On a Wing and a Prayer

Part Three

Morning comes and she meets back up with D. The Dunpeal looks at her but says nothing. She wonders how much he could guess with just a look. When offered a free warm breakfast, she politely refuses doubting that her stomach would be able to keep it down with the memory of the night before. “You should eat something,” D comments.

“I'll be fine,” she answers, “One missed meal isn't going to hurt me.”

“You never know. Lack of energy is a bad thing if you get attacked.”

“Well, then I guess we should avoid any suspicious characters shouldn't we?”

“Sarcasm this early in the morning? This is a bad sign, D. We should leave the girl and leave quickly.”

D looks down at his hand. “Be quiet,” he says out of the corner of his mouth while not seeming like he had done anything out of the ordinary. Natalie was impressed. When the symbiote does as bade, D looks back at her his expression serious. “You really should keep up your strength. If that Archangel is as bad as you say he is, and I do not doubt that, then walking into him with no energy is suicide.”

She knows he had a point. She just... “I don't think I am going to be able to eat anything for awhile,” she finally admits, “I had...a long night.”

“What happened?”

She doesn't want to tell him. He couldn't do anything about it so there really was no point in it. However, her habit of answering before she can actually think about what she's saying kicks in. “Aerian has the ability to pull someone into a dream of his choosing. It is the one power of his that I despise the most.”

“So you and he had a talk last night?”

“Something like that. He's a bit upset that he can't find me.”

“Well, I can imagine. You did tell him that you weren't going to be owned by him.”

“He's not going to stop. He is too arrogant, too sure of himself.”

“He worries you that much?”

“He scares me that much.” She hated to admit that and to a stranger nonetheless. It showed how badly Aerian is getting to her.

“You saved my life. I'll find a way to deal with your archangel problem.”

Her eyes widen. “No! That's not necessary!”

“You do not think I can handle him?”

“I don't want you to die because of me. I am not worth that.”

“Is that a yes?”

She sighs. “D, he's a full blooded Archangel. He uses fire and lightning; a very dangerous combination. I don't know if you could handle him...and I don't want you to try.”

“Why?”

Did the man have to be so frustrating? Why did he THINK she didn't want him to attempt to go after the male chasing after her? “Because...you truly don't owe me anything. I helped you because I wanted to and I will not pay you back by making you a casualty. I can't do that.”

“You aren't doing anything if I do it of my own free will.”

Why were they having this conversation at all? Oh. That's right. Because she had to get him involved. This wasn't good. In fact, this was probably the worst thing that could have happened. She should have just kept her mouth shut and let the hunter continue on his way alone but no she had to, in a moment of weakness she was thoroughly regretting, ask to tag along. If he died, no matter what his opinion of the subject, his death WOULD be her fault. There would be no avoiding that. “You aren't going to listen, are you?”

“It's not a matter of not listening.”

“From whose perspective? I see it as you aren't listening.”

“I have heard what you said about him and his abilities. I can tell that he's dangerous.”

“Then WHY?”

“I already told you. I have a debt to pay.”

“And I disagree. You owe me NOTHING.”

“That's your opinion not mine.”

She wants to pull her hair out a strand at a time. This man was so frustrating. “Okay, so if I decide to save you the trouble by just leaving...”

“I'll find you.”

Of course. This would teach her not to save random people. “Have I mentioned that I don't want your death on my conscience?”

“I am not going to die.”

“That is a matter of opinion.”

“Your pessimistic outlook on things isn't going to help you deal with Aerian.”

“At the moment, all I care about is keeping YOU from doing something stupid.”

“Protecting someone from someone is not stupid.”

“It is when the person is going to get killed needlessly. If you are going to die for a cause...make sure it's something worthwhile. A random half-blood is NOT a cause worth dying for.”

“Repaying a debt is.”

She drops her head on her arms on the wooden table. They were going around in damned circles and it was giving her a migraine. Fine. If he wanted Aerian to kill him then let Aerian kill him. She was washing her hands of the whole situation. Now...if only she could see that actually happening, she'd be doing well. 'Men,' she thinks, 'stubborn, arrogant...What am I supposed to do with him? He's going to get himself KILLED!' If she left him alone that was definitely what would happen if the Dunpeal went looking for Aerian. Her best bet on keeping him alive and out of trouble would be to stay with him, as much as she was loathe to do that any longer. If she was with him, she could protect him. If she left him alone then D would most certainly be killed. 'Do NOT get fond of him,' she tells herself, 'The LAST thing you want to do is get fond of this man.' Somehow, she knows that this warning is way too late.

It takes a little while longer but she finally eats breakfast. Her agitation with D made it easier to forget about Aerian and her stomach settled enough to allow the food without sending it back up. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass herself by throwing up in front of the Dunpeal. While she doubted he'd laugh, she'd still be mortified.

They leave soon after that heading away from the town with a destination Natalie isn't sure of but she doesn't dare ask. Her wings are hidden and she walks beside D's horse. She'd fly only if she had to. There is no conversation mainly because Natalie doesn't start one. She's too worried about the conversation at breakfast though she tries not to let it show on her face because she wasn't about to have another losing argument with the Dunpeal about leaving things well enough alone.

Midday rolls around and they find themselves walking through yet another forest. It seemed this area had nothing but trees and bushes with the occasional town thrown in to make it interesting. Natalie is still deep in thought when she's almost bowled over. D reaching out and grabbing her arm is the only thing that keeps her from falling on her face. She looks to see what hit her and gasps, “Artole!” She hurries to the bird and gently picks him up from where he landed. The small eagle nips her fingers as if reproaching her for being in his path. “It's not MY fault you flew into me,” she mutters before untying the rolled up letter. Artole acted just like the brother he belonged to and could be an utter pain. However, the fact that Vega sent him at all meant trouble. Her middle brother never sent him unless something was wrong. And for something to be wrong...She quickly unfurled the letter and read what it had to say. Her eyes widen when she reads the contents.

Natalie,

Virdi's gone and neither Jared nor Father have been able to locate him. Any attempts I have been made have been fruitless as well. We fear that he may be in the realm you are currently wandering. Find him with all haste before he gets himself into trouble. -Vega

She couldn't believe it. “Great,” she mutters, “that's what I need.”

“Something wrong?”

“My older brother is missing.”

“Which one?”

“Virdi. He's the youngest of my father's sons and the one who is my favorite. We get along really well...and I think that's why he's gone. We have to find him...before Aerian or someone else does.”

“That would definitely be a problem. Do you know where to start looking?”

“There is only one place that you can enter here from the Angelic Realm. We'll have to backtrack.”

“Then that is what we will do.”

She nods before summoning a piece of paper and a pen. It was an ability that she was grateful to have. While she could not summon people to her, objects smaller than her person she could. She quickly pens a response.

Vega,

I will get right on it...and I am sorry. I didn't mean for him to do something like this. I'll have him home as soon as I can. Give Jared and Father my love. You have it as well. -Natalie

She rolls it up and attaches it to Artole. “Get this home quickly,” she tells the eagle. He gives a soft, reassuring nip to her fingertips before flying off. They'd be heading back in that direction but he was far too fast to keep up with. He'd been bred for speed.

“Ready?” D asks.

She closes her eyes and lets her wings spill out while vanishing and replacing her shirt. “I am now,” she answers letting him go ahead of her so that she could get into the air. She passes him and stays ahead of him so that he could follow. Thankfully, the trees weren't so close together as she would hate to have to fly over them and hope that the Dunpeal managed to find her again. 'Virdi, when I find you, I am going to throttle you,' she thinks as she races back. She tries not to ignore the fear that floods her. She wasn't going to doubt herself. She WOULD find him. Period. Failure was not an option.