Author's Note: This is not applicable to the story at all. Just the story of two angels.

Mother, will you tell me a story?

Of course, my child. What would you like to hear?

Tell me...of the Hawk and the Swan, Mother. Tell me of them.

Fellen Xin Mal sighed, leaning against the wall. So sparring went terribly again, as usual. His parents would get angry, as usual, and his father would crush his cage slightly tighter, as usual. He didn't care. It didn't matter. Every day was the same, so why should this day be any different?

He wished it were. He wanted something else, something wild, something unexpected.

Fellen knew he'd never get it. Ever. The Xin Mals were a highly respected family, high in both Swan and angel hierarchy, and as the first son, he knew he must marry and inherit. He didn't want it. Any of it. He wanted...he didn't know what he wanted. More, less, freedom, chains. He didn't know. He just wanted something...else.

Sighing, Fellen changed out of his sparring outfit and went to his rooms. Once there, he stepped out onto the balcony and spread his wings. Jumping off the edge, he soared into the sky. Looking down at the city, he smiled slightly, seeing how beautiful it was.

Daydreaming somwhat, he didn't notice when he flew over the Swan and Raven districts, and into the angel-filled sky of the Hawk district. However, the other angels noticed him and flew nervously away. Fellen came to himself with a start, and looked surprised and slightly disgusted.

The expression was wiped from his face when a Hawk crashed into him.

They fell a few feet together, then flew apart. The Hawk clapped her hands to her face and said "I'm sorry! I didn't-I mean-" she looked at his face, and her eyes widened. She gasped, and flapped back a bit, as if to flee. Fellen was siezed by a sudden longing to be her, to be free, even the underclass. "No, it's alright." he said. "It's fine."

The Hawk lowered her hands and stared at him in obvious surprise. "What's your name?" asked Fellen curiously.

"Bloodsky Tzena, m-my lord." she said, averting his eyes.

"oh, I'm not a lord, not at all," said Fellen hurridly. "Please, it's all right to look at me."

Bloodsky glared at him from under her lashes, uncertain whether this was a trap or not.

Fellen noticed, and said "It's really alright."

"If it is alright, may I ask your name?" Bloodsky asked slyly.

Fellen said "My name is Fellen Xin Mal." Bloodsky gasped, and was about to back away, when she said "Curious place for a Xin Mal."

Fellen nodded. "I guess I was...distracted."

She scowled at him. "Because none of your kind ever come here on purpose," she said nastily.

"No, that's not what I meant," he said hastily. "I'm...different than my family."

She gazed at him suspiciously. "If you are so different, meet me in the Writer's Guild Square of Raven district, tomorrow at three hours after sundown."

And she left.

---

Fellen complied with Bloodsky's wishes, donning a cloak and setting out toward Raven district after dinner, the darkness of the night masked by the blaring lights of the city below. He hoped she hadn't lied to him, or wouldn't come. He liked her, even though he had met her for all of five minutes,

He alighted in the darkened Writer's Guild Square, and looked around furtively.

"I wondered when you'd come." Bloodsky's voice rang out across the square. She sat on the rim of the fountain in the center of the square, her long, dark hair pulled back into a braid. "I was pretty sure you wouldn't."

She jumped off the rim of the fountain, and said "Come on, I want to go somewhere a bit more-concealed."

Fellen followed her as she darted across the square, to an alley at the side. "I figured we ought to meet somwhere public, so you could find it, then go somewhere else." she continued. "I did want to meet you, you know. I wasn't sure if you were the real thing or not." she glanced at him with narrowed eyes. Despite her carefree tone, she was extremely catious.

They stopped at the back of the alley, which was surprisingly clean, though very dark. He could only see the vaugest outline of Bloodsky's body.

"So," said she. "you are different."

Fellen nodded, then considered the fact she probably couldn't see him, and said "Yes."

She grinned, then, white teeth flashing in the darkness. "Then let us talk."

Fellen and Bloodsky talked for long into the night. They learned of each other's family, and, haltingly, of each other. Bloodsky found that she liked Fellen's shy, somewhat bashful way of talking. Fellen found that Bloodsky's somewhat rough ways and wolfish grin had been the different he was looking for.

When they left each other for home, they promised to come to this same place the next night.

The next night went much the same. On the third night, Fellen asked "Why is your name Bloodsky?'

"When I was born," said she, her eyes taking on a dreamy cast. "The sun was rising. The sky was all red and orange. My mother named me for the sky on that day."

They smiled at each other.

Night after night, they met, talking. They found that they loved each other, after a while. Fellen found that his life wouldn't just mean nothing without Bloodsky, it would be nothing, like a fish without water. Bloodsky knew this, and knew that she felt the same.

One night, in the middle of the Cloudless Moon, Fellen and Bloodsky flew together over the city. Bloodsky found herself admiring Fellen's large, white wings, and noticed Fellen looking at her own red-tinged brown ones. She grasped his hand, and he smiled at her.

So the nights went. Eventually, their meetings began to creep into the day. Suspicious, Fellen's younger sister, Fellah, followed him one night, to the alley where he and Bloodsky met. So wrapped up in each other were they, that they did not notice Fellah spying on them. Fellah, who followed her family's beliefs and openly hated Hawk angels, was dumbfounded that her brother could have a Hawk for a friend.

Or, she thought, as she flew back to her home to tell her parents, a lover?

Neither she nor her parents cared. Fellah knew Bloodsky's name, and her parents were inclined to think the worst. An execution was planned before Bloodsky was even arrested.

When Fellen found out, he did everything in his power to stop his family's doings. Pleaded, raged, promised, but he couldn't stop them. Bloodsky was arrested, and was executed as planned.

Fellen's father, who had disowned his son, made Fellen watch.

The angel's death penalty is hanging. Fellen watched, his eyes streaming with tears as Bloodsky bravely strode up to the gallows. But then, a flash of fear appeared in her eyes as the noose was placed around her neck. Her eyes found his.

She still had the strength to cry out.

"I love you, Fellen! I love you!"

Fellen, his face now streaked with tears, called back.

"I love you, Bloodsky! Always!"

Bloodsky's own face was streaked with tears, now, as she cried out one last time to Fellen.

"I love you, I love you, I lo-"

The trapdoor swung open. And Bloodsky was dead.

And that is the story of the Hawk and the Swan, my child.

Oh, Mother, I feel so bad for them! Whatever happened to poor Fellen?

No one is sure. Some say he died, killing himself soon after Bloodsky's death. Some say he lived, heartbroken and cold. Still others say that he fled the city, searching for peace, for an ease to his mind. No one really knows.

That's so sad!

Indeed it is, my child, indeed it is...

end