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Alexei did not trust that cart.

Why was it that his father had a knack for picking out the worst shopping carts ever? Something about this one told him that the store had wrestled it out of a hobo's custody, all rusted and wobbly and squeaky. One of the ones that had been left out in the rain...and the sun and the sleet and snow. And being being half germaphobic as he was, the little Herald had chosen to walk.

"Do you think if we push the box of Cola to the end, it'd even out?"

Alexei tore his eyes away from one of the epileptic wheels, which had been convulsing steadily as they shrieked along.

"Uhm...try't," he shrugged. Try ANYthing to stop it from squeaking so much. His father grabbed the bar and unceremoniously lifted up the entire back end of the cart, sending the cola sliding to the back.

"Papa'n! Y'jus' smashed th'bread!"

"Flat bread and fizzy soda...delicious. C'mon, you want some cereal?"

Alexei eyed the next isle and the cart dubiously. Would they make it that far?

Well, it seemed like the house was out of food. Fantastic. Now she had to feed TWO people, and her house was out of food. Great. Grumbling to herself, Elizabeth hastily put on a sweat shirt, careful as it nearly caught on her tangley hair. It was only yesterday she had invited that strange being into her house, and it STILL was asleep, though she swore that there was less food in the bowl she left by his side then before. Fine then, she'd have to feed him.

It was a very, very long walk to the supermarket, and once more, Elizabeth cursed her lack of driving ability, and the fact the weather was too miserable to even consider going on horseback. Well, it was actually quite nice now, but it was still muddy on her part of the town, because there was less pavement here. She lived a little in the boondocks.

Entering the supermarket, the young woman snatched a cart, pushing the dratted thing, and trying to keep it under her control. Her sea eyes were steel grey and very, very angry. Going to her favorite aisle, that with Krafts, Elizabeth swung her arm, taking as many boxes she knocked off the shelf into her cart. There, dinner for a week, but she still needed breakfast.

Still stomping, Elizabeth headed to the cereal aisle, where apparently there was a bit of a traffic jam. She instantly recognized several of the smaller, child-like figures as Heralds, making her heart rate increase. Heralds! Oh dear... Suddenly all her anger was replaced by joy at seeing so many of the creatures at once, but her shy nature counteracted everything else and left her awkwardly brushing past one of the guardians while reaching for Lucky Charms. She'd gone to the Halloween party but made only a brief appearance, and didn't recognize anyone here. Maybe they recognized her? Somehow Elizabeth doubted it; after all, she had no Herald by her side.

What was this? Some sort of meet and greet in the grocery store? Not that Azruael was about to complain since they were all women; he made a mental note to go shopping more often.

Too many people! Little wings tittering, Alexei began to slowly creep behind his father when he heard his name called by an all too familiar voice. Looking for the source would have been easier if he wasn't so short, but, alas...he had only grown a few inch -- ah!

"Mackerel? What'chu doin' here?" He gave a little wave, eyes staring at her for a while before he gave everyone in turn a little attention.

The demon, however, quirked a brow. Oh ho ho! Not even up to his hip and the boy was taking after him, huh? He ruffled the boy's hair, eyes fixed on Elf, who was the most familiar of the bunch...and mother to the little Herald who had called his son's name. When had they met?

"Fancy meeting you here," he said, brushing off her caution with a wicked grin. His wings pulled in as he was jostled, eyes flickering to the others around. And if to make matters worse, he purposely reached for a box of cereal over Elf's head, hoping to cause her discomfort.

That was always fun.

Elizabeth felt as if she had very much intruded in upon something, a merry meeting in which she was not welcome. Backing away to the corner of her shopping cart, she raised a hand hesitantly. "I'm sorry to interrupt... but are these all Herlads?" Oh god, they were going to kill her and eat her now. One of them was a demon. Oh god, oh god, oh god.

"PLEASE DON'T EAT ME!" Covering her eyes, Elizabeth was waiting for certain doom. Normally she wasn't so skittish, much more outgoing and full of life, but today she felt on edge, for some reason. Perhaps it was the tension she couldn't see, but certainly felt, between some of the females and the demon, or perhaps that was all in her mind.

Now EVERYONE was going to notice her.

Oh god.

All he offered was a shadowed smile. Despite grabbing a box of cereal he had no intention of purchasing - only old people ate Wheat Bran! - it was well worth it.

Alexei's head tilted to the side; he sort of envied Mackerel and her cart, at least she could ride in hers! If only Jumbo was allowed in super markets, then he'd have his trusty steed to ride. But when Miyon screamed, he was grateful that the dog wasn't here, because as big as he was, he was also the biggest wuss ever.

The little boy winced and stuck his fingers into his ears, one eye squeezing shut. His father half imitated his action, pointed ears flattening against his head; both sets of wings, black and mottled gold, bristled unpleasantly.

Azruael swung around one hand holding his box of useless cereal, the other pressed against an ear, and made his way back to the cart...or tried.

"PLEASE DON'T EAT ME!"

Any other person would have been insulted, but Azruael wasn't 'any other person'. He placed the box in the cart and turned to Elizabeth.

"As delicious as you appear, love, I'm not going to eat you," he chuckled, tickled by her reaction. "I don't do that anymore."

Mackerel looked at the shy Herald. On the ground, she grabbed the boy's hand and drug him over to Miyon. Once there, the young herald looked at someone that looked similar to her -at least when forgetting the wings. "Hi! Mackerel," she pointed to herself. "Alexei," she pointed to the boy she clung on to. She really did wish the big doggy was here, she licked him.

Elf backed up quickly as Mackerel drug Alexei past her. Her side collided with the bars of the cart, which rolled a few feet forward before the woman clung on to the handle and dug her feet in. Catching her shaky breath, the woman stood back up and sighed. She hadn't fallen and made a fool of herself..... phew.

It was then she saw a blood stained feather, and for a moment she thought that a Herald may have fallen in the store, which made no sense. Then, she noticed it belonged to the one holding the other Herald girl. "Oh...." Elf wasn't about to say much more.... and staring was rude so she averted her eyes, only to notice she was staring at Auz's leg. With a choked strangle the woman looked back at Mackerel, to keep her eye on the young girl.

Lenne looked up to Azruael for she was watching as Miyon attempted to hide herself from the others. "No.....I'm fine....It's permanently like that...." She murmured quietly, crouching down to put Miyon on the floor with the rest fo the other Heralds.

The skittish child whined and gave a cry as she was pried from Lenne's cloak, "Sis'aw!!!" She pleaded, clinging onto Lenne's garb to pull herself up.

Lenne looked to Alexei and Mackerel with a soft smile, "Her name is Miyon. She can't say much yet." She informed them before looking back to the other adults, "It's nice to see other people housing the fallen and not just my mother..." She smiled.