#attarib

"I don't know why you're looking at us like that. Cetar and I know to leave everything be."

"Ow Caracasa that hurts, let go." Core starts to complain, his twin was pulling on him ready to get going.

"Sorry." She lets go of him, feeling bad for having hurt her twin.

"Hey guys sorry to interrupt." Advachiel pokes her head in the door. "But the higher ups are requesting for Cahethal."

Cahethal looks over to her, obviously annoyed. "What could they possibly want now? We're just about to start the busy season." He huffed, getting up from his seat.

"Beats me." Advachiel shrugs. "All I was told was that they needed you, I'm part of the council and I still don't know what they want."

"Fine, but this better be important." Cathy made his way to where she was to meet with the higher ups.

"From what I gather I suppose it is." She shrugs again. “I’m sure they’ll try to keep it short though.”

"I sure hope so." Cathy sighed. "Trying to keep track of everything is enough already."

"I understand, I can try to urge the importance of the upcoming spring to keep it fast if you'd like." Advachiel offers, she knew how busy the season faction was as is.

"Thank you sister, at least someone around here is considerate." He chuckled.

"Not a problem." Advachiel smiles. "Being a busy zodiac myself I understand the feeling of being overwhelmed. I helped Ambriel raise her boys, I know what she went through."

"Oh father, I just had a horrible thought." Cahethal paused.

"What's the matter?"

"Do you think they're going to give me a fledgling? I'm not sure I can handle yet another responsibility." He sounded quite stressed.

"Maybe, I don't know but raising one is a direct order from father that we're.....advised against saying no to. Teddy was easy to raise for Asmodel. You would have the help of the other seasons." Advachiel does her best to ease his nerves.

"I suppose so. Still I hope not."

"It depends." Advachiel shrugs. "This is our stop."

Cathy sighed, pausing a moment before opening the door.

Inside it was a little more chaotic than they thought it would be. Advachiel watches one of their siblings dive to grab a young fledgling running around.

"That's new." Advachiel comments.

"Very." Cathy cleared his throat loudly. "Anyone care to explain what's going on?"

"Guabarel is your new charge." Someone explains. "If someone can catch him."

"Can't catch me! Can't catch me!" Guabarel says, proud of how much faster than his brothers and sisters he was.

"Get back here Guabarel." One of their siblings tries to grab him, only grabbing at the air as he takes off again.

"Guabarel if you stop running I'll show you something cool." Cahethal offered.

Guabarel pauses to think about his offer. "Like what?"

"Have you seen ground floor yet?"

"What's that?"

"I'll show you. It's pretty." Cathy smiled, holding out his hand.

Guabarel looks at him skeptically before deciding to take his hand.

"Good luck." Advachiel says to Cathy.

"You underestimate me sister. I remember when the seasons were little." Cathy laughed.

"Attarib was the only good one." Advachiel smiles. "Be good for your brother Guabarel."

Guabarel sticks his tongue out at his older sister in response.

"Now you have to promise me you won't run off little one." Cathy paused at the top of the staircase. "It's very big down there and easy to get lost alright?"

"Okay."

"Stay close." Cathy took the first step down, careful to give him time to take the step. "Do you want to try the stairs yourself or would you like me to carry you? It's a long way down."

There wasn't much thinking on Guabarel's part as he puts both arms up, he preferred to be carried.

Cathy chuckled. "Alright then." He bent down to pick him up, carefully balancing him on his hip and unfurling his wings.

"Pretty." Guabarel comments, admiring his brother's wings.

"Thank you, I'm sure yours are quite beautiful too. Especially when your adult feathers start coming in." Cathy soared down the stairs, until his feet landed on soft grass. "Look around little one, at what our father has made." He smiled, taking a deep breath of the warm air.

"Its warm." Guabarel looks around. "The trees look empty."

"That's because it's still early in spring." Cahethal set him down onto the grass. "Soon there will be flowers and green everywhere. And babies." He grinned.

"Babies?" Guabarel tilts his head confused. "What's a babies?"

"Very little animals. You know how we have a father and a mother right?" Cathy tries to explain. "Yeah."

"And how mother and father worked together to create us?" "The others didn't tell me that."

"Oh, well that's how most of us were made. Well, animals have mommies and daddies too, and they make babies in the spring. Like little versions of their parents." "Oh, okay."

"Anyway..." Cathy gestured to the rolling hills. "Would you like to explore?" "Yes." Guabarel's wings flap in excitement, showing off his red and yellow wings.

"Go ahead, just stay where I can see you." "Okay." Guabarel takes off running as fast as he could to the top of the hill. "Look I made it to the top!"

"Good job!" Cathy smiles softly at the little fledgling. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Clouds slowly started to roll in, turning the blue sky gray. One of the springs was promising rain, Guabarel hasn't noticed the change in weather till thunder rumbled loudly in the distance startling the young angel and he runs back to cling to Cathy's side.

"It's okay Guabarel, it's just thunder. It can't hurt you." Cathy picks him up. "It just means it's going to start raining soon, and rain helps the plants grow." Cathy pointed to the dark clouds in the distance. "You see those puffy gray things in the sky?" "Yeah."

"Those bring the rain." Little water droplets began to fall very lightly. "See, it's just water. And all living things need water." "Oh." Guabarel holds a hand out as the rain falls.

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" "Yes, why does it do that?"

"I'm not sure, most things that are wet feel that way. Now we should get going before more rain comes, or we shall become quite cold." Cathy smiled, gently tapping the fledglings nose. Guabarel scrunched up his nose when his brother tapped him, he gives him a tiny disapproving look.

"And I'll introduce you to your other brothers and sisters." "I have more?"

"You have many more. We are a big family." "Well then let's go." Guabarel wiggles excitedly.

"I'm glad you're excited." Cahethal laughs, opening his wings and taking them back upstairs to the season faction. The seasons had busied themselves while he was gone, Cara had noticed her brother's return. "You’re back." She smiles up at him. "Aaww and you have a fledgling." "Cathy's got a fledgling?" Core looks up from what he was doing.

"Apparently so." He set Guabarel down on the ground. "Go on, introduce yourself." He smiled. "What's your name then little one?" Cara knelt down to his level. "Guabarel." He looks at Cara's eyes. "Why are your eyes purple?" "Cause father made me that way, my name's Caracasa but you can call me Cara for short." "Okay." Guabarel shrugs a little, he didn't seem too interested in the introductions.

"Do you want to go see your room?" Cathy asked. "You look like you could use a nap." "He actually kind of looks disinterested in everything." Attarib comments. "Sure." Guabarel goes back to his brother's side.

"This way." Cathy held out his hand. Guabarel takes his brother's hand and walks with him. "What do they do?" He asks, despite his sister's assumption he was a little curious about the season faction.

"They're the season faction, they control the weather, like the rain we just saw." "Am I a season?"

"We won't find out until you're older little one. No one knows where they belong until they grow up." "What if I don't want to grow up? Can I stay little forever instead?"

Cathy paused, caught off guard by his question. "I don't think you can honey. We all grow up eventually. After all, don't you want to see what your grown up wings will look like?" "I guess, but isn't being a grown up boring?"

"Sometimes it can be, but for example I always have something to do. I look after the other seasons and help the plants grow and thrive on ground floor." "Doesn't it get boring though? Don't you miss being little sometimes?"

Cathy sighed. "I suppose sometimes I do, but I like my job now. Though your older siblings can be a handful sometimes." He chuckled. "Handful?" Guabarel tilts his head curiously.

"They can be a little difficult every once in a while. They disagree sometimes." "Why?"

Cathy shrugged. "That's just how they were made." "Oh." Guabarel yawns a little and rubs at his tired eyes with his free hand.

"Yep, it's time for your nap." Cathy hoisted him up, resting the fledglings head on his shoulder before carrying him to his bed. "Here you are, a nice soft place to sleep. I can get you more blankets or pillows if you'd like." Cathy said as he laid him down. "Don't want to take a nap." Guabarel protests but seemed content in not moving any time soon.

"Are you sure? All I'll be doing is boring grown up stuff." Cathy smiled. "We can go see more things when you wake up later." "Promise?"

"I promise." Cahethal gently stroked his head. "Just call if you need me." Guabarel leans his head into his brother's touch, slowly falling asleep. "Okay."

Amatiel- Original outfit: Gray pant suit, black heels, hair always pulled back.

New outfit: White short sleeved dress shirt, gray vest, dark pants, black flats, slowly letting hair down.

Current wing colors: Sunset red and orange, current wing colors will stay.

Caracasa- Original outfit: Pink button down shirt, deep sky blue vest and pants, black flats.

New outfit: Pink blouse, deep sky blue skirt, black flats.

Current wing colors: White fading into pink, current wing color will stay.

Cetar- Original outfit: Royal blue button, gray vest, black pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Royal blue shirt, gray pants, black shoes.

Current wing colors: Royal blue that fade into icy gray, current wing colors will stay.

Commissoros- Original outfit: Gray button down, steel blue vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Steel blue shirt, gray pants black shoes.

Current wing colors: Lavender fading into lilac, current wing colors will stay.

Core- Original outfit: White button down shirt, lapis blue vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Lapis blue shirt, black pants, black shoes.

Old wing colors: Pink yarrow fading into dogwood.

New wing colors: Pink fading into white, opposite his twin sister.

Gargatel- Current outfit: Pastel blue shirt, jeans and shirt. His current look will stay.

Current wing colors: Navy blue fading into diamond lake blue wings. Current wing colors will stay.

Gaviel- White button down shirt, black vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit- Black shirt, jeans and boots (thanks Amy and Terry)

Current wing colors: Midnight blue, current wing color will stay.

Guabarel: Old outfit: White button down shirt, marsala colored vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New look: Gray shirt, dark pants, black shoes.

Current wing colors: Red fading to yellow, current wing colors will stay.

Spugliguel- Old outfit: White button down, light brown vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Light brown shirt, dark pants, black shoes.

Current wing colors: Light gray fading into white, current wing colors will stay.

Torquaret- Old outfit: White button down, lake blue vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Lake blue shirt, dark pants, black shoes.

Current wing colors: Red fading into brown, current wing colors will stay.

Tubiel- Old look: White button down, light purple vest and pants, black dress shoes.

New outfit: Light purple shirt, blue jeans, black shoes.

“Amy please, no one needs to know what I do with my personal life.” Tarq all but begs his sister not to tell the others what's going on.

“What Amy? What's so important?” Gaviel finally shows up to the season faction, a look of mild annoyance on his face.

“Tarquarn has a date.” She says excitedly.

“It's not a date.” Tarq mumbles, choosing to look at the floor rather than the room that was staring at him.

“Tarquarn has a date?” Torquaret questions.

“Yes.” Amy nods.

“No.” Tarq says quietly.

“With who?” Cetar asks.

“A demon named Adonis.” Amy supplies.

“Sounds like fun.” Tariel adds in. “What are you guys doing?”

“They're going out to dinner tonight at seven.” Amy answers for him.

“Sounds like fun.” Attarib muses.

“I'm not so sure how I feel about this.” Tarq says. “I didn't agree to a whole lot, I barely got a word in. Amy did all the talking really.”

“Amabiel.” Amatiel scolds her.

“What? If I didn't step in he would have froze up and start choking on his words. We all know how his people skills are.”

Everyone makes some kind of sound or gesture of agreement at that still finding it a little unfair of what their sister did by roping him into going on a date.

“It has be quite some time.” Guabarel puts in. “Maybe you should try putting yourself out there.”

“I don't know if I even am….that way.” Tarq struggles a little to put his sentence together.

“He wouldn't have said anything to you if you weren't.” Spugliguel offers.

“Our brother's right.” Tubiel nods in agreement.

“Tarq don't worry about it, you'll be fine.” Gargatel reassures him.

“And if for some reason it's not you're allowed to call an early night. That's how dating works.” Tariel smiles.

“Dating?! I never agreed to that. I thought it was going to be just the one.” Tarq starts to panic a little.

“Tarquarn breathe, it's okay.” Cara places both her hands on his shoulders and gets him to focus on her. “If he asks to see you again and you don't want to, you're allowed to say no. Just keep that in mind okay?”

“Okay.” Tarq nods.

“Don't worry about it little brother.” Commissoros throws an arm over his shoulders and pulls him close. “Everything will be fine, it all sounds like you're just nervous. It's been awhile since you've played this game.”

“I hardly remember there being a last time.” Tarq looks up at him confused.

“It was a long time ago, before Terry long. It doesn't matter though, they weren't worth your time.” Attarib says, she was leaning against her desk. “In the meantime you need to get ready. Know what's acceptable and unacceptable on your first outing with someone.”

“How will I know that?” Tarq questions, he didn't really know all the rules to dating.

“I'll help you.” Cetar offers.

“Me too.” Amatiel steps up.

“What the hell, I'll help you too Tarq. You're going to need it.” Gaviel also offers to help his brother.

“Me too!” Tariel jumps up excitedly. “I've spent some time in the Venus faction to develop an understanding of what's going on.”

“And you know how to talk to people and make friends better than any of us.” Gav muses.

“Aw thanks Gav.” Tariel smiles.

“Come on Tarq.” Cetar places a hand on his shoulder. “We'll show you the do’s and don'ts of outings with someone.”

“This should be interesting.” Matti comments, walking away with them.

“This is going to be so much fun.” Tariel claps her hands together.

“Try not to worry too much about it, everything will be fine.” Gaviel reassures.

“What exactly am I supposed to say?” Tarq questions.

“Anything but not anything you want, if that makes sense.” Tariel answers.

“Example, you can talk about what you do but there's no need to mention of a murder streak if you have one.” Matti supplies the answer.

“I don't, you all know that.”

“It's an example Tarq it's alright.” Gaviel pauses a moment to think. “You don't exactly have to but open up a little about yourself if he asks.”

“He already knows that I am an angel of fall.”

“That's a start.” Cetar does his best to sound encouraging.

“I guess.” Tarq shrugs. “I don't know if I can do this.”

“Getting cold feet is normal, you'll get passed it soon enough.” Gaviel reassures. “It happens don't worry about it.”

“Is it too late to back out?” Tarq asks.

“Yes, and not showing up without notifying ahead of time is rude.” Tariel scolds her older brother.

“Very well.” Tarq sighs.

“In order to get on his good side you should try to say something nice. Comment on how he looks or something like that.” Cetar does his best to give him advice.

“You have to tell us how it went when you get back.” Tariel smiles. “Don't leave anything out.”

“How long does it normally last?”

“An hour at most, sometimes two but it depends.” Amatiel shrugs. “Not much really happens on the first few dates. It's a getting to know you kind of thing.”

“We have to wrap this up soon guys.” Tariel says. “It's getting closer to seven.”

Tarquarn feels his heart start to beat just a little faster in his chest. “Is it really that close?”

“Looks like it.” Matti nods.

“You're going to do just fine brother, just take a deep breath.” Cetar places a hand on his shoulder.

“I can go with you to meet up with him Tarq.” Terry offers.

“I should be fine Tariel, thank you though.”

“Better get going.” Gav reminds him. “He isn't mortal so it won't take him long to get there.”

Ornias laughed, kneeing his brother in the gut before rolling him. “You wish.”

“Cheap shot.” Phoenix accused.

“But it worked.” He grinned. “Luce showed me that one.”

Phoenix pouts at his brother. “I should punch you in your stupid face.”

“Then do it.”

Phoenix went to follow through on his brother’s dare when somebody spoke off to the side.

“Phoenix, you’re needed for a moment.”

“Why what for?” Phoenix still throws the punch for the hell of it before shoving his brother off of him and stands up.

Arnie hit the dirt with a thud, standing up with a growl as he brushed himself off and stood next to Phoenix.

“I assure you it’ll only take a moment, now if you would please.” Their older sibling gestures for him to follow.

“Fine.” He starts to leave before turning around for a second. “I won Arnie.” He grins.

“You did not and this isn’t over you giant ass.

“Takes one to know one, and yes I did.”

“Phoenix please, the others are waiting.”

Phoenix sticks his tongue out at Arnie before taking off, there was probably going to be hell to pay later. “See you later Arnie.”

“I’ll kick your ass later.” His twin replied with crossed arms.

“I’m sure you will.” Phe smiles at him, he wouldn’t expect anything less from his brother. Phoenix follows his older sibling further, they were being incredibly vague with their answers so he didn’t bother with asking questions, it was pretty much a lost cause. It was a quiet walk until they reached their destination.

“Phoenix father picked you for a special job.” They grab the handle of the door and push it open. “You are to raise your first fledgling.”

A few other of their brothers and sisters were standing in the room with a very small fledgling. The little one turned around, her white hair falling down her shoulders as she looked up at them with curious winter gray eyes.

“Phoenix, meet the very first season angel of winter Attarib.”

“She’s so small.” Phoenix comments as he walks in the room. “I get to raise her?”

“Yes, Attarib come meet your older brother Phoenix.”

Attarib took a few steps forward and looked up at him.

“Hi there.” Phoenix smiles at her, crouching to her level.

“Hello.” She greets back.

“I think you’ll like your brother Arnie. He’s pretty fun.” Phoenix lifts her and turns to the sibling that brought him here. “I’m going to go now, I’ll take good care of her.”

“If you have questions you can always ask.”

Phoenix nods before taking off, quickly going to rejoin his twin. “Arnie!”

“What?! Back so soon for your butt-kicking?!” He called back.

“No better.” Phoenix smiles, still holding his new fledgling. “This is Atti and she is my fledgling.”

“Why do you have one of those?” Ornias raised his eyebrow curiously at the bundle of fluffy feathers.

“According to our older siblings father picked me to raise her. She’s so small look at her.”

“She’s as pale as the clouds… it looks weird…”

“She’s the first winter angel.” Phoenix explains.

“She looks like an albino.”

“You take that back or I’ll stab you in the throat.”

Arnie shrugged. “What it’s true.”

“Be nice to her Ornias, she’s my little one so-” Phoenix stops as he realizes what he said. “I picked that up from Brie, I just turned into Brie there.”

“Haha, and you keep insisting you’re not her favorite.”

“I picked things up from her you ass.” Phoenix sets the fledgling down. “That’s not my fault, Brie never played favorites either.”

Ornias scoffed. “Oh really? Because you were never far away from her and practically clung to her side.”

“I will not explain myself about that to you.” Phoenix blushes.

Ornias glanced down at the little fledgling. “Yeah, sure. Man this kid is quiet.”

“I was waiting for you two to be done.” She looks up at Arnie as she says this.

“…okay…” Ornias turns his gaze to his twin. “This kid is very serious and it concerns me.”

Phoenix shrugs. “I did it when I was her age when Brie was talking to the zodiacs. Why would it concern you? You’re not raising her.”

“She’s just so serious, like a grown up. What were you waiting for little one?”

Attarib shrugs. “To see when you would stop teasing Phoenix I guess.”

Phoenix snorts a laugh at her answer. “I think I have a defender that isn’t Ambriel.”

“Father knows you don’t need any more, let alone a fledgling. You’re not fragile Phoenix, no matter how much Brie made it seem that you were.” He sighed, frustrated at his twin’s seeing need to have someone protecting him.

“He’s teasing.” Atti states matter of factly.

“I am teasing Arnie, lighten up. But it was funny you have to admit. And we can show her how to not be so serious all the time, father knows you’re good at that brother dear.”

“Hah, though probably not in a way suitable for one so little and impressionable.”

“So then make it suitable, it shouldn’t be that hard. Brie and them curbed their humor all the time.”

“Mine is closer to Arietis and Luce’s so it’s pretty dark. You know how they are.”

“Your humor concerns me sometimes Ornias.” Phoenix says as he picks Atti up once more, the young fledgling resting her head on his shoulder.

“What, we’re war angels what did you expect? Rainbows and sunshine?” Ornias laughed. “You know you’re still going to have to train with the rest of us you know.”

“Yeah, but there’s the question of what I’m going to do with Atti.” Phoenix gestures to the small one on his hip.

“You could always just set her off to the side. She probably won’t even move from where you put her.”

“Yeah, there’s also Ambriel too. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind looking after her for a bit.”

“She’ll squeal and it’ll be annoying.”

“She’s just…….over enthusiastic is all.”

“Yes. And loud. About everything.”

“It’s the way father made her, he made you an ass.”

“What’s an ass?” Attarib picks her head up.

“Your older brother Ornias.”

“Don’t tell her lies Phoenix.” Ornias chuckled, turning to the little fledgling. “An ass is a donkey and a rude name to call someone.”

“Still your big brother Ornias.” Phoenix laughs, Attarib smiles and giggles in amusement. “Hey she has a sense of humor.”

“Oh thank father she’s not broken.” He grins.

“I’m broken?” Atti looks up at Phoenix, he shoots Arnie a quick glare before answering her.

“No you’re not broken, Arnie’s just teasing.”

“Yes Atti, you’re not broken, father just made you different from the other fledglings so far.” Ornais smiled.

“Let’s take her to see Brie, she’ll get a kick in seeing her.” Phoenix suggests. “And Atti will get to meet the zodiacs, however many of them there are now.”

“Oh no, I refuse to be there when Brie sees her for the first time. I’d prefer to keep my hearing thank you very much.”

“And you call me the dramatic one.” Phoenix chuckles. “At least stay long enough to say hi.”

“Nope.”

“Don’t be an ass Arnie.”

Ornias chuckled. “Dear brother I will always be an ass, it’s in my nature.”

“Unfortunately, fine I’ll just call her down here if you won’t go see her.”

“I’ll see her some other time.”

“Ass, come on Atti we’ll go see Brie by ourselves.”

Attarib whines her slight disappointment at Ornias not coming with them. “I want down now please.”

“Sure thing kiddo.” Phoenix sets her down, taking her hand to lead her to the zodiac faction.

“Bye Attarib, see you later.” Arnie waved.