The dark was too quiet.

Nothing moved near the shore of the lake, no animal dared to roam as the moon rose. Only one thing was there, but it did not make a move. The armor was sentient, but it took its time to show its conscience. It was still haunted by the sight of those icy eyes.

Ayako had left the lake a few hours ago, and had gone deeper into the woods. But he remained still, fearful of showing he was there.

He moved at last, but not how he should. His claws trembled, just like those gauntlets did. Those noisy metallic jolts did not make justice to the sorrowful wails that echoed in a dark room. Not a single cry was heard in the shadows of the lake.

His heart had pushed away the thought of seeing her again. But he should have known better.

The armor lied there; it allowed the night to surround everything. It could not move, only tremble. Far away… a demon stared at the nothingness. The words still echoed in his tormented mind. She did not remember, and the angel knew. He could still see the pain in his amber eyes, the rage when he had glared down while she called worriedly. The angel gave him a resentful look, because he finally saw with his own eyes what he had done to her. Anger had overwhelmed his angel, once more.

There he was, divided and torn, unable to move either of his two forms. Somehow the fact that he knew that she would not remember tore him inside. She could not. Alexis would not give her a chance to do so. There was no way she would remember, both of them knew well. She had not remembered when she saw those amber eyes. His face had been shadowed by that hood, but she had seen it. She would grasp nothing. Only a few precise words could make her suffer again, or his own fire.

Neither he nor Alexis would help her remember.

The armor finally moved. It stood with erratic and sudden moves, while the light in the helmet turned even darker. Its figure walked away into the dense forest… to keep its watch, with no intention of being seen again.

————————————-

A chair was flung to the ground.

Alexis gave a fast kick against the leg of his small table, and hauled it down like he did with the chair. He went straight for his bed, with angry and strong steps. He pushed or kicked out of his way every bag or tool that he found in his path. Everything was always a mess in his nest, but now it was worse.

Abiel cowered, not used to seeing the angel like this. Alexis was breathing heavily, but silently; his figure was shaking with the ire he was keeping inside. Ire he couldn’t even understand himself.

Perhaps it was seeing her again after what she had done to him. Maybe it was the fact that these woods were not off her limits. In any case, he was sure that his rage was caused by the turmoil they both caused him.

Am I selfish for wanting some peace?

Maybe… just maybe, it was seeing the care in those blue eyes again. He could not handle it, not after it being replaced by hate and loathing. He did not know if it was fair that she showed worry, not after she gave him scars that still hurt him.

And she does not have a single fucking clue about it.

He stared at the mess he made, blankly, breathless. Nothing had come out of pushing his things to the ground. He still ended up with the same feeling of emptiness and helplessness, with nothing else to focus his anger on. Nothing could be done to smother such emotions.

Why do I feel so angry with her? Why do I resent her, when she had no say in it?

She had no choice, she was forced. By Uriel. It was his demon who brought all their misery.

He could feel it, now. He knew how strong the hate that angels felt for demons was. He had not felt this since…

No. He could not remember a single day in his life in which he felt this fury. He did not want it. He did not want to feel this. He had been forgiving. But then he saw those icy blue eyes again; he had wished to never see them again. He just had sought refuge here; Uriel forced him to do so; and she…

He felt too tired and afraid to keep it down. He stood in front of his bed; not really knowing what the hell was he doing.

I just want to be left alone, for fucks sake… Is that asking too much?

He knew well he would not be given peace.

Abiel whined as the angel sat slowly and calmly on the edge of the bed. His eyes were dazed, staring at his lap, cape, the ground… at nothing. He was showing no emotion, because there were too many to choose from. There were too many sensations, in a being that belonged to a race that never allowed itself to feel.

He felt care… and hate. He felt fear and dread. He suffered every trace of human emotion that the elders despised. He began to understand why his kind was so cold. This was tearing him apart, from the inside. He was feeling disgust and anguish, and he had no way to express how much it pained him. Worse of all, he could only keep going with those sensations. He had to keep living; not really knowing what was he supposed to learn from it.

He was alone. And at the same time not. He felt just like when he was in that plaza. All eyes were on him, and no one dared to question anything. He felt like a plaything, for everyone to gaze upon, displayed with no real chance of acting for itself. All watched and believed to know all there was to know.

No one does really fucking know.

——————————————

Ayako let her campfire die out. She rolled her bedroll away and began to dismantle her camp. She picked up her daggers, her crossbow, and then her small bag, where she had all the herbs she had collected for two days.

She had gone north and had followed the water of the lake. She had settled near the course of the river for the night. She only had to keep going south now, and she would get back to her village, out of these huge woods. She would come back once she stored the herbs in her cabin. She couldn’t let them whiter; she needed to preserve them in jars.

She stood, satisfied by the fact that there were only a few ashes left of her fire. She had already picked up all her things, and was ready to go. However, she scratched her chin in thought and began to ponder. She did not have a lot of food in her bag, and her pantry in the cabin was almost empty. So she gave a quick glance to her rucksacks.

There was still some space left to fill…

It had been a while since she hunted. Because she had been buying everything she needed from the market. She had spent a lot of time helping Godric.

It was weird, but she really did not want to leave these woods and go back to her village. She felt… better here.

She sighed, pushed those thoughts away, and took her crossbow in her hands.

Maybe I can bring something to Lykaios. A snack.

Her eyes narrowed, with a focused and sharp glare. She began to sneak through the forest, following the course of the river.

She hoped she could at least find a rabbit.

————————————-

Abiel let out another little growl. He kept on wiggling stubbornly to try to reach the bag in front of him. He managed to brush the sack inside the hole with his whiskers. His paws were pawing clumsily, in a vain effort to get a hold of it and what it contained.

Not for himself… He had some nuts in the nest, left there by Alexis. He was well fed and cared for.

He let out a happy huff, because his little mouth managed to bite onto the cord of the sack. His fluffy tail and hind legs began to dash as he tried to get out of the hole backwards. His stilts kicked the ground multiple times, not stopping until he pulled the sack all the way out. He began to try to claw at the knot that kept it closed; he let out a grumpy growl and bit down on it, because he realized that he had no thumbs and that pawing would be useless.

He finally opened it. But his tail and ears went down, when he saw what there was inside. The fruit inside had spoiled, and the horrible smell came from the two fishes rotting in it. All had gone bad, because it had not been eaten.

Abiel gave an angry kick to the bag and pushed it away with his snout. He then raised his head to look around, thoughtful.

He needed food. For the angel, who had not eaten or done anything, not since that horrible human appeared.

His stilts made a lot of noise while he bounced away from the rocky wall. He ran to the garden and leaned onto the plants, to check if he could unpluck something and drag it to Alexis. Other than some plants he could munch, but Alexis would not, there was nothing edible. Nothing had grown yet; all plants had given fruit not long ago.

Another angry growl echoed, much more annoyed. Abiel began to bounce towards the trees and bushes around the clearing. The animal had his heart in the right place as he ventured away from the cave. He followed the route he had seen Alexis take to find berries.

Not too far… a figure stepped surely in the shadows, without making a noise.

Her blue eyes narrowed when she saw a waterfall between the dense trees. She could not discern it clearly, but she was certain that there was a clearing near the small river.

Before she could step ahead and notice the camp in it, she heard something in between the bushes. She quickly crouched and held her crossbow more tightly in her hands. She kept herself hidden, to pay mind to the rustle she could hear. The noise seemed to be an animal, of small paws; maybe a rodent, or a rabbit. She took a deep breath and nodded firmly, she had her shot ready. She stood with a quick dash, turned around, and then outstretched her crossbow forward; her cowl whipped the air when she pointed down to shoot.

She was always fast to shoot. And to hold back as well. She blinked and leaned the crossbow upwards without firing. The rabbit let out an intimidated growl and puffed out its fur when it saw her, like a cat.

It was a rabbit, indeed. It was the rabbit she saw with that man…

Abiel’s little claws sunk into the earth angrily, because he remembered this human. He was seeing her again, there, with another strange thing that he was sure that could harm. Near the nest…

Ayako yelped when the cottontail lunged forward. Instead of fleeing, he leaped at her. She could only bounce side to side while Abiel growled furiously and chewed on her boot.

“Ah-h…! Ok, ok! Sorr-!”

“Abiel?!”

Ayako gasped, because she heard that voice again. Her icy eyes widened in surprise when a blond bolted into her sight, from the clearing. Both froze, seeing each other. Alexis had not expected her to be the cause of Abiel’s loud angry growls. Ayako was surprised to see him again after that encounter they had near the lake. The hunter had stopped moving, too shocked to mind the rabbit biting her foot.

Alexis regained his bearings faster than her. He dashed forward, so fast that Ayako barely saw him leap to her side. In just a second, he neared and snatched Abiel away from her feet. He held the rabbit tightly while he bounced away from her reach. Once he was far enough from her, he gave her a glare full of fear and anger. He yelled, furious.

“Don’t you dare hurt him, Ay-!” Alexis cursed mentally and corrected himself; he thought fast. “You awful butcher!”

Ayako stared mouth agape; she saw how the man seemed to cower angrily. One of his hands fumbled backwards, shakily, to the back of his neck. His amber eyes widened when he seemed to realize something. He was not wearing his cape.

Alexis’ hand stayed there in shock, over where the hood should be. He felt a shiver when he heard her speak again.

“Butcher?” Her tone seemed to try to hide her sadness. “I told you I was a hunter. I thought he was a wild rabbit, not your-”

“Well, think again…!” Alexis looked away and began to walk back to his clearing, hurriedly. His steps shook as much as his voice. “He’s not something you can… h-hunt.”

Ayako moved away her crossbow and raised her hands at her sides with a questioning frown.

“I would not kill a pet! What am I, a feral wolf or something?!” She gasped, because he got out of sight between the vegetation. “H-hey?! Wait?!”

Alexis clenched his teeth, because he heard her run behind him. Both stepped into the clearing. He snorted sarcastically and whispered to himself, while he walked straight for his cave.

“With that silly black cowl hanging by your side, you look more like a snake.”

Ayako had halted dead on her tracks as soon as she stepped into the clearing. She frowned, because she could now see the camp. There was a huge rocky cliff, with a small cave. To the left, a waterfall fell from the tall wall, which made the small river nearby. In the middle of the clearing, there was a campfire, which was dead now. There were a lot of tools thrown around, on the ground mostly. There was a small axe to cut wood, laid onto some logs. Lastly, there was a garden, to the right of the cave, parallel to the cliff.

Alexis ignored her and her wonder; he just got into his nest. His eyes narrowed with annoyance, because Abiel would not stop struggling in his hold, trying to make him let go, in order to run off and bite her.

Abiel let out an offended growl when Alexis dropped him on his bed and unlatched the stilts from his stumps. He forced him to plop down and keep quiet, unable to walk. After giving a strong nod that told him to stay put, he dashed for his cape, left onto a chair.

Ayako stopped staring at the camp when she saw him get out of his cave. He was wearing his hood now, hiding his face, even if she had already seen it. He crossed his arms and pierced her with a glare, as he let out a harsh whisper.

“Go away.”

He had nowhere to run to avoid her. So he resigned himself to face her, angrily. This was his last stand, his last line of defense.

Ayako raised an eyebrow, still shocked by his camp.

“You… live here?”

Enough with the stupid questions…

“Yes, I do. Now. Go. Away. Don’t make me say it thrice.”

Ayako gave him a long stare, with a baffled expression. She was even a little worried; the cave had a chair and a table, yes, but the bed was only a bunch of leafs and a small old blanket thrown onto a flat rock. There was nothing that provided a real shelter from the wind and weather. There were no walls, no structure. It was… a cave in the middle of the woods. Granted, she lived in a forest as well, but she had a cabin, and her forest was much smaller. Her village was just a few hours away from her lodge.

Who can be crazy enough to live so far away and like this? This guy.

The hunter crossed her arms as well and stayed put.

“No.”

Alexis was taken aback for a second. A simple word was able to make his heart skip a beat. He scowled at her; he lost his patience and calm demeanor. He was about to reach a limit he did not want to reach.

“Now, listen to me, you… You…!” He closed his eyes, and tried to keep it down. “This is MY place! You have no right to wander around like a-!”

“In fact, I can.” Alexis lost all his confidence, because Ayako waltzed over to the river and stared at her reflection, as if nothing. “Are these woods yours? Don’t think so. You don’t look like a lord, more like a vagabond. I wonder, what could you possibly be doing here…?”

Ayako smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. Her eyes were full of wonder; they were looking with seriousness and accusation at his, which only had dread.

“I told you I am not a bandit.” Her eyes seemed to glint; she looked at him sideways, to judge him. “Only a criminal would isolate himself so far away from others… and in these conditions. Someone who would try to avoid being known; someone who maybe would try to hide his face, even if he has been seen well already.”

Alexis was frozen, with his head low in shame. He was no wrongdoer, and yet he could not say a word to prove otherwise. His mouth was opening and closing, to try to say something in his defense. He was not managing to find words; his hands were shaking, clenched painfully. After a minute, he managed to swallow his anger and her words; he moved his hands sharply and took off his hood strongly. He raised his head high, to return her gaze, but with an expression full of frustration and pride. He spoke up, even if his voice was shaky.

“I am not a criminal! I- I am…!”

His hands trembled in front of him, while he glared at them in impotence. He clenched them and snarled, unable to even say he was guiltless.

Ayako leaned her head to a side and moved her arms behind her. Her accusing tone disappeared; she tried to speak to him calmly, worried for his troubled stance.

“Who are you?”

He could not say it. His own name weighted too much in his own mind. It would feel like a knife out his mouth. So he whispered, desperate and tired.

“Please… You don’t have to-”

“Ayako.”

Alexis blinked, hearing her name again. Ayako truly held no remembrance… Her name had been spoken formally, even if kindly. She said it like a stranger.

“Call me Ayako.” She sighed and shrugged a little, with a chuckle. “Now you can stop calling me other things, huh? I would not like to have to do the same to you, you know.”

Alexis’ chest puffed out with a deep and shaky intake of breath. His mouth opened, in a moment in which he feared with all his soul and heart.

“I’m…” His name was let out with all his breath. “Alexis.”

He waited… for anything horrible to happen. And he did not know if to feel relieved or more depressed, when she only gave him an intrigued smile.

“Nice to meet you, Alexis.”

His name flowed in her voice like a foreign word. It had been spoken with laughter; it had tangled with trust and familiarity once. Mockery even; sweet mockery, not a single time with malice. It only had curiosity now. All was gone. And he… he could only recall clearly the moments when she spoke his name with hate and disdain.

Ayako lost her smile when she saw him take a step backwards. He raised a shaky finger and began to back away from her. He began to glance away, while he faltered.

“N-now, please, l-leave. I- I have things to do…! B-be on your way!”

She did not follow him when he ran away from the clearing. He fled through the way that led to the lake, around the rocky cliff. She did not call or stop him, because she saw tears fall.

Seeing him like that somehow made her wish to chase. And at the same time she wished to leave him be.

She would not get answers now. Not yet. But she would try to know of his pain. She could see that something afflicted him. And she knew what, because it was something that had pounded inside her own heart. Something that she had not noticed that had faded, when she saw those amber eyes; loneliness.