She is a curious creature, this imprint of mine and yet it would be a lie entirely to say I did not totally disapprove of her. She was….intriguing in so very many ways, my soul so readily soothed by her presence and yet seeming to find some sense of…relatability within her. Some part of her reminded me of, well, me I suppose in the days in which I was so much younger, when the world was something to be owned and commanded, when it was entirely my own for the taken and I didn’t feel so very tired. She was right perhaps, to think as she did, to prepare herself for what was surely the inevitable, her soul ripped free of her body on the day of my own death and perhaps in some way I can…prepare her for such a thing. I know what it is to have an imprint die, to feel a heart sputter and fade, to be washed with a million memories as those fading tendrils of a life clings to your essence alone. I saw Cat Eye’s life the day she died, so saw much of who she was, felt her life ebb and cease as I sought to desperately cling to it all the same and stop the inevitable. It had been to much for Oswin, our baby girl fled to the homeland of her Mother in some effort to be closer to her though indeed I knew in time she would return….one day, even if I was not here to see it. Perhaps, in time, I would speak with Natu once more, to tell her of what would be in time. Angel I may be, but I am not the immortal creature so many believe.

The barest hint of some distant smile manage to rest upon my lips a moment longer before the movement of Natu sort to draw my attention once more, the snowy girl moving to crouch in anticipation of the delicacy I had promised her, my own form lowered now- curious of her approach. She was intelligent enough I suppose and in time she will be Queen, of that I am sure, her spirit desires as much, she merely needs to have the courage to take it, to meet an Alpha upon his lands and steal them from him or her. She simply needs the courage and the drive to do as others will not, to walk where others fear to tread and perhaps with that I too can help her some. We will see. The violet of my gaze rested upon her as she move to slink forward and towards the bush, lunging suddenly, taking advantage of a clear path to send her muzzle into the shrub, teeth slamming closed on…the tail feathers of a dove. For a moment I simply allowed one I to lift as the bird burst from within the trees, the rest of the flock seeking to take flight as my own form lunged forward, racing for the nearest rock, muscle protesting each and every movement as I used the rock as something of a launching pad- my form no longer capable of the leaps it once had been. Angels however, are born with wings- my own unfurled this day in the metaphorical sense, form thrust into the air, launching like a white blade through the sky to seize a fleeing dove as I braced myself for the landing to come.

It was not my most graceful performance, aged limbs unable to uphold such a landing as I tumbled rather unceremoniously into the scrub, legs giving way beneath myself and yet….the dove rested within my jaws, blood spattering the earth from my kill as Natu held….a mouthful of tail feathers and little more. I moved to shift slightly, aching bones lifted to my paws once more as I wandered slowly back towards her. I was going to be sore in the morning, going to pay for this entirely and yet for that single moment in which I was air bourn I was given to feel…..like I had when I was young, when I had leapt from the ground itself to seize the wings from the sky as I placed the dove at Natu’s paws.

“Angels hunt from the skies themselves, we teach our children, when they are young how to hunt such creatures for themselves. It is an Art, a Gift and yet you are not totally without talent. Here- removed the feathers before you eat it, the flesh is like nothing you have tasted before.”

I nodded with assurance, remaining upon my feet now, aged eyes turned briefly to the sky as I shook a leaf from my pelt. Hmm, I would have to get Celeste to assist in the cleaning of my pelt upon my return- violet gaze returned to Natu as my muzzle moved to touch to her own in the briefest moment of….affection, from one friend to another.

“I must return to my pack now Natu, I fear the empire my crumble if I am away entirely to long- but when we meet again, do tell me how you enjoyed the bird now won’t you darling?”

I needed to return to my pack- because I needed to lay done before I fell down. When you are twenty two let’s see you leap into the air and capture a bird, hmm? I was also sure I needed a chiropractic job. My need for my imprint however, is at least soothed for now.


h e y e l
The Original Angel