The Sea Caves, Saturday morning

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

Gabriel sat perched on a rock by the cave entrance, staring out to sea. They wouldn't be able to hide here for long, he assumed, and he felt he should keep watch. This was an odd situation: he was stuck in a cave protecting a Nephilim together with a few mortals, against his own kind. Not quite something he would have considered a while ago. On the other hand, things were changing. Pyriel was a nuisance, and he had to admit that if things couldn't be like they was before, at least he preferred Karal's company to some bickering angels led by a maniac.

He glanced over his shoulder, wondering if the boy was still sleeping.

[NFB and locked to those who know who they are.]

Comments

[sith_happened]

"I think he's still out," Anakin commented quietly, looking down at the boy sprawled across his lap.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Guess he should sleep while he can. Soon enough someone will show up and try and rip his heart out." He tried to sound a little cheerful as to not ruin the atmosphere.

[sith_happened]

Anakin's lips quirked up. "They're going to be awfully disappointed."

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"Hah! You're an optimist! I like that!" Gabriel chuckled. "Although the kid is probably lacking in fighting skills. Can't see his mother teaching him that. She might have been stubborn, but she was better at running."

[sith_happened]

He nodded. "Let's not put him close to the front until we know. There could be something inborn, but reacting on instinct with powers you're not used to seldom ends well."

And Anakin would know.

[no-archangel.livejournal.com]

"I don't think anyone's going to wait and let him find out. Ever met an angel before?"

Gabriel had certianly never met a Jedi before.

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled. "You don't live on the moons of Iego, do you? I had heard of angels when I was very young, but I think they're a little different in this galaxy."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

At some point, after a night of restless half-sleep, Evey had managed to gently extract herself out from under Karal and was now pulling out the mugs from the night before. "Anyone want tea?" she asked softly, mindful of those still sleeping.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It was a magic word, and Karal groggily lifted his head. There was a Firecat lying across his legs, and his head still hurt, but it was morning and they were all alive, so that made it a good morning.

"Me, please," he mumbled and sat up. Altra grumbled and slid off, padding off to the front of the cave. "I meant to only close my eyes for a minute."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad it was more than a minute. I'm fairly certain you needed that," Evey said softly, pouring him some tea.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm fairly certain you are right." Karal stretched to his feet, and kept stretching, trying to loosen sore muscles that were not happy at sleeping on a cave floor. "No, I know you're right." He walked over to accept his tea and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"Welcome," she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Did you sleep okay?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Better than I would have thought." Karal sipped his tea, sighing a little, and leaned against her shoulder. "For which I'm thankful, because now we have to think of what to do." He looked over at Gabriel, then at Danyel, then back to his tea. "We cannot stay here forever."

[sith_happened]

Anakin held up a hand, careful not to disturb his lapful of sleeping Danyel.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey smoothed his hair. "No, we can't. But for right now, your mission is to drink your tea, just as Danyel's is to sleep."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey carefully poured him a cup of tea and took it over. "Is he sleeping all right?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"A mission I'm uniquely suited to." He closed his eyes again, just for a moment, then quietly said, "I need to pray, Evey. It's well past dawn, but the Rites can still be spoken."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

She nodded. "Do you want to be alone?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No." He said it without thinking, it was an automatic response, before he had time to think that she might not want to. "I need to go out where I can see the sun, but you needn't come if it would make you uncomfortable."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"It won't make me uncomfortable," she said softly. "If my presence helps."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It would." He offered her his hand and a small smile. "The words are Karsite, welcoming the new day and drawing Vkandis' attention to what it will bring," he explained. "We could use His attention right now."

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

"We could use all the help we can get," she agreed softly, reaching to take his hand.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It warmed him, right down to his toes, and he led the way out into the sun.

Altra was there, looking out over the ocean, and he glanced back at them but didn't say anything.

"This is perfect," he said quietly, looking at the splash of sunlight that was covering the rocks.

[remember5th.livejournal.com]

Evey nodded. "It's beautiful," she said softly.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It is," he agreed, already breathing slower. He turned his head to kiss her temple. "The Rites do not take very long to say."