Abel put a hand over his eyes and sighed heavily. It wasn’t the first time that day that he’d done so, either. It seemed that nothing could just go right for him, and when he had a bad day, that fragile spirit of his tended to break. He bit back a stinging tear and glared at the iron post sticking from the ground. It seemed to be taunting him now, standing tall and immobile, buried deep in the green grass. His brother was beside him, arms loosely crossed in a patient manner. Cain was standing there, watching him fail. Though he’d been the second-born of the twins, Cain seemed to be stronger in will and power than Abel. Able, the young man thought, was a funny name to have, when you weren’t able to do anything.

“Come on.” Cain said suddenly. “One more try. One more try and we’ll just leave.”

He was always the optimist, Able thought. Always thought the best of any situation. With yet another sigh, Able turned back to the pike in the ground. Gritting his teeth, he raised a hand again toward the item he’d grown to hate so quickly. He put all his concentration behind his movement, and his energy, forcing it to accumulate in one static area. It was difficult to keep it concentrated in such a wide open area; it wanted to spread out and lose its strength. But he kept it centered, like a shell, around the stake and closed his eyes. It helped him block out the world’s distractions. He didn’t see the rod begin to rattle, shiver out of the earth and lie on the ground, bouncing over the evenly-cut grass.

He closed his fingers around nothing, and lowered his fist. When he opened his eyes, however, his already deflated hope lost even more air, and his legs gave out. “I can’t believe I even let you talk me into this.” He muttered. Cain could hardly make out what his brother was saying from his slumped position, and drew close, kneeling beside Abel. “The only way I could ever do something worthwhile is when I’m angry, when I can feel my actual power, when I know I can do something. Why did I even agree to this...”

Cain put a hand on Abel’s back. “You can’t just think you failed after a couple tries.” He said. “You’ve got to manage this generally, not just specifically.” He glanced at the pole, having rose, then fallen to the ground. “You got so far then just gave up. He felt Abel shudder. “Just one more try, please? One more try and we’ll leave.”

That’s what Cain had said last time. One more time. Now he was just pressing Abel to do something. Do anything! And he knew his brother wouldn’t leave him alone until he did something more than just put the pike from vertical to horizontal. What could he do, though? What could he do that he hadn’t already done? What did Cain see in him? Or did Cain just want to see him fail?

Abel ground his teeth and glared forward. He knocked Cain back with the force of his movement, lunging forward and bringing a cold power up from the ground in a huge wave, sending it forward to the source of his frustration. The spike rose in the air and slammed to the ground, whipped up in a whirlwind and stretched as though it had become glass, altered by the skilled hand of a glassware maker. When the air settled, it left the pike standing on end, but now, it looked more like a deadly tree, having been split and stretched enormously, widened at the northern end. Each needle-sharp end glinted off the sunlight in the sky. Cain hadn’t managed to stand from where he had landed, but the intention left as he gazed on the dangerous creation.

“Abel.” He said. “Looks like you did it.”

Abel nodded slowly. “I suppose.” He muttered. “But...”

Cain stood and put an arm around Abel. “Don’t even start.” He warned. “Don’t need any of that negativity going on. You did it, now we’ll leave.”

“Sometimes I hate being bound to you.” Abel sighed as Cain led the way back to the manor.

Cain could only smile, shaking his head. Neither of them hated it. They were bound to one another to within seventy feet, split literally down the middle by both personality and soul. Cain kept Abel from diving from a bridge, while Abel kept Cain’s head out of the clouds. They needed one another, whether they liked it or not.

The wind passes through the trees, rustling leaves and the feathers of birds resting among them as it passes. Passing across the back of a man resting upon a large branch the light breeze stirs him from his sleep. Sheets of white hair, tinged silver in the light of the setting sun, slide back as he pushes himself up, parting to reveal his pale face. Sitting all the way up, his legs straddling the branch, he stretches, working out all the kinks from sleeping in one position for such a long time. His gossamer wings tremble slightly with the effort. Without thinking he swings his legs playfully and without warning he promptly falls out of the tree. “Yeep!” With an undignified yelp he falls several feet to the ground, landing hard on his backside.

“Iiaaa, that hurts.” Azuriel shifts so he can rub his rear, pushing his hair back from his face. The Elem Gem, symbol of his lineage, swings playfully across his forehead as it gets caught up in his mass of hair. Finally givng up on any semblance of dignity Azuriel flops down face first on to the forest floor. Giggles echoing around the treetops above cause him to roll swiftly on to his back and stick his tongue out at the fairies dancing above, laughing at his pitiful state. “Stupid pixies.” He mutters. The slight on their race, fairies having no great love of pixies, brings down a rain of cones and nut on the poor heap on the forest floor.

Scrambling to his feet the Feyrun swiftly transforms into his smaller state and takes off towards the outer edges of the forest. 'Hah, no fairy will follow me out here, cowards' Moving further and further out, Azuriel heard the sounds from the fairies fade. The light coming through the trees grows stronger and stronger, the glow emanating from his own body lost in it's radiance. Despite the sun's low position in the sky, it is still enough to make his movements nearly undetectable to most creatures. An advantage the Feyrun uses often when leaving the forest. 'Man, Da would kill me if he knew I was out here' he thinks, a smile spreading across his face.

The small ball of light exits the forest behind a great stone structure, one he has never seen before. His head tilts from side to side as he examines the structure. 'Must be a human dwelling. I've never gone this way before, I wonder what this place is. . . .So odd that even after moving out from caves that humans still insist on encasing themselves in stone. . . .' Moving closer Azuriel feels a pull in his chest that makes him gasp. Pain ripples through him at a strong discharge of magical energy nearby. His light dims as he cries out, falling to the ground.

He lay trembling in the tall grass for a time, his breathing labored. When at last he can think clearly again he rises slowly into the air and continues forward. Curiosity overwhelming his reason, he passes over a high wall surrounding the structure before ducking behind several barrels to observe the happenings beyond. In an open area e spots two boys standing near to one another. Human, to be sure, but something about them stuns the small Feyrun.

Blinking rapidly several times Azuriel tries to make sense of what he sees. 'This, I don't understand. It's not possible is it? This, not in humans at least. I've never heard of. . . .' The boys swiftly pass out of sight, entering the large building in the center of the area. Shaking his head Azuriel drifts back over the wall and heads back for the woods from whence he came. His movements are slow, his mind preoccupied with other things, and the sun is well out of the sky by the time he reaches the boarder of his people's lands. The second the magical energies pass through him, welcoming him home, he returns once again to his full height and begins walking towards his dwelling.

The forest around him seems to be frozen in a perpetual fall. The leaves around him of red and gold hues, constantly falling, but never ceasing, and never growing less in number. Small open structures of woven branches and roots are scattered about here and there on the ground, growing in frequency as he moves further into the area. His head is hung low as he moves along, his thoughts elsewhere as his feet walk the well beaten path to his resting place. He soon finds himself at the edge of the river running through the center of his people's grove and the sound of splashing draws his attention. A group of small Feyrun are gathered about an elder as he speaks to them about the river and it's qualities as well as the bounty that may be found there.

In a movement so swift that several of the children gape in stunned silence the elder scoops a fish out of the water, holding the wriggling creature up for all to see. Azuriel smirks, remembering his own fishing lessons as a Feyling, and how the elder would somehow or another end up with a fish in his clothes. With a light giggle Azuriel leaps lightly over the river, leaving behind the colorfully clad children and the solemnly clad elder. His wings snap out, beating several times to make sure he gets across the wide berth of the water. As soon as his feet settle on land once again they settle behind him into a relaxed position.

He passes men and children going about their nightly business, the occasional female passing by with playful smiles. With only the vaguest of acknowledgments he moves swiftly to a large ancient tree not far from the river. Looking up he smiles at the sight of his alcove high in the branches. His wings once again snap out, fluttering hard to lift him off the ground. Pushing off slightly he moves up the tree, passing the alcoves of others in the trees beside his. When it had come time for him to leave his parent's living area, Azuriel had asked the highest tree in the grove if it would be willing to take him. Many had made this request of the Great Tree, but in the last 2000 years, Azuriel is the only one whom the tree has accepted. His alcove, high above all others, affords him a privacy no other in the grove has.

Ducking inside the relatively small area, Azuriel settles down on to the silks and furs lining the alcove. A few feet longer then his body, deep enough for there to be little chance of his rolling out of, and just tall enough for him to stand up in, the alcove provides all the comfort the young Feyrun needs. Curling a soft silken sheet beneath his head, Azuriel lay on his side, his eyes turned to the branches outside without actually seeing them. The memory of what he had seen in the human lands runs over and over through his head, filling his chest with odd feelings and emotions. 'I don't understand how it can be, but I can not deny it is so. . . . .But why? Why now, of all times?' With a sigh he rolls carefully to his other side, removing the devices adorning his arms and setting them among the furs at his side. Despite his nap earlier he finds his eyes drifting close in sleep. The final thought drifting through his mind as he loses himself t the realm of dreams is, 'And I thought I could live a normal, self absorbed life, silly me. . . . '

For once Abel found himself alone. It was rare to be able to be alone, for once, in a way. Cain had gone to the room next door, his bedroom, and left Abel alone in his own. The room was dark, in light and tone; a brass and steel lamp, powered by the first series of steam-powered estate units, glowed on the bedside tables, and a low fire burned in the grate of a large fireplace. He sat before the fire, in one of the two dark red upholstered hooded chairs, slumped down. He’d tired himself in his sudden reaction to his own debilitating weakness, but he couldn’t go to sleep until the siblings’ caretaker had finished evaluating Cain and came to see him. It was mandatory, through the overprotective eyes of their parents, because they were to take their parents’ place on the thrones. Every morning and every evening, they were inspected for irregularities and suspicious marks, illness of any sort, and bone weaknesses and fractures previously unseen. It was irritating and tedious, to Abel. Cain, however, didn’t seem to mind as much as his elder twin.

The doctor wasn’t exactly young. Fifty eight years old and still nimble and bright-eyed, the only real giveaway was the human’s graying hair and wrinkles around his eyes and mouth from smiling all the time. There came a knock on the tall door of Abel’s door, and when he looked around the high back of the chair, found Gambio step inside with his dark brown tool bag slung over his arm. They exchanged hellos and Gambio sat on the cushion of the other hooded chair, leaning forward and extending his hand. Abel gave the old man his own hand, held limp rather than tense, just as Gambio wished. The doctor pulled a stethoscope from his bag and took Abel’s heart rate. It was silent for a moment, until Gambio nodded and stood, pressing the chestpiece against Abel’s back, then chest just below the neck. His silent nod said nothing was wrong. Setting it back in his bag, he pulled a pen light out and got close to Abel’s face, studying his eyes and observing their dilation, their color. They were still dark brown, and after a moment of scrutinizing a little harder, found them to be in satisfactory condition.

Gambio tested Abel’s reflexes, movement in bending, turning, and walking. He inspected his tongue and teeth, throat, and skin, and as he usually did, found nothing of immediate worry other than a few cuts on his hands. Though they were shallow Gambio still fretted, probably fearing the wrath of the parents. He pulled a small bottle of clear liquid from his bag, unscrewed the top and pulled a small application brush from inside, brushing the liquid across each scratch. It burned, but soon ebbed away and dried. Gambio warned Abel to be careful of infection, to which the young man nodded warily, and watched the doctor take leave. Before the door closed all the way, a hand stopped it, and Cain entered as Abel flopped down on the black-and-red velvet canopy bed. Cain took up a simple chair from beside the door, setting it beside the bed and sitting.

“I’m getting tired of this.” Abel said, sighing at the shallow, non-threatening scratches that had been bothered over like a life-threatening disease that had showed in its early stages. “I’m so... tired of it all.” Those few words ignited a hot flame in Abel’s chest. “I want to leave.” He closed his eyes, as though he didn’t want to look at the words, as though they had physical substance. “I want to see what we’ll be ruling over when our parents die. It’s as if we’re still... children.”

“You can’t blame them.” Cain tried to reassure Abel, patting him on the shoulder. “They’re just worried. I want to leave too, but we just can’t understand what a parent thinks.”

“We’re too old to be considered children anymore. They have to let us go. Just let us go!” Abel pulled a stray pillow over his face. “I can’t stand being here anymore. Not trapped like... a prisoner. That’s all we are now. We’re just here because they don’t think we can take care of ourselves. Like we’ll suddenly just run away from each other and let our halved soul sap the life out of us. After the first few times, you’d think they’d realize we wouldn’t do something that stupid.” Abel glanced out from between the pillows to his brother’s calm face. “Why don’t we just... leave? Just go. Tonight. Maybe we can look around then come back before daybreak.”

“We don’t know the woods outside the grounds.” Cain reminded him. “We’d probably get lost, then... well, who really knows what would happen? They might believe we’d been taken. I don’t want them worrying, do you?”

Abel sighed, and had to think about it. He shook his head, though, in the end. “I don’t suppose.” He muttered.

“Besides, you’re tired.” Cain smiled. “Wouldn’t be a good idea to go wandering when you’re tired.”

“I’m not tired.” Abel managed. Though he said otherwise, his eyes closed and his hand fell from the pillow he’d held over his head. Cain tossed it to the other side of the bed, and before he left for his room, took the black orb from the clip on Abel’s chain around his neck. In the hallway, he took the white orb from his own necklace and squeezed both of them down the middle. A small seam appeared in each, and half of both orbs came off to leave a curved teardrop shape. He attached the black to the white, and strung it on his own chain. Before going into his room, he hung it on a slight hook between the doors.

Though he felt tired, Cain couldn’t get to sleep as quickly as he thought he’d be able to. He had shut off his lights, so the only thing that caused shadow to jump about was the low fire in the fireplace. The light walls, floor, and bedding seemed to taunt him, but Cain couldn’t stop thinking about what Abel had said. Was it a good idea to just leave? To vanish during the night and try to find their way back home before daylight? Cain himself could leave a trail of glowing orbs hanging from spider-like silk from the trees they passed, and when they were ready to come back, they could simply follow the orbs back home. The final thought that managed to cross his mind was the image of hanging white orbs decorating the woods.

Sitting up with a large yawn Azuriel looks out of his alcove with a sleepy smile. A nagging in the back of his mind makes his scratch the back of his head hard. 'Urgh, I'm forgetting something again. . . .' With a shrug he slides his legs over the lip of the alcove and lets them dangle. Swinging his legs lightly he lets his eye drink in the early morning sights. Several large birds nesting across from him in a neighboring tree cast a glance his way before resuming their melodic chatter to one another. With a grin the young Feyrun lets out a few chirps in greeting which is met with a wing waved in his general direction. Azuriel giggles at the dismissal, falling backwards on to the furs lining his sleeping place. His giggles draw up short as his right hand lands on his bracer.

Memories of the previous night flood his mind and once again he falls silent in deep contemplation. His body moves on automatic as he slides the bracer and bracelet into their rightful places. With a groan he buries his face in the silk sheet that had served as a pillow through the night. “Why why why me, why now, I don't wanna!” he growls into the cloth. After several more minutes of near silent raging he at last comes up for air and glances once again at the birds in the nearby tree. They stare back with affronted looks on their faces and without another sound take off into the early morning air. Flopping on to his back, huffing with half a smile on his face, Azuriel falls silent spread eagle in the center of the alcove. His hair fans out beneath him forming a light layer between the furs and his wings. The barrier keeps his wings from being damaged but the fur's rough texture.

“Did it have to be now of all times?” he inquires of the ceiling. A soft creek of branches is his only reply. Slowly rolling over he crawls to the edge and looks down towards the beings bellow. Several nymphs are gathered at the edge of the river, each holding up a length of woven water lilies and pads. The Feyrun on the shore are rushing back and forth from the water's edge to the high roots of the tree Azuriel rests in. Flowers of all types have been draped across them, sting across the gaps between them as well as filling little pits in the fine bark. “The festival is about to start, and the Great Tree asked me to speak for it.” He mumble to himself. “Now I'll have no time for it. Creator knows how long this will take, and the elders will spend the next two years just deciding whether or not to even go take a LOOK at them. . . . .Not to mention what comes after. Ugh, this is the worst age ever. . . . .”

Lifting up slightly he gives a little push so that his legs swing above his head. Gripping the lip of the alcove tightly he straightens his arms so that he's now doing a handstand. Wings fluttering lightly in the slight rays of morning light that manages to make it's way through the dense foliage Azuriel thinks hard. His wings still for a moment, a smile creeping across his face. Soon his wings start fluttering again, quickly beating into full flight speed. The hum from his wings grow loud in his ears, but he hears it not. H he drops from his position on the edge of the alcove into the open air beyond. His eyes close, the wind whistling past as he flies strait towards the ground faster and faster.

His eyes snap open moments before hitting the ground and in the same instant he changes his angle to fly mere inches from the ground. Body held ridged he faces forward, and plays a quick round of his favorite game. “How many can I anger in less then thirty seconds?” he murmurs happily as Feyrun after Feyrun leap aside with yells and cries of dismay. Beating his wings faster then necessary he sends flowers flying in all directions as he darts around the display area, still flying low to the ground. Several of the females his own age take up pursuit, brandishing their fists and small weaponry. The males carrying the flowers quickly move to protect their parcels. Counting down from thirty the second Azuriel reaches zero he sifts to his smaller form and flies strait up, losing his pursuers in the leaves of low hanging branches.

“Damn you Azu! I swear, you are a menace! Why the Great Tree chose you, I'll never know!” Azuriel swallows hard as the voice of his grandmother echoes around the area. Peeking around a leaf he watches as her tanned form move about, picking up those who had fallen in their haste to get out of his way. Her dark brown hair and skin match the leaves and earth around her, giving her a very powerful air and sense of belonging. Her sharp blue eyes lock on him for an instant and he shudders. 'Little too much today, but then again by my count, it's a record!' Not wasting another second he takes off towards the edge of the glade.

As soon as he passes the boarder of the glade and into the woods proper he slows a bit. He begins weaving back and forth, not wanting to reach his goal too quickly. 'If this is going to work, I have to be careful. It's unheard of, but then again, what I'm dealing with is nearly unheard of as well, no? I. . . .' A small shudder runs through his system. A quick glance to his right explains why. Standing against a tree not 10 feet away is a Feyrun, male, a little older then himself, with not only it's eyes, but it's energies locked on to Azuriel.

A wave of worry quickly passes through him before he moves to hover in front of the other Feyrun. Reaching up the young male brushing thick red hair from before his eyes to better observe the light hanging before him. His arms cross his chest, pale hands gripping his upper arms. Clad in a silver white nearly identical to Azuriel's hair color the light Azuriel gives off is enough to make the skin tight outfit shimmer. The young male reaches a hand out after a few seconds and without a sound Azu glides forward. Brushing over the surface of his palm Azuriel moves up the extended arm until his feet come to rest on the young male's shoulder. Leaning in he places a soft kiss on the young males cheek and whispers, “I will return tonight, Myrn. Wait for me.” into his ear. The Feyrun Myrn nods silently and turns. With one final glance, Myrn moves off towards the glade.

'I swear, sometimes having a Halsa can be so stressful. Good thing Myrn knows when to butt out. Ah well, on with the plan!' Taking off once again through the woods Azuriel goes over and over his plan, hashing out all the details until he is satisfied. By the time his plan takes full form he is at the edge of the woods, the human structures in sight. The light above is no longer the shades of sunrise and it's heat has begun warming the air. Taking a deep breath to steel his nerves Azuriel takes off over the wall, the light of the sun rendering him nearly invisible.

Abel was the first inspected by the morning doctor. She was the sibling of Gambio, a bit younger, but her hair was more graying than average. She had always blamed it on a stressful job before having come to the De Luca estate to specifically take care of Abel and Cain. His scratches were studied carefully, then deemed safe, then she moved on to the general inspection of heart, body, skin, eyes, and ears. Poking and prodding, the light pulling of his long black hair, and worry over the dark circles under his eyes, all bothered Abel nearly to the point of backing away and locking himself in Cain’s room so they didn’t have to bother with it anymore. But he didn’t move unless asked. It was a resignation he made every evening and every morning.

When she completed her inspection of the brothers and said they were fit to go, Abel and Cain went directly outside. Their parents detested their skipping meals, but couldn’t do anything to get them to eat. They accepted the siblings’ picking and eating of the sweet wild berries that grew on the vines that draped the high walls, especially as they spent most of the cool morning under the heavily-bowed willows along the shore of the lake. It was dark and earthy around that corner of the estate’s massive grounds, where the will-o'-the-wisps didn’t quite realize it was daylight yet, and flitted over the glassy lake’s surface and played about in front of the siblings’ faces. Abel curled himself up, wrapping his arms around his knees and sitting between one of the willows’ nests of roots, and watched his brother lying on a slight outcropping of stone above the water.

Cain watched the water’s ripples move away from his hand. They quickly vanished, leaving the reflections uninterrupted and smooth as a mirror. He blew away a little silver wisp of light from in front of his face, and put his hand flat down on the water. The surface surrounding his palm cracked and became opaque, and frosted over. When Cain brought back his hand the ice floated into the middle of the lake to begin a slow melting process. “Abel.” He glanced backward. “You ought to practice. Could be the difference of getting out of here or staying under our parents.”

“I can’t.” Abel sighed. He was fiddling with a thick branch, but stood when he spoke to look back at the house. “I can only do anything useful when I’m feeling a powerful emotion, mainly anger. I can’t do much else, you know that.” He narrowed his eyes, pulling the branch down and forcing it to bend. “I can’t do anything unless I’m angry. Or... horribly depressed. And neither of those takes a lot to fire up.”

“Then get angry. I won’t stop you.” Cain stood and brushed the loose dirt off his front. Abel shook his head.

“I don’t want to.” He muttered, twisting the branch and pulling it more, though it was already threatening to break. “Usually it involves something bad happening to some... thing. I don’t want it turning into someone.”

“It won’t. You can control it, I’ve seen you do it before.” Cain stepped away from the rock and onto the grass. “Why not try again? Haven’t you ever tried feeling anything other than... the usual?”

“No.” Abel muttered. “Because I can’t! I’ve tried being happy like you, but I can’t! I don’t know how to feel that...” He twisted the branch a little too hard, and it snapped, flying back with a sound that resembled the crack of a whip. Cain’s cry of pain accompanied it and sent Abel spinning around, finding he had let the branch go as Cain had stepped up toward him. His brother was on his knees with his hands over the left side of his face. Abel fell in front of Cain with a gasp. “Oh no, oh no oh no oh no oh no...” His voice was high, but low, fearful. “I’m so sorry. So sorry so so sorry... Are you okay? Cain? Are you alright?”

Cain looked up, his hands clamped over his eye. “I’ll be okay.” He said, but it was obvious he was in pain. “I’ll be fine. It was just an accident, Abel.” With a little difficulty he managed to take his hand away, but it only made Abel shudder. The entire white of his eye had been stained dark red, and a scratch and painful-looking red mark disfigured the area around his eye. “Bad?” Cain asked.

Abel nodded. “Maybe you should take care of it... Maybe... I mean, can’t you...?” He reached up, but halted his hand. “Everyone might get angry...”

“Don’t worry.” Cain smiled, taking Abel’s hand reassuringly. “I can see. It’ll clear up soon enough, eh? No need to waste my power making myself look better, right?”

Abel shook again, but nodded. “I’m sorry.” He said once again. Cain shook his head, and stood. He went behind Abel and pushed him down the side of the lake, away from that tree and to another, leaving the negativity behind.

Floating low behind a small shed on the grounds Azuriel watches as several humans move about the grounds. A feeling of discomfort settles low in his stomach as he watches, growing slowly with each human he observes. It takes some time for him to realize just why the feeling has arisen. His eyes narrow, looking the humans over closely. 'They're all armed. Every last one of them. Why, even the maids and grounds keeper, as I understand their rolls to be. This is beyond unusual. Almost as if. . . ..' He watches a maid kneel to pick up something she'd dropped and the bright glint of a dagger on her thigh makes him cringe. He continues to hover about the building, keeping well out of sight in the direct sunlight. Eventually he spots the two boys from the day before exit the central building.

Floating along slowly through the grass he follows the two across the grounds. His eyes move from one boy to the other, watching their spirit interacting with each boy differently. 'Well, that should make things a little more interesting at least' he muses silently. As the boys enter the darkened area beneath a large willow Azuriel comes to a stop. Where the direct sunlight ends and the shadow begins he hesitates, hovering back and forth along the shadow. Looking carefully he observes how the boys ignore the whisps above the water and a cunning smile comes to his lips. In a flash he dodges as deep into the grass as he can and darts to the water's edge. Sliding along the surface he does his best to imitate the whisps. Several f the little balls of light drift over to check him out but he simply ignores them. They soon lose interest and go back to dancing.

Sliding close to the boys his listens to them carefully, little tingles dancing through him as they speak of leaving the grounds. 'This is getting easier by the minute!' Spotting the accident before it happens Azuriel waits to see the boys' reactions. The cry of pain lances through his system causing him to drop to the water's surface. Had he needed any more convincing of these two's true identities that pain had been it. A string of curses pass swiftly through his head before he once again moves close to listen to the boys. As they walk away from the lake he follows once again low in the grass. Azuriel lets the pain of the boy's eye seep into him, taking what he can from the boy. 'I guess I could at least open up some good faith between us before I spirit them away from here. Besides, this hurts. . . . .'

Drifting quickly forward he makes his way past the two. Getting a good distance in front of them he comes to a stop and turns. Rising up so he is eye level with them he hovers directly in their path. Humming low he begins a tune he learned from the glade healers. The hum gets louder and louder until his lips part and he begins singing the words aloud in his native tongue. His glow changes from white to a deep green. Holding his hands out to the side, his song continues to grow louder, but only to carry further instead of becoming deafening.

Now growing a brilliantly dark green and singing in a voice loud enough for the boys to hear he thrusts his hands forward towards the injured one. A jet of green light leaves his palms. When it makes contact with Cain he becomes enveloped in the light, a pleasant tingling passing through his body as the healing song does it's work. In less then ten seconds the wound is completely healed. The song ends, the light fading, and Azuriel lets his arms fall to his sides. His body returns to it's usual white glow and without a word he moves to the nearest tree, flying up to the lowest branch to rest. He does not hide, simply lats flat on his stomach, letting his body relax.

Cain and Abel paused. Something wasn’t right. In fact, something was very strange. The will-o’-the-wisps were beginning to fade away back into their hiding places, but one in particular had grown very prominent. It was green. Cain stepped to Abel’s side as his sibling stared rather wide-eyed at the green glow. Neither of them could consider the thing was a wisp, it was to large. It was too bright especially in the sunlight. Abel hadn’t seen one in reality, but had read plenty of stories. Perhaps it was a fey. Fairies weren’t content to hover in front of someone that could be bothered or manipulated.

Abel was about to move forward, but heard something. A voice. A bit of a small voice, but it was still there, and came from the glow. Cain was leaning forward, studying the thing, ignoring his eye, which was half closed. The glow grew, then shot forward toward Cain. He yelped, mainly in shock, and almost fell back. He wanted to react in defense, but couldn’t quite see through the veil of green light. Abel stepped back, losing his footing and falling into the lake, but kept his gaze strictly on his brother. It definitely wasn’t a fairy they were presented with.

When the glow faded, Cain shook his head free of the cloud of confusion. A moment ago his eye had still been incredibly painful, throbbing with each beat of his heart, as though someone were sticking a hot poker into it. When he put his hand up gingerly to investigate, he found the swelling had gone down, and the pain had ebbed. “Abel?” He looked around, finding his brother returning from the center of the lake from which he had floated, and pulled him onto dry land. “Everything’s just twisting around today, isn’t it?” He asked with a chuckle. “Are you okay?”

Abel nodded. “Fine.” he shook his hair from his face and shivered. It was rare he wished for the sun to rise the rest of the way, but the water was cold. “What happened to you?” He studied Cain. “Your eye...”

Cain went to the water, studying his reflection. “That’s... amazing.” He said, running his finger over his eyelid. “It’s gone.” He glanced up. “Must have been that... thing. What is it?”

Abel shrugged and looked around. He’d seen it flit up to the lowest branch of the willow tree. Its glow was gone, but he could make out the small form of a winged character lying on the branch. “There.” He pointed, shivering in the cool shadows from the freezing water that had yet to warm in the early morning’s still-cold air. “It’s there.” He added, stifling a chatter of the teeth. “Wh-what... It’s... type of fey. Must’ve healed you.” He squeezed the water from his shirt, rubbing his arms to warm them. “Can’t say... w-why.”

“Strange.” Cain pulled Abel to his feet and moved forward. With his eye healed he could see the little creature a bit easier. “What are you doing here?” He asked it. “Going around meddling and such. Hope you haven’t been seen by anyone else, they try to keep the little ones out. Think they steal food and flowers, know? Gets a little bothersome.” He laughed. “Thanks for the help, though.” He added, winking his eye. “Really saved me from having to explain it off.”

Abel shook his head a bit. Cain had such an uncanny ability to speak to anyone or anything. He wished he could do the same sometimes.

zuriel lifts an eyelid, glancing down at the boys. He lets out a little chuckle at Cain's comment about theft by “little ones”. Shifting so he can better see the both of them he props himself up on his elbows. A wave of exhaustion makes him totter for a second, almost leaving to one of his infamous tree vaults the fairies so love teasing him about, but at the last second he manages to grip the bark and keep his place. 'Well THAT would have been one hell of an entrance after my little display, heheh' Propping himself up once again he smiles down at the boys. “No need for thanks, it was as much for myself as it was for you. As for your caretakers keeping us. . . . .little ones out, they are doing an abysmal job.” He gives the two a cheeking grin before reaching up to rub his forehead with the palm of his hand.

“Though I must say they are doing a splendid job of keeping you two in. And with their methods I'm not surprised. . . .Unless they haven't needed to use those nice sharp weapons I see on all the staff on you as of yet.” Settling his head into his palms he begins kicking his legs like a bored girl stretched out on her bed as he continues. “I mean, one would think that if the weapons were to defend you they would be worn in plain sight to ward off possible threats. But, concealed as they are I an only assume that they are for. . . .other purposes. No monsters in the area, no need for weapons against my kin. . . .So who's left to defend against? Or to attack at all for that matter.” Holding his hand out in front of himself Azuriel examines his fingernails in a bored fashion.

Letting out a large sigh he smiles as he feels his strength return at last. Looking once again down at the boys he smiles kindly. “Forgive me, I do ramble. I must be going now. I need to eat something to replenish you see, and I wouldn't dare upset your keeper by dinning here.” Sitting up he lets his wings begin beating slowly, just enough to hover. “I will return later, after midday perhaps? And perhaps by then I will have time enough to have a proper conversation. Stay safe, little ones.” With that the small Feyrun takes off over the nearest wall and heads for the forest edge. He can not suppress a chuckle at his own foolish actions. 'Well, that was fun. I wonder how they will take the new revelations' A rumble from his midsection almost automaticaly causes Azuriel to change direction, heading for the nearest water source.

The babble of a brook draws him quickly to it's edge where he sets down and returns to his normal height. “Ah, breakfast. Had to skip it with all the fun I had this morning.” Sliding his legs into the cold water he moves to the middle and waits. The smooth stones beneath his feet feel slick beneath his feet. He stills as a fish comes within sight. Soon it comes within range. With a lightning quick down stroke of his hand he parts the water around the fish so it can not swim away and snatches the wriggling creature up. Sinking his nails in so it can not escape he leans back towards the shore a with a wet smack dashes it's head against a rock. The fish stops moving. Tossing it up on the grassy shore he repeats the process twice more before getting out of the water. Sitting down beside his catch he thanks them, and the brook, before he begins eating.

Tearing the fish in half he begins digging out the meat and eating it raw, as well as several of the innards. Humming lightly he finishes the meal in no time and lays himself out to rest. 'I do hope those boys are willing to go through with my plan. It's not like they have any more choice then I do when it comes to the grand scheme of things, but my idea will make it so much easier. . . . on all of us' Rolling on to his side, Azuriel decides to sleep until midday. Drawing a light cloak about himself, he quickly falls asleep.

Abel glanced at his brother, whose gaze was glassy. The departure was quick, and neither of them even knew the name of the thing. Neither of them could rightly call it a fey, and especially a fairy, since both shared a type of healing power. Abel had agreed that their parents did horrifying jobs at keeping the little thieves out, it wasn’t their fault, though. As far as the twins were concerned the fey and fairies could take whatever they liked from the gardens as long as they stayed out of the house. But Abel was staring at his brother, rather than wondering what the fey---or fairy---had meant by its odd ramblings that really only half made sense. The only thing the elder twin understood was that the staff was armed. He hadn’t realized, nor would he have cared, but the creature had made a huge deal out of it.

“Cain.” Abel said at last. His brother started and looked around. “You knew they were armed? The staff?”

“I did.” Cain admitted, nodding. “But I mean, I didn’t think it was anything big.”

“Nothing big? Of course it’s something big! Why would they be armed if only for us?”

“Well, Abel, why would they harm us? Our parents fuss over us far too much, and pay those doctors too much money, why would they let the staff do anything other than ‘threaten’ us with their little knives?”

“You don’t think they’d use them against us?”

“Absolutely not. Besides, brother, you don’t really think they could do anything? We’d be able to do a lot more damage than they could. Especially you.”

“No. I’m not that useful.”

“Stop talking yourself down.” Cain put an arm around Abel’s shoulders. “You know you’re powerful, you can sometimes surpass me. And if the staff try to do anything to back you down, you’ll put them in their place, won’t you?” Abel was silent. “Well?”

He nodded at last. He was definitely useful, that was for sure, but only when he could draw upon intense negative energy. If the staff tried to stop him from doing what he so wanted, to leave the grounds, they wouldn’t be able to stand up to his anger. Cain was the only one spared from Abel’s wrath, mostly because the two needed one another. He sighed, throwing himself down on the soft grass. Cain followed suit. “You ought to get some dry clothes.” He said.

Abel shook his head. “They’ll dry.” He muttered. “What is it you… think that little fey was talking about? Why would he want to come back later?”

“I don’t know.” Cain admitted. “Maybe he’s bored.”

“If he were bored he’d be here still. Maybe something bad is happening…” Abel shivered. “Do you think? Maybe he saw our… power. Maybe we’re not human.”

“If we’re not, I don’t know what we could be.” Cain laid back, stretching his legs.

“What… what if…” Cain looked at his brother. “Our parents are only human… Humans can’t have non-human children… Do you think it’s possible… our mother betrayed our father…?”

Cain looked away. His generally cheerful disposition was still there, but blanketed by cold, intense thought. Perhaps Abel wasn’t far from the truth. Their parents disliked non-human powers. They were afraid of it. At least, the boys thought that was the case.

-A faint light ahead, muffles, as if behind a cloud. A faint purple around it. Soft, without form. Mind racing, heart pounding. A both from the center! A pain!-

Azuriel wakes with a start, sitting up quickly. His hand reaches up, clutching his chest over the newly formed pain, blossoming in his chest. Panting hard, he tries to send healing energies inside, but the energies find nothing to repair and dissipate. His eyes squeeze shut, forcing the moister gathered there to travel slowly down his cheeks. 'Ah! That's it! I am definitely dealing with this, TONIGHT!' The pain keeps his curled around himself for a time, cursing his luck silently the entire time. The nails of his right hand dig into the grass and dirt beneath him as the hand clenches in pain. When at last the pain passes he falls back on to the grass to stare at the sky through the leaves dancing above.

Lifting his hand to hover in front of his face Azu examines the now filthy nails. A lopsided grin plasters itself on his face and a snort escapes his lips. Dropping it back down he rolls to the side and pushes himself up. “Yep, time to deal with this. A little more looking about and I'll be ready. No problem!” Murmuring to himself he swiftly shifts to his smaller form and takes off towards the manor grounds. The green grass whips past bellow him, the faint smell of earth and plant matter drifts up from the ground, having a relaxing effect on his body. His mind clears a bit, and his speed slows. “Yes, will have to be careful, but I'm sure I can do it. Have to anyways.” When at last the walls of the grounds comes into view he slows even more, staring at it. He at last drifts to a stop within arm's reach of the gray stone. Bringing his hand up he places it gently on the semi smooth surface and closes his eyes.

'I'll need your help for this. Will you do so? I know you have been forged to defend those inside, but I assure you, this must be done. Will you aid me? Will you, change fore me?' Sending his words deep into the stone he listens carefully for it's response. The element is dim, it's energies low, but at last the stone replies, it's voice very faint. Azuriel pulls back, smiling, his hand dropping to his side. “Thank you so much.” he murmurs as he begins drifting over the wall. As soon as he is over the wall he sinks low. Once again skirting the grass as he looks about. His eyes drift across the manor, seeking out the room most saturated with the boy's energies. At last he sees their differing colors pouring from two windows, side-by-side, but a good distance apart. With a nod he at last looks about for the boys themselves. Drifting to the shed he looks out across the grounds. Spotting their figures set upon the grass he drifts closer.

When at last he comes into their visual range, he comes to a stop. This time, he does not speak. Instead he begins going over his magic exercises. He pays only the vaguest amount of attention to the boys. The spells he works are the same color as himself, so in essence he remains invisible even within only a few feet of them. 'Let's see how sensitive they are. Perhaps it would be easier if they already had a sense of “me” by the time I attempt this Working his small magics, he lets it bleed in their direction. Beneath his spells a small seed that had been settles gently upon the dirt slowly digs it's way down and begins sprouting. Just a small tail of a sprout begins wiggling it's way up through the dirt.

Abel tossed a clump of soft dirt into the water. They had only just returned to the lake, and Cain was lying, spread like a blanket, on the grass beside him. During a quiet dinner, neither sibling spoke to their parents of their suspicion, that perhaps they were not strictly human after all. Neither of them wanted an argument, especially rooted to them specifically, or brought on by what they would call a 'young mind's raving imagination'. Abel had been quiet throughout the meal, which wasn't strange, while Cain managed to fish out a chuckle or two from their father with wild stories or comments. Abel had smiled, but not much more than that. It was only to let them know he was listening. Then they returned to their rooms for their evening checkup. One more was coming their way, but only right before bed. Abel was dreading that, and accidentally lobbed a loose stone too hard. It skipped over the water and flew into the high cattails on the other side.

Cain stared at the trees above him. The bowed branches shifted constantly in a steady breeze that let the sweet scent of grass and random wild flowers drift over the high wall. That, more or less, was the only real contact the siblings had ever had, and ever hoped of having, of the outside world. At least until their parents became too old and feeble to restrain them anymore. Cain was confident that they wouldn't be here forever. Absolutely not, in fact. Their parents were getting on in age, and they would ascend to power. No one would be able to tell them to stay anymore. Cain himself didn't like the thought of their parents' death, but it was inevitable. Eventually, everything died. Abel was more than familiar with those words. Those thoughts. Cain tended to push them away as being too sad.

He took a deep breath and smiled at the green canopy above them. They didn't have any responsibilities, which did get boring, but their parents assured them that soon, they would begin learning how a true leader behaved, and what they had to do to keep order both inside and out. He put his hands out to his sides, feeling the grass and running his palms over the soft sprouts. When he paused, something continued moving underneath his hand, and Cain sat up, suddenly very interested. It felt as though something had crawled over him, like a warm entity, slithering a bit like a snake, but nothing was there. When he studied the ground, he found a new sprout, the beginning of a vine, perhaps a fruit vine. But he'd never seen them grow so quickly without help.

Before he could call Abel, his brother was right beside him. "Do you feel something, brother?" He asked attentively. "Like some... energizing wind?"

Cain nodded. "Look here." He said, indicating the struggling sprout. "I recognize the feeling." He added. "It's the same thing that healed my injured eye."

"Must it be that little fey?" Abel asked skeptically. "Why would he return? Surely he's got better things to do."

"Or, perhaps not." Cain retorted. "Give us a little credit, Abel. We're interesting in our own way. And perhaps he's bored." He looked up, squinting his eyes. "Can you see him?"

Abel had been studying his immediate surroundings. "Often they can make themselves invisible." He said. "Or blend in so well they seem that way to the unassisted eye." He closed his own eyes and focused. Indeed, something was nearby, and in the dark behind his eyelids, he could make something out. A faint glow just several feet away from Cain. "There." He pointed. "There you are."

Azuriel relaxes, letting his magic run back and forth across the ground. When the boy's spot him he spares them barely a glance before continuing with his exercise. He watches the vines creep closer and closer to the boys. He smiles, letting his energies flow along the vines, playing across the ground beneath them. His glow becomes more intense as he begins floating side to side, letting his energy touch a wider area. The pulse of the earth beneath him strengthens and the once nearly comatose land begins throbbing gently. His eyes dart back over to the boys. 'Now, in theory, we should be compatible. If the legends are accurate that is. That old Falin may have gotten the scrolls crossed in his old age. One way to test that. . . .' Lifting up a little higher off the grass he sends eve more energy into the vines now wrapping themselves gently in circles around the boys. A few strands stretch out, touching their hands.

A light wave of energies goes through them. The feelings inside the energy is warm and soft. Azuriel watches as the split soul, usually rather turbulent looking smooths out, settling between the two gently. As it does so the feelings inside the boys are reflected into his small form, making his eyes roll back as the pleasant wave rushes through him. 'Okay, well, that's fun on several levels. Hope they aren't too surprised. I hope they understand it. . . . ' He takes a deep breath, looking at the two with a smile. Retracting his magics he settles lower to the ground, sitting on a newly sprouted flower. The area around the three is transformed. The once pristine flat lawn of well kept grass is now covered with beautiful flowers and vines in a good fifteen foot circle around them. Along the vines thick plump grapes and melons set gently on the bed of thick vegetation. Dimming himself a bit so he can be seen a little better Azuriel crosses one leg over the other and looks up at the boys with a smile.

“Hello again. Sorry for the sudden departure before. I was feeling a little worn and needed some rest.” Reaching out his right hand he exerts a little energy. A vine a few inches from his hand leans over so that the grapes hanging from it are now in reach. Pulling one of the succulent fruits from the sprig he sets it in his lap. Almost the size of his head the grape is much too large for him to eat whole. Pulling out a small sharpened bone from under the collar of his clothing where it's held tight against his skin when not in use, he sinks the sharpened end into the skin of the fruit. After a bit of work he peels back a portion of the skin and digs into the interior. Scooping out a few pieces and gulping them down, he looks up at the two. “Feel free to try the fruit. It is quite tasty. The energies you contributed made these rather delectable.” Swinging one leg over the edge of the flower, he continues eating.

It was gone from his general sight after he saw it. Abel glanced around, he and Cain feeling some energy rather closely resembling their own abilities if one of the two were controlling their power. Abel went back away from the sudden touch at his hand, jerking away and nearly falling into Cain. “Easy.” Cain assured him. “I don’t think this is hostile.”

“You never do.” Abel muttered. Cain didn’t acknowledge him, but studied the blooming flowers, presenting fruits, and carefully breathed in. He put a hand on Abel’s shoulder, keeping him steady as his brother was shifting uncomfortably. He didn’t particularly find the presence of excessive life and energy comfortable. Considering his harnessed abilities, they revolved mainly around negativity, basically, anger, rage, sadness, depression, hopelessness, and fear. He couldn’t make things bloom, rather, kill them by snuffing their life force and wringing it from their bodies. Amongst other things. Cain was energized rather than muted, feeling the life of everything around him wrap around his heart and strengthen him, almost, as the little creature called upon its energy. He wanted to help, but was staring too hard and keeping his hands on Abel to steady him.

Cain went to his knees to sit among the vegetation and pick up a nearby melon. It was green and looked to be covered in thick leaves, but that was no more than its rind. Abel crouched, hovering one hand over the bed of flowers and vines in front of him. “Careful.” Cain said quietly. “You might kill it.”

Abel shook his head. “I’ll be fine.” He responded, in a voice just as hushed. Easily, he grasped a vine and studied its flowers. He almost didn’t hear the little fey speak. Sitting beside Cain, he remained silent. Cain, however, smiled.

“Quite all right.” He said, picking at the rind of the melon in his hand. “Although I don’t quite understand why you’re so interested in us.” Abel nodded in agreement. Cain reached a hand out, and the resulting energy sent a vine into his hand. “Why would you go out of your way to leave, then come back? Obviously you’ve got other things to do, right?” He glanced around to Abel. “At least, that’s what I’d assume.”

Abel kept his gaze to the ground. It’d be better, he assumed, to just let Cain speak. He was, after all, the more charismatic of the two.

Azuriel sits silently for a time, gathering his thoughts. The slow repetitive motion of him consuming the grape from the inside out sets a pace to his thinking and lets him concentrate. 'How much should I tell them? Not much I would say at this time, but I guess there's no time like the present to begin building trust. Their energies have calmed a bit, though the darker one seems a bit flustered. Oh, well, can't please everybody' Looking up at Cain with a thoughtful expression Azu swallows his mouthful before replying. “I didn't leave because I had something to do exactly, but doing what I needed to do would have been harder here on the grounds.” having eaten his fill the Feyrun drops the grape off the edge of the flower. As soon as it hits the ground it vanishes into the soil. Rolling on to his stomach he props his head up, eyes roving from one boy to the other.

“I'm not sure if you know this, but this place is at the edge of the forest I live in. Not too far from here is a sacred grove where I spend most of my day. At least, on days where my parents get their way.” A slight smile graces his lips. “I sneak away when I can. Truthfully, there isn't much around the forest's edge. . . . .Except for this place. I had never seen stone structures before today, so I thought to explore.” Sitting up once more, his smile widens. “And then I saw you two. . . . . .” His eyes pass between them, meeting their gazes. “You two are more then of interest to me, you are indeed fascinating. If only you could see yourselves through my eyes. . . . .”