Originally, this story was an RP idea. However....it developed and grew and I just had to write it down =) Another angel one ;)

There was a light dusting of snow on the forest as dawn approached, chasing away the frigid night.

Tariah sat on the edge of a cliff, her feet dangling over the sheer edge, wings spread easily behind her. Her black and golden feathers were ruffled in the wind, only just distinguishable as they mingled with her long dark hair.

She wasn’t awake or asleep, just resting. Typical of an angel she was still sitting rigidly straight, shoulder back and chin up. Her amber eyes were narrowed to slits against the cruel wind as she listened to the coming dawn chorus of birds. It was almost as if she were a statue, a living statue amongst the snow-capped mountains and blanketed forests.

                “Hello, Tariah,” spoke a quiet voice behind her.

                “Hello, Arain,” she replied slowly, opening her eyes unhurriedly and standing. Her back was still to the angel behind her.

                “Up early again,” Arain said. It was a statement, not a question, and so Tariah did not see why she should reply. She waited patiently for him to continue – she knew he would. He was Arain.

                “What of Janil? And Yarolle?” he asked, naming the only other angels they knew still lived.

                “What of them?”

                “Have you seen them?”

                “No.” And now Tariah turned around, to face Arain. His familiar, steady grey eyes looked into hers. “I have not. But they can take care for themselves and there is no reason why I should want to see them.”

                “Typical Ria,” Arain said, and a smile entered his voice, lighting up his handsome face. “Keeping to herself, happy with her own world.”

                “My own world had no fear, no anger, no suffering,” replied Tariah quietly, “but it died oh so long ago. It died when the Humans came.”

                “Aye, as did our whole way of living.” Suddenly Arain was grave and solemn again. For a moment they stood there silently. Then a smile twitched Tariah’s lips and she touched Arain’s lips. He shivered and drew back slightly, making Tariah frown a little.

                “We still have each other,” she murmured, dropping her gaze and turning away again, “and that is something to be grateful for.”

                “Aye,” agreed Arain softly, his mind somewhere else, and nothing more was said as the sun started to bleed into the valleys below.

                “Janil!”

                “I am here, Yarolle!”

Two swift shapes flashed across the wide, open snow-field, harried by five darker shadows.

                “They’re coming!” shouted Yarolle, her voice panicked and fearful. “Oh Janil, they’re following us! How are they so fast they can’t be it’s not right!” Her blue eyes were wide and wild with fear as they raced onward, legs pounding the hard snow. Her long blonde hair was knotted and dirty and bloody, and the wind caught in it as they panted onward.

                “Fly, Yarolle! You must!” Janil yelled back. His left wing was trailing limply behind them, leaving a crimson-spattered furrow. He could feel the bullet lodged in his fragile wing bone, stabbing pain with every movement.

                “No! I won’t leave you!” screamed Yarolle, her voice catching in a sob. Tears streaked her dirty face, freezing in their tracks.

                “You have to! Get Tariah and Arain! Go, Yar, hurry!”

                “No-oo!” she moaned, distraught. Her heart was racing, pounding, fighting to get out. Then three bullet-shots echoed out, cracking across the dawn, smashing into the silence.

Aaaaaand I'm gonna leave it at that for now. =P

   And Janil crumpled. He gave a short, sharp cry as he fell, blood spurting from his calf. He writhed in the stained snow, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

                “Go, Yarolle, please,” he croaked weakly, tears glistening in the pale light on his cheeks.

                “Fine!” She cried, and veered over to him, ignoring the bullets ripping the air around him. She hooked her arms under his and heaved, straining. Her wings beat powerfully, and by some super-human effort they lifted into the sky.

                “Yar...” Janil mumbled, nearly unconscious.

                “Yes?” she choked out, struggling through the air.

                “I love you.”

And Yarolle started to cry in a way she thought was impossible.