"Only if I can hold Auden's hand too!" An angel stood with her arms folded and a stubborn frown.
Skyler looked up at Auden desperately. Auden met his gaze with a scowl and reluctantly let his hand fall out of his trouser pocket and swing by his side.
The stubborn expression lifted from the smaller angels face and her hand shot forward to meet her brothers.
When the smaller sibling had each brother standing either side of her, and both were held tight within her grasp, she felt safe and in control. The security calmed her racing heart as she drew ever closer to the Primary Educational Institute of Angelic Propriety. It was her first day of schooling, and Skylers fussing had made her nervous, the opposite of the emotion which Skyler intended.
As the set of iron gates loomed ever closer to the little winged creature she clenched her fists as tight as she could, forgetting for a moment the hands she held within her own. Skyler squeezed back twice as hard, the gesture meaning to be comforting to his sister but the nervous grimace on his face contradicted his action. Auden simply stroked his kid sisters hand and smiled cooly.
"Knowledge is power"
The girl relaxed slightly and let her hands slide out of the two males reach. Her intelligent eyes took in the scene beyond the iron structures as her feet carried her towards it. She didn't dare look back at her brothers, she knew she would rush back to the shelter of their broad shoulders if she spotted them. This was her time to be independent. She twisted her fingers around her scarf and took a deep breath, collecting her confidence.
"She'll be okay, she will be okay..." Skyler muttered to himself. "She will won't she?" He looked up to Auden for reassurance.
"Yes" he replied.
"We haven't sent her there too early?"
"No, her mind is asking questions now, and it's up to her to find the answers she seeks"
Skyler nodded and tried to hold himself together. He bit his lip to prevent himself from shouting his sister back to his side. Auden watched as his brothers eyes glazed over and his lips turned pale due to the lack of oxogenated blood.
"Lets go, she'll be fine'' Auden pulled his brother away as he saw his sister disappear into the crowd.
Skyler turned reluctantly and embraced his family member. Auden patted Skylers back awkwardly, his eyes darting from side to side, unsure of where to look. His embarrasement at the sudden emotion from his sibling provoking the awkward silence. Skyler straightened up and wiped a stray tear off his cheek.
"I'm so proud of her." He mumbled.
"I think everyone is." Auden agreed, before beginning to walk away.
"Tag!"
"Ha! Missed me! Missed me!" a taunt came from behind the lone angel; figures and feathers shot past her, knocking her to the floor.
"Look what you did!"
"I didn't do that, you did!"
"It's okay I'm alri..." The fallen girl started.
"Look at her eyes, they're violet!!" A figure gasped.
"And her hair, it's the colour of fire!" A hand shot out and yanked at her locks.
"She looks like a Fallen Angel!"
A girl squealed with fright. "Lets go get a professor..quick!!"
The young angels sprinted off, quicker than before, and left the girl on the floor with nothing but her grazed knees and confused thoughts.
"They're stupid. Fallen Angels have tattered, ugly, broken wings, but your wings are pretty."
The angel was helped to her feet, and her eyes met a large grin.
"I'm Blaine, whats your name?"
"Amethyst."
"Hi! I'm one of the new angels too...I hope you don't mind me hanging out with you."
"I don't mind at all." Amethyst grinned back, glad of a friendly face.
Amethyst tucked her crimson hair behind her ears and straigtened her scarf. She took a good look at her new companion. He was dressed simply, black trousers and a loose, dark blue shirt with silver embroidery. He wore a braided bracelet on his wrist, the colours on which were worn and so they highlighted the silver clasp. His loosely curled hair just covered his ears, it's colour was a mousy brown. His eyes were striking, but friendly. The colour of a blue sky on a cloudless summer day.
"I've never met a person with purple eyes before."
A sharp voice interrupted Amethyst before she could reply. "All newcomers report to reception. Now!"
*
"...and then we looked at Aearth through a shiny globe and it was so pretty!" Amethyst's eyes lit up as she described her new favourite subject. "How come you never told me about Aearth? All the people laughed at me when I didn't know what it was."
"It isn't important to know about until your older, when you gain you angelic status." Skyler stated.
"But it's so pretty! All the people are just like us! Just wingless! How come they have no wings? And when we go visit them they can't see our wings! Did you know that? I bet you didn't!!" Amethyst taunted, gesturing with her hands as her excitment grew.
"Don't you think it's time for her bedtime?" Auden growled, leaning closer to the work on his desk.
"I'm not tired!!" Amethyst protested.
"Yes, but your brother is busy, and you need to get rested for tomorrow." Skyler held out his hand.
Amethyst turned away from the outstretched palm. "I'm not going to bed!"
"I'll tell you more about Aearth!" Skyler bribed.
Amethyst shot through the open doorway and climbed beneath her quilted duvet and patchwork blankets.