Yumi smiled at the cobblestone road as she took small, yet hastily steps along her way. In front of her stood an angelic statue, who seemed to be so high and mighty. As a Keeper, Avennian made it her duty to meet someone here, someone who was interested in the Keepers. Just who was it she was going to meet? Yumi wondered if they were friendly, they must have some friendly side to themselves she hoped. The sun’s rays shone between the white clouds in the cool of the day. For some reason, how the clouds looked, and how dark it was but light came down from the big holes; made Yumi think about angels. A few tall angels passed her, and asked how she was doing. Yumi smiled and talked with them for a bit, noticed how their angelic tongue made their accents sometimes deep and sometimes high.

Yumi stopped at the statue and bowed her head at the angel, there was something lovely about today. Something wonderful, a new beginning that would soon have a change in her life once again. Softly, the gentle breeze swept her hair to the side, lightly touching her neck in a kissing like manner. Yumi sat down by the statue, rest her elbow on her knee, the looked up at t he sky with her chin on her fist. Patiently, she waited.

A stranger approached the sanctuary. He was a stranger to not only the eastern coast but also to being seen in a public area. It was not in him to visit the sinful race of man. He had seen so much pain and suffering caused by them. He had seen the darkest of their race, and it had left a foul taste on his tongue.

Why then would he traverse into lands controlled by them? He sought a holy alliance with a band of righteuos warriors. He was to meet with one of their numbers in the temple to see if he were worthy. His mind could only ponder what trails he would be put through before being admited into the clan.

He jolted up the marble steps as fast a he could. At first glance one might even miss him as if he were shrouded in magic. Swiftly and silently he moved in his cloak, a gift from his maker, from the maker of all nature. He came to a quick stop as he reached the top.

He tightened his cloak to hide his face. He was afraid that the guild member might call him a possesed toy a walk away without giving the puppet a fair chance. Feeling a bit more satisfied that his face was hidden he approached the statue of a magnificent angel and bowed his head. He prayed to the angel's master, the goddess of life, and his own master that they might guide him in this time.

Yumi looked down at the cobblestone road, trying to figure out what was taking this, “Willow,” person so long. And a slight hint of worry came about her, knowing how easy it is to become lost so fast. She closed her eyes, and slightly mumbled a prayer that Willow would find his or her way here. After she finished, she thought to herself, is willow a girl name or a boy name? She just gave a faint smile, knowing who ever she was meeting would find her, or something would get the two together. A quiet patter of wooden steps were sounded against the cobblestone in short strides. Yumi looked down from the sky, and noticed a small figure pull the hood to his cape, quickly before she could get a look at the face.

He was shorter then her, maybe a dwarf, or hobbit, but weren’t they normally five feet in height, not that much shorter? Well it was possible if they were young, and Yumi was taught not to stare she so she smiled and looked back up at the sky. But finally her eyes drifted to this interesting person, not out of curiosity, but there was something about him that seemed so familiar. Something goodly that was down deep inside, waiting to be unleashed. Truth be told, he reminded her a lot like Av, the leader of the keepers.

After it looked like he was done praying, Yumi got up and stood to his left side, just a bit behind him. She didn’t want to scare him by passing his safty zone if he had one. There w as a chance that this person was whom she was waiting for. I just have this feeling about him, Yumi said as she glanced around with her black eyes, no one else was here at the moment either. And nothing hurt to ask.

“Hello there,” Yumi said softly in a sweet voice, “Are you waiting for someone, or just praying?” Yumi closed her eyes as she smiled at the back of the person’s cloak. “Myself, I’m waiting on someone named Willow.” Yumi lightly chuckled to herself, still unsure if Willow was a male or female, and unaware of what this person in the cloak was.

"Yes, I am Willow," the puppet said finishing his prayer. Slowly he turned around expecting to see some earth born mortal, but when he saw an angel he was completely taken aback. He fell to his knees in astonishment. He had never met anything from the cestial plain before, and he did not know how to respond. "Please forgive me miss angel," he pleaded stupidly not knowing if he had somehow done something stupid.

"I am unworthy to be in your presence," these words escaped his lips before he had time to think. Surely if he had thought before spitting them out he would have restrained himself, but deep down those were his worries and concerns. How can I compare myself to the grace of an angel, he thought to himself. He would never to leave during the meeting just because he felt unworthy, but he doubted himself greatly. They are looking for angels and great prophets; I am neither.

Yumi’s mouth parted in a small gasp as she saw him fall down to his knees, she was surprised anyone would fall down to her. She, being so frail and meek, it made her wonder just what laid in this mans mind. Well, she guessed it was a male by his voice, still she couldn’t see the face very well because of the soft shadow from his hood covering his face. Yumi looked down at him softly, then slowly went down to her knees, and reached to place a small slender hand on his shoulder.

“We are all creations after the same goal, thus makes you worthy to be around me. Everyone is welcome to be near me,” Yumi spoke softly then shifted her eyes to the statue, trying to search for words to say. This person seemed to broken in his heart, she wanted to make him feel better but she really wasn’t quiet sure. It took a few seconds before she thought of what to say. “You didn’t nothing for me to forgive, so please rise on your feet.” Yumi looked at him once again with a smile as she stood up.

Willow had expected kindness from the angel, but he was still taken aback at how she greeted him. It was a shocking experience to meet such a being, but to be welcomed as friend or equal was astonishing. Her words were spoken with a soft and loving voice like a mother to a child. Willow had never met such a being even amongst the trees.

Willow knew he must rise, but he felt weird doing so. It seemed as if he was sinning, but she had told him to do so. How could it be wrong if an angel commanded it? He rose slowly with shaking legs. He held his head low letting his hood fall over his face. He would never allow her to see his true form. She might strike him down thinking he was demonic.

He opened his trembling lips. “What must I do to prove my worthiness to join the keepers?” he asked without looking up to her. He figured for there to be such creatures as angels in the guild he would never make it, but he had come a long ways to meet with her. It would be a waist to just turn back and rude if she had made the same journey.

Willow’s words lip were trembling in a way that Yumi worried about him, she didn’t want him to feel scared or unworthy to her. Never before in her life as Yumi met someone like quite like Willow; there had been some, but none were so unsure of themselves to tremble like this. The girl wanted to embrace him, but held herself back, not wanting to get out of his comfort zone.

She wondered why he covered his face, did he have a burnt face that he was scared to show her? Or maybe he was just ashamed of himself. Yumi didn’t care what he looked like, it was what was in the heart that mattered. Gently, she reached down to try and lift Willows head up, and if he didn’t hold onto it, his face would be relived.

“I think you’ve already prove most of it,” Yumi said as she closed her eyes smiling at him. “As long as you wish to rid evil, then you have the heart to be part of the Keepers.” The half-bred opened her black eyes to see the man’s face who was standing before her.

Willow suddenly became very excited and scared. She had said, “As long as you wish to rid evil, then you have the heart to be part of the Keepers.” To hear such words come from one as noble as an angel was uplifting. He could feel a little of his old spring placed back into his step, but at the same time the angel tried to lift his head. He felt his collar grow warm. If she saw his face would she still think of him as worthy? He didn't know what to do. If he let her see into his eyes she might forsake him, but if he turned away she might think badly of him. The moment of truth had arrived.

"I am afraid my form is shocking," he warned the angel as he pulled his hood back for her to see. He felt as if his timber were on fire, as if every eye were focused on his wooden face. He simply stood there waiting for the angel to gasp and turn her back on him.

He frowned as he waited. "What if she does think me a demon?" he asked himself in thought. "Will she kill me? This is a nightmare. Why did I come here? Someone like me belongs to himself, not with others. Why was so foolish. I should just leave now."

“Aw, your kinda cute,” Yumi said with a small chuckle, amazed that the person she was talking to was wooden. She scanned the blue buttons for eyes, and closed her eyes in a smile, “so are you ready to join the Keepers?” Yumi said as she stood up, placing her hands on her hips as she slightly slouched to the side. I wonder if Av knew who he was, Yumi said as she turned he bac.

“Let go.” Yumi said as she give a hand suggestion to follow her in the town. Eventually going into the guild hall. Where he would be introduced as Yumi’s new friend, and a new member of the Keepers.

Willow found himself disappointed which in turn made him not disappointed. He had been wrong that the angel would find him startling. She had actually accepted him into the guild. He was to join the alliance. The sap in Willow’s veins began to burn with the excitement. “Are you serious!” he said in a scream of joy.

The angel named Yumi merely smiled and replied, “Let’s go.” She led the way from the temple. Where they were going Willow did not know, but to be truthful, he did not care. He had achieved the goal he had set out for. He was content.