neutral_omens | (no subject)

Date: April 8th, 2000
Setting: Manor Grounds
Status: Semi-Private (Uriel and Luna -- Complete)
Summary: Challenge thread. Luna encounters a special bird.

Flying, Uriel had noticed, served as a good way to take out his frustrations. Still pained about his loss of Pestilence, it felt good to be able to concentrate on merely flying, the motions of wings and feathers taking his attention away from his grief. He also didn't want to face anybody right now, and not assuming a human form seemed like a good way to avoid anyone. Of course, Wednesday probably would start talking to any raven he encountered, but he could easily stay clear of his brother.

Of course, he wasn't completely alone. Horus was there most of the time, not asking what was wrong and why he was in a bird form, just flying with him like it had been the most natural thing in the world. It felt good to be able to just fly with someone without needing to explain himself or his emotions.

It still hurt so very badly, though.

Circling a bit closer to the ground, he was sorely tempted to croak, "Nevermore!" However, he didn't do that. He didn't want to talk. At all.

He would not talk.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You're good at wandless magic," said Luna, smiling back at him. "And that green matches your eyes."

"Oooh, that's a cute little horsey (http://www.cloudgazing.com/Horsey.jpg). And that (http://www.cloudgazing.com/Angel_Cloud.jpg) looks like you that day in the restaurant just before you fell down." You could hear the ~~great big~~ smile on Luna's face.

"Thank you." Uriel looked at the clouds and laughed a bit. "What's this?" he asked, his voice as close to playful as he could manage at the moment. "You have already seen me on the sky in two different forms and I'm yet to find anything that even resembles you -- unless you count that frog, of course."

"Mmm," said Luna non-committedly. "I look like a frog? That's nice. Wrackspurts are scared of frogs, so they don't tend to hang around frogs that much," she continued brightly.

"Maybe you were meant to be in the sky then, and the sky is calling you home. It misses you."

Uriel smiled faintly. It wasn't until now that he realized that his words could be taken as an insult. Fortunately the girl didn't seem to be too offended.

At the girl's next words, however, he sighed. Yes, he was meant to be in the sky, wasn't he? Heaven was calling for him -- maybe not by the clouds, but in his heart. Perhaps it would be the best to simply leave. At least there he wouldn't have to worry about running into Pestilence.

But then again, what would that solve? Nothing, nothing at all. He would still be alone -- even more so, as Wednesday was in the Manor. In Heaven he would have nobody. Well, aside from Him, of course, but Him he could feel even down there. At least here he would know when something happened. Up in Heaven... According to what he'd heard, it was all just chaos as a result of Michael's Fall. That was not something he wanted to think about.

Yet still... He sighed. It wasn't easy for him anywhere, was it.

"Perhaps you're right," he said quietly to the girl, gazing up at the sky. "Perhaps the sky is calling me." Although if that was the case, he shuddered to think what the dagger (http://www.cloudgazing.com/Dagger.jpg) he saw up there meant.

"I think it's because of your wings. The sky loves to be flown in," said Luna seriously.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, which was only broken by their pointing out interesting clouds to one another. Then, as fire painted the sky (http://www.cloudgazing.com/The_Phoenix.jpg), and shadows lengthened, Luna gave a small sigh and said, "Well I'd better be going in. There are some things I need to do before the sun sets completely. Nothing to do with you, you understand," she added quickly, "just Arthimancy that needs to be done within a specific time frame."

Standing and Vanishing the grass stains on her skirt, she looked at Uriel before stooping down to give him a hug that was as bone-crushing as she could*. Straightening up again, Luna said, almost urgently, "Be well."

Blowing a kiss to the sky, Luna turned and walked back into the Manor.

*Which, to tell the truth, wasn't very.

[ooc: sorry for modding Uriel - if you mind, I'll just delete this or something.]

Uriel found himself actually enjoying this little moment of peace. Sure, he was still hurt, and upset and angry, too, but he could also enjoy the peace. He didn't say a word as the girl announced her need to return inside, merely smiled slightly.

"You too," he answered quietly to her last words, still feeling the hug. He sat there, watching her, until she disappeared into the Manor.

Then he concentrated for a moment, transformed, and answered the sky's call.

[OOC: Don't worry, dear. I don't mind a bit.]