Papaki sat in a high branch, his legs dangling over the edge and the wind ruffling through the three feathers that stuck out his hair. He absent mindedly grabbed a leaf and shreaded it with his eight stubby red fingers. His eyes were closed, concealing their yellowness and the fact they lacked pupils and irises.
The sun had risen a few hours ago and the air was still crisp. Papaki opened his eyes and smiled, spreading out his short arms and feeling the cold wind on hir bear skin. He was in a good mood, which was rare as he was usually narked at whatever had woken him, but he felt refreshed and ready to do whatever needed done.
He suddenly froze, having heard movement down the path below him. He quickly created a glamour around him and peered out over the side of the branch at whoever was coming his way.

Nightmare walked along the path, glaring at the ground. She had yet to adjust to the fact that she was dead. The black feathers on her wings rustled quietly in the breeze, like the leaves on the trees. The Angel kicked out at a stone, wondering how exactly she could gain revenge on those that had killed her.

Papaki watched from his perch in the trees. He sniffed the air, and knew emediatelly that the woman was not human. Or at least not anymore.
The wings were also a small clue to that, but no matter, it all added up to the same. Papaki stared with his yellow almond eyes and tilted his head. Unfortunatelly for him, he miscalculated the distance between the branch and his dog like snout, and hit his black nose off the rough bark, sending little splinters of wood down to the ground belonw. He mentally whacked himself round the head, but stayed as still as he possibly could.

Nightmare stopped, looking left and right, and then upwards after the small shards of wood had fallen at her feet. Pushing up lightly with one foot, she flapped her great wings once, trying to find the source of the wood splinters.

Papaki froze, now kicking himself mentally, willing his glamour not to falter. He stared into the woman's eyes, not daring to breath.

Nightmare gazed at the little red creature before her, contemplating it. She scowled, turning her back. She wasn't interested, not at that moment.

Papaki let out a long breath as the woman turned her back. He'd never seen anyone like her before. He suddenly realised that he wanted to know more about her, wanted to know what she was. Maybe she was a God or genie like him. Maybe they were alike.
He took a deep breath, and cleared his through loudly.

Nightmare, raising one eyebrow, looked back over her shoulder as the little red creature coughed. Her wings waved gently back and forth, keeping her aloft.
"Yes?" She asked, slightly irritated.

"Euh..." Papaki wondered how to begin.
He relaxed slightly, but averted his gaze, embarrassed.
"Who...," he started, then hesitated, "What are you?"

"I'm dead," Nightmare replied shortly, wondering what on Earth this little creature was and who he thought he was to ask her that kind of question. SHe was actually surprised that the little red being could see her at all.

A spirit of the Underworld...
Papaki realised he was staring and looked away, not too sure what to say next.
"Euh..." he hesitated, "Sorry to ask such questions, but how come you're here?"

"You're guess is as good as mine at the moment," Nightmare muttered grumpily. She hated being dead. "Question is, how can you see me? Humans are too blind to see me."

A grin spread across Papaki's red face.
"Do I look human to you?" he asked, "No, I'm a Pipitsu, a Genie of Nature. I have Indian American origines but travel a lot which explains why I'm here. I'm Papaki by the way."
He was about to extend a hand for a handshake (a human tradition he still didn't understand) but stopped himself. After all, the woman infront of him wasn't hunam, was she.

"I know you don't look human, but there are still people who think that Angels can only be dead." Nightmare retorted, rolling her eyes.

Angel...
"So," Papaki said in his cheerful way, "What're you doing here?"
He twisted round and sat cross-legged on the branch, his tail hanging down behind him.