Dakota walked along the shore of Lake Aelin, enjoying seeing water once more. Water calmed her. It was the end of a beautiful day, she'd spent it outside, walking around and avoiding people. Yep, some vacation this made.
I can almost forget about the awful things GrandFather said to me...Why does it matter so much what he thinks? I know he's old and...and a windbag...and...
...And I just wanted him to accept me for who I am. That I AM his flesh and blood even if I am a shapeshifter.. Even if he rejected my mother...He doesn't have to reject me...
Dakota was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice she'd been walking up a small hill, and tripped on a rock. She was soon rolling down the hill, which was larger than she thought, head over heels. Literally. By the time she stopped rolling, the cut on her cheek and the cut on her head had both reopened and she was bleeding....
...blue...My blood is blue? I never noticed that before...
She did her best to rebandage her wounds, thinking that no one would come to her aid anyhow.....After all, who cares about a Half Angel?

Ploay played with the air, allowing the wind to tingle her finger tips, it felt so nice being outside. But of course Ploay was most of the time always outdoors, but something about this place seemed so much different. There was a lake, and oddly Ploay wasn’t afraid to show her emotions, she a smile came across her face. It was a calm, peaceful, soft smile that the archangel used to do a lot, before she was taking out of her land. Ploay’s smile faded when she noticed a girl rolling down a hill. A more serious face overcame her as she sprinted for the girl, she looked like she was trying to rebandage herself. Soon Ploay Got to the girl and kneeled down to see if she was alright, “are you fine?” Her voice was emotionless, but her eyes seemed to be worried about this strange girl.

Dakota jumped when she heard the woman speak.
"I..I am a little shaken, but otherwise fine. I don't suppose you'd have anything to make a bandage out of on you? This one needed to be replaced anyway...."
She looked at the woman strangely...
...She reminds me of mother but...different...She has the same presence that Mother used to..Like...She's scared to show that she cares about..anything. Well, obviously she does care, else she'd not be here asking me if I'm alright...It is a little strange though..
..I don't think this woman is what she seems...But then again, maybe I'm just paranoid. Isn't everyone more than they seem? Maybe it's my imagination....

Ploay blinked then tore a small piece of her sash off, and gave it to the girl. The archangel thought that the girl would know better about wrapping wounds then she would. She seemed quiet and distance, Ploay thought to herself as she looked at the girl’s eyes. Ploay realized that this girl was young and smirked, “you act as if you’ve never seen an angel before miss.” Ploay spoke in a calm, but joking manner then continued, “My name is Ploay, what are you doing out all by yourself?” She said then stood up to look around for another people, but finding nothing. She looked at the girl again, there was something about her that just seemed so odd, like they shared the same blood. Yet Ploay was thrown off by no wings, was this another sealed angel, a half breed, or is Ploay just going crazy today? No. Something was seriously off about this girl.

"Well I haven't," Dakota replied, "At least not a friendly one."
She took the bit of sash Ploay had given her and held it to her bleeding cheek.
"Thank you....It's just that...You remind me of my mother is all. ...My mother was an Angel...I've just come from the Sanctuary...." Dakota shook her head, "I am never going back there...My name is Dakota de Santuario...But I'd appreciate it if you didn't call me by my last name..."
Dakota looked off into space for a moment, as though reliving a memory....a tear trailed down her injured cheek, and she yelped a little when it reached her cut.
"Ow!"

Ploay turned her head to the lake and watched a few fish plop out of the water then dive back it. Something big, small, or harmful was bothering this small half-breed, Ploay felt helpless as she turned back around. It was hard to be in her shoes, Ploay wasn’t a half-breed, and she knew her mother well. Looking at the girl’s cut it seemed very odd, not something you get from rolling down a hill, “What is that...Dakota?” Ploay asked pointing at the cut, and thankful she didn’t forget her name.

Dakota looked out at the Lake for a moment, then turned back to Ploay.
"....I told you I've just come from the Sanctuary of the Angels...I went there to fulfilla promise I made to my mother before she died. She made me promise that I would go to the Sanctuary one day when I was old enough and seek out my GrandFather's house. I found it, alright. Only he wasn't too glad to see me. He slapped me across the face when I told him who my mother was, and I hit a painting. That's how I got this cut on my face....I got the one on my head when I fell in the Sanctuary..I found a statue of my mother and I..." her voice trailed off...and another tear trailed down her cheek.

Ploay winced at the girl, this was a sad story indeed. Sometimes Ploay would forget just how cruel angel could be when they wanted to. Ploay sat down on the grass, crossing her legs and looked at the lake. “Please don’t be said,” Ploay said in a calm voice, like she could feel sadness in the tone and expression from the girl. The same sadness that all creatures face, the same sadness Ploay sat come face to face with. The archangel patting the grass next to her, and smiled up at the girl. Often an angelic smile would help people, in thought the saddest of times.

Dakota sat down on the grass beside Ploay and tried not to cry.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Ploay. I don't have a mission anymore now that I've been to the Sanctuary...And gotten a slap across the face for all my trouble..he said the scar I would get from this cut would be a reminder never to try to seek out him or his family ever again. ...He spread it around that I'm some kind of...crazy hobo or something....I can't even live in the city of my birth because of what one man has said!
...I suppose I am doomed to live a lonely life, Ploay. I don't have any family or friends, nor do I have anyone to travel with. I'm cursed!"

Ploay twiddled with a piece of grass as Dakota was talking. She looked at Dakota and heard sadness in her voice, Ploay felt sad for this girl. Dakota was way too young to roam the earth all alone, with no one in the world to go to. When Dakota finished Ploay gently nudged the girl on the shoulder, “Please don’t be sad. Your life is just beginning, it will get better I promise. You just have to wait.” The archangel’s voice was soft, and if Ploay didn’t travel to dangerous places, she would have asked if Dakota would like to come with her. Ploay followed the wind, she hardly settled anywhere, and when she would settle, she wouldn’t stay there all day. Ploay knew how it felt to be kicked out, but Ploay was much older, and she was kicked out not because she was unwanted, but because she was chosen to have her power sealed for awhile. “If you want, you could always follow where the wind takes you,” Ploay smiled at Dakota as a soft breeze blew on them. “And you are never alone, I’ll be your friend if you want me to,” Ploay said with a shrug as she tried to make the half-breed feel a little bit better.

Dakota smiled as the breeze licked at her hair. She'd not had her hair all the way down in ages..But now was not the time.
She took a blade of grass and used her limited Air power to make it fly off into the Greater Wind.
"That's about all I can do with Air..I haven't much training in it. I am glad for your offer of friendship, Ploay. It means alot to me...I wish I hadn't ever gone to the Sanctuary, promise or no. ..I'll probably get a nasty scar on my face to show for it."

Ploay was impressed what Dakota could do, for a long time Ploay could only hear the wind, it took awhile until she could actually control it. The archangel always wanted a pupil. Hugging to her knees she smiled softly, “I’ll teach you how to control winds if you want to learn. As for your grandfather, he doesn’t seem like an angel at all,” Ploay said hugging her knees tighter. An angel was supposed to be good, then she remember what these holy creatures did to her. Cast her out just for an experiment, maybe not all angels were as good as people claimed them to be. “If you ever want to go to the Sanctuary and talk to him again, tell me and I’ll go with you. I can’t let someone hurt a person so innocent as you.”

Dakota nodded. Ploay was right, her GrandFather wasn't much of an angel after all, was he?...She sensed that Ploay had a sad, sad story of her own. Dakota wondered what it was but she didn't dare ask.
"I would like to learn how to control Wind. I like the wind, it's free and....and it has no home, really...Like myself, I suppose. I thank you for your offer to come and help me if I decide to go back to the Sanctuary, but as I told you, I am never going there again. And if I do, it will probably be for the purpose of killing my GrandFather, not reasoning with him. I don't even know why he acted the way he did....He wouldn't tell me what my mother had done to be in such disfavor..."She turned and looked at Ploay, "What could she have done, I wonder, to warrant such blatant hatred of both her and me? To cause him to apparently disown her and any of her line that came after her? What would drive a man to such...such..madness?"

The archangel didn’t know the answers to Dakota’s questions, for they were mysteries that no one could quiet understand. What drove a holy being to such evil? “I don’t know Dakota,” Ploay said as she scooted closer to the water, taking her sandals off then dipping her feet in the cool water. The cool feeling brought shivers to her spine, then she relaxed, dropping her shoulders as her hands clenched to the bank. Water was tickling her feet when the small waves rubbed up against her calloused feet. With a small sigh she leaned back, and looked up at the clear blue sky. With a low sigh she then looked at the girl, then lightly smiled. The archangel didn’t like to see anyone sad, and often people needed an angelic smile to feel better.

Dakota was young, she had a whole life ahead of her, it was time to forget about the past and move on. But not wanted to offend her, Ploay kept silent about the matter. In her head she was trying to remember how she learned how to control wind. Since she offered to teach her, it was only fair that she kept her word. “When do you want to start learning, Dakota?” Ploay asked, taking her feet out of the water. When she put her sandals back on, there was a small splosh sound from the wetness. Then, Ploay raised up, and looked down at the girl with a small smile, awaiting her answer.

Dakota reached back behind her and removed the large metal clip that held her hair behind her. Just then, the breeze kicked up again, blowing Dakota's hair over her shoulders to frame her face.
Her hair was pearly white, glossy, and straight as a pin. Dakota shook her hair out and combed her fingers through it.
"As soon as possible. The sooner I start, the better off I'll be." She said.

I haven't had my hair completely down like this in ages....I love it like this. All loose and free. ...Like the wind is free. The wind...

Ploay face became serious, but still her eyes beamed at the determined girl. If there was anything Ploay admired most is determination, determination is what separated the whiners from the wise. “Alright stand up,” Ploay said in a soft tone, but there was a hint of order in her voice. Then the archangel outstretched her arms in front of her, and placed her hands together, with her fingers vertical. “I want you to do exactly what I’m doing, keep your hands like this. First lesson, parting the winds.” The archangel kept herself like this as long as she needed to, until Dakota got the idea.

Dakota stood up and copied Ploay's movements exactly. And quite easily, surprisingly.
"Like this?" She asked, looking suspiciously at her hands. They didn't seem to be quite right...
Here goes nothing, I am finally learning something useful! I just hope I do okay at it..I don't really expect to be anything but awful...But there's a first time for everything! Who knows, I might be good at something for once.

Ploay smiled to see that Dakota was paying attention to her. “Okey, hold it right there,” Ploay said softly as she walked to Dakota, and stood next to her with her arms still in the same position. “Its all about breathing, when you exhale I want you to spread your arms to your side, slowly.” Then the archangel walked back in front of her and waited for her to do just what she asked. This would take awhile if Dakota really wanted to know a good deal about the air arts.

Dakota paid close attention to her instructions and did as she was told, exhaling and moving her arms to her sides slowly.
Okay. It's all about breathing. And it's all about me concentrating, that's what. I wonder if I did it right? I suppose she'd say something if I didn't...
Dakota watched Ploay and patiently waited for her next instruction.

The archangel showed her pleasure with a smile, this girl knew how to follow orders. A soft breeze blew Ploay’s long, silver hair back. The weather was perfect for training, learning, and teaching the art of wind. “Now I want both of your arms to circle downwards until they are in front of you, you should be back at the same place.” Ploay then placed her hands in front of her just like she did last time, extended them to the sides, then made a circle downwards until her hands were together again. “This time I want you to outstretch you arms quicker and quicker.” Ploay then placed her palm outwards, at Dakota and softly created a breeze. “Keep separating the winds, until you can’t feel the breeze anymore. You most also time it.” Surprisingly the air was lightly visible, and Dakota had to separate her arms and hands at the right moment, or this skill called parting the winds, would never work.

Dakota watched Ploay’s actions carefully and imitated them perfectly once again, parting the winds easily.
Yay!! I think I’m doing this right!!! I wonder if I am...it seems awfully strange to me, ‘separate the winds’...But then, I’ve not had much training in wind, so I don’t know what is and isn’t strange. I trust Ploay, though. Probably more than I should, considering I”ve not known her even an hour.
Dakota enjoyed the feeling she got from Parting the Winds, almost as much as she enjoyed the feeling she got when she flew(which was rather rare these days). She loved the breeze licking at her now-loose hair, a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time...
She also felt at peace. Another long lost feeling. This was a day for long lost feelings, it seemed.
Dakota continued to part the winds, keeping Ploay’s instructions in mind.
I hope I don’t fail in this..I hope I learn to be strong in this...for once.

Ploay cast a faint smile on her own lips, for she was surprised Dakota had learned so quickly, with little instruction. Of course if she didn’t get it the first time, Ploay would keep trying her best to make the instructions sound much easier. There was a time that not even the archangel knew how to part the winds, in fact it was the winds themselfs who taught her. Every being needed time, and practice to be able to grow. Soon, this young girl would learn all there was, but it took time. Ploay could show he the main uses of wind, but it was all up to Dakota to be able to adapt them, and strengthen them. “Very good, you’re learning quickly,” Ploay said, lightly closing her eyes in enjoyment. “What you just did is a basic defensive maneuver. Quite a bit of wind controllers abuse the power, and you may have to face them one day. Parting the winds is one of the best defensive way to avoid their attack. Plus if its too windy outside, and its blowing your flower pots off the porch, parting the winds is another thing you can do,” Ploay added on with a light chuckle. Taking small strides, she walked to Dakota, and stood by her side, and looked at the lake. Now it was time to learn offensive attacks, this shouldn’t take too long, but it does take hard work.

Extending her left hand, she turned to her side, as her palm faced the lake. “Now it is time to create winds, this may take some time to learn,” Ploay stared to say as she sent out a huge gust of wind. The sound made a loud whooshing sound as it treaded the water. “The trick is,” Ploay continued, looked at the girl, “Is it imagain the wind leaving your palm, its all about concentration, and willingness. Alright? I know you can do this, and don’t be upset if you don’t get it right away.” The archangel said with a bigger smile, she had confidence in the girl. A bigger surprise was that the archangel was showing emotion, something she rarely did, but she was thrilled that someone was so eager to learn the art of wind.

Dakota watched what Ploay did and listened intently to her instruction.
.....Imagine the wind coming out of my palm....hm....And willingness....I want to use the power I have to help defend myself and others against Evil, like Raku...
She grimaced a little with effort, and felt a small breeze come from her hand. She’d done it! Even if it was a weak one! She tried again, with a little more effort, and a little more wind came!
Dakota continued using her newfound skill, noticing that using it got easier and easier the more she did it!!
I did it!! I did it!!

Ploay looked at Dakota with and emotionless face, indeed she was proud that she had learned quickly, but they had much more to go. At first Ploay wasn’t sure what to start out on next, to teach her to make stronger gusts, or go on to a next step. It was the first time she had ever taught anyone, and so far she assumed she was doing a fairly good job. Gently, Ploay reached for her feathers on her wings, the archangel was going to ask Dakota to do something, something that would hopefully increase her power. Then Ploay winced when she plucked out a feather, there was little pain, but all little pains seem worse then the bigger ones. Alright, just do what I taught you, Ploay though to herself as she placed the feather in her palm, then out stretched her arm after she got in front of Dakota, a few feet away. Her arm was out to the side, her plan was to have the girl aim only at the feather, you should always learn how to control, but not to control at the same time. It took Ploay weeks to understand how to control, without controlling. The secret was, to aim, but then let the wind do all the rest, to control how its heading, how fast it goes, and how deadly. The non controlling part, is when you just let the wind flow, not giving it too much command, let it be free. Of course Ploay couldn’t tell her pupil this, for she would have to learn it on her own.

“Alright, now I want you to blow the feather off of my hand, but only the feather. I should feel any winds that didn’t touch the feather, do you understand?” The archangel wished she gave better instructions, but this was the art of wind, it was hard to explain, a part of you just had to know it. Inside if anyone really wanted to know, they could master this element with no help at all.

Dakota looked at Ploay's hand with concentration and stared at the Feather.


...Move ONLY the feather? How on earth should I do that? She said she shouldn't feel any winds that don't touch the feather, but I'm not sure how to be that fine tuned.

Dakota watched the feather carefully and analyzed what she should do..


...Wait a minute..It's like a magnifying glass, isn't it? You focus the light to start a fire..
You focus the air to move a feather?

With this new philosophy in mind, Dakota concentrated on refining her power over Air to a tiny point aimed at the feather in Ploay's hand.

Within a few moments, the feather began to move, slowly at first, then faster, until it parted company with Ploay's hand and landed on the grass behind her.

Dakota smiled triumphantly. She'd moved the feather!

I've done it!! I've done it again!!

The archangel smiled, Dakota had learned a lot very fast. With her hands held out to Dakota she grinned, “come and give your big sister Ploay a big ol hug!” Ploay said with a laugh, half-way surprised she just said something that sounded very hyper. Training time was about to end, and later a new train session would begin, that is if Dakota still wanted to learn.