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The wind rustled through Eden's trees as the light grew dimmer. The angel guarding the northern gate plucked a flower from the ground and held it between his fingers.
"We ought to get going," he said, staring at the sky. "My shift's almost over, and it's getting dark." He started off, the scorpion following quickly behind him.
"They shouldn't give you breaks and the like," it said, sounding rather jealous. "We never get anything like that."
"Yeah," snorted the angel - Juniper, by the way - "if there's one thing we should be doing up there, it's taking a page out of Hell's book. That should work out great."
"Maybe it would. After all, who was it that made his way through your defenses?" The angel turned his head in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. "Maybe you should be more vigilant."
"Okay, okay, mister... Er... What was your name again?"
"Dread," said the scorpion.
"Ah, yes, Dread, well, if you think you're so special, then -" he hesitated, stumbled, as the hellspawn by his side waited patiently for an answer.
"I see."
"Shut up."
The wind blew through Juniper's hair as they walked in silence for the next few meters.
"As much fun as it has been, I do hate to be the bearer of bad news," began Dread, "but I you seem to have misplaced your arrows."
Juniper looked up with an expression of confusion at first, followed by realization. "Oh, oh, yes," he reached for the bow still hung on his back, "you see, I, uh, gave up my quiver."
"Gave it up? Oh, but you were so good at it." Juniper tried once again to hide his blushing.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. Though it was fun."
"It looked it. They flew beautifully."
"They flew alright."
"But they were beautiful."
"Oh, absolutely. Did you see them glow? Hell may be full of fire, but Heaven priorities quality."
The scorpion took a moment to respond.
"You're avoiding the question, Juniper."
The angel's pride rushed from his face. He looked almost as dark as the nearly-night sky.
"I gave it away." He said quietly. "I gave it away to the humans."
"You did what?"
"Well what was I supposed to do?!"
His voice echoed throughout the field. They were both quiet.
"They're just humans." He was almost silent, especially against the winds, which had picked up and were now rather harsh. "They're so new. They just need a chance." He continued forward again. "I thought maybe it could help. They've been kicked out of paradise, for crying out loud, the least they deserve is a fire."
Dread chuckled slightly.
"Might as well make it pretty."
Far behind them, in the dark of the forest, a raindrop fell through the curtain of the trees. It splashed, sizzled, on something small, sharp and metal. The steam rose above, in an invisible, elegant path.
The night had only just begun.