Morana woke to the scent of her favourite gladiolus. In lush beauty, they sprouted from Yeosang's chest as he rested by her side with a book in his hands. Their sweet smell had Morana stretch languidly, soaking up the heavenly softness of this bed. These lands were bright, and the sun was blinding. Morana wanted to hide away in the darkness, but she approved of their sense for soft things. Resting on clouds, she slumbered deeply. Her dreams had been filled with adventure and the bewitching scent of her favourite flowers.

Yeosang blossomed them just for her. Left her to sleep since they were travelling and no duties weighed them down.

Morana rolled around, stretching out her arms for her other uncle. Play fighting with Wooyoung on this soft bed promised a lot of fun, and her devious strategies already brightened her drowsy mind.

But her fingers met soft pillows. No rough feathers and sharp talons by her side.

Surprised, Morana opened her eyes and peered around for him. The bright walls blinded her instantly, and she squinted, but he wasn't in the room with them.

"Wooyoung?" She croaked, still sleepy as she pushed herself up to sit. Billowing white curtains filtered out the bright sun that made Morana tired the second she laid eyes upon it. Did he go outside?

"Yeosang, Wooyoung is gone," she mumbled, scooting closer to curl up against his shoulder for a few more minutes of dozing. Hardened bark softened to the most silky mosses.

"He didn't sleep with us tonight," Yeosang hummed, not sounding the least bit worried. But Morana shot right back up, getting tangled in the crown of branches Yeosang fashioned around his head.

"Where is he? Did someone lock him up?" Yeosang always said Wooyoung was a troublemaker and Morana needed to behave so she wouldn't end up like him. From what she saw in these grand halls, the seraphim treasured their manners and rules a lot. Part of Morana sneered at the sight of their arrogantly lifted chins, but she didn't expect them to regard Wooyoung as an enemy.

"Maybe. He would deserve it."

At Morana's gasp, Yeosang snickered. She scrambled from the bed, ready to save her friend. Wooyoung always got into trouble, so it was her task to take care of him.

What if that broad angel did something to him? His smile seemed kind, but he had the same noble shine as the others. Someone like that wouldn't have the patience for a blabbering gryphon-born with no table manners.

Before Morana got to rush outside to find him, Yeosang put his book on the nightstand. His branches had woven into the pages as if to soak up the letters. With a rustle, he parted from them.

"Don't worry. He is with San."

San, that was his name. Another one of Morana's uncles. He looked strong, so she hoped Wooyoung wouldn't play his pranks around him. But surely, if they wanted to bring him along, he would be patient enough for their bunch of oddities? He hadn't looked as perturbed with Morana's appearance as others.

Right, because he knew her from the past.

"I just waited for you to wake up so let's meet them at lunch, hm? I'm sure they prepared something you like."

Something Morana liked?

The idea of food in this foreign place quickly had her forget her worries. She raced down the corridor with Yeosang following at a leisure place. What did angels eat? Why did they have so many wings? Weren't they heavy? How did they fit onto a table?

Eager to find out, Morana made her way into the dining room once Yeosang showed it to her. The palace awed her. So much space, such grand corridors made for flying through. Not her taste in colour, but she did like the grandeur.

She did not like all the Seungyouns running around, opening doors and pulling out chairs for her. Their wings constantly looked to be in the way, so Morana doubted they could do things better than her.

But she found Wooyoung on the grand table loaded with delicious-smelling food. He sat next to San and lit up at Morana's sight.

"You are alive," Morana cheered, happy Yeosang had been right once more. She dashed over to hug Wooyoung and he patted her head, looking smug.

"Told you I am the strongest of all. San here learned a lot from me back in the day."

Giddy about his boasting, Morana risked a peek up at the angel's face, finding it stormy. He looked scary and nice at the same time.

Since she didn't trust him yet, Morana sat on Wooyoung's side and left the seat to San's right to Yeosang. The dryad greeted him with a gentle smile.

"Slept well?" He asked, and San's dimples dug into his cheeks. Morana didn't let him out of her sight. Was he really as angelic as he looked? She felt their differences clash, no matter his grace.

And he only had one hand. She had to interview him more about that, but that probably meant he killed people before. Were angels meant to kill?

Suspicious about every word that came from his lips, Morana indulged in the food. It was well-cooked and served, with beautiful fruit platters adorning fresh bread and meats. They only ate birds here (which made sense) but Morana liked the taste, regretting only for a moment to eat Wooyoung's cousins before the flavour convinced her.

San was a polite host. He discussed their journey with Morana's uncles and offered her sweets from time to time, which Morana eagerly gobbled down before going back to her scrutiny. His grins were too handsome to be real.

Movement on the table soon distracted her. The adults were busy talking, so Morana peered around the bowls to catch it. The servants had backed away to leave them to it and though she had seen some pets around, none were here.

Morana speared some yellow peach and held it out across the table. Hoped to lure out a mouse or perhaps a hungry lizard.

The conversation was important. San agreed to their endeavour and figured how to govern his court in the meantime (apparently he was some king, Morana didn't like these people), so she should listen. But a small shadow fumbling among the plates once more had her faltering.

She stretched and in the right moment the dark body squeezed between two vases, she snatched it up. She expected fur, perhaps an indignant squeak. Instead, rough material pressed into her fingers. With surprising strength, it shoved off the prison of her grip and fell onto her plate with a loud clatter.

Morana froze. She lifted her eyes to San, terrified to have insulted him. Yet ready to face him head on how Hlin taught her.

Yeosang looked worried and disapproving at the same time.

"Sorry," Morana muttered as she peered at the thing in the mess of her food. It had risen, just big enough to fit into the cradle of her hands, like her sheep doll. Two stumpy legs brought it forward among the plates, pushing and shifting them out of the way to form a trail of unfathomable determination. Where was it going? Why did it look like a walking rock?

Morana poked her finger at it. It was hard like one.

Wooyoung's eyes widened when he picked up on it.

"Is that Pebble?" He screeched, surprising the other two just as much. Clueless, Morana peered up at them. Onyx sailed in through an open window, summoned by Wooyoung's voice. He pecked his beak at the dark creature but it didn't mind him, working its way towards San steadily.

"You kept her around?" Yeosang asked, just as surprised. He stood to pluck the being from the table and Morana figured they might have to throw it out, even when it wasn't eating their food. What was it trying to accomplish?

San shook his head. When Yeosang sunk into his chair to caress the newcomer with awed fingers, it seemed satisfied. Suddenly without any limbs, it rested in Yeosang's hand, still as a rock.

"This is the first time in ten years I've seen her. I didn't think she made it out. How did she get up here...?" San muttered, just as puzzled as the rest.

Morana didn't even understand what she was looking at. She never met a walking rock before. Were they common here?

"That must be a sign," Wooyoung perked up with that glow in his eyes that always ripped Morana along to cause mischief.

"Life remained in the ruins. We never heard of Jongho again after, so we thought Pebble was with him. But she made her way out so she might come as a messenger to tell us there is more to be saved!"

Suspiciously eyeing the rock in case it would move again, Morana continued her meal.

"You can't communicate with her, can you?" San asked Yeosang, and the dryad shook his head. "She doesn't speak any language I understand. But her timing is..."

For a moment, they were all quiet. Morana stuffed her cheeks with honeyed bread.

"We don't know where Jongho is, but Hongjoong can communicate with her magic. See what she saw. Even if there is nothing to save, we can gain a better estimation of the surroundings and where to search," San suggested, and Yeosang nodded along.

"Perhaps she can even lead us to Jongho. He would love to meet Morana."

The girl tilted her head. San and Yeosang agreed with each other.

Only Wooyoung groaned, and Morana was on his side, so she tensed back up.

"Ugh, Hongjoong? Do we have to go there? He's locked up in his tower all the time. Bet he is as cocky as he was when we first met. Ten years are an eternity of arrogance for a mage."

Morana knew Hongjoong. He was the spectacular mage who visited them sometimes. With the black and white hair and the golden sparkles around him.

"He has all the knowledge we might need. More even than I do. Even if he is busy, his visions may help. Along with our unexpected gem over here," San reasoned, beckoning to the rock. Morana pushed her chair back after she finished eating and rounded the table to look at it. Onyx poked. Just some rock. Did she only imagine it moving? No, she felt that pressure against her hand.

"The brother of our dear princess here will have the same questions as her," Yeosang added. Now Morana was more interested. Her adventure had already started. A magical rock and the scary but powerful uncle from overseas. Was it finally time to see Aodhán again? He was her big brother.

Wooyoung lamented with his hand and bristling wings. Even in his statue of peace and posture, San's gaze seemed fond of him. Why? Wooyoung was such a mess in comparison.

"They sealed their borders, and he never left a way to communicate. How do we cross the water?"

The rock moved. Morana's head snapped around, but it stilled right again, making her question herself once more. Frowning, she stared really hard to catch the next twitch. Did the others know it moved? Shouldn't they throw it out the window to be safe? What if this was a spy?

San stood from his chair and his hand found Morana's hair, caressing it gently. A memory flashed through her mind of a distant time. Gentle fingers rough from wielding a blade, brushing and weaving through those strands. Beautiful long braids.

San pulled back, and Morana didn't flinch. Was just puzzled by how her body seemed to remember him.

"He told me the way. Let me send out a letter. It shall be the first location of our adventure together."

Wooyoung sunk into his chair, bemoaning his fate.

"But Hongjoong is there," he wailed and San threw him a grin. He made for the door and a servant scurried along to attend to his orders. Next to San, he looked lean and fumbly, nowhere near as trained in the control of his body.

"He will be overjoyed to see you."

Wooyoung continued grumbling while Morana looked after the seraph until the door closed, pondering his words. Then, her head snapped back around to Yeosang's hands, caressing over the rock idly.

She could swear she had seen it twitch.