It was Eden whom my eyes were given first to rest upon, blurry though the edges may be, his grey-strewn pelt readily focused within my vision as I managed something akin to a sigh, bracing myself for the inevitable staring contests my son, or great grandson, as so many knew him- seemed utterly content to offer myself each time we were given to meet. He is a strange child, my Eden and yet despite a lack of personality I am merely given to think of the boy as controlled, thoughtful, reserved and yet intelligent, only the foolish would truly underestimate him, a creature born of my legend and Ava’s fury is destined for nothing but supremacy even if it is I may never stand up and claim him as my own. I have watched over him for years, resided within the shadows so much so that even he has not known of my presence and I cannot say I am wholly displeased with that which I have seen of him. He looks are perhaps unideal, yet not so much so as my Ayal whom has been born entirely in the image of her Mother, the white that flecks his pelt at least enough to assure the presence of my own blood that surges so potently in his veins- the dominance with which he perceives he stands above as agitating as it was pleasing. My blood was always hot and his will be in turn. He has grown tall, my son, taller then even myself if only by a mere inch and yet his frame is similar to my own, light and yet muscular. For now I merely allow him to block the sun, tail flicking lightly at yet aside from this I offer him nothing- other then to roll and streatch more easily once more, unconcerned entirely by his presence. Perhaps others shake in fear before him, perhaps he intimidates all around him. Good- but until the day I die these lands are mine, these legends whispered of me- not him and his task is not merely to push my image into his shadow but to out do it entirely. Is he truly that great? I am…doubtful, but perhaps he may prove me wrong. I have much to tell him do I? Well- I suppose it is true.

Lips parted to utter a response before the arrival of another, of myself in a younger form, the boy so very identical in every movement that even his own words held the taint of a voice my own. It is typical that Ava would produce such a child, a litter to be kept a secret amongst us and she births a mirror image of myself as if to scorn me entirely and yet…..Anselm is as all should be, by far the most exceptional of my sons in look and build, created in my image alone and I take some pride in that, in seeing myself, in seeing who and what I had once been in youth (I still maintain I was more attractive, if only slightly) and yet his nature is perhaps….more given to Ava. Perhaps it is truly he whom is the ultimate among them, my form and figure with the mind of Ava, a truly exceptional creature if ever there was one and surely destined to be as such- just as his brother. Perhaps it is these three- for I have seen Ayal’s shadow is it approaches now- that are the finest amongst my produce and yet I see no need to inform them of it- eyes drifting to Ayal as the girl arrived in the domineering silence that so often proceeds her Mother, the black and grey female resting beside her brothers until all three reside before me. She is a beautiful thing, my Ayal, taller and more powerful then any female has been in some time and yet that same darkness of mind circles within her, the girl so very like Ava in all manners that I believe it may well only be the tip of her tail I had given- and the violet that flecks her eyes. I had something to tell them did I?

It was amusing perhaps, to the extent which all three played this same game, this silent demand for knowledge, their thirst for it commendable, sure to serve them well and yet all three allow this weakness to be seen far to well, so desperate for the knowledge I alone possess, after all, there is no other in these lands who has seen as much, done as much, knows as much as myself- so many still bowing to merely my shadow when I desire it. Perhaps in time they will be great, my children, yet they will need more then mere greatness to eclipse the crown I will leave to be claimed. I yawned, teeth flashing within the light before I moved to lift myself upward, seated upright now, gaze given to drift from one to the other in turn before resting upon them all as they sat, one eye lifting slightly.

“quod quaeris, quid sit scientia, hmm? Et interrogavit eum unus ex vobis actu tantum quantum video rationem loquantur. Re nescio quid volunt, multa scire, ubi fortassis lectionem omnesne sol nocte? Quod scientia, in omnibus, nec vera dissimulare necesse it- Anselmus.”
(and what knowledge is it that you seek, hmm? Not one of you has actually asked a question and as such I see no reason to just start speaking. How should I know what topic to choose, I know many things, perhaps you would all enjoy a lecture on where the sun goes at night? That is knowledge, after all, nor do I need to conceal the truths of it- Anselm.)

A smirk of sorts moved to roll easily across my lips, a chuckle hissing between my teeth. I never was good at offering information to those not deserving of it. Really children? Is this the best you have?

h e y e l
The Original Angel