Acrophobia has a minion!

Acrophilia the Wintersong

Most angels delight in performing aerial tricks that dazzle the eyes and confound all attempts by mortal creatures to repeat their routines.

Acrophobia is not among these. Though he is hardly the only cherub whose undersized wings cannot bear his weight, he is the only member of the heavenly host who truly fears heights. It is this fear that defines him. It is this fear that gave him a name.

He loves the puffy white cloud that is his home but he has never ventured close enough to the edge to see over the side. On those rare occasions when he must go down to the surface of the earth to fulfill his celestial duties, he relies on his innumerable friends among the birds to act as his steeds and guides. All birds from the tiniest sparrow to the mightiest eagle are drawn naturally to this gentle cherub who is quick to laugh and always ready with a kind word. Though he would never outright name a favorite, there is a special place in his heart for the snowbird. Of all the seasons, he holds winter most dear and on Luminaire he is known to walk the poorest villages, distributing gifts for the children.

Among the other angels, his friends are few and far too busy to pay him much notice. He is too shy to participate in the Heavenly Chorus and at the presence of a seraphim, his eyes become fixed on the ground. He is much more comfortable with the mortal creatures of feather and fin, though they can only communicate the most primitive of emotions.

His limited social life and simplistic duties leave him plenty of time to further his passion. He is a collector not of rare gems or powerful artifacts, but of feathers.

Every feather he collects is unique, a perfect specimen captured in a glass orb that will sing out with the voice of the parent bird at the touch of a finger. These orbs contain not only the common songbirds but feathers of raptors, sea birds, flightless birds, and even the large feather of an archaeopteryx. This prehistoric bird-lizard's haunting cry lives on in the heavens though all his earthly children have long since gone extinct.

What is the purpose of this collection? Is it a showcase of the beauty of creation? Could it be his way of combating a deep-rooted jealousy as he is forced daily to look on the marvelous wings of other angels? Only Acrophobia will ever know.

Art by Mythrien
Story by Pureflower
Profile by Johnny_673
background from colourlovers
Thank you Sugar for gifting me Acrophobia!

[x] by anonymous
[x] by NikonD40
[x] by Johnny_673