Shade

He wears skulls.

Skulls and feathers, remains of those long turned to dust, a sign for everyone that he can look Beyond and touch those who passed away. His wings are very red and it seems beautiful - until dragons look closer, and then they shudder and look away, as his wings are thin, soft, half-translucent remains of what they once were.

Death takes. He paid, and the sacrifice was accepted.

Ruedha shows him the Paths, and when he first steps on them, he feels them with all his body, his soul, his core.

"You're strong, child," says Ruedha and curls around him when they go to sleep because he's always so cold, unable to cover himself properly with his wings anymore. She wears skulls, too, and their necklaces are clanking hollowly when they turn restlessly in their sleep.

He can't fly anymore. Yet each time he wanders Beyond, he spreads the ghosts of his sacrifice - and soars again, the fastest, the strongest, unafraid of anything he may encounter there as he knows: Death is not dangerous or evil.

Death - is.