A fan of feathers

Calahel laughs heartfully cause of a joke the nice Ramielit of another host made. He holds his stomach giggling and glances at his hostmembers who enjoy the 'party of Engel', too. Eating, chatting, celebrating like in heaven, what more could you want?

Of course Calahel remembers his duties that would come, but for tonight, he thinks, there is no Engel in this hall that doesn't feel good. Smiling and with spread arms he walks over to the Raphaelite of his host, and although she is perhaps a bit shy, she enjoys the evening as well, at least Calahel hoped so. "Greetings sister, how do you feel?" He asks in a happy voice and cuddles her briefly.

*

Thommariel talks to some other Michaelites for a while, then he walks to the members of his host. "I am anxious to what will be our first mission... but for now we should enjoy all of this", he smiles then he eats an apple.

*

Phinael sits beside another female Raphaelite, talks a little and then starts to saunter through the great hall.
At the approach of Calahel, she smiles up at the taller Engel, lets herself be cuddled but slaps his arm playfully. "You'ld crush me, brother. You're stronger than I am, and besides, I tend to settle on a bit more of a distance." She wiggles a broken feather in front of him. "See? I broke it in that crowd and the massed takeoff down there." Sighing, she tugs at her newly acquired first ribbon and takes a few steps back, retrieving a small saucer with pineapple slices. "And there comes Ashviel," she notes, grinning. "I bet she's a bit out of breath with all that stairs to climb!"

She waves over to the Sarielite who approaches the two other Engel.

"I'm late, I know," the Engel gasps. "But you ever counted all those stairs?" She looks at Phinael's broken feather. "Oh, what a pity! Where did you get that?" She reaches out, and Phinael plucks the damaged feather from her wing, smothing the broken shaft back into form.

Smiling, the tiny Raphaelite lays the soft feather into Ashviel's outstretched palm.

"For me?" she breathes, gazing happily at the golden shimmering feather. Phinael shrugs, smiling and nodding towards Thommariel. She proceeds to a loose knot of Raphaelites in a corner.

Ashviel looks up to Calahel and Thommariel. "Now, would it be disrespectful to ask you for a feather as well, brothers? I've got this strange feeling I'ld want to keep them from all of you near me. We'll be seperated long enough." Her face is crossed by a shadow before she straightens herself. She looks towards Thommariel as if trying to excuse herself but then says nothing.

*

"I understand sister, and I'ld be glad to offer you one." He spreads his wings a bit above his head and smiles: "Which one you'ld like? Got long ones, shorter ones, fluffier ones, lighter and darker ones." He twinkers in her direction.

Ashviel thinks for a few seconds. "Well..." She props her tongue between her teeth. "How 'bout that one?" She points toward a shorter, fluffier feather at the inside of Calahel's wings and grins. "I don't want you to pluck one that wouldn't mold soon..."

*

Phinael observes the two Engel and grins towards Thommariel. "So, and that makes it your turn to donate one of yours." She lets one hand sink into her right wing and draws it out, a similar feather like the broken one between her fingers. "Ashviel will get this one from me," she whispers conspiratively towards the Michaelite. "Won't do to settle on a broken one, eh?" Looking around, she frowns slightly. "And where would our Gabrielite and Urielite be?"

*

*

The experience for Egriel was quite exhilerating, witnessing many Engel, including himself, launch into the air like a huge flock of birds. Although brief in comparison to the long journey, it took quite a bit of effort and power to transport himself up alongside the verticle shaft of the Himmel.

Currently, he stands close-by the other Engel of his host, enjoying the food as well as the occasional dialogue with the other passing Engel. Noticing the activities of his host-mates, he approaches.
"What are you doing?" Egriel asks, pointing to the plucked feathers, "Is this a new custom?"

*

Carniel frees himself from another Gabrielite he talked to and walks directly up to Thommariel. "Greetings, Thommariel.. you wanted to talk to me, you said.."

He turns to Carniel and whispers so only the Gabrielite will understand the words. "Brother, please use your holy weapon only if it is really useful. It is not right to use this sword as a toy. You will have enough chances to use it against the enemies of the Church, the enemies of the ONE! That's all I want to say". He smiles again "and for now we should enjoy all of this".

*

Ashviel, fanning out the already collected feathers in a nice arrangement, gazes at them, happy as a child between o so many toys.

Phinael, adding her undamaged feather to the fan carefully, grins up to her ears, as the Sarielite starts to laugh with pure joy. A simple, purple silk ribbon is found somewhere to ty the feathers together.

The two female Engel chatter along happily while approaching the Gabrielite for Ashviel's "collection".

Shily, the Sarielite looks up to the Gabrielite. "Carniel, would you like to... to donate one as well?"

Phinael, beside the right shoulder of the wingless Engel, extends one of hers that it almost looks like as if Ashviel suddenly grew a pair of wings.

After Ashviel asks for a feather Ronariel nodds and spreads his left wing to take a feather out and gives it to Ashviel with the words:" This feathers of our Host should bring you luck for your next missions and an reminder of this day, I hope that we see us again eventually in the future." Than he also walks trough the great hall and speaks with other Engel, but shortly he returned to the others and enjoys the meal and began to speak with the others of the great missions they are going to be sent.

*

Realization dawns upon Egriel. Carefully spreading a wing, he plucks a mid-sized feather. This one was chaffing anyways.

Walking over to the Sarielite, he offers her the feather. "As is proper." he states with a small smile, "If you have need for more, feel free to ask." His smile broadens, "They make excellent writing tools in a pinch."
Ashviel, sighing, takes Egriel's offered feather and winks at him. "No writing for me, brother. I'ld rather draw something." She smiles and carefully adds the feather into the loose bundle of feathers. "Anyone seen our Gabrielite?" she adds, craning her neck to get a better look over the gathered Engel.

*

Phinael behind her looks around as well. "Either I'm blind, or I won't notice him," she grumbles. "Ill go and look."

With this, she dives between two taller Michaelites and disappears in the crowd.

*

Carniel nods to Thommariel. "I never would use it as a toy. I was absent minded." Then he turns to the Sarielite "Yes of course you may have one.. I.. have enough of them" he said with a smile. "But erh.. you.." it seemed as the following words unplease him "please don't forget, that it was the will of the One, that Sariel had no wings.. even if you want wings like us, too" With these words he takes some of his feathers and hands them to her.

"You draw?", Egriel asks Ashviel eagerly, "We share similar interests then. I would be interested in viewing your drawings."

"And where is Phinael going?" he continues, "If she's looking for the Gabrielite, he's right over there." Egriel points to where both Thommariel and Carniel are quietly talking.

*

Ashviel gravely nods towards the Gabrielite, adding his two feathers to her collection and then carefully wrapping them in a silk cloth.

"Yes, Sariel had his wings taken away, I'm aware of that. Wouldn't I be, there'ld always be Engel and monachs to remind me of it." She looks a bit testy and quickly turns away from the black-clad Engel, her face all too clearly betraying her feelings in this subject.

Smoothly, she switches topics and looks over to Egriel. "And yes, I draw. At least I used to..." She gazes down at her hands, then quickly slips the wrapped feathers into a bag hanging at her belt.

"Now, I think, I'll get Phinael back and get more of that pineapple stuff she was talking about." With a swift motion, she slips past two approaching Engel and ducks into the commotion around the buffet.

*

No one of the host sees Ashviel again before you all gather in your cella to rest.

The Sarielite wears a moody expression on her face, as you all settle down to meditate. She evades conversation, assisted by Phinael who almost violently shakes her head if someone should try to approach the wingless Engel.

As he sits perched upon his stool, Egriel contemplates the situation. An idea occurs to him, and he silently pulls out a piece of parchment and a writing stick. Propping the parchment against a slate, he commences to draw in quick strokes, pausing once or twice.

Satisfied, he folds the parchment, quietly drops off the stool, and softly pads over to Ashviel. Disregarding Phinael's head-shaking, he hands Ashviel the folded parchment. "Here." he whispers with a gentle smile.
Winking to Phinael, he returns to his stool.

Thommariel sits down and take a deep breath. "This was a beautiful day. What do all of you think what will be our first mission?" He looks to the members of his host.

Ashviel unfolds the parchment, views the sketch and, sighing deeply, carefully winds it around her feather collection. With a brave smile, she nods to Egriel. "That's really very nice, Egriel." She stops, as if she wanted to say more, but then shakes her head gently.

After Thommariel's question, she shrugs indifferently. "Maybe something far away from here? Don't know, I was too tired to ask the other Michaelites what they'll have for us." She grins.

Phinael regards her with raised eyebrows, barely interrupting her task to preen one wing. "I'ld say, we'll see." She is smiling. "And tomorrow, after we've rested." Folding her wing back, she adds, "But It cannot be a misstake to have our things packed and ready." She sets her small satchel beside her stool and then resumes meditating position.

Thommariel nods to Ashviel. "I was to tired too, but we will see it tomorrow, after we rest", he smiles.
"Phinael is right. We should have packed our things and then let us take some rest".
Egriel nods before putting away his drawing tools, then lifting up his neatly-packed satchel to display his readiness.

*

Ronariel finally gets his satchel ready for the next day. He looks over the past day and comes to the result that this day was the best in his live to date, but it has a bitter sweet taste anyway. With a moody expression on his face he thinks about the Sarielit; that Engel who is blessed with a beautiful voice: For Ashviel it seems to be pretty hard to deal with her being as an Engel without wings. I wished I might be able to take the sorrow from her. After a short time: Oh I have an idea! Tomorrow I'll have to speak with the Michaelite of our host. Now Ronariel looks around the tired Engel with an grin in his face and than he quickly falls into meditation.

*

Also as well Calahel takes a last look around his host and with a satisfied smile he drifts off in tranquil meditation releasing his tensed muscles and thoughts of the day. There would be more to come, that was sure.