Haku walked through forest enjoying the peacefulness of the evening; the snow was light and silently fell to the ground as he walked. He finally reached a cliff that overlooked his village, from this distance the lights from the village looked little stars, He breathed deep it was a peaceful evening; he only wished he had someone to spend it with. After looking off into the distance for some time Haku turned, head down the path that led to his home. He had only begun down the path when he heard what sound like footsteps not too far behind him.

Haku gripped his cane and turned around but saw no one. He stood looking at where he had walked, there were only his footprints in the snow, and he relaxed some, probably just an animal he thought and head down the path again However as soon as he began to walk the footsteps continued, he could hear them crunching in the packed snow. Haku swallowed hard, stopped walking, and listened to see if the footsteps would continue. Haku waited and just as he was about to take a step forward he heard the crunch of snow quicker and faster this time. He wheeled around preparing to use his cane as a weapon, but to his surprise he was looking down at a man who was clad in black hold something under his right arm. The man looked up at Haku and smiled

“Haku-san.”

Haku stared in shock at the man before reaching out to help him. Haku hadn’t heard this voice in what seemed like an age.

“Alexei!”

Alexei smiled, a little stream of blood oozing out the side of his mouth.

“Hey, it’s been a while.”

Haku took one of Alexeis’ arms and tried to put around his neck but Alexei shook him off.

“No time” he strummed “Listen I need to ask a favor of you”

“What, what is it” asked Haku now alarmed “And what in the name of the gods happened to you ?”

Alexei placed the bundle that had been under his arm into Haku out stretched hands.

“Take care of him, please; he’s the first of the two.”

Haku looked at Alexei bewildered

“What?”

“I don’t have time to explain now, just please take care of that child,” said Alexei before turning and running into the forest. Haku watched as Alexei disappeared into the distance and was lost to his searching eyes. Alexei he thought what you have gotten into this time. Haku looked down into the bundle of cloth in his hands and pulled back a piece from the top which revealed a baby’s face. By the gods Haku thought. The baby stared up at Haku with bright blue eyes, after a moment the baby smiled and reached out to Haku, laughing gently. Haku smiled and lifted the baby up in his arms. His hands brushed past some lumps on the baby’s back. Haku reached into the cloth to figure out what the bumps were and to his great surprise he found that the bumps were soft, and feather like in touch. What the hell.

Cold chill brought Haku back to reality he quickly covered the baby and he rushed back to the warmth of his house. Once inside he unwrap the baby and, lo and behold the baby had wings.

“Wings on a child, what magic is this you have given me Alexei.”

Haku sat in his rocking chair and rocked the baby back and forth until it fell asleep, Haku rubbed its head gentle and smiled

“Well looks like you’re stuck with me until I figure out what to do with you,” he said “Let’s see; what shall I name you, amusing you don’t have a name”

Haku notice that the tiny wings flapped as the baby snored Haku smiled the baby looked just like angel.

“That’s it” Haku said “Angel, that’s what I’ll call you…Angel.”