IN> Zacharael in Peacetime

[Daniel Childers]

It was not long after the War had been won.

But it was not time to relax yet. There was much to be
done in the aftermath. This was especially true for
Zacharael, Cherub Angel of Flowers on the Grave, keeper
of the Graveyard which lies near the Cathedral of Flowers.

Inevitably, the Last Battle had meant that many more were
forever lost to Heaven. Soulkilled angels and demons, and
Damned Souls, still needed to be commemorated and
remembered--more than usual. So, wounded or not,
Zacharael repaired the damage, and dug new graves (so
many!), and comforted mourners, and sat shiva, and made
sure there were flowers on every grave.

One day, she was putting the flowers on a small mausoleum.
This one had been harder to do than most. Physically,
because unlike graves in the Graveyard, most the remains of
the mourned were actually there. Mentally and spiritually...well,
her scars and missing leg were reason enough.

"Who's *this* one for?" asked a reliever that had been
flitting around the past few days. "It sure looks ugly!"

Zacharael sighed. "I know. I tried not to let my personal
feelings interfere...no, don't worry, little one, I'm not
angry at you. Here, look at the plaque."

The reliever looked at the list of about a dozen names.
"Ewww, nasty. Those names are in Helltongue, right?
Which means those are demons, right?"

"Not just any demons," Zacharael said. "This is the
Kobalite suicide strike team that tried to desecrate
the Graveyard during the Last Battle."

"But...why would anyone want to mess up a nice
place like this?" said the reliever.

"They thought it would be funny," answered Zacharael.
"So I had to kill them."

The reliever pouted. "Well, fooey on them, then! I
bet you're the only one who's going to mourn *those*
meanies!"

Zacharael peered at the top of Jacob's Ladder far in
the distance. "Not the only one," she smiled sadly.

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