Blu grew up with stories as his friends. Every night his mother would sit him down at the edge of her bed, and tell him some fable or myth about their ancestors, or sea creatures lurking in the depths far below their floating Colony. Blu loved these moments of peace in his mother, and the memories always seem to bring back the light in Aspen’s caramel eyes.

“Mama, come on! It’s almost dark!”

Today was the Day. Blu was turning eleven, and to the Seraphim this wasn’t a very important year, but to Blu, it was the day he would finally make a Friend. His mother had always told him of the women Arum, who had helped birth Blu, and the only other person who knew of his existence. She spoke of the women with a sense of sadness-or maybe anger- in her eyes, but she was no fool. She saw how lonely Blu was becoming, and so she decided to tell him about Arum’s daughter; only two years older than Blu himself!

“Slow down my little cloudjumper!” Aspen called out, as Blu was fluttering and hopping just ahead, toes barely scraping the ground at times because of his excitement.

“Remember! Only as far as Arum’s house! Any further and-”

“I know, I know,” Blu interrupted Apsen’s breathless lecture as she struggled to keep up with him, her large owl-like wings flapping to keep her balance,

“-I need to stay hidden so the High Council won’t find me…”

“And..?” prompted Aspen.

“..and I won’t ever go past Lady Arum’s house, never ever!”

Aspen smiled, and ruffled the rusty curls on her beloved son’s head. She wasn't sure introducing Blu to Lilac was the best idea, but she could feel her health slipping, and she worried about leaving Blu in a world so full of hate, where he was all alone. She knew she was indebted to Arum for saving her life all those years ago, as well as keeping the secret of Blu from the High Council, and she hoped that her agreement to watch Blu and Lilac during days where Arum was working would allow a sort of bond to grow between them. If only she knew.

Soon enough Lilac would come to Aspen and Blu’s small house at the edge of the little island off of Restless Waves. A friendship did start to form between the young seraphim and the half-breed, but as they spent more time together, Aspen became more sick. Soon enough, instead of sunny days spent in the old house at the edge, Blu and Lilac spent their time in the small forest behind Arum’s (much nicer) home. By the time Blu reached the ripe old age of thirteen, his mother was completely bedridden, and the days with Lilac weren’t so sunny anymore…