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Those Bottomless Eyes
Stage: Messenger Reborn



It was cold, but the snow was gone, and the ice.

Armed with a little food - mostly fruits this time - Sarielle made the trek back out to the flat stone where the Herald always waited for her. It hadn't eaten anything she'd brought up till now; but she felt sure that it would eat something eventually. She just had to figure out what.

Her footsteps halted. Waited for her? Was it really Sarielle it waited for?

Putting her feet into motion once more, Sarielle nevertheless kept the question on her mind. And upon further reflection, she decided that for some reason the angel was unwilling to leave that particular spot; but that it did look forward to her daily visits.

She had almost reached the long, flat stone when she heard the sparkling sound of a child's laughter, high and clear on the cold breeze that rustled through the branches of the trees.

Sarielle stumbled into the clearing, tripping over a loosened stone under the blanket of dead leaves; and a little girl sat on the edge, swinging her feet and turning her face up to the sun.

She was the oddest child Sarielle had ever seen. She wore only a thin white dress down to her knees, but seemed unaffected by the cold. Her skin, delicately flushed, was the smooth pale colour of rice paper. Her hair shone white so brightly that it was almost platinum, only purer.

But the thing that struck her most was those bottomless eyes. A rich blue and oh so deep, it was that alone that made Sari recognize the little girl. It was Taka. The Herald. Though she did not understand what had happened nor how it could be possible, she would never forget the expression of the angel's deep eyes, the night she first saw it after it fell.

Budding Wings
Stage: Messenger Reborn



Sarielle awakened to something landing with a soft "whoosh!" right on her chest...

...she nearly had a heart attack.

But it wasn't the monster from her uneasy dream that sat looking down at her; it was Taka who sat square on her chest.

"Sarielle, Sarielle! Itch!" she whimpered.

It took several moments, but at last Sarielle was able to make sense of where she was and what exactly was going on, stopping just short of swearing in front of the little girl.

"Mmmph...Mmkay, baby, lemme see," she murmured sleepily, fumbling for the lamp beside her bed. Taka turned her back to Sarielle without being asked, and waited expectantly.

"Itch," she said again, in case Sarielle hadn't caught the message the first time around.

The area on her back between her shoulder blades was even redder than before, if possible. Taka had clearly been scratching at it again. But what was that?...

Sarielle stuck her face closer. It almost looked like something blue was lodged in the skin. She ran her finger across it and Taka jumped and cried out.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. But I need you to hold still, okay?"

Once again, she examined it closely; and it struck her that it was growing out of the skin, not something lodged into it from outside.

"Taka..." she said very slowly. "Baby, those are your wings coming in."

Taka still sniffled from the earlier pain. "Secret?" she asked hopefully.

"I'll try, but I can't promise it'll work again," Sarielle said, climbing out of bed. She came back with the antiseptic again; but also with gauze and athletic tape. Soon the soothing cloth had been applied, and a protective covering was over the little girl's back to keep her from being able to cause further damage.

Apparently it didn't work as well as the first time; because Taka still was restless. After much debate, Sarielle broke a tylenol in half and made Taka swallow a small piece.

I hope because she's so young it doens't hurt her, Sarielle thought to herself. And then, Oh god, I hope because she's an angel it doesn't hurt her!

"Gah! This is why I didn't ever want kids!" the woman groaned aloud, knowing she was probably a terrible mother. She decided to have Taka sleep in her bed that night to monitor her in case she did have some sort of reaction.

Sarielle couldn't sleep for worrying, but Taka seemed fine as she cuddled with the blue rabbit Eamane had given her. She woke bright and curious as ever when the sun first spilled through the windows onto the bed.

The Sanctum Discovered
Stage: Messenger Reborn

<Taka posts in steelblue.>
<Shayna posts in orangered.>





Sarielle had come with Taka to the place she'd first found her. It was like any other day: the falcon still guarded the entrance... he still refused to come to her call...

Except now Taka had learned the meaning of the word "secret;" and now she had one of her own.

She ran ahead of Sarielle, and climbed onto the long, flat stone. She didn't understand what exactly she was doing; only that she could. She turned and waved to Sarielle and then...passed through. Sarielle had looked up just in time to see her disappear.

***

On the other side, the weather was little different; the occasional sporadic flake of snow still flickered in the wind. But oh! The air here was so much freer.

Taka began to skip, oblivious of the bitter wind that tore at her white hair. This also was home, in a way she could not yet put into words. But then, there was very little she could put into words at the time.

A blue lake that rivaled even the depths of her eyes lapped at her feet. She could see ruins up ahead; she had to see them more closely. Carefree footstep followed carefree footstep, and soon she found herself among the tumble of stones.

Is there no one else here? she wondered to the wind. Her voice, though, remained silent; and she searched for knowledge among the stones.


A small head had poked out from behind the ruins. Her clear blue eys looked to the little angel ahead of her. Shayna smiled and stood up, a flower that she had brought back with her was in her hand. Flakes of snow drifted down onto the red spring flowers petals.

Shayna stepped out from behind the ruins and skipped over to Taka. She smiled as a red feather came loose from her wings and drifted past them. She took the tiny flower and placed it bhind her ear and stood still, looking deeply at Taka.

Her silk dress flowed in the breeze as a gust of snow and wind blew past. She peered to the side slightly, seeing that Taka too had a pair of new wings growing from behind. Her hair blew into her face as she stood, faceing the girl ahead of her.


Taka's eye caught the flutter of red; and for a moment, it captured all of her attention, and she darted to the side to retrieve the feather. It was warm in her hands.

She then turned to the little girl that looked so much like herself, and smiled. She wasn't alone here! That made things so much nicer. She offered the feather back to her, holding it out at arms length.

"You dropped this," Taka said in her sweet tones, having learned, at last, to speak.


Shayna smiled and let out a little giggle. She took back the warm feather and placed it with the flower that was behind her ear. "Thank you." Talking seemed so much easier here. She didn't stutter, and her sentences usually came out fine.

This kind of surprised her. Behind that she had never found someone else here, she had never tried talking in this place. She let out a tiny shiver as her body felt cold for only a second, before feeling once again warm and cozy.

She watched as the flakes of snow blew by and watched one silently fall onto Taka's face before melting. She smiled again and her wings slightly fluttered for a second. "My name is Shayna." She young girl smiled, letting a few pieces of hair fall into her face before sweeping tem away.

The girl she was talking with surprisingly looked like herself... except for her wings of course. Shayna's wings were warm to the touch, but not enough to hurt or cause discomfort.

She blinked her clear blue eyes and waited calmly for a response. She wanted to know the name of the little girl she had just come to meet. Her silk dress once again blew slightly in the wind, that wasn?t cold like it was when she was with Blood.


"I'm Taka," the Herald responded. Then, "Do you live here? Why are your feathers warm? Mine aren't. And where did you get that flower?"

The questions spilled forth in a rush, as usual. This place was so big, there was so much to learn!

The other girl looked so much like her, that she knew, and she was suddenly struck by an idea. Without giving Shayna time to answer, Taka grabbed her hand impulsively.

"Come on, I want to see something," Taka exclaimed, tugging her toward the water.


Shayna opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by the tugging of Taka. "Umm. okay!" Shayna ran behind the Herald, noticing that they were headed for the water. She looked at Taka as she dragged her along. "What is it?"

She looked a little confused at first but decided it wasnt bad and evetually had fun wuth it. She ran at the same speed as Taka and giggled a little. It was nice to have someone just like her around. It was fun with Blood, but having someone her own size, age and well... species was even better!

A smile crept onto her face as they stopped at the water. "Well?" She turned her head to Taka, waiting for her to show her something.


Taka fell to her knees at the edge of the water and pointed. "There, look!"

I was so still, a lake of blue glass. Everything frowing to the short was reflected dimly back at the sky. Two faces, each mirroring the other, stared back.

"See? You look just like me, if you can't see our wings!"

She sat back on her knees and laughed, feeling highly entertained by having a lookalike.


Shayna smile wide and fell back, giggling. "Just like twins!" She looked at her lookalike and examined her, noticing not one difference besides their wings. "I wonder If we will always look like this." Shayna adjusted her legs underneith her, finding a comfy spot in the snow below her.

She looked around the Sanctum quickly before turning back to Taka. "So. Do you live here? I usually don't... I usually live with Blood. Sometimes I like to call her mum though."


"We are!" Taka tipped her head throughtfully to the side. Were they sisters, perhaps? She thought that's what twins meant; but she was still learning to talk, and couldn't say for sure. Unwilling to look ignorant, she just didn't say anything at all.

"And I don't live here either. I live with Sarielle. Have you ever been here before? I haven't. I don't think..." Her voice trailed off as she gazed unblinkingly at her "twin" once more. Even here, where words came so much more easily, she groped for a way to express the feeling the Sanctum gave her. It was familiar somehow, in a way she couldn't explain.


Shayna smiled at Taka. "I have been here a few times. On my own though. And I never left my ruins. But... Before I found Blood, I don't ever remember being here..." She looked around, examining her surroundings carefully. "Hmm" She looked to the sky and watched cloud float past the blue sky, in the distance dark grey clouds were stirring. A storm was coming. A breeze flew past the two girls and the slight moment of silence seemed to go on forever in this place... It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, but a beautiful silence. It was enjoyable and quite peaceful. The shimmering almost untouched snow added to the beauty of the moment as soft ripples moved across the water.


Taka, too, peered up at the clouds that forebode rain. "I came in over there." She pointed to an area on the lake's shore a little further on, as in the time it took her to speak the ripple-filled lake became frosted with whitecaps, and leaves and small twigs pelted down from the forest.

"I think maybe I should go!" she shouted out above the wind. The snow and cold didn't bother her in the least; but she'd never seen a storm, much less one so violent. And she was afraid. "How do I get back?"

Her eyes, often devoid of any emotion beyond curiosity, nevertheless now displayed a growing horror. What if she couldn't get back out?


Shayna shivered and watch the clouds quickly move overhead. Her blue eyes scanned the sky with a bit of fear as the violent winds blew across the water. Shayna stood up, struggling against the wind to stay standing when a leaf had blow past her with such force, a fresh, bleeding cut had formed on her cheek. Shayna cringed and yelped from this new sensation of pain. She had never known what pain was like untill now.

Shayna held her had to the bleeding cut and striggled to look at Taka, who she noticed was just as nervous and scared as she was. "Taka? TAKA?" Shayna yelled above the howling wind. She started to shiver violently, and screamed as a loud crash filled the air. Shayna began to cry just a little. "I'm scared" Shayna whimpered under her breath.

Her blue eyes shot around, not knowing if she could get back to Blood or not. Usually it took lot of concentration, and this was no weather for that. Shayna moved herself deep inside her mind, hoping to get away from her fear for at least a moment. A moment was all she needed... But she never got it. She was snapped back by the sudden rip or one of her feathers from her tiny wings. She cringed a bit from it, but it was nothing compaired to how her cheek was feeling.

She tried to prie her eyes open long enough to see if Taka was still with her. She badly didn't want to be alone. But the wind was far to strong and she couldn't manage to keep her eyes open. Shayna finally knew of fears worse then spiders, and pain larger then what an itch felt like. She was afraid.


Taka vaguely heard Shayna scream her name over the wind, as a rush of leaves and small twigs ripped through her soft white hair. She smelled...blood.

She wasn't sure how she knew what it was; or how, with the scent of impending rain so strong, she'd even been able to detect it. Shayna! Was she hurt?

Taka stumbled toward her "twin," squinting against the volley of small objects the wind threw her way. It shouldn't be this hard! Shayna was only a few feet away.

She cringed as another huge thundercrack rolled overhead, a powerful tomtom in the heavens.

"I'm here!" she cried out, lunging forward again and just managing to clutch at Shayna's free hand, and yelping as a stray branch made off with one or two of her own feathers. She huddled close to her "twin." "How do we get out?" she asked, her own deep eyes becoming liquid with unshed tears.

She saw that Shayna still had one hand pressed to her cheek; and the scent of blood filled her nostrils, strong and metallic. It definitely belonged to Shayna...

Now she did cry, the tears driven swifly across her face by the gale.


Shayna could hear faint footsteps coming towards her. She opened her eyes just enough to see the figure of Taka. Shayna felt a small droplet of blood fall from her cheek, and felt the cold liquid splash against her leg. She felt a soft hand clasp onto her own and for a moment felt safe. Untill she heard the crash of the thunder above and the yelp of Taka as a few of her feathers had been torn away. "Taka..." Shayna whispered and noticed as the girl started to cry. "I... I don't know." Shayna said just loud enough for Taka to hear over the powerful crashing of thunder and the loud beat of rain hitting the ground with great force. Shayna's eyes started to water, but she knew she had to stay strong for Taka.

Shayna held Taka close, and shivered as she was starting to feel the cold of bear wet skin against cold wind. She moved her hand awasy from her cut for a moment, examining her hand. She had never seen such a shade of red. It wasnt like the waxy kind on her drawing at home. It was wet, and it came with alot of pain. She placed her hand back over the cut. The cold air was starting to make it sting a little.

Shayna's eyes darted around as she looked for a way out. She couldn't think of anything but their best move would be to go to the ruins and seek out some shelter from the rain. "Taka. We have to move over there." Shayna pointed tot he ruins. "Maybe we can find someplace out of the rain." Shayna started stepping carefully, making sure nothing would hit her again, causing the pain to come back full force.


Taka felt Shayna shiver as the first hard drops fell, but didn't really understand. She felt wet, of course; but the cold was not something that bothered her particularly. Dimly, memories of an icy downpour filtered through her mind; but they were soon wiped away by the fear at hand.

"Alright!" She shouted back to Shayna, as the wind strove to tear her words away, and they began to struggle back, away from the lack and to the stones that lay in ruin.

Shayna still glanced now and then at the blood on her hand, smeared a little by the raindrops; it was also on her face. Taka realized that her twin seemed almost dumbfounded by it...

Taka pulled her eyes away. She did not mind the sight nor smell of blood, as most children might; but she did not like to see it on her twin.

She tried to hold tight still to Shayna's hand; but the rain fell harder, and her grip loosened. Holding on didn't really make movement any easier; but it made her feel better, so desperately she hung on. Just a few more steps, and they'd be around one of the low-standing walls.


Shayna soon learned to ignore the blood that was now covering the palm of her hand, and most likely covering the side of her face. Taking her hand away and putting it back countless times had smeard around the blood that had crept from the cut, all around her cheek.

She tried just as hard as Taka to keep ahold of her hand. It slowed them down a bit, but it was worth it. As they turned the corner to hide hedind the low rock wall, Shayna remembered the blankets and sweaters Blood had given to her a long time ago. Shayna kept leading Taka further into the ruins, and soon they came to an area of a taller standing wall with a peice of roof that still stood strong overtop. Shayna smiled and lead Taka to the area, and sat her down on the still dry blankets.

Shayna had to wipe away the blood on her somehow, so she ripped apart one of the sweaters and wiped off her hand as best as she could, holding up the bloody rag to her face. "What now? Should we wait?" Shayna sat beside Taka, looking up to the sky as it lit up once again and was closly followed by the crashing sound once more.


Taka sat down in the dry nook with a great sense of relief. Somehow even that tiny bit of shelter made her so much less afraid. She did duck a little at the next roll of thunder; but her face was no longer wet with tears, but with rain.

She still would not look directly at Shayna. Instead, she picked up the already-soiled sweater and handed it back. "You missed some on your face." Only then did she begin to consider her twin's question.

"I suppose we have to stay here," she said dolefully in her high sweet voice. She had planted herself right beside the other child, and had NO desire to face the storm - and most frighteningly, the thunder - again. "You said you'd been here before though; how did you get out again then? I...I wanna go home." She didn't cry again, but she did look pretty miserable, with her huge sad eyes and her hair and clothes plastered to her body.


Shayna took the rag and had finished wiping away the blood on her face. She looked to she dark sky and listened to the houling wind run through the trees. She though for a moment, and turned to Taka. "Well... I usually have to concentrate real hard. Block everything out, and think of Blood, or good thinkgs. sometimes it works. Othertimes... it just sorta... happens." Shayna spotted the circular spot of pavement out in the open where it usually happened. The ancient markings and swirls along the cement had filled up with rain water, and in the center lay a small stone slab. "Maybe if i..." Shayna trailed off in her own thoughs. Wrapping a blanket around herself she ran over to the slab. She pulled part of the blanket over her head to help herself concentrate a bit more.

She held her hand over the slab and tried her best to block everything out. The crashing thunder, the drumming of rain and the screeching of the wind, ripping through the trees. As she thought deeply of being back home with Blood, a hot bowl of soup infront of her, she felt a familiar warmth beneith her hands. She opened an eye just in time, to see a red light coming from the stone, and to see part of her start to fade off. A crash of thunder broke her thoughts and she fell backwards slightly.

"Uh.." Shayna stood up against the harsh wind and turned to Taka with a smile. She motioned the girl to hurry over. "Maybe I can get us both through!" Shayna exclaimed exitedly as Taka had made her way over. She wrapped the blanket around Taka, making sure the girl was touching her in some sort of way, incase it wouldnt work if they weren't touching.

Shayna once again held her hands over the slab, concentrating hard on being with Blood, and a hot bowl of soup. The refreshing warmth came once again to her hands, as the two girls slowly faded away into the bright red light. It had worked!

Shayna opened her eyes so see the two of them huddling over the same stone slab... but it was different. a warm spring breeze flew through Shayna's hair and the green grass was everywhere. the blue sky above them held not a single cloud! They made it. Shayna turned to Taka with a big smile and hugged her twin. "We made it!" Shayna stopped for a second, feeling her own cut once again bleed. She held her hand up to the wound, covering it the best she could with her tiny hands.


Taka had huddled beneath the blanked and watched as Shayna held her hands over the stone slab, and concentrated. Her twin's words echoed in her ears, and she, too, tried to think of her guardian.

The Herald could just call up the image of Sarielle as she stood in the snow, looking miserable but waiting while Taka called to the falcon anyway. Her own snug room with her blue bunny and her music box, swam next before her eyes.

Beside her, Shayna began to feel warm - almost uncomfortably so. But she couldn't think about that, or the storm that raged around them. She had to concentrate on home, just like Shayna did.

The heat intensified, and Taka felt like she was smothering as the scenery shifted with a dizzying whirl. And suddenly...the rain was gone, and the thunder only a distant rumble of memory. It really was as Shayna said; they had gotten out of the Sanctum safely!

Or at least, mostly. The deep cut on Shayna's cheek had broken open again, and they were still soaked from before. She had no time to speak before Sarielle swooped down on them both and cradled them in her arms.

"Where were you? Don't ever do that to me again!"

Taka blinked; the words should have been angry, but Sarielle's voice shook as though she was holding back tears.

"And who is this?" One glance and Sarielle took in the warm, fiery feathers. "Ah, you must be Shayna," she rambled on, not giving the little girl time to answer. Blood had spoken of her frequently. "Does Blood know where you are?"


Shayna suddenly felt someone come into the picture. Blood had told her not to talk to strangers. But Taka looked happy as the woman hugged the two of them. Perhaps this was the woman names Sarielle that Taka talked about. The name was familliar. Yes... she remembers it. She had heard Blood say the name a few times when she talked on the phone. Shayna smiled, feeling the warmth of Sari's hug.

Shayna looked to Taka then to Sari. She nodded to Sari. "Yes, I'm Shayna" She shiverd a little bit as she was starting to feel weak. She wasn't used to loosing blood, especially so much for her first cut. "I... No... Blood doesn't know where I am." Shayna shifted her had a little bit and could feel some blood drip down her cheek again.

Shayna moned a little and was starting to feel sick. She had put alot of pressure on her body today. It was hard to bring them both back from the sanctum like that. not to mention the strong sent of blood was starting to make her dizzy.


"Sarielle?" Taka spoke up softly, her expression strange. "I don't like the way Shayna's blood smells," she almost whimpered. "Fix it."

"Fix it." It's what she'd always said to Sarielle when her wings had first begun to grow in.

"Alright Taka, alright. Shayna, our house isn't far; you and Taka stay right here while I run and get you a band-aid, and I'll call Blood to let her know where you are. Taka, the cold doesn't bother you but it might bother her. Stay close and make sure she stays warm."

Sarielle turned on her heel and made her way back home at a brisk jog; if Blood was anything like her, she'd be frantic not knowing where Shayna was.

Taka, like most children was excited by the idea of responsibility; and promptly plopped down close beside Shayna, and handed her the thin coat Sarielle had originally brought for her.

Taka's First Letter
Stage: Fallen Messenger



Sarielle paused briefly at the mailbox, cramming her arm inside and not immediately looking at any of the contents. Taka was (of course) clinging to Sarielle's back, the blue bunny that Eamane had given her toted by one ear.

The womanset Taka down and watched as she skipped off into the living room. Next she tossed the mail on the kitchen counter to sort: two magazines she wasn't remotely interested in; her house payment (oh joy); and what was this last one?

It was an envelope with just "To Taka and Sarielle" printed on the front and no stamp. It must have been hand delivered, and by someone who knew about Taka. It didn't leave too many options.

Sarielle started to open the letter herself; but at the last second she paused, realizing that Taka had never gotten a letter before. IT might be exciting to the white-haired child.

"Taka! You have something in the mail!" Sarielle bellowed from the kitchen, and was rewarded by the quick patter of small feet as Taka dynamited into the room. Her eyes, still so striking to Sarielle after all of this time, did not look excited but inquisitive as she stared up at her caretaker.

"Here." Sarielle handed it down to Taka, and watched her turn it over and over, staring blankly at the scribblings on the front. "Look, it's your name and mine," Sarielle explained, squatting down beside her. "Taka," she pronounced slowly, drawing her finger along the girl's name. "Sarielle," she said, doing the same. Perhaps she should work on teaching Taka to read later today. Taka clearly possessed a sharp mind; and Blood had told her that Shayna was already learning to read.

Taka absorbed that bit of information with a blink; but said nothing before she began tearing at the flap.

"Here, use this," Sarielle cut it, handing her the ivory-handled letter opener and guiding her hand with it. "It'll be much neater that way, with no ragged edges."

"Neater?" Sarielle watched while Taka digested that word; and when she was ready, the child tucked a stray strand of glistening hair behind her ear and pulled the slip of paper out.

Sarielle, of course, had to read it to her; but a small smile twitched at the corners of Taka's mouth when she found out Tokki had named the doll after her.

"So there's a Taka-doll now?" An adorable giggle burbled up to the surface, and Sarielle smiled widely at the sound.

"That's right! You should write Tokki back; do you know what a pen pal is?"

Taka solemnly shook her head no.

"It's someone you exchange letters with from time to time," the woman explained. She fetched a piece of lined paper and a pencil, deciding now was as good of a time as any to start teaching her to write. "You tell me what you want to say, and I'll help you write it. Here, hold the pencil like so," she said, demonstrating.

At the end of an hour, a few sentences in wobbly letters were spelled out; but they were legible, and by the end of it Taka had been able to remember how to write a lot of the letters on her own.



Sarielle addressed the envelope herself, afraid that the postal workers wouldn't be able to read Taka's shaky handwriting. But she did let Taka lick the stamp herself (what a hilariously adorable expression she made over the taste!) and stick it on the outside of the envelope.

Taka took the letter out to the mailbox, but Sarielle had to lift her so she'd be tall enough to put it in; and the little red flag sticking up announced to the postman that it was ready for delivery.

Reunited
Stage: Child

Taka, Sarielle's Herald, posts in steelblue.
Shayna, Blood's Herald, posts in orangered.

Shayna ran her fingers along the bottom of her dress. The key to her diary made a soft dinging sound in the wind. Blood took Shayna's hand as they walked up the pathway to the door of the house.

Blood stopped infront of the door an knelt down to fix Shayna's hair a little. "Darling I have a surprise for you." Blood stood up and knocked on the door to the house. Little did Shayna know, She was about to see Taka for the first time since the two of them had met. Blood was anxious to see how the two girls would react when they saw eachother.

Shayna's red hair flew around in the warm spring breeze, and a petal from a nearby apple tree blew past. Her dull reddish brown wings had grown and lost most of their vivid colour since they had last met. And Shayna didn't know if they even looked alike anymore. But this wasn't really the main thing on her mind right now. She was to occupied by the beautiful trees surrounding the area of whitch they lived. Shayna looked to Blood and smiled "Where are we anyways Blood?"

Blood smiled "You'll see soon." The sound of footsteps could be heard rushing towards the front door. Blood probly though that Sari was running to catch the door, being that it had taken her a while, she probly thought the person might be leaving. Shayna would finally get to meet Taka since their little mishap in the Sanctum.

But it wasn't Sarielle who answered the door; a young girl stood framed in the entrance, her head tipped to one side in curiosity. Her shorn hair was the color of walnut stain; she neatly tucked a stray strand behind her ear as she smiled an inquisitive welcome. Her eyes, though friendly now, were a rich steely blue; and anyone who met her was left with the impression that they could also be terribly cold.

"Please, come in," she said like Sarielle had taught her, and stepped aside to let the visitors enter. There were two: a woman and a girl close to her own age, she would guess. She drew in her breath sharp as she caught sight of the wings on the other girl's back.

They were a dull reddish colour, not at all familiar, and yet...every so often the edges of the feathers seemed to spark like embers in the breeze. No, she could be...could she?

Taka's eyes darted to the girl's face; but no, there was no tell-tale scratch. She looked away, disappointed. Perhaps it was not her twin after all.

Although it had been quite some time since she'd visited the Sanctum during that terrible storm, not a day passed that she did not mention her "twin" to Sarielle.

"I'll go tell Sarielle that you're here," was all she said, the sparkle gone out of her eyes. Her expression was remote, as she thought back to how warm her twin's feather had felt in her hand.

Blood smiled at Taka, watching her look over Shayna, but not yet recognize her. She took Shayna's hand and walked in the door, closing it behind her. Shanya looked a little puzzled at first, not noticing Taka's wings at all. It wasn't usually something that first caught her eyes.

She looked carefully over Taka's face, trying to place a name to it... but that was no good. As Taka turned to tell Sari that there were people here, Shayna noticed the two wings jetting from the girls back. She instantly knew they belonged to her twin. It had to be her.

"Taka?" Shayna stepped forward, a smile on her face. "Twin?" Shayna turned a little to see her own wings. No wonder Taka didn't know it was her. Her wings had gone through just as much of a change as her face did.

Taka waited for the two to enter and closed the door behind them. Five paces would have brought her to the door of Sarielle's office, but hearing her name she paused and turned. It was the girl of about her own age who spoke.

Who is she? she had only enough time to think before "Twin?" the other girl queried.

Perhaps her first impression had been correct after all... With the candor that most children possessed, Taka didn't think twice before reaching out and lightly running her fingertips across the other girl's feathers. (Well, perhaps she was a bit worse than most; Taka, it seemed, couldn't look at something without consequently having to touch it as well.) The feathers were warm to the touch!

"Shayna!" Taka happily and literally launched herself at her friend. "You don't look the same at all!"

Releasing Shayna just as suddenly as she'd near-tackled her, Taka ran, pit-pat, pit-pat, and pounded on Sarielle's office door. "Sarielle, Sarielle! My twin is here!"

Shayna almost fell back from the force that Taka used in her hug. She giggled and squeezed her twin tightly, happy to see her again. She looked like a whole new person! "I hardly knew it was you! But i'd recognize those wings anywhere! Mine changed a bit." Shayna turned her head to look at her her wings.

Shayna smiled up to Blood as Taka ran to Sarielle's door. "Thank you mama! This is the best surprise ever." Shayna's eyes started to water a tad bit but she held it back. She wrapped her arms around Blood and smiled.

Letting go she turned her attention back to Taka. Blood was happy that the two figured it out. "Tell Sari i'll just be in the living room dear." Blood looked at Taka as she said this. She slipped off her shoes and walked into the living room, taking a seat on the couch.

The door handle turned, and Sarielle poked an inquisitive face through the opening.

"Who's here?" she asked, but when she saw Blood perched on the couch, it all clicked into place in her mind. Of course, it had to be Shayna! Taka still hadn't hushed about her "twin," even after Sarielle explained that they couldn't *really* be twins as they weren't even sisters, as far as she knew! Then, "Good grief, is that Shayna?" she asked then, rising out of her rolling chair at last, and putting down her pen. "She's all grown up!"

Taka, meanwhile, was conversing excitedly with Shayna.

"You look so different now, even your wings! I wasn't sure it was you until I touched them; the feather you lost before, in that place...it was warm too, I remembered."

Taka's smile faltered a little as she thought back to the awful storm, but soon her face brightened once more.

"Let me show you my room!" she said, beckoning Shayna to follow her.

Blood turned and smiled to Sari. "Hey! Sorry to come in while you are working. Just thought I'd stop by!" Blood laughed a little and watched the two girls. "They are growing up. Thats for sure."

Shayna laughed and giggled with Taka, remembering the storm as well. She placed a hand on her cheek and remembered the first time she had bled. "My feather. I still have that. It didn't chance like my wings though. But it gives me memories of when we met. So it is real important to me." Shayna nodded, egar to see Taka's room. As the two of them sped away, Shayna turned to wave at Sari. "Almost forgot to say hello!"

Blood smiled, happy to see them getting along so well. Even after all this time. It was nice to see Shayna with another Herald. It really brought out the joy in her. Especially because the two of them were only a few days apart in age.

Taka's room was on the first floor, near the back of the house. The square window opened onto nothing but forest.

There was little furniture in the room, but it seemed to be the way Taka preferred it, so Sari had left it that way. Her bed was a pallet on the floor; she was supposed to keep it rolled up, but she'd forgotten today and the patterned blankets lay spread untidily across the floor. A small blue and gold box crouched on the floor beside it. There was also a low chest of drawers, and a small table with cushions thrown around it instead of chairs.

"Look!" Taka chirruped happily, making her way to the chest. She picked up a snow globe from it and gave it a vigorous shake. "Sari said Blood sent this to me. It's so pretty, and I don't think I ever got to thank her for it."

"I like your room Taka!" Shayna smiled as she examined the room. She sat down on the floor and watched as Taka pulled out the snow globe. "Ohh! It?s so pretty! I can tell Blood you say thank you if you'd like. Unless you get a chance to do it before we leave." Shayna smiled.

Shayna squinted her eyes for a moment, trying to remember what Sari had gotten for her. "Hmm...... Oh yeah! Sari got me a vile of fire. It never goes out. Its soooo cool!" Shayna especially liked that gift. She had a strange love for fire and burning things. Blood had to make sure the matches and lighters were kept up in a locked cabinet and that Shayna never got a hold of candles.

"Soooo... what do you want to do?" Shayna put her legs out in front of her and leaned back onto her hands. She looked up to Taka and waited for a suggestion... ANY suggestion. Shayna wasn't one that liked to sit around.

"Well..." Taka glanced around her own room. There wasn't much in the way of toys; she was more than willing to entertain herself outside, spending much of her days amongst the elements. Her gaze crossed the window with its screen that let in the sweet scent of the darkening air. Evening was upon them.

Tiny lights winked and shimmered amongst the trees, gems shining in a sputtering, uncertain light.

Her steely eyes widened with sudden inspiration.

"I know! Wanna make firefly lanterns? Sari has some empty jars in the kitchen. I know a place not far from here where there's lots."

Shayna's face lit up at the mere WORD fireflys. She jumped up and grabbed Taka's hands "That's a WONDERFUL idea!!! And while we are out there I can show you a new trick I learnt!! I'm still kinda getting used to it.... but you'll love it!"

Shayna darted out of Taka's room and found Blood, asking her if it was alright to go out to make firefly lanters. Blood nodded and said it would be a great chance for Taka and her to catch up since they hadn't seen eachother in a long time.

"Taka!!! Blood said it's okay!" Shayna exclaimed as she walked back into Taka's room.

"Good!" Taka's feet pattered lightly over the wood as her quick steps took her to the kitchen. Grabbing two Mason jars, she handed one to her sister and kept the other herself, before digging lids out of a drawer cluttered with all manner of odds and ends.

"Bring them here so I can punch holes in the lids," Sarielle hollered from the living room, where she and Blood still chatted on the counch. "Don't want to kill the poor things."

Taka had already fished a skewer out of the drawer to do it herself; but with an impish grin at Shayna and a conspiratorial wink, she trotted into the living room to let her clueless guardian punch the holes.

That done, she breezed out the side door, assuming Shayna would follow with the same level of haste, her short locks fluttering around her face. She pushed them impatiently aside.

Her fleet footfalls carried her with assurance beneath the trees. She nimbly avoided roots and stones that hid in the shadows; the sky still had some light to it, but there was little beneath the living canopy. The small clearing opened up suddenly, filled with shoulder high grass and a million winking lights.

Shayna giggled as Taka took the jars into the living room so she could punch holes in them. "Be careful now Shayna." Blood waved as the girls ran out the door with much haste.

Shayna's hair, being short already wasn't as much of a problem as it seemed to be for Taka. She giggled a little and followed Taka through the tree's and to the clearing. "Wow!!" Shayna watched the fireflies but remembered that she was going to show Taka something.

"Taka, watch." Shayna knelt down onto her knees, proping herself up by sitting on her feet. She closed her eyes and held her hands infront of her as if holing an invisable ball. She concentrated ahrd before a small light and then eventually a small ball of fire appreared between her hands. "Look!!!" Shayna smiled, feeling proud of how fast she did it this time around. "Blood says i'm a kind of Pyro. Not the kind that likes to just play with fire, but also creates it."

Shayna let the small fire go out and turned her attention back to the fireflies. "But I can't do anything as pretty as what these fireflies can do.? Shayna smiled as the small insects lit up the clearing.

Taka absently held the cap over the jar to keep the few fireflies she'd snagged right off safely imprisoned, without bothering to actually screw it on. Shayna had her hands cupped like she was holding something, but when Taka got closer, nothing was there.

She watched her "twin" for a moment or two in silence, while Shayna squinted in concentration. Nothing immediately happened, and Taka had dubiously opened her mouth when suddenly a pinprick of light, almost like a firefly but warmer, appeared in her palms and suddenly swelled into a ball of fire.

Taka dropped the jar and the insects made a hasty escape.

Taka dove to retrieve the miraculously unbroken jar before looking at Shayna, who was admiring the insects again as though nothing that unusual had happened.

"That's amazing!" Taka exclaimed in awe. "I wish I could do something like that!"

Shayna giggled. "When I first found out I could do it, I nearly lit the house on fire. Blood wasn't to exited about that." Shayna smiled and picked up her jar, catching a few fireflies that had made there way to arms reach.

She got up and walked around the clearing a bit, catching fireflies on her way. "This is fun." Shayna smiled and stopped for a moment.

Shayna looked back to Taka. "Hey... Did I ever tell you that I got a pet?" Shayna managed to catch another firefly without to much effort, and without completely going out of her way.

Following Shayna's lead, Taka capered about the clearing, hopping and cavorting as she swung the jar at unwary fireflies.

"No! You didn't tell me," Taka panted, still hard after the insects. Her jar was rapidly filling up, and she was beginning to lose more than she caught.

Shayna laughed in amusement as Taka got a little frustrated with loosing more fireflies then she could manage to catch. Shayna was doing rather well on the other hand. She was slow and steady, and made sure she didnt startle the bugs to much, that way less would seem to fly away.

"Well.... you know that one feather I lost waaaaaay back when in the sanctum? During the storm?" Shayna made a small leap to get one firefly that was a bit out of reach. "I was just kinda watching it, and it burst into flames and turned into a Phoenix. Blood was exited at first, but now she just gets frustrated" Shayna laughed and caught a few more fireflies before screwing on the lid. Her jar was getting pretty full, and didnt want to crowd the poor things.

"You're kidding!" Taka huffed, lunging again. "And you didn't bring it to show me? I'll hafta talk Sari into letting me come spend the night at your house or something."

The conversation flowed easily while the two ran around the clearing, but would have been comical to any onlooker. Still, the girls seemed to be most definitely enjoying themselves.

"Aw..." Taka said sadly then, staring down at her jar with forlorn eyes. "I just squashed one when I put the lid back on."

She ran her finger along the rim, and held it up as it glimmered briefly, just as the poor firefly once had.

"Well actually... Malen is never to far. Perhaps if you are lucky you'll see... err.... him?? Her??..... It? Yeah.... it." Shayna laughed at her own confusion at what to call Malen.

Shayna's face scrinched up a bit. "Awhh.... that's a shame. Well....... you still have plenty more! Right?" Shayna smiled and held up her own full jar. Its wasn't quite as bright as Taka's was, but that didn't bother her. "I think we did pretty good." Shayna smiled, satisfied with how many they caught.

"Yeah...I guess that's so," Taka conceded, still focusing on the fireflies as the yellow-green glimmer faded from her hand. We did do pretty good, didn't we?" Her humor was almost fully restored. "We should go show Sari and Blood."

Turning her attention elsewhere, her thoughts bent next on the phoenix Shayna had mentioned.

"So aren't you afraid Malen will get lost all by itself?"

"Yes. I'm pretty satisfied!" Shayna smiled and walked over to Taka. "Ready to go then?" Shayna started walking back, turning back to look at Taka as she talked. "Nah. Malen is pretty good at finding it's way back. Hasn't gotten lost yet!!!"

Shayna finally managed to find her way back to the house, darting inside with her jar of fireflies. "Look Blood!!! Look all of them!" Shayna smiled brightly.

"Very good hun. Where is Taka???"

"She is just behind me. She'll be coming in soon!"

"Alright then. It's getting late so don't stray to far. I wan't you close enough that I can call you in when it's time to go."

"Alright Blood." Shayna walked back over to the door, waiting for Taka to come in.

Taka bounced in moments later, proudly displaying a lichen-coloured treefrog clinging to the front of her (stained) white dress. "I found him by the door," she giggled to the three already in the living room. "Oh, and look!"

She gave her jar a quick shake to make the fireflies glow all the brighter.

"Shew, it's too bright in here," she said, dissatisfied with the effect. A few quick strides and the lightswitch was turned off. Hers and Shayna's faces were illuminated in the weird, yellowish green glow.

Taka made scary faces. Sarielle chuckled and, taking the jar from her in a spontaneous moment, did the same. The young Herald went into gales of laughter.

Blood laughed at Sari as she had taken the jar from the little Herald and had done such a childish thing. Blood could see Sari do such a thing... but it was so rare to see her do it so openly like she had just done. Blood had a large smile spread across her face.

Shayna had in an INSTANT handed the jar to Blood and gave her one of those looks. Blood giggle and started to make faces like Sari was doing. Shayna's attention soon turned to the little frog on Taka's shirt. "You should keep it for a pet. A frog!!! That has to be one of the all time coolest pets. Besides a turtle of course." Shayna laughed.

Blood put down the jar and walked over to Shayna, scooping the child into her arms. "Darling, i'm feeling a little tired. Is it alright if we leave?" Blood questioned the little girl as she started to head to the door.

Shayna started off with her puppy dog face and eventually got to straight out disagreeing with Blood. "No.... pleeeeeeease... I wanna stay longer. Please Blood." Blood looked at Shayna and then to Sari, and then back to Shayna.

"How about I make you a deal... You come home with me tonight, and sometime later this week you can sleep over here, or have Taka spend the night at our house. Deal?"

Shayna put on a face that showed that she wasnt quite sure. She looked to Taka as if asking if this was a good deal or not.

Taka's smile was huge as the jars were passed around, each person's face even sillier than the last. More strongly than she'd ever felt it, this was family and this was home. She knew it with certainty.

Sarielle practically glowed. It felt like heaven.

Taka patted the frog as she watched everyone and waiter her turn again; the frog seemed to disagree with this, and transferred itself from the front of her dress to her leg.

It hung both places with equal ease. She considered keeping it. It WOULD be a cool pet. "Nah," she told Shayna at last. "He's used to being outside. He might not like it inside." Sarielle's eyebrows rose at such a mature decision. She would not have objected to the pet. "I'll let him back outside, an' then maybe I'll find him again and play with him then."

She was as good as her word, after first offering to let Sari pet it (she declined). But when she returned, Blood and Shayna were arguing about leaving. Her sister practiced outright defiance, something she would not have done. The phoenix child looked a question at her.

"I'd like to come over to your house, Shayna," she said quickly. "Then maybe I could see Malen too! Can I?" she queried of Sarielle.

"Of course," the woman responded without hesitation. She had no qualms about Blood's ability to look after them both.

"'Kay then. I guess you gotta go though." Taka gave her "twin" a quick affectionate hug. "See you later."

Shayna smiled "Yay!!! You will most DEFINATLY get to see Malen." Shayna hugged her twin tightly and walked over to the door, slipping on her shoes. "I'll call you tomorrow okay?" Shayna smiled and bounded out the door.

Blood smiled to Sari and Taka. "Thanks for having us over." She smiled. "I will see you later this week then!! Bye!" Blood smiled once more and headed out the door, closing it behind her. She chased Shayna down the dirt road until they were out of sight.