The sun was setting slowly in the sky, reds and oranges painted the heavens with beautiful colors as the solar disk sunk beneath the horizon. A young female moved swiftly through the trees, moving silently as to not wake the morning world as they began to drift off into the dream world. She narrowed her eyes and dodged a bush jumping over it. A dark feathered bird followed her shortly behind her. She looked up ahead; her destination was the Lake Aelian, where she would be taking her short break. The days had been calm and the night’s silent and still, very little trouble was taking place so she decided to go and take a day off.

Finally arriving on the shores of the lake she immediately went to setting up a camp and fire. Gathering some wood she arranged them into a pile and snapped her fingers. The embers quickly lit up and a warm flame stood before her. Next she set out and made a small pile of brush for a bed. Arella, her raven, had already made up a quick nest of some objects umbra kept handy for her. Not quite ready to call the night Arella sat awake looking over the lake and surrounding areas. Ready to move at a moments notice the watch-bird as Umbra often referred to her as was often Umbra’s best defense against any being who tried to sneak up on her. Arella turned her head as Umbra perked up. A soft sound was coming from a distance and she began to give a squawk. Umbra looked over as she saw a figure approaching them, by the look of the day she could not tell who it was but was pretty sure she did not know them well for the silhouette could not be placed in her mind. Watching him approach she waited for the unknown being to show themselves.

An angel zoomed the skies as he landed in the forest, he couldn't go much further then that without being shot down by unknown dangers. His mind wrapped around the fact of the last fight with Xenon as he landed, and the tiny fairy that was always on him perked her head out of his shirt. She usually slept on the back of the angel’s neck while he soared through the skies, a nice comforting sound was usually found from flying through the sky. The forest he had landed in was blanketed with trees and vegetation in which he had to be careful of to land in, but it would serve its purpose to make sure he avoided any dangers past this point. He also noticed it was nearing night, which was another fact that he shouldn't stay in the sky for too much longer.

He found his hand absent-mindly go to his forehead as he wavered through the thick blanket of trees and bushes. He neared the end of trees as the lake came into full view. It was something that Nero had seen sometimes, but never got a view to enjoy it. He looked around as he saw a light fire that had been started along with other camp like materials. The smoke from the fire rose into the air as it dissipated, and Nero started walking towards the source of the commotion. Though it was nearing dark, there still was a tad bit of sun shining around to see what was happening.

Though his latent spell was in effect, he could detect no evil in the girl, so neared her without caution. He came up to her and noticed her full beauty. She was very slim with dark black hair, coming down just beneath the shoulders. She wore a silver shirt and pants that were dark gray in color. Nero locked eyes with her gray eyes. Stuttering a little, Nero was finally able to manage a "Hel-Hel-Hello..." At that moment the angel blushed slightly, the fairy on his neck had punched him several times for being interested in the girl, but he didn't seem to feel any of it. "My name is Nero of the Angels." The boy said, he could tell that the girl was only a few years younger then he.

The figure approached without hesitation, it was an angel that was unfamilair to her. He had a small fairy on his shoulder who had perked out of his shirt. Umbra looked at him while Arella eyed him keenly keeping alert for anything that was around them, finally the man stammered "Hel-Hel-Hello..." he said. Umbra caught a slight blush as the Angel locked eyes with her. Appearance wise he was only a few years older than her, most likely his early twenties. His hair was dark black as was his shirt and pants...he obviously had a thing for black. His eyes were a deep red color, like blood, and he seemed to be interesting enough by appearance.

The Angel then spoke up again, "My name is Nero of the Angels." he said introducing himself. Umbra looked at him and seemed to feel something weird about him, not sure what it was. Arella gave a soft caw and Umbra glanced back up and shrugged at the raven. She turned back and smiled and gave a nod, "The name is Umbra, Lunar Guardian. The watch-bird is Arella, my eye in the sky." she said smiling to the angel. "Wanna have a seat? Your able if you want." she said motioning to the area near her.

The angel heard the crow give a soft cry as Nero stated himself and gave a weird look towards it, though recovered it quickly as he heard the girl say, "The name is Umbra, Lunar Guardian. The watch-bird is Arella, my eye in the sky,” she said smiling to the angel. "Wanna have a seat? Your able if you want." Nero's cheeks gave way to a sort of redness, but it was indefinitely covered by the darkness. He took a seat opposite from Umbra on the other side of the fire as his eyes drew to it.

"It is nice to find someone so nice these days." Nero said as sorts to give Umbra a complement. His eyes redirected towards the fire again the pupils in his eyes got smaller, and he came more relaxed in the area. "You know, I left my Royal Hound in these parts for me to find him again, I hope he didn't get lost." Nero shifted in his spot as he got himself his own limbs and leaves to sleep on. The angel placed them on the ground as he re-arranged the materials into a makeshift bed. You'd never be able to go out with her, she's far too beautiful for you... Nero's mind raced, though his heart was set in one direction. From her first sentence Nero could tell a lot about her. While she was attractive, she was also kind, and that led to compassion. A deep rustling from a nearby bush interrupted his thoughts.

Thinking quickly about both of their sakes, he raised his hands as a ball of energy formed in between of them, particles of light energy forming together pointed at the bush. A black creature could be seen coming out, and Nero let down the ball of energy as he gave a soft grin. The hound pounced on him as he fell backwards under the weight of the royal hound. The fairy had already acesended out of Nero's shirt and had joined Umbra's raven. "Hello Luke!" Nero said as he got up and sat in his make shift bed with the fire gleaming on him. The royal hound lay down next to him as he stroked the dog’s head, the fairy nodding no out of sight near the raven. "This Umbra, is my dog Luke!" Nero smiled with a big grin.

The angel who called himself Nero looked at Arella with a strange glance, as if he was uncertian about her watchful eye. Umbra waited for the man to say something after she introduced himself. She thought something was up with him but it soon grew dark as the sun set in the sky. He moved into the light of the fire and sat down. She really noticed his thing for black now, he would make a good Lunar Guardian if he wanted the way he was dressed.

The angel soon spoke up after staring at the fire for a while. "It is nice to find someone so nice these days." he said apparently he was trying to complement her on something. She could see the angel was becoming less tense, and for some strange reason she was as well. She was no longer on guard waiting for him to attack or give warning of harm but instead getting to enjoy the company of this angel. "You know, I left my Royal Hound in these parts for me to find him again, I hope he didn't get lost." The angel said shifting and making a bed for himself as well. Apparently he was staying for the night. She shrugged mentaly. As long as he does not get in the way of my duties he may stay tonight...But something inside me says that there is more to this feeling inside. I haven't felt like this before. she thought.

A deep rustling broke her concentration and she immediately went on guard as Arella cawed for warnings. The angel raised his hand and created a ball of light, a dark figure stood in the bushes and Nero smiled as the figure turned into a Royal hound and pounced on his master. Looking up she could see the mans fairy next to Arella and shrugged at the two of them. "Hello Luke!" Nero said as he got up and sat in his make shift bed with the fire gleaming on him. The royal hound lay down next to him as he stroked the dog’s head, the fairy nodding no out of sight near the raven. Moving to his makeshift bed Nero smiled, "This Umbra, is my dog Luke!" he said.

Umbra was clearly uncertian in the back of her mind if a Royal hound was a dog at all but something else showed on her face, she was enjoying this angels company, and with her past expierence with them it was quite strange indeed. But she felt different with this one. Almost...how do people put it? Oh yes, almost like she had butterflies in her stomach, her dark hair fell forwards as she watched this angel with his dog as she was with Arella, hiding her blushing face, she was feeling something alright. Even though she was not sure what it was. "Glad to see he is okay. So what are you doing way out here at night?" she asked him.

Nero shifted in a more comfortable position as he saw Umbra's hair fall forward, though Nero too no notice in it, and continued to stroke his royal hound. The hound seemed to like it for he cuddled in closer to Nero then he usually would. After a little bit the royal hound laid down next to Nero as it feel asleep. Apparently it had a long day, and all it wanted to do was go to sleep for now. Nero smiled a hearty grin as he turned to Umbra. He had heard her ask him why he was out in these parts. The angel looked at her stunned for a quick moment, but then shrugged it off.

"Well, I could ask you the same question. Though, matters are in order if I'm not mistaken. So, the reason why I'm out in these parts. My main objective was to get to the next village before nightfall, but that didn't happen did it? I don't like flying during the night, and unless it’s absolutely a priority to get to be I'm going, I'll stop. Finding my dog was just a perk, along with meeting you of coarse." Nero said as he looked at her, and then looked away. "What’s the reason you came out here, a lovely women such as yourself wouldn't wander around a forest without some type of need." Nero asked as his hand absently mindly went to his hair as he combed his hair with his hand once, and then put it down.

The flame flickered and wound around the two as Nero asked this question, he stared at the fire to avoid eye contact with the girl. For some reason he was having a tough time looking at her... The flames were large and Nero noticed they were different shades of red, yellow, and orange. They danced around wonderfully in the fireplace almost as in telling a story. Nero usually looked farther then the average eye could see in things, he liked soaking in things and finding out another meaning that someone could not regularly find. Though maybe that wasn't real, maybe he was just trying to find another tactic to avoid Umbra's eyes...

She noted that the man shifted on his makeshift bed, the fact she had company tonight was amazing in itself, she normaly did her job alone. His hound seemed to cuddle closer to his master, after all the hound had to be out for a long time alone. The angel was stunned for a moment at her question. She wondered why, after all it was a pretty good question to ask someone, especially at a time like this.

After regaining himself Nero spoke up, "Well, I could ask you the same question. Though, matters are in order if I'm not mistaken. So, the reason why I'm out in these parts. My main objective was to get to the next village before nightfall, but that didn't happen did it? I don't like flying during the night, and unless it’s absolutely a priority to get to be I'm going, I'll stop. Finding my dog was just a perk, along with meeting you of coarse." he said looking at her. She wondered what the perk was, the fact she had camp, or company. "What’s the reason you came out here, a lovely women such as yourself wouldn't wander around a forest without some type of need." he asked raking his hand through his hair.

She diverted her attention to her raven as the man stared into the fire, Arella seemed to be quite interested in their conversation. She wondered what the raven was thinking about their meeting this way. The raven was very protective of her, which was why Umbra named her after her mother, a very strong person who would protect Umbra with her life.

Umbra leaned back on her elbows and streached out. "I guess you do not know what a Lunar Guardian is, if you did you would not have asked that question." she replied then looked at the moon. The pale crecent was waining, her feelings were more affective now and her knowledge told her that it going to be a calm night, pale yellow. The color of the Fae moon. Faeries and Faes were out tonight causing minor mischif, no other beings would be active tonight very much. "A Lunar Guardian makes it their duity to protect the balance of the Night. I protect those who reside in the realm of night. Lupines, Werewolves, Vampires and such. But do not get me wrong, I also protect humans as well, anyone who is in harms way I defend, keeping those who sleep safe under a watchful eye." she said to the angel.

Nero watched Umbra leaned back on her elbows and streached out. "I guess you do not know what a Lunar Guardian is, if you did you would not have asked that question." she replied then looked at the moon. "A Lunar Guardian makes it their duity to protect the balance of the Night. I protect those who reside in the realm of night. Lupines, Werewolves, Vampires and such. But do not get me wrong, I also protect humans as well, anyone who is in harms way I defend, keeping those who sleep safe under a watchful eye." she said to the angel.

The angel looked up from the fire as he looked into Umbra's eyes, those dark...grey...eyes...The boy snapped out as he found the girl staring at him. Momentarily hiding his absent mind face behind his hands he retracted his arms back down to his side. "So you protect things, ah a similarity already." Nero said as he wore a slight grin as he stared into Umbra again. "While you protect things at night, I in the mean time protect things in the day, but that doesn't mean that I can't protect things in the night as well." Nero said as he redirected his eyes toward the hound, he didn't know how much longer he could hold in not telling the girl that he was dazed by her buety.

It wasn't something he was used too, emotions crept up behind him liked nothing at the current moment and the angel didn't know how to handle it. While he thought he was doing good so far, it almost seemed as if he was going to burst out the fact that he liked her. But then, would he get shunned if she didn't like him back? Would she make him leave for that reason, or would she accept it... None of this made sense to Nero, he felt like going asleep and forgetting it all, but that would help nothing, for he would have to meet her gaze tommarow. His gaze shifted back up to her, he would need to tell her. "Umbra, I like you." The words were short and precise, he did not smile or do anything in the norm, just looked at her. As he said it, the light of the fire seemed to die down tremendously, a flare of light was now there so that the two of them could see each other's faces. Nero's eyes looked into Umbra's and he felt like he was on a cloud sailing, nothing in between them...