As soon as he appeared at the festival venue, the quiet he had carried with him vanished almost instantly.
"Gabe!"
Voices called his name from every direction, familiar and warm, and before he could take more than a few steps, his friends had already surrounded him in an easy, affectionate circle. Their robes brushed against one another, pale feathers and soft glows mingling with the distant lights of the gathering. One of them stepped closer, an amused grin on his face, ocean blue eyes bright with curiosity, his long silver hair catching the lantern light like liquid metal.
"So," he said, lowering his voice as if this were the most important secret of the night, "how has your work been going with Lord Dante?"
Gabriel smiled gently, the kind of smile that came naturally to him, unforced and sincere. "It's been good," he replied. "Very good, actually."
