Hinata's parents raised them to focus on the known and explored, so taking orders from an angel they couldn't see, waiting for a sign they couldn't expect, was, to say the least, discomforting.

The waiting wasn't an issue. Nor was the solitude.

As a single child with 8 cousins, Hinata often preferred solitude. Shortly after Raf jumped down the smoking crevice, Hinata took out a piece of driftwood from one of their many satchels and deftly carved it into the shape of a lizard.

Unease plagued Hinata. Something was wrong. How long were they supposed to wait? And what were they waiting for? And would they ever see Rafael again?

But before Hinata could finish carving, they heard a bang from far below.

There was a shed nestled in a grove at the foot of the 'last peak,' where the ocean met rock and forest. A cloud of black smoke encircled the shed. Was this the sign? Hinata ran forward, keeping to the shadows.

Hinata could hear nothing over the howling ocean wind, crashing against stone and whistling through leaves. Then Hinata saw it. The Raven. It was the size of a large man with a long black beak and covered in shimmering black feathers, but so far away, Hinata couldn't make out more details than that. It leapt out of the smoke and dashed for the trees. Was it carrying something? Why was it running? Could it not fly?

Hinata followed as best they could from a distance, grappling down several ledges, swinging when able. Flying above the Raven, Hinata saw a small blackbird. Perhaps a familiar?

The Raven disappeared among the trees, but from their vantage far above, Hinata watched the blackbird dart to and fro, above and below the forest canopy, moving in the direction of Church.

Then the truly unexpected happened.

A swarm of flying devils descended on Hinata. Hideous grey creatures, the size of large monkeys, with bat-like wings and fangs that jut out in all directions. Hinata used the sharpened hooks of their chains to defend themself, slaying two of the monstrous devils, but there were too many.

The swarm tackled Hinata to the ground. This was the end. Hinata shut their eyes and screamed for their short life, but the devils lifted Hinata into the air and carried them away.

Once in the air, Hinata stopped screaming. They were too scared and surprised to be alive to do anything. Plus, Hinata worried the flying monsters might be inclined to drop Hinata if they antagonized any further. Considering they'd already killed two of the devils, it felt unwise to test luck further. Besides, it was soon apparent where the devils were taking them.

The swarm descended to land on the beach by a shack, dropping Hinata on the sand. The Raven's smoke had cleared, but the smell of sulfur lingered in the air.

Two figures stood nearby.

One was tall and male, dressed in black leather, with ashen skin. The devils spoke to the man in a series of grunts and whistling noises only he seemed to understand. He listened impassively while staring at Hinata as if they were the first human he'd ever seen. The man terrified Hinata. There was indifference in the humorous glint of his eyes, like a hurtful joke.

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The second one was shorter, with copper-red hair, two pointy ears on top of their head, golden-brown skin, and sharp yellow eyes. They were dressed in flowing green cloth. Of course, Hinata knew who this must be right away.

"You're Rowan, the firefox Rafael mentioned," they said reverently.

The firefox was visibly stunned. "What-How did you know Rafael?"

"We met yesterday at the upper outside beach. He was caught in the Snare. I fished him out."

Rowan sat suddenly. "He's alive! Oh. Thank you. He's alive."

The dark-eyed man watched with silent curiosity.

Rowan composed themself, rising to ask, "Where is Rafael now?"

"He jumped down a smoking crevice at the peak up there. An angel named Sophia told him to go to Oceania and told me to wait for a sign. When I saw the Raven, I thought that was the sign, but now I'm here, so I'm wondering if Sophia meant for me to meet you."

Rowan and the grey man were both at a loss for words, looking at one another and back at Hinata.

The man spoke first, in a smoky voice, like he'd been breathing volcanic fumes all his life. "The Raven? What did you see?"

Hinata feared the man but answered in honest detail everything they'd seen up to being abducted by his flying minions.

He waited until Hinata was finished, then turned to Rowan, saying authoritatively, "Mother would want us to find Rafael."

Rowan answered, eyes fixed in the distance, "Rafael seems to be guided by forces outside our influence, and there's no guarantee we can catch up to where he's going. But we know where Lyn is being taken, and if we don't follow, the Raven will slowly kill her."

"What does one deaf witch matter? We should secure the Holy Spirit and find transport to Garden."

"Lyn is more than that. She's… she's precious. She can help us."

"We cannot jeopardize the mission to rescue your magical pet. If Adam learns about you and me, we lose the element of surprise."

"We already lost it. No doubt it was Adam who sent the Raven to kidnap Lyn. Isn't that reason enough to retrieve her, to spite him?"

That nearly convinced him. "Perhaps she is valuable, but it might as likely be a trap."

Rowan frowned, eyes still fixed in the distance. "Then I'll go in alone and disguised." Addressing Hinata, "You should return home. Thank you for sharing your story."

The grey man spoke, "Wait. We should kill it, right? What if it tells someone?"

Rowan turned in shock. "What?! No! They just helped us."

He looked confused.

Hinata was stunned, dumbfounded. Collapsing to their knees, Hinata whispered, "I won't tell a soul, I swear."

Rowan sauntered to the man and gently held his hands. "Adam is a tyrant. He created the forces that will tear him down. Be better than Adam, or you will create forces that tear you down, in kind."

Rowan said this so sagely, so sensually, the man was affected.

"Well… okay. But you're not going in alone. I sent a cainkin to scout ahead. It should meet us on the way. And you," he addressed Hinata, "Keep up, or I'll have the cainkin carry you."

Rowan tilted their head. "We can't take them with us. They're too young and where we're going is dangerous."

"It knows too much! If we leave it behind, Adam will find it, and then all three of us will wish I'd killed it. No. If it lives, it makes itself useful and stays where I can see it."

Hinata's breathing was erratic. They looked around, but the man's flying minions surrounded them. Drool leaked from crooked fangs as the frightful creatures stared hungrily at Hinata. Hinata closed their eyes and tried to focus on breathing.

Rowan's voice broke the pause.

"Fine, but understand they aren't a slave or an 'it.' They are a person. What is your name?"

"Hinata," they said, opening their eyes to discover tears blurring their vision.

"Hinata," said Rowan. "I'm Rowan. This is Samaal. Today is his first day on Eden. You're the first human he's met. Please be patient with him."

Samaal scoffed.

Rowan turned to face the distant Church. "Let's go. We'll camp near Church to plan our entry and break in under cover of darkness."