and started to examine them. "Well that's interesting. We'll be expecting other guests. But in the meantime, let's all have a chat inside." He pointed to the cabin. I nodded and led the way to the cabin. Cleo and Alaster walked in with me while Caelan held the door open. He eyed Azrael who only gave him the same stare. At least they were on the same page. I sighed as I slumped to the couch with Cleo and Jacob on one side and Alaster on the other. Caelan stood behind me hands on my shoulders while Azrael sat in the seat across from us. "Okay," He stretched, his wings twitching a bit. "let's get down to business."