Cloaked, Samael floated beside Ayinel by the trees, gazing at the human sleeping in a niche between the roots, covered with dry leaves. His outline was lit by the greyness of the weakening sky.

"He doesn't look dangerous," Ayinel commented, his voice barely above a whisper.

"He's not," Samael said. "But he's quite clever. He arrived here before the last group of Shadows, likely following their path. After losing sight of them, he chose to wait for the next group. He took the risk, but it paid off."

Ayinel frowned, tilting his head. "He had already apologised through you. Why would he continue to follow you?"

Samael's eyes narrowed as he considered the boy. "The better question is why he left his tribe. Alone. There's more to this than a simple apology to Ramus."

"What do you think that is?"

Samael pondered the possibilities, recalling how humans often parted ways with their groups. Typically, it meant exile or disagreements. But in the case of the latter, humans were always grown up and able to survive in the wild on their own. This boy was just a child, unprepared to survive in the wild on his own. "He could be exiled."

"What are you going to do with him?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Ayinel's voice was laced with disbelief

Samael turned to face him, a hint of irritation in his voice. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know... I just..." Ayinel frowned.

"We are forbidden to intervene in human affairs," Samael told the angel flatly before he turned and flew back to the mountain. That didn't mean that he couldn't do anything, though.

They hadn't yet shared the information about the human's presence with Ramus. So this was the first on his list of tasks. As per his request, Beelzebub brought Ramus to Samael's room.

Samael informed the bush about the human's presence and asked Ramus what he wished to do. His question was met with silence. He took hold of one of Ramus's branches.

The leaves curled around his fingers and held tightly on his hand.

"If you want to see him but feel afraid, I can come with you. And you could even have Minox a small distance away," Samael offered him.

Ramus' hold on to him tightened. "I..."

"Whatever you decide, we will support your decision," Samael patted the leaves holding his hand.

"That's right," Beelzebub said. He stood by the door.

"Then..." Ramus's leaves pressed into Samael's skin. "Can I... Can I see him? Will you go with me?"

"Of course," Samael said gently.

"Just you," the bush said.

"Just say when." Samael patted the leaves again.

"Can I... Right now?" Ramus asked. "If I don't, I might never do. I don't want anybody to know."

"That's not a problem." Samael stepped away from him. He connected with divinity and drew out his sword. With it, he cut into the fabric of the Fifth Heaven, envisioning the spot where he had been with Ayinel just a few moments ago. The cut opened and revealed the sight of the sleeping boy.

A soft gasp escaped Ramus.

Samael cleared the sword and offered his hand to Ramus.

Ramus's leaves wrapped around it. Together they stepped through the gap. Beelzebub followed them.

Ramus pressed against Samael's side. He whispered, "He's sleeping."

Using divinity's light, Samael waved his hand, illuminating the surrounding area.

The light cast a soft, warm glow at the ground. They silently observed the boy for a few moments before he began to stir.

Samael could hear the sharp flutter of Ramus's leaves as they shook with nervousness.

His eyes opened. He blinked a few times before he glanced around. At the sight of their feet, he jumped up. The boy's sudden movement sent dry leaves scattering around them. His eyes first went to Beelzebub, then to Samael, and at the end, they stopped on Ramus. He made a step towards him. "Ramus."

Ramus stepped back, Ramus's leaves holding Samael's trembling.

Samael tightened the hold on his branch, to remind the bush he was there beside him.

"I won't hurt him." The boy turned to Samael before his attention was on Ramus. "I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't defend you from them."

Ramus's branches shook as if he were nodding.

The boy folded his hands and stood in silence, his shoulders slumped.

They all stood there in silence until Ramus broke it with a shaking voice. "Thank you."

"No, no." The boy shook his head.

The leaves released Samael's hand, and the bush stepped closer to the boy.

"I'll be here." Samael stepped back while he closely observed Ramus, so that could intervene at the first sign of the Shadow's discomfort. He and Beelzebub waited nearby, giving the two youngsters privacy until Ramus joined them.

He tugged on Samael's sleeve and when Samael leaned down, he, in a whisper, asked, "Can he return with us?"

"No. A Shadow's dwelling isn't a suitable place for a human," Samael explained to the bush, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. How quickly Ramus's fear of the human had turned into protectiveness for the boy. His request so clearly revealed Ramus's innocence and generosity. Samael patted where he imagined the top of the bush's head might be.

"But..."

"He should return to his tribe."

"No!" the boy said and when Samael glanced in his direction, he repeated, "No. I never liked it there, I only stayed... I had nowhere else to go."

"We can't take you. We shouldn't even be in contact with you," Samael explained. His eyes went to Beelzebub. "But I do know somebody who could take you."

"You do?" Ramus asked.

"You do, my lord?"

"Actually, not me, but you," Samael said to Beelzebub.

"Me?" Beelzebub pointed at himself.

Samael nodded, then gave his always loyal aide a hint. "The Mountain Watchers."

"The Mountain Watchers?" Beelzebub, Ramus, and the boy asked in unison.

"Yes," Samael said to Beelzebub, counting on Beelzebub to explain later to Ramus and the boy who fallen angels living in the mountains were. "I think they would gladly welcome a clever, resourceful boy like him into their midst. We need to contact them, please."