It was blue, and not from the cold as demonstrated by its lack of reaction to stumbling once more in the loosely packed drifts of snow. Its name was a trill that whales sang, and dolphins laughed. But the rough ones with the hard hands who had taken it from the warmth of the sea hadn't called it by name. They had called it freak.

There was a gentle hand on its shoulder and the one who didn't say freak helped it back to its feet. It sighed. It was tired and this swimming through air and semi-solid ground was harder than swimming through the depths of its home.

"It's this way," the low voice said in its ear. "You left the path a long way back."

"You weren't there, so I didn't know where to go," it said in a mild, musical voice that had no recrimination in it.

"I'm sorry," the other said softly. After a pause, he asked again, "Is there nothing I can call you?"

"Your language is too harsh," it said, feeling the long march lower over it. It sighed again, leaning against the other.

"I just need something to call you!" the gentle one protested.

"And names still have power," it said, ignoring the protest. "And I do not need to lose more power to you."

"Next time I leave, stay where you are. Then this won't happen again." He sighed, brushing melting snow off the thin body.

"Leave it. It reminds me of home." The man heard the wistfulness in the mild voice and stopped.
 

There was a long period of quiet as Koleyn helped the blue creature through the snow. They were a strange pair, Koleyn a bright elf, and his companion a soft blue sea creature he had defied his own to save. The combination of defiance and vulnerability his self chosen charge showed fascinated him beyond understanding.

The blue creatue stumbled again, reaching out for Koleyn and the elf immediately scooped it into his arms to avoid another fall. The blue one gave a small smile, and Koleyn knew he'd do almost anything to see that smile again.

And then they both fell to the ground and rolled several feet. Koleyn came to his feet, sword in hand, facing the one who's pushed them. Facing his leader. His guard wavered until he felt cold arms around him and knew that his time had come because he couldn't leave the beauty of the sea creature to mountain bandits.

He had no clear thoughts again until he looked down at the body of what had been his leader and knew that he was the one who had killed the man. He stared in horror, knowing that he could never return to his life.

A gentle arm was still around him, and he felt the warmth of his companion at his back. A light brush of fingers against his cheek brought some comfort.

He turned, looking at the naked body of his sea creature. "I know what you are now," he said in a voice that was almost too old to be his own. "Oriel. Angel of my destiny."