Golden wings

Chapter 9 - Worry

A bright smile shined on Ayako's face. Her steps were fast and joyful through the forest. In her hands, she carried a bag. It was full of shells and seafood, which rolled inside while she walked up the uneven terrain, towards a familiar clearing.

She carried the bag to trade it, with the angel, who she knew had to be in a bad mood.

Alexis had been shedding more feathers than usual. It was funny how he had been changing his fluff because of the summer heat. All had been puffy, and messy, much more when she stared at him, no matter how much he complained. Luckily, they were soon back to their usual smooth and soft appearance, while the old ones left a more orange-like pile in his nest. She made good use of those, telling Godric and Cecilia she just found them by chance, in a temporal nest where the angel shed them.

For all that huge pile of feathers, she of course had to give him something in return. That was why she was going to pay him a visit now.

Not because... She wanted to make up for how he had felt. Not that she cared he had been itching and tossing around, uncomfortable. Not at all.

Her eyes glinted, because she finally saw the small way that led to his hideout, between the dense vegetation. She called and stepped into the small clearing, with strong steps.

"Alex! I bring you something!"

She pouted, because no one answered. She heard no annoyed replies or grumpy complaints for her visit. She saw no one in the clearing or cave. He was not behind the drapes of his opening, nor near the river. The fire he always lighted was dead.

It was strange, because at these hours he was usually making breakfast.

Maybe he was at the lake then, fishing.

Ayako sighed and walked towards the rock where she always left her trades. But she blinked and stopped when she got near, because she almost stepped on something on the ground.

Her blue eyes widened slowly, and filled with shock, then worry. At her feet laid a feather, but it was not golden. Her hands dropped the bag, without thinking. The feather was black, and shredded to pieces, like if something had made it burn, unnaturally.

Her hands dashed, she panicked and quickly reached for her belt. Her blue eyes cried as she raised something to her lips.

A loud whistle echoed through the forest.

----------------------------------------

Lykaios had been curled on himself, he had been resting, with his long tails tangled between them. He was sleeping peacefully, inside his empty tree trunk. As always, he was a calm demon, never liking to bother with much.

Rarely did he get out of his woods, far from everything, towards the west. He only did some days, disguised as a fox, to see Ayako. The only one he cared for.

He let out a content breath, while he enjoyed another calm morning. He did not bother to even think of anything.

Until he heard it.

His head whipped upwards, his ears perked up with surprise. He heard the whistle he gave Ayako, made for her so long ago. A whistle she only should use in moments of need. For when an angel appeared... Or to call for help.

The wolf quickly dashed out his tree. His paws barely brushed the ground as he ran. He took speed and headed fast towards the faint whistle.

He ran, hoping it was only a call to warn him about another angel to hunt, and not to beg for help. But he knew that it was near impossible that two angels fell at once in the same region. And that made him fear.