The Savages

Chapter 10: Teemu

He dreamt of crystal blue skies and creamy white clouds; of soaring through the heavens, beating his large white feathery wings against the luminous sun. In another life, another time, he was free to do as he pleased. His creator would always be there to watch his back, teaching him right from wrong, teaching him how to treat those around him with the same respect he expected of them.

Earning his wings was a challenging and demanding process. In order to become one of God's most trusted angels, he was required to carry out good deeds on Earth amongst the humans, whether it be saving lives that weren't meant to be taken prematurely, helping cure children struck down by aggressive illnesses, or simply getting people to change their way of living for the better.

After spending three tiring years convincing humans angels were real and helping save hundreds of lives, he was finally trusted to have his own wings on the condition he never reveal his true identity to unsuspecting eyes.

In his present life, he was the caretaker of nine other beings similar to him, gifted with unique powers chosen by a particular mortal responsible for giving Teemu his Earth form. Because of that he would forever be grateful to Caspian, even in death.

He found it a lot harder to concentrate on his siblings when his attention was constantly drawn to the female angel temporarily living inside the house, quickly looking away whenever he caught her eye. There was a shift in the balance of power between them, her higher rank as archangel posing more of a threat to him than he would have cared to admit. For that exact reason, he occupied himself with smoothing the sidewalk he had been working on all day in an attempt to prolong his trip back home.

It was no easy job slaving away in the scorching heat, feeling the sun beat down on him while he poured the cement, making sure every single inch looked presentably flawless at the same time. Sweat dripped down the nape of his neck from his hair, trickling down his back in streams while he lifted and moved bags of cement throughout his eight-hour work day.

"Savage," Terry's loud voice called out from across the street. "Go home. You look tired."

Teemu flicked a few damp wisps of hair from his eyes, sitting back on his knees. Terry - his boss - stood on the edge of the gutter adjacent, wiping his arm across his forehead.

He was a man in his mid-fifties, wearing his usual blue plaid unbuttoned shirt rolled up at the elbows. The white t-shirt beneath was stained with blotches of grease and powder, hanging fairly loosely off his robust frame, and sitting on top of his ragged black hair was a canary yellow safety helmet. A thick, scruffy beard streaked with grey covered his jaw, making him look more mature than he actually was.

"Alright. See you tomorrow, Terry." Teemu waved, slinging the strap of his black messenger bag over his shoulder.

The walk to his ute took little over five minutes. When he finally reached the vehicle, he discovered an envelope at the bottom corner of his windshield addressed to him in messy cursive. Furrowing his eyebrows, he tugged it free from underneath the wiper blade and tore it open with one swift motion of his fingernail.

Teemu,

I know you have no reason to trust me for what I have done to your family in the past, but something happened today while you were at work.

One of your brother's wolf friends was attacked. I brought him to your land, where your warlock brother healed him and your ginger brother attacked me for trying to help out. I wrote this letter to you hoping you would handle the matter accordingly, and let me know what happens when you get back.

If I were you, I'd be extremely careful. There has been an unknown presence on your lands recently, one which should be taken with caution.