Young recruits to the angel army are very much like humans in their emotions and their short-comings. They can be punished and demoted and also rewarded, but are always encouraged and instructed by the most noble and loyal teachers - the angelic warriors themselves. This story begins with a young female named 'Laylee' and the text is purposely deceptive to have the reader assume this is a girl on the brink of suicide. Things change quickly.
* * *
The cold wind stung her cheeks and made her tears burn. The chasm stretched before her, wide and dark and her eyes were riveted to the depth she could see. Birds flew in the canyon beneath her and a hawk cried forlornly. This should not be hard. How much courage could one step take?
Above, beneath, all around her the wilderness rang in its open complexity. Miles of untrodden wasteland stretched in all directions. Rocks jutted up from the cracked ground like ink drips on some upside-down canvas. Hollowed out crevices and caves perforated the rocks and sand hissed eerily as the wind tossed it hither and thither. One girl, she knew, barely registered on this great forgotten tapestry. The mountains and valleys would not cry for her and she would not make the eagles sing. The vultures might laugh at their fortuitous lunch and chatter amongst themselves into the late evening. But no one would hear them. No one had the ears to hear or the eyes to see. Not through her melancholy eyes.
A strong gust pushed past and she caught her breath as it rocked her precarious balance. How impatient the wind seemed. "Laylee?" She started and fell back a few steps at the sound of her name. Nathan stood there as implacable and serene as he'd always been. "It's not going to work." He said. "You can't fly anymore."
Her features turned suddenly sharp and challenging. "Who said I was going to try?!" He merely looked back at her calmly. She wilted. "I'm sorry."
He nodded barely perceptibly as though a request easily granted and took a few slow steps toward her as he began again. "Laylee," There was compassion when he said her name. "Your wings are broken."
Laylee did not bother to look at him or argue, though her shoulder muscles instinctively - and ineffectually - twinged.
Nathan shook his head and sighed. "Come. I will take you back."
"Like that?" She said skeptically barely glancing back at his human get-up. He wore a fawn-colored jacket, yellow shirt beneath, faded jeans and leather shoes. His hair was sandy and fell to his shoulders.
"Oh." He said. "Force of habit." He shrugged and his whole persona seemed to melt and change in an instant. He now stood tall, hair so bright and blonde it was nearly blinding, pure white robes belted with a golden sash, sword glistening and sheathed at his side. And most prominent of all, two large, snowy and spectacular wings branched out from behind his shoulders. "There. That's better."
Laylee turned back around and said quickly, "I'm not ready to go."
He walked up to her and laid a large hand on her shoulder. "We'll go the long way." His smile was warm. "Come."
Laylee sighed, but the anticipation of flight, even not of her own power, was too strong for her to fight. Moving around behind him, she climbed carefully up on the strong back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hold on." Nathan said and then alighted powerfully into the air. Laylee gasped at the rush of wind, but quickly felt her adrenaline rise to nearly unbearable levels as he flapped the massive wings and they set off across the wasteland. Far below them, the blue and purple shadows seemed to melt into the contours of the rocks themselves and lengthen as the sun sank lower. The rocks and crags blurred past in a shimmering haze until the great crooked length of the river broke its cracked plane. The wind whipped through her long brown hair and stole her breath, but she thrilled at the exhilarating freedom that was now denied her. She knew Nathan could have moved even faster, so fast that the scenery below would be lost in a blur, but he did not. He took his time and allowed her the chance to enjoy these moments.
Gradually, as they followed the river, the land became more lush and green, the land more fertile and rising now in gentle planes. It was not lush, still dotted with scrub brush and cacti, but more life flowed here than in the miles of trackless wastes behind. Laylee's heart sank. They were near.
Nathan slowed considerably and circled only once, then the two figures descended smoothly to a high plateau where much activity seemed to be going on. He dropped lightly down at what seemed to be a command post and Laylee slid down reluctantly beside him. "Commander." He said and smartly saluted the angel manning the controls of some sort of mapping device. Commander Kyle stood to face Nathan and returned the salute. They began to talk of business, and Laylee wandered away having no interest in being lectured by her superiors even if Nathan had given no indication he was negatively reporting her.
A young band of recruits stood talking not far away and looked over as she approached. "Laylee!" A young man greeted and rushed to her. "What happened, you left so suddenly?"
"Just out exploring a little." Laylee told him.
"But your charge," The young man countered worriedly. "Is she alright?"
"Her charge is fine." They looked up at the firm voice standing behind Laylee's shoulder. Laylee was surprised to see that Nathan had followed her. "Her charge was left in our care. Laylee wasn't gone long." His tone was kind, but it also indicated that they should not question Laylee further. She smiled at Nathan gratefully.
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