Winter's Dawn

[celestialessence]

Demitrius stepped through the small village doorway of Aireal's home into the quite streets of the main city of Water. It was dawn, the dim lights of the cobblestone walkways shone dimly against the deep orangish glow of the morning sky. A new chill had entered the air, one so that the gentleman was now wearing a wool, deeply dyed, scarf and a worn pair of black leather gloves. He looked off over the beautiful lake waters that fell against the city docks, icicles dripped from the oak into the calm waters and a silhouette of storm clouds hung over the fire of the horizon. Flurries began to fall slowly from the sky and settle into Demitrius's silky black locks.

Onto the yellowing stones of the street Demitirus turned to look for the small child Mae, who had been traveling with him for some time. He looked through the door he had just passed and hoped to see the child happily trailing behind him, her wandering blue eyes alight with wonder of the world. Anticipating her company he began to speak, his voice was soft like the falling snow but audible enough for the young Mae to hear.

"Mae, I plan to meet with the Lady of the Water this morning."

Demitrius turned around fully to speak to her directly, his eyes were soft with the fresh morning glow and deep with the colors of hunger.

"We are going to enter the Military barracks before activity in the village begins, even if I must force us in. It is important to stay with me, and important to be unafraid...alright?"
His eyebrows raised in question and he turned to walk toward the Military offices of the Silver City. The white stones of the barracks lit up in the early dawn light, and the misty snow set an eerie glow about the scene. Demitrius's angelic black wings followed behind him gracefully as he slowed to a pace easy enough for the young Mae Ri to catch up.


Sorry it took so long, I will be able to post more frequent now, the horrible rush is over. The Mistress of the Rain will join us after you and I post for a second time, I spoke with her... Thanks for waiting![/color][/i]

[Mae Ri Ella Maquis]

The pale yellow walkway was cold. Mae Ri pulled back her foot and stood in the doorway of Aireal's house. Everything about the indoors behind her was warmer and everything about where Demitrius stood was colder. Mae wasn't sure if she liked it. It made her skin prickle; the ground had sent chills up her back. She looked back inside at the candle lit rooms searching for Aireal's face. Maybe she could stay with the nice lady. Demitrius hadn't told Mae why they were leaving, but when the dark haired woman didn't appear, Mae stepped outside more fully.

"Mae, I plan to meet with the Lady of the Water this morning." The little blonde girl looked up at her guardian with bright eyes. Something soft and white had started falling from the sky a moment ago. Yet again, the little Mae Ri had turned to her guardien bursting with questions. He had spoken first, however, and by now Mae knew she should listen to him when he spoke. Everything he said to her was of utmost importance to the little girl and soon the query about the falling flakes was as inconsequential as why the sky was blue. "We are going to enter the Military barracks before activity in the village begins, even if I must force us in. It is important to stay with me, and important to be unafraid...alright?"

"Unafraid?" Mae turned over the word, her little bit of mimicry fell as quetly as the snow as Demitrius turned to depart. He took a step or two; Mae Ri took four quick ones to catch up and took three for every two of his even if he was walking slow for her benefit. "Why would Mae be afraid? Mae has Demitrius."

She giggled like he should have known that and was captivated once again by the falling white flakes. Walking briskly to stay in pace with her black-winged angel, Mae Ri's smile stayed on her lips and in her eyes as she tried to catch one of those falling flakes of white. She would clap her hands together in attempt to catch one and peek between her hands. When nothing was there she tried just holding out her hands and soon noticed they clung to her shirt. She giggled barely noticing the cold stones below her feet through her joy.

[celestialessence]

He smiled weekly, enjoying the naivety of his young traveler. Listening to her tiny giggles he chuckled as a response and lightly shook his head, miniature snow flakes scattering off of his thick dark strands of hair, in regards to her youthful words. His content look did not fade as he watched the young girl play with the ballet of falling snow flakes from the rapidly graying sky. Her pale blond hair covered with the falling debris. She was truly happy.

Demitrius kept moving forward, steady with his pace so he would not loose the struggling Mae. Her footpath could not match his size and she stepped plenty between one of his massive strides, coming across as comical to a stray passer-by. Stripping his eyes from Mae he focused on the approaching building of white stone. The military headquarters of the elegant Water Nation. Day was forthcoming and he was concerned with what was ahead for both he and Mae. Entering the building, for him, would most likely be the most laborious. If it would be like the day before, passing the guards was going to be difficult.

Tuning slightly he looked back to see if the joyful Mae was still behind him.

“You are right, Mae…you do have me, but not forever.”

He sighed with a half smile. He was certain she would be unhappy when he had to leave her go. It was for the best, this was the main reason for his journey to speak with Lady Rigel, along with the possibility of peace among the nations. He reached for her small hand, for comfort. Turning toward the Barracks, his black angelic wings swayed behind him with ease and he lead the small child with him toward the gate. The snow began to drop steadily at a constant speed, and Dimitrius’s lilac eyes starred, full of determination at the alert soldiers standing at the Military entrance.

[Mae Ri Ella Maquis]

The approaching government buildings, white as the falling snow, quickly advacned on the girl and her companion. Their militant nature were lost to Mae Ri's current whimsical mood; nothing as white as the floating stars of white could possibly house a bloody face of war. They were too pretty, in Mae's eyes, as they fell from the skies, blanketing the earth in equally beauteous sheets of white. Soon a thin spread of cotton seemed to coat the skyward tops of buildings and

Mae simply followed her black-winged guardian's path through the falling chips. The little bits of white seemed to swirl around her in a playful dance much like the one Mae herself began. Throwing her arms wide, Mae danced on her tip-toes until Demitrius's deep, resonating voice stole her attention instantaneously from the skies.

“You are right, Mae…you do have me, but not forever.” His eyes, so strong in their dark shades, filled Mae with a sudden sense of dread. Her stomach felt... tight, the thought of being without him opening a hole in her chest. She scampered up to him from where her dance ended. Blue eyes, clear as ocean water, gazed up at him, simply wondering what he meant, but he turned away before a question could find a place on her tongue.

Still, she took the hand offered to her without a word and the pair faced the Water Nation's walls. Demitrius's hearty hold on her tiny hand made her feel more at ease, but the stone weight in her middle remained. Worry, apprehension. Mae followed Demitrius through the white curtain toward the two men standing to each side of the gates. Her blonde hair trailed behind her, swaying much like her angel's wings. Hurrying her steps, the last thing Mae wanted was to have his hand torn from hers.
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