Jade Griffin

part 1

"And Stone Will Fall.."

by the 'goyle herself, JG

6-12-97

1957

heading right for the same stream he was drinking from. He didn't want to have an encounter

with any more than he had to, which had thankfully been few on this pursuit.

Rising quickly, the black and white-skinned gargoyle listened closely with keen ears. There was

no noise of feet or horses but he should leave now. Dropping to all four, Reneyl ran for the small

clump of trees growing farthest from the water. He would listen to them from there.

The humans arrived at the stream minutes later, their horses moving forward to drink the cold

water. Reneyl watched from his vantage in the trees. There were five, all men. A horse for all but

two. Those men were bound at the hands and neck by rope which was tied to one of the horse's

saddles. One man bent down to drink but the white-bearded horseman pushed him roughly away.

"You'll not be gettin' a drink while I have ye. And not after if I have any say. Unless ye tell

me where it's hid. Same to you there." The white-bearded human added that for the second, silent

human whose face was hidden by a long-rimmed hat.

"I do not have anything of value to you, hidden or otherwise." the hatted captive answered with

ease, revealing a slight accent.

Reneyl leaned closer, alerted by the voice. Could it be he? The one who had dared to steal from a

clan of gargoyles? The voice... He'd only heard the thief speak once, several years ago, right

before he'd escaped the whole clan, with his prize... Reneyl had volunteered to track the thief

down. That human had escaped him once already when cornered. If this was him, he would not

escape again, and he would pay for taking the Stone Egg of the clan. And if he would not return

it? Death could answer that temerity.

The voice may be faded from his mind but not the face. Reneyl had tracked this thief with his face

burned into every hating thought for over three years. If he could see this bound man's face, he

would know for sure if these humans had caught his thief. He wondered briefly why these men

had also hunted him. What had he stolen from them? And would he take up the White-beard's

offer later? A thief stole to keep and to sell. Which had he planned for the Stone Egg of Reneyl's

clan?

"We'd best keep going." advised one of the younger horsemen. "There're strange tracks by the

water. Fresh."

"Eh?" White-beard dismounted, followed by the third horseman, and went over to inspect the

spot.

Tracks! The stream's edge was mud and sand and grass. Reneyl stifled a deep growl at himself.

He'd left tracks, and the thief would know he was still being pursued by a gargoyle. Stupid,

stupid!

The white-bearded man looked up from kneeling with his light to the one who'd followed him,

then to the younger man who'd pointed out the tracks.

"Have ye never seen crocodile track b'fore?" asked the white-beard with no patience.

"Um...no, but what is a crocodile doing in this part of-"

White-beard let out a gruff grunt and kicked the tracks with his foot, smearing them. "I thought as

much. You leave the tracking to me, ye hear? That's my job, an' I don't teach fer free."

"But those are very large-"

"Listen, you. Ye hired us track and catch. They're crocodile. They get big. Escaped from a

travelin' circus a few years back. Now, say another word an' I'll let yer man go." White-beard

gestured to the brown-haired fugitive who'd tried to get a drink from the stream.

The young man stared angrily at the white-bearded tracker, then turned away and mounted his

horse. White-beard and his partner mounted their horses as well.

"He's right about movin' on." the second tracker spoke up quietly to white-beard. With a

gargoyle's hearing, Reneyl caught his comment, an white-beard's quiet reply.

"Aye, an' quickly." He urged his horse into a canter and, looking about uneasily, the second

tracker followed. The two bound men were attached to his horse and jogged to keep up,

stumbling in the darkness. The younger man who'd hired the two trackers brought up the rear,

unaware of the other horsemen's brief exchange.

Reneyl watched them go, puzzled. Those were his tracks by the water. He didn't believe that the

white-bearded human could not know that they were not of a crocodile... so he must have lied.

His partner's change of mood from confident to wary as he continued to look about only added to

his belief. They must know, but why did white-beard lie? Reneyl sighed deeply. Strange. But this

was not important now. He needed to continue following them, and when they stopped for the

night, he would see if these humans had caught his thief.

The black and white gargoyle jumped from his tree perch into the air, opening silver wings to

catch a night's easy glide, following the humans as they went deeper into the autumn forest.

But no matter how much the younger horseman or bound men complained, the two trackers

would not let them stop to sleep all night. Reneyl began to suspect that the two men knew of

gargoyle vulnerability during the day. It could not be chanced. He broke off his following and

veered for a new direction, one away from the horsemens' probable course. If they knew

gargoyles turned to stone by day, they might also search at day for him, to shatter him in stone

sleep. He could not be anywhere near them when dawn touched him.

Stone cracked, then went flying as Reneyl let fly a thundering roar. Shuddering off the remaining

dust, the gargoyle stretched and looked about. He'd glided far the previous night and had not

reached these mountains until nearly dawn. Now, sunset's golds and reds slipping fast to gray of

night, he would have to be fast to catch the humans and confront the thief.

Once again airborne, he hoped they'd slept several hours, whenever they had finally stopped. It

would make catching them easier.

Below him, the mountains were gone. A low, thin valley had taken its place, and beyond that, the

salty sea. The land cut inward below, the ocean just beneath him now. The shore curved about

below as the cold, wet winds held him high. Even though he was pursuing the thief of his clan, he

did not let the beauty of the land escape him.

A high and piercing shriek reached his ears, startling the gargoyle out of his thoughts. It had come

from below. Eyes scanning the land, he spied something of white color moving around on the

beach. It shrieked at him again, a piteous, stirring call. Strange. He veered back toward the cries,

descending. It... It sounded almost like--

Upon seeing the little creature clearly, Reneyl was taken aback mid-flight. He landed quickly just

a little bit away, not wanting to frighten the child, but the very young gargoyle began padding

awkwardly toward him, crying softly.

Reneyl couldn't believe his eyes as he kneeled down to touch the child. She was no more than a

hatchling, two at most. The child's cries ceased with his touch and she held tightly to his taloned

hand with her two small, black-tipped ones.

Picking up the trembling child, Reneyl stood and looked about. He saw no others on the beach.

This little one was completely unafraid of him, only relieved to have someone with her. She was

thin, from hunger, and appeared unused to being left alone, as she now was. What was more,

there was no sign of any other gargoyles on or around the beach.

But how could this child be here alone? Unless her clan was completely destroyed, the remains

cast out into the sea, he couldn't explain it otherwise. He would not believe the hatchling was

abandoned. Gargoyles do not abandon children.

He looked down at her again, her white wings he'd spotted from above pulled about her for

added comfort as she wrapped her dark green arms around him. She held on with a steely grip,

not willing to let go for anything. Just how long had she been alone like this? Her reaction to him

suggested too long. He could not leave her, even if he could make her let go. He would have to

find his thief another night.

With another deep sigh, Reneyl sat in the sand, the little gargoyle nestled tightly against him as he

held her, and stroked her red-brown hair to calm and soothe her.

The little one fell asleep in his arms minutes later. Her grip on him loosened a little making him

more comfortable. Where were other gargoyles in this place? He'd seen not a one but this

hatchling since arriving three weeks ago but from rumor and observing the humans upon seeing

signs of him, he could not refute that they had some knowledge of gargoyles, including present

existence. So where were the clans of this country?

An hour passed. Reneyl looked up at the moon, saw that it was mid-night, and began to feel

restless. It was becoming clear that the child was all alone but he could not leave her here to hunt

the thief again. One so young was still very dependent on adults. She was still asleep, he saw,

looking down at the little gargoyle in his arms. He could not leave her but he could no more stop

his hunt. He had taken it upon himself to seek justice. He owed this to his clan.

The black and white gargoyle shifted his feet and wings in his sandy seat. Unable to take anymore,

of the sitting or waiting, Reneyl rose gently and stretched out wings, tail, and feet. Could he

perhaps take the hatchling with him in his pursuit? Though from a large clan, he'd never had

dealings with a hatchling so young.

The little dark green gargoyle yawned, awoke, and looked up at him as he watched. Releasing

one hand at a time, so as to always have a hold on him, she moved to sit up in his arms.

"You look more than a little hungry." he said to her. "But I can't hunt with you clinging to me.

Perhaps I can find something close by."

Reneyl started away from the beach with the child, into the green of nearby grass and bushes.

Something caught his foot at the edge of the sand.

"What's this?" He bent down and picked up the gray cloth. It looked like a small blanket, for a

child. Something lay underneath the cloth, on the sand. He picked this up, too. A small leather

pouch with a crafted metal pin attached. There was a strange creature cast into the metal. Reneyl

tied the mystery to his belt for later but the hatchling took the cloth and kept it close to her. Well,

it could be sorted out later, after he found food. Intent to do so, the black and white gargoyle

took his new charge into the greenery.

There were no near farms to grab something from. Because it was Fall there were very few edible

plants. Rabbits and other small animals ran about in the thick forest darkness but Reneyl couldn't

catch anything while holding the child. It was getting frustrating. He'd made her release him once

but her cries afterward scared everything away. She would not be silent unless touching him and

couldn't understand that he was trying to catch food for her.

The black and white gargoyle stopped at a shallow pool. He set the hatchling down, put her arms

around one leg before she decided to climb back up into his arms, and scooped up some water to

bring to her lips. He'd tried this once before when they'd first started out but she wouldn't drink.

Now, she looked in his hands and turned away, burying her face in his leg.

Why was she being so difficult? His frustration grew but he contained himself. It wasn't really her fault. A dismaying thought occurred to him. It was possible that this hatchling couldn't eat solids yet. That would also make it difficult for her to accept tasteless water. Reneyl wished he'd been around for the hatching and first three years of the clan's second-most recent brood instead of being off on one of his journeys abroad. Then he might know something to help her. Well, it was luck that he even found the child. Perhaps luck would be on his side again and help him get food into her before she was too week to take anything.

As it turned out, he discovered there were little fish in a deeper pool above the first one. Now these his starved foundling couldn't scare away. She started crying again but softly and didn't move from where he'd put her so he concentrated fully on catching the small fish.

The black and white gargoyle had done this before when he was younger and was able to fish out four with his taloned hands. He could easily eat them all, being hungry himself, but first he would cook them and see if the hatchling would eat.

He built a fire, wrapped the fish in large leaves, and sat to wait. The child sat all the while quietly, looking very worn out, and when he sat waiting for the fish, she came over by all fours to snuggle up against him, the cloth still around her.

"See, little one?" he said, putting an arm around her. "I'm not going to leave you."

Reneyl decided now was good to puzzle over this hatchling he'd found. Completely alone, and so young. Could someone have left her on the beach to protect her? He saw no reason for her to simply be left. To abandon a child is unthinkable in the clan. That could not be. And she couldn't have been alone for more than three nights. No hatchling could survive more than four without food or water and still be in the shape he'd found her. She'd simply stumbled right for him, glad to see any gargoyle. It was very likely that she'd been hatched and raised into a healthy-sized clan for such a general reaction to him. He admitted that her clinging was easier than if she'd been afraid of him and tried to run.

Looking down at her, he had to smile. Back at the clan home in the Canadian mountains, the eggs in the Rookery are all hatched and the babes near the age of this little thing here. One of those was his own child. He had so wanted to be there. He'd been there with his mate, Tali, for the laying but, near the time when they were to hatch, the thief had come and stole the Stone Gargoyle's Egg. Even now, just the thought of what that human had done and what Reneyl had lost because of him set his eyes ablaze with a red that rivaled the fire. He had volunteered because of his experience in travels, having been to several other countries, but he hadn't known he'd have to go half way around the world in search, and for several years. He had missed the hatching of his child, of all the clan's children, and he longed to return. But his need for revenge and justice were greater. He would take this child, and catch his thief, and return soon with the Stone Gargoyle's Egg of the clan.

The little dark green hatchling yawned greatly then, tilting back her small head, the black-tipped

horns that curved lightly over her hair not sharp or long enough to poke him. Her little

black-tipped talons held onto the arm about her and she pulled her tail in front close. It was then

that he noticed her tail tip was a small mass of hairy fur, like a lion tuft, the same color as her head

hair. Unusual, but he knew as well as any that the variety of gargoyle appearances was as

boundless as the stars.

The fish were ready now. He pulled out one with a stick and tore away the black burnt leaves to

reveal cooked meat. The hatchling shifted against him, released his arm and poked her head

around. She could smell the food and was very interested, watching what he did. She ducked

under the arm and crawled into his lap to not miss a moment of activity involving those tantalizing

odors.

The black and white gargoyle pulled a small piece free of the bones and held it a moment to cool

before holding it in front of the child. Still watching him, she reached out and took the fish. It

squished in her little hand as she brought it to her nose to smell it, then to her mouth. Putting the

whole piece in, she started chewing...Chew. He hadn't thought to check if she had her teeth. Well,

it didn't seem to matter now. The first piece devoured, the hatchling was reaching eagerly for the

rest. Reneyl quickly got another piece for her. Though not as cool, it, too, went down quickly.

Between handing her small pieces and getting the other three fish unwrapped, he managed a bite.

"This is good fish, especially to a pair of starving gargoyles." he said, smiling, as she took another piece from him.

All together, she ate the equivalent of only one fish. Not very much for a starved hatchling, yet she

would eat nothing more. All the better. He stuffed one last bite into his mouth and wiped his hands

off before picking the small hatchling up.

"Time to go. We wouldn't want to be caught on the ground in the open at sunrise." Which would

be soon.

Gliding high on the night breeze, holding the hatchling in his arms as he headed for his previous

roost, Reneyl looked down at her and smiled. She positively loved this. As soon as he was

airborne, she'd smiled in pure delight, making little excited noises. It was the first time he'd seen

her smile and he would not forget it.

"So you like this, huh?" he said, grinning down at the joyful child. She replied with a happy noise.

"Well then how about this?" Holding just her waist, he held her out below him. She squealed in

glee, little white wings opening automatically as she held out her hands to the rushing air. Reneyl

chuckled as he held her close again. His roost lay below.

The black and white gargoyle landed softly and pulled out the gray cloth tucked into his belt to

hand back to the child. She took it and began to squirm in his hands. She wanted down. He could

see why. The dark of night was being pushed away by the pinks and yellows of dawn. Sunrise

was approaching fast, and the little one knew that.

He set her down and crouched, wings spread, arms out as if to grab, and glanced down at her

before the sun washed over them. She did not strike a pose but scuttled under her blanket and

when the sun's light hit, the day stood over a fearsome stone gargoyle guarding his stone rock, for

that is what the pair would have looked like to any passers-by.

After breaking out of their stone skin at nightfall, Reneyl considered the manner in which the little

foundling slept. He'd never seen anything like it. He hoped that she did not always sleep in such a

way, though. It could be dangerous to seem like a small boulder with humans around. They used

such rock for building, blocking, and carving-- a fate no gargoyle could live with.

The hatchling wrapped tail and arm about his leg and held the other hand out to him. He picked

her up, noticing that she wasn't as thin tonight. Good. That was one relief. He picked up her cloth

blanket and tucked it under his belt before running for his leap off the high rocks.

In the air, they child again smiled and laughed at the sensation of gliding. She did so every night he took to the air in search of the humans' trail. The black and white gargoyle began to realize how much he looked forward to taking her up. And how much he missed his home, his clan, his mate. Bury the thief who stole from us! he thought angrily, eyes alight. It was because of him that Reneyl wasn't home now. But then he thought no more in that direction. He did not want to consider that he was not good enough in skill to catch this thief. And this child might have died had he not been here. So he let the topic settle there.

It took two nights to find the humans' trail and one more to sight them. By that third night, his little

foundling did not look entirely well. She hadn't eaten any of the small fruits he'd found the previous

night and wouldn't drink anything tonight. Neither would she do more than curl up in his arms or

lap. It was a great worry but he could leave with her as soon as he confronted the human he

suspected was his thief. He held the limp child even now as he soared above, following the

humans just ahead. If he left now, he may never catch up.

Thankfully, the horsemen and their captives stopped early that night, boarding in an old, empty

house. They would soon take sleep. Reneyl was ready, but where to put the hatchling? The black

and white gargoyle scanned the area. A small corral, the house, an over-run garden, and the land

and trees about. He would have to put her away from these humans. Beneath a large tree, clear of

the house and any view of it, is where he placed her, asleep and wrapped in her blanket.

"I will be quick, little one." he promised quietly.

Reneyl eased up to a window and peered in. Both prisoners were on the floor bound together at

the wrists, asleep. Two of the horsemen were asleep also while the third, White-beard's partner,

remained on watch. The human sat in the only chair and ate dried meat.

Hm... Not an easy way to get in unseen and grab the hatted human quietly. Reneyl sighed,

frustrated. He must then confront them all. Either by forcing his way in or by asking. He preferred

the first but it might be more difficult than it was worth. The horsemen had guns and other

weapons, most definitely... The older White-beard looked to have the most sense. Reneyl decided to

wait until it was his watch to make his move.

He edged away from the window and checked the corral before returning to the child. The three

horses stamped and snorted when he approached so he backed off. It wouldn't do to alert them

yet. The dark green hatchling was as he'd left her. When he sat beside her to wait, she opened her

eyes and looked up at him until she fell asleep again.

Reneyl checked every hour and on the third, saw that White-beard was on watch. All of the

humans were in what was once a sitting room and a kitchen. There was one other room, dark,

most likely a bedroom at one time. Reneyl entered the old house silently through the dark

bedroom's window and knocked softly but repeatedly on the door leading to the other room. He

heard footsteps approach to investigate but waited until White-beard opened the door slowly and

all the way before grabbing him and pulling him into the darkness, a hand over his mouth and feet

above the floor as the gargoyle lifted him.

"Stop struggling. I must speak with you." He spoke urgently but quietly. It would be very difficult

to deal with all of the humans at once if they heard and came in.

He pulled White-beard over to the window where bright moonlight shown in and flexed his

four-taloned hand for the man to see. He heard the human's quick intake of breath under his other

hand.

"I need to speak with you and I don't want the others to hear. I would prefer not to hurt you."

Slowly, Reneyl released the man.

The old tracker turned to face him and backed quickly away. After a pause in which he looked

the gargoyle up and down, the old human said, "What do ye want, and why've ye been followin'

us?"

"You know what I am?" he asked to make sure.

He nodded quickly. "Aye."

"I've been following you because I believe one of your prisoners is a thief I've been hunting for

over three years. He stole something very important to us and if he won't tell me where it is I will

force it from him."

The old one looked the black and white gargoyle over again. He knew better than to interfere in

gargoyle affairs but both his prisoners were worth a bit. "If ye find that one of em's him, what'll ye

do?"

"If I can't get the information out of him, I must take him to someone who can. You may have him

afterwards. I have no patience and little mercy for this man and I will take him from you by force if

I have to." The threat set, Reneyl stared down at the white-bearded human.

No answer was given. Footsteps approached. The young man who hired the trackers stood in the

open doorway.

"I...heard you talking." He entered the dark room, trying to see the second individual clearly.

"Get outta here!" White-beard hissed at him, but he didn't budge.

"I want to know who this is first and... and..." Eyes now used to the lack of light, the man saw

what his eyes did not believe. He pulled the gun at his side. White-beard was quick and ran at

him, knocking the gun clean out of his hand, across the room. While Reneyl picked it up and

crushed the weapon, White-beard quietly chewed out the younger man.

"Ye must be crazy! If ye hurt him ye'll be cursed fer'ever. Get out!"

Staring back into the room as he backed out, the younger man didn't stay standing for long. He

landed flat on his back, legs tripped by the now-unhatted prisoner, free of his binds, who came

through the doorway straight for White-beard. Swifter still, Reneyl tail-swept white-beard's legs,

sending him to the floor hard but saving him from a blade in the back. Missing his mark, the

prisoner, who smiled mockingly when he saw the black and white gargoyle just as Reneyl

recognized him, tumbled and sprang up with a flip that sent him through the window, shattering the

old glass. With a furious roar, Reneyl leapt out the window after him, eyes glowing red with rage.

It was him! Where was he? Where did he go?? The corral was closest but all three horses

remained. The three horsemen came out of the house, White-beard's partner wounded at the

shoulder, as the gargoyle ran toward the nearby trees, rocks, and grass. As with every time, his

thief had disappeared from view, but here even he would leave tracks. As the three horsemen

approached him cautiously, the black and white gargoyle kneeled down, surveying the ground.

There were tracks-

"No need to do that now. I'm right here."

That arrogant voice belonged to his thief! Eyes still afire, Reneyl looked up to the voice... and the

glowing hate faded from his eyes. His thief stood beside a tree, so full of himself. He held tightly to

the struggling dark green hatchling with one arm, the other held a sharp blade to her side.

"I do not recall seeing a little one with you before but you could have hid it, eh?" he added, smiling

at his cleverness.

"He has my knife." warned White-beard's partner to the gargoyle.

"She is not mine but I will kill you if you hurt her."

"You? You couldn't even catch me!" he taunted with his biggest smile yet. "Oh, but I must tell you

the best part. You've been chasing after me for so long, and I don't have anything that belongs to you or your

clan! I was hired to steal the Stone Gargoyle's Egg and completed the deal the same month. It's gone! You've

been chasing me all this time for nothing!"

The thief's laugher rang in Reneyl's ears. Oh, how he wanted to rip and tear the smugness from his

face! But all he could do was growl in anger and frustration and wait for an opportunity. It came

sooner than expected.

As he held the hatchling, still laughing, a long grey and blue snake crawled up his leg, twining

toward his face. Seeing the snake curl closer to his eye level, the thief looked momentarily

startled, then relaxed. His eyes flicked back to Reneyl, then to the snake, who looked about to

strike.

Sudden fear on his face and in voice, the thief cried out to the snake. "What are you doing?!"

Reneyl saw one clear moment. He rushed in and tackled the thief, trying to spin the hatchling aside

as well but the man held her tight and so did the snake, which had wrapped her to the man's

body. Upon hitting the ground, the thief released her and no longer moved. The grey and blue

snake uncurled itself from him and slithered quickly away.

Eyes bright as a lantern, the gargoyle turned the man to see his face, put a hand close above his

mouth, saw the four marks on his lower neck.

"He is dead, by the snake." Reneyl announced to the men. They approached to see.

"Never in all me days have I seen such a snake."

Reneyl heard White-beard's comment only partially, for, when he turned to the hatchling, he saw

that the knife was sunk several inches into the child's small body, below the ribs. Deep blood

oozed out.

"No..." the hurting denial escaped his lips. If he hadn't charged... would she have been struck?

The three horsemen drew closer to see. White-beard kneeled beside the gargoyle.

"Was she bitten?" asked the youngest before seeing the blade.

"No." Reneyl ever so gently picked her up and moved her to a flat place on the grass only a few

feet away. Even gently, she whimpered in pain, clinging to him tightly. White-beard was at his side

once more, kneeling down.

"Can we help ye?" he offered.

The black and white gargoyle turned to look behind him, up, then to the man directly behind him,

who was the youngest horseman. "Get me some of the leaves, up there, quickly." he ordered, then

turned back to the child.

For once, the young man did not question or pause but pulled off a handful of the leaves and

stepped closer to hand them over to the gargoyle. Reneyl took them and set them beside the

hatchling.

"I will need you to hold her still." he said to White-beard. "I must remove the blade slowly."

The old human nodded and went to place his hands on her shoulders but she edged away and

pushed at them, afraid. Reneyl took the human's hands and, making sure she saw, he himself

placed them on her. Though her eyes remained on the old human out of mistrust, she did not push

away from him again.

Reneyl concentrated on what he must do. Her blood was soaking what little cloth she wore to the

point of dripping. He must do it now. Removing her top, careful not to pull the blade, he set it

aside with the leaves. He placed a hand on her belly and one on the hilt, nodded to White-beard,

and pulled slowly. Though small, the child gave a terrible, loud, shrieking scream as the human

pressed hard to hold her down. In several seconds the knife was freed. The child lay loosely

ignoring the human's hands still on her and breathing heavy from the stress. Reneyl grabbed up the

leaves and crushed them so their sap would trickle down onto the open would, sealing. It was a

special type of sap that would do no damage to her body or become hard, only stop the bleeding.

With a heavy sigh, the black and white gargoyle sat back from his leaning over, as did White-beard.

Worn beyond her strength, the hatchling passed into sleep.

Will she survive?" asked White-beard's partner.

Reneyl kept his eyes on the small child. Her skin was a pale shade of her normal dark green. This

was not good. "I don't know. She wasn't well before this. In a few hours, I'll know."

Remembering the man's wound, the gargoyle looked up at him. "The leaves have a sap that will slow and stop bleeding."

"And slow yer heart rate, too. No thanks. Mine's not bad."

"Where's the other one?" White-beard asked of the other two, referring to the second captive.

"Still there. He was the one that started the run. Him there's just faster." His partner pointed to the dead thief. "Knicked me after grabbin' my boot knife. I knocked out the other one pretty good."

The youngest man came around in front of Reneyl and stared greatly at him and the hatchling. "What are you?"

Before the gargoyle could think to answer, White-beard called gruffly to his partner. "Dillayne! Set this pup down over there an' teach him some'm."

Shaking his head in disgust, Dillayne grabbed the younger man by the shirt and pulled him off to the side. And that is how he learned of gargoyles.

"Don't pay him any attention." White-beard told Reneyl, a tad worried about offending him. "He's a foreigner. The lad knows nothin' 'bout everythin', 'specially gargoyles."

White-beard spoke again, quietly. "We'll be off soon. I wouldn't think ye'd want him ta see what happ'ns at sunrise. But do ye need anything b'fore we leave?"

"No…. Perhaps… You know what happens to us at sunrise. It is our most vulnerable time. Do many humans come into this area?"

"I'd say a few. The house here is abandoned but the next is only an hour's walk. A big one. They raise sheep. Y'might be safer inside."

"And we might not. I am responsible for her life as well as my own. I cannot risk it. We can't stay but I can't move her yet. Sunrise is perhaps three hours away." The frustration and worry crescendoed and he saw he needed to calm it. "I must think alone for a moment. Is there water in the house?"

"There is."

"Will you watch her? Call if you think anything is wrong. I won't be long."

White-beard nodded and watched the black and white gargoyle walk back toward the house but his eyes drifted back to the hatchling babe lying so frail and thin on the ground.

Reneyl returned several moments later. Dillayne was still talking to the youngest man and White-beard continued to watch over the dark green child. The gargoyle had watched the old human from the house. Such diligence and honorable actions as he had seen helped him make his decision.

The black and white gargoyle sat before the hatchling and, with a cup in one hand, lifted the child's head to see if she would drink. Her eyes opened at the action and the pain when her muscles flexed. She reached up and held on to his arm, taking only a few sips from the cup, but at least it was some.

White-beard heard him sigh in relief as he set the cup aside with the other hand, the hatchling not relinquishing the other.

"Has she been sick?" he asked the gargoyle.

"I don't know. She has been with me for only four nights and this is the first water she would take." Now would be a good time to tell the man his decision. "I cannot move her but as stone she can be moved. When the day comes, I ask you, please take her inside. I can't think of anything safer that I can do."

White-beard thought a moment before telling the gargoyle what he'd decided. "I think I have somethin' better. I could watch over ye both 'till sundown, t'make certain no one does ye harm."

Reneyl stared at the man and blinked, remembering the humans' fearful wariness after seeing his tracks and the change he'd seen in this one from wary to constantly assistant. There could be only one question. "Why?"

"I'm a MacLeeson. Me an' me brothers and sisters grew up with tales o' gargoyles startin' fires an' killin' an' other dark deeds. We'd even seen a silhouette or two in the night sky, tracks about the hills an' such, but it wasn't until me da caught one near the fields an' fought it dead that I saw one close. I remember its sad face as I watched it die… It was then that I wondered if the stories were real, or lies. I'm not a little boy any more. I think I've found the truth. I've seen me share o' gargoyles now an' most only wanted te stay far from humans. The question remainin' is, do ye trust me."

The offer still seemed too good. Reneyl considered it. If he didn't take the offer, there was the possibility of being found, and destroyed. If he took the man's help and he turned a different story at sunrise, they'd be equally dead. He had to judge.

"Please. I was the one that told me da the gargoyle was there."

Yes. He could see the deep guilt now on the old man's face. The black and white gargoyle had already asked for some help from him. He must accept the man's offer. There was no other decent choice.

"I will trust you."

"I thank you."

Reneyl glanced over at the other men. They were just sitting about, Dillayne inspecting the wound at his shoulder. Movement beside him called his eyes back. The white-bearded MacLeeson got up and walked over to the other two.

"Grab the other one an' this an' head back." the gargoyle heard him say. "Two days more'll end it. Collect and meet me south, Dillayne. Ye know the place; and the price fer all our effort."

"Yeah, but aren't you comin'?"

"I'll catch up. Go now; yer wastin' time."

He gave his partner a funny look, glanced at the gargoyle watching them, and did as he was told.

Once they'd gone, MacLeeson returned to sit with the gargoyle. He was looking closely at the little gargoyle's wound.

"The bleeding has started again." Reneyl's voice revealed a worry he had seldom in his life felt.

"I was afraid o' that. It's the season. The leaves don't work as well in the Fall. You'll just hafta try the old fashion way."

Reneyl nodded and placed a hand firmly on the blood-oozing wound. She already had a hold of the arm and squirmed and tightened her grip when he pressed down. Mercifully, consciousness left.

"Ye aren't from here, are ye?" MacLeeson asked after a time of silence.

"No. Canada."

"That's a long way fer anyone. What did yer thief steal?"

And so Reneyl spent the rest of the dark hours telling the human of his hunt, and of how he'd come across the hatchling. MacLeeson absorbed the story with interest and was not aware of the rising light until Reneyl said the day was coming. The gargoyle moved to a ready crouch, not moving his hand from the child. The old man surveyed the sky.

"Can ye spread yer wings? There'll be rain t'day."

Reneyl obliged, spreading them wide, one hand on his knee as the other remained on the child, and that is how the sun caught him.

MacLeeson had never witnessed the actual transformation before. He reached out and touched the now-stone gargoyle, moved closer and ran a hand over the smooth stone.

"Hm. S'that's how it's done."

Taking a seat on one of the stone feet, the old man stared down at the stone gargoyle babe. Such a wee thing. Aye, this might just atone for the slaughter he'd caused, if she lives.

It started to rain then, as he said it would, and with little else to do, the human closed his eyes to sleep. He needed it, and he was the lightest sleeper in the whole country. He'd wake at the least sound.

MacLeeson slept undisturbed for nearly the whole day. He was awakened by a sound. Opening now-awake eyes, he looked around the gargoyle's tail and saw to the left among the trees what had awakened him. The bells and blays of sheep, the voices of boys. They were herding the sheep into the trees, two of them, one of fourteen years and the younger at about nine. They didn't see him or the gargoyle so he stayed where he sat. They passed by and were soon out of sight.

Sunset came three hours later. After being awakened, MacLeeson didn't return to sleep. He didn't want to chance not waking before sunset.

When the clouded sky changed from grey to dark, MacLeeson stood back to watch, the rain still sputtering down. The stone skin cracked and the gargoyles burst forth from their sleep with a good yell. The adult's was a great roar while the little one squeaked a bird's scream. The human moved closer, anxious to know how she faired but cautious of her guardian.

Kneeling down again to his foundling, Reneyl saw the man's caution. This human, MacLeeson, had stayed with them all day. They were both safe, kept so by this man. Reneyl still required his help, also. Perhaps… he could do something for him.

"Ah… How is she?" MacLeeson queried.

"The knife wound is healed, gone, but she is weak."

The hatchling just lay there, looking about. A little hand moved to her stomach, where the blade had been. She felt there and looked up at Reneyl, seeming surprised that she no longer hurt.

He sat her up gently, against himself, and tried to give her some water but she refused, pushing the cup away and burying her face into the leg she'd wrapped her hands around.

Reneyl sighed in growing worry, looked over at the watching human.

"I'd children of me own but none were like this. I'm sorry but I think I know less than you."

The gargoyle thought about that as he picked the child up. "Perhaps you can help me one more time. I've been here on this island for three weeks and this is the only gargoyle I've seen" He nodded down at the gargoyle child in his arms. "Do you know where others are?"

"Aye, I think I do…. Go west, ye'll pass a city. From there, turn to the coast to the north and go up. Ye'll find them, or they you."

"How long is the journey?"

"A week by horse, a few days by train."

"Then we will leave now." Reneyl rose and faced the man fully. "I must get this little one well, but I won't forget what you've done. Thank you. I wish I could do something more."

MacLeeson smiled up at the gargoyle. "Ye have. Ye trusted me."

Reneyl understood. The old man had sought redemption in helping them. "When I find the others, I will tell them what you did for me, and for her."

The man smiled in gratitude, nodded.

Reneyl shifted the hatchling then, readying their departure. Her tail wrapped around his upper arm, the little tuft of red-brown visible to MacLeeson. He'd never seen such an addition to a gargoyle's tail.

A light pounding of feet through the woods, the call of a name. Both human and gargoyle turned to the commotion. Two boys stared at Reneyl open-mouthed from the woods, the same two that had not seen him as stone, now without their sheep.

"I have to go." Reneyl said to the old man, opening his wings.

"Don't worry. I'll take care a' these lads. Who knows. I might see ya 'round some other night, 'Mr. Canada Gargoyle'." He added that last with a smile.

Given the reminder, the black and white gargoyle finally gave him his name. "Reneyl."

"Me home's ten miles south o' here, if ye'd ever care ta drop by, Reneyl."

Th black and white gargoyle nodded, gave him a parting smile of thanks, and climbed the old house to take flight. MacLeeson watched him glide off 'till he could no more see the speck in the sky.

It took Reneyl five days to reach the northern portion of the coast where he was to start looking for the gargoyles. He'd passed city, town, and was now faced with openness again. No humans anywhere to be found. All the better.

Scanning the coast below for several hours, he finally spotted a likely gargoyle home, a series of cliff caves that stretched a few miles. He landed to check it out but first paused to check his unwell hatchling. She'd grown very thin and hadn't taken any food for three days. Now she didn't even make an effort to hold on to an arm or finger as he shifted her to the other arm. This scared him. He'd grown closer to her each night since finding her. To lose the bright little child because of his lack of knowledge would take a piece of him away that he couldn't get back. He could not have that pain on him.

Reneyl caped his wings, closing the child in protective darkness, before stepping into the first of the catacomoid caves. Three hours of searching revealed nothing as he went from one hole to another. There were very few hours in the night left and he still had a large area to search. Perhaps if he just scanned the entrance for claw marks. It would go quicker.

Spreading his silver wings wide, the black and white gargoyle crouched to spring off the entrance. A sharp point at his back was not something he expected.

"Who are ye?" demanded a gravelly voice. "And where're ye from? Ye're not from this isle."

"No." Reneyl answered the last comment, easing up from his crouch. He twisted his head around to see an old gargoyle, scarred and yellow olive-skinned, holding a shortsword on him. "I am Reneyl, of the Mountain Canada clan."

"Canada?"

"Canada?" The old scarred one's comment was echoed by a disbelieving female voice from the air. She'd jumped from above somewhere. Reneyl did not yet turn around. Disbelieving his statement, the scarred one pushed his sword harder against his back.

"And what would ye be doin' this far from there?" the old one asked, suspicious.

"It is not a short story to be told at swordpoint. I am currently in search of help but I do not think I can get any from a fellow gargoyle who holds and questions me without cause."

"It wasn't always me sword that welcomed strangers." the old one replied with gruffness and regret, sheathing his sword. "Trust isn't always easily found these days. With the Hunter roamin' an' treachery about, we must question."

Reneyl had faced them when the old gargoyle removed his sword and now saw that the female was also aged. She was tall, taller than either of them, with long, dark maroon hair enwrapping her black-purple face and shoulders. She motioned for him to follow when the old one jumped down to the cave below and entered.

"I need to find a healer, one that can help a sick child."

"A child?" the scarred gargoyle, Patrin, turned a concerned eye on Reneyl.

"We have dealt with many injuries and illnesses." Maire added.

Reneyl uncloaked his wings to reveal the thin hatchling in his arms. The two stepped closer to see.

"She's just a hatchling." Patrin remarked, shocked.

"May I see her?"

Reneyl nodded, gently handing over the child to Maire's outstretched arms. They continued quicker down the passage, emerging into a large den. Maire lay the hatchling out on a stone worktable. He and Patrin stood about.

"She's in a poor state as ever I've seen. How long's she been this way?" Patrin asked him.

"A week. She hasn't eaten for three days."

Maire looked up at that, her face reflecting worry. "Drink?"

"Barely. Only some and none last night or this. She keeps getting worse."

"What have he been feedin' her?" the old female asked.

"Anything she'd eat. Fish, fruit. Is she sick?"

Maire nodded. "She's too young te be away from a mother and wanderin' around a foreign land. Ye should never have brought her with ye."

"She's not mine, nor is she a foreigner."

"What??" This they were not expecting.

  "I found her on the eastern coast alone and hungry. You are the only other gargoyles I've seen since finding her."

The old pair absorbed that shocking news in silence.

"Could the Hunter have wiped out a whole clan?" she asked her mate.

The scarred one shook his head and shrugged.

"Who is this 'Hunter'?" Reneyl asked.

"A plague. The Hunters' purpose is te destroy all gargoyles, whether by combat or findin' us after dawn." Patrin answered with hate. "Been huntin' gargoyles fer ten centuries. Some say he's a ghost but I'll make sure he never comes back if we do battle again. The Hunter's the reason I caught ye outside. He made a deal with a coward who betrayed his clan's location. Few survived, and he lived, but not fer long."

"If not the Hunter, what else could have caused all of the east clan te disappear?" Maire asked her mate at the frightening thoughts that brought.

"I found no sign of destruction, no castle, no homes of any kind. Just her alone on the beach."

"If she's from the east, they'd be in the cliffs, like us."

"With her unwell, I did not look very hard, and I came to this land to track a thief." Reneyl sighed. "I will not forgive myself if she dies because I pursued him over a healer for her."

"We'll do all we can." Maire turned to Patrin. "I'll get what I need. Reneyl, the best thing ye can do is hold her. She needs that." The old female left the den.

Reneyl did as she said, picking up the unresponsive hatchling.

"Sit here." Patrin showed him to a carved stone chair. The scarred one standing, both stared down at the little one.

"Ye can't help but get attached to 'em." Patrin said with a smile. "Sounds like ye've had 'er fer a few. Do ye call her anything?"

He shook his head, worried too much to be unworried by conversation.

"And ye've not seen another gargoyle around?" This worried the old one more than he let on.

"No." Then he remembered something. "But I found her with the cloth she's wrapped in, and something else." Reneyl untied the small leather pouch from his belt, forgotten until now. He handed it to the olive yellow-skinned gargoyle.

"Aye." He affirmed. "Eastern, southeastern." He tapped the metal pin. "This is the badge of a human clan."

"Why would she have it?"

Patrin shrugged. "They're a clan that still protects a castle, an' the humans related to it."

"Hm. And the creature in the center?"

"Gryphon; a female one. It's a human clan protector in myth. Have ye looked inside?"

"No."

The scarred one undid the drawstrings and shook the contents into his hand. He held it down for both of them to see. Many smooth clear stones, a few tiny crystals, a broken shell, a small rectangle of granite, a claw, a tiny gold man fashioned from metal, a ring made of silver, and one penny. And that was it.

"Just little things fer fancy." He put it all back.

"Or memory. She was left for some reason, maybe to protect her, but her clan never returned."

"Aye. That sounds right."

"When she gets well, I will look for her clan." Reneyl announced, determined to resolve this.

Maire returned a short time later, prepared her herbs, and mixed them with some milk to fill a handmade bottle. She handed it to Reneyl. The small hatchling did not even move when he held it to her lips. Then, her hand rose slowly. Reneyl feared she would push the bottle away, as she had to every other thing, but this time she did not. Her eyes opened, the other hand came up to hold it, and she took it in her mouth. A sigh of relief escaped the three adults as they watched her eat.

The little one drank the whole thing down. As often the sick do, she fell asleep. Gently stroking her red-brown hair, Reneyl suddenly felt it, as did the others. Day caught them where they were and froze them in stone.

Sunset released them and stone shattered in loud roars. The adults' attention immediately returned to the small hatchling. She'd made a good sound, as well, in greeting the night. Maire stepped closer to the now standing Reneyl. She touched the child's face, smoothed her hair. She smiled when the little one reached up and grasped her hand. The child was more responsive, a good sign. She looked about at all the faces and showed more response to their attention.

"One more day of sleep should set her right." Maire said. "Stone sleep cures many things but sickness is slower, harder to heal."

"Thank you, Maire. I must ask one more thing of you. Will you take care of her while I search for her clan?"

"Aye. We'll keep her well and safe. Be certain ye do the same fer yerself."

He handed the child over to her and, after one last caress, Reneyl left the hatchling and the den.

Reneyl missed her. Traveling alone was not the same as before. It was a great more lonely. After all the traveling and pursuit, this was the last thing left before he could journey home. He longed for company.

He had not been searching for gargoyles before, and so he thought that there was some reason why he hadn't seen any here. He only hoped that it wasn't because they were all gone.

The castle he checked first. There weren't many humans around it at night, though it was a popular sight for tourists. It was very old, he saw, looking around at the ruin. Gargoyles still protected this? Yes. There. Stone skin along the edge. He looked around more went inside. Claw marks here and there, things toussled, holes in stone walls, and bullet casings were found about, mostly in the front room. Hm. Recent? Perhaps. There was nothing more here. He left for the eastern sea cliffs.

He found much more here. Gargoyles had lived here recently. Claws had smoothed the inner walls. Cooking implements, cloth, food-storage, tools, and weapons were all discovered in many places inside, as were the pieces of shattered gargoyles. Further in were the stone remains of gargoyles killed when awake. Too many, but as he went deeper within, he saw no others. Some escaped? Maybe? There were between seventy and eighty dead gargoyles here. How many had been in the clan? And where would they be if there were survivors? A gargoyle must have a central home. The castle? The forest? Other cliffs inland? How long could he search, not knowing if there was anything to find?

That was the question. Perhaps… Perhaps her clan had left her to be found by another, to be taken care of while they were unable. If they were alive, then they will come and look for her. He'd been approaching this all wrong. He should leave the child with the western-cliff clan here to be found and go back to his own clan. He would miss her bright little face immensely, but it was the best thing to do. He started back to the northwest.

Cautious this time about getting a sword in his back, Reneyl spotted Patrin first and called to him. He was greeted with a relieved smile.

"Ye’re back."

"Yes."

"Did ye find ‘em?"

His own smile left. "None living. I saw many dead and shattered in the cliffs. There was a battle of some kind at the castle, as well."

The old one sighed heavily as they both started inside.

"I wasn’t sure where else to look for survivors so I returned. If any of the clan are left, like the one who left the hatchling on the beach, they’ll probably be looking for her. Has all been well here? How is she?"

"She’s fine; even got some meat on her bones. Aye, there she is."

They entered the den to see Maire on the floor with the hatchling, playing a mock scare game. The child squealed with glee as the old female reached out to grab her. When Maire looked up at their approach, so did the child, and put on a big smile for them both. Reneyl had been gone close to two weeks now. He didn’t think the little one would remember him, but she awkwardly padded over and wrapped her arms around one leg, smiling.

Smiling himself, the black and white gargoyle knelt down to her. "Look at you. You have grown some." She crawled up onto his leg and put her arms around one of his arms.

"Aye. Eatin’ well, too." Maire said, beaming. "Did ye find any of her clan?"

He answered with a look she knew too well.

"Dead…" Her hope fell. "All?"

"All that I found, and I found many. Rubble and remains both."

"The Hunter. Any other would shatter the remains, too." Patrin spoke up, hate in his voice. "But how can a single human destroy a whole clan?"

"Why do you not go after this Hunter and kill him?" Reneyl asked, standing with the child.

"We couldn’t find him in time. If we were te get anywhere close, and day came, we would be destroyed without a fight. Our clan was split by treachery, then destroyed by the Hunter and the war he caused. We’re all that’s left and that’s because the Hunter doesn’t know we’re here. He thought us dead where we lay but dawn came before death. Don’t think ill of us hidin’. We may be the last gargoyles left alive in Scotland if the east clan’s all dead."

Reneyl nodded. They did not need to be reminded of their clan’s death or of paying the Hunter back in revenge. They were both old and deserved to spend the rest of their time as they wished. They child was another matter. "Do you think the Hunter is still in the east?"

"Now don’t be thinkin’ yer goin’ after this Hunter, Reneyl." Patrin warned severely. "He was attacked by six gargoyles at one time and killed ‘em all. And if ye go after him, he’ll know there’s more about. If no others’re seen, he may stop lookin’."

Reneyl let out a sigh of resignation. "Then there’s nothing I can do to help you."

"There is." Maire said, stepping forward. "Take her with ye. It wouldn’t be right lettin’ her grow up in all the solitude with just us and the threat of the Hunter. If any of her clan survived, we’ll tell ‘em, but she can’t stay here. Please."

"Are you sure? This is where she was hatched."

Maire nodded but it was obvious she was reluctant to see the child go.

"She may not live if she stays." Patrin added grimly. "Will ye take her with ye?"

"Yes. I am more than willing to accept this little one into my clan. But what of you?"

"We can’t go. The Hunter forced us inta hiding but he’s not gonna make us leave. We’ll go to the east cliffs."

His mate nodded agreeance.

"If there’s nothing more I can do, I’d best start off. Dawn is only a few hours away."

"Aye."

"Wait just a moment." Maire left to another portion of the den.

In her absence, Reneyl remembered something. A promise. He told Patrin, "If you need help, with anything, go see a human called MacLeeson who lives inland of the cliffs there. I trusted him with our lives and he did not betray us."

Maire returned and handed Reneyl a cloth bundle. "Here. Stick to the coast. And she needs milk every other day or so."

"Thank you, both."

"Beware the Hunter, who wears a mask." Patrin warned.

"I will." With nothing more, Reneyl started out on his journey home.

The return trip was slightly more difficult, because of the child. They were not found by the Hunter but there was more than that. Her needs were more than his, especially in the area of food. Milk was not easy to get, especially when traveling overseas. And since it was much too far to glide, both had to go among humans, disguised, to get back to the North American continent. He had much experience in this but she was not easy to keep contained. She did not always stay quiet when appropriate and was particularly edgy around large groups of humans, which made him nervous. It was a bad situation and he was lucky it did not blow up on them. He did not want to be discovered on a boat surrounded by humans in the middle of the Atlantic with a hatchling. They were very lucky.

Once on his native continent, he took a day of rest, relieved. In one of the few times since leaving her own land, the little hatchling let go of him for a while to be put on the ground. From then on, he moved at a pace that suited them both, free of the confines and constant human presence while in hiding.

After several weeks plus three years gone away, Reneyl could not remember a time when he was more relieved and overjoyed to see the mountains of his clan home. And the welcoming call from above came from one of his Rookery brothers, who dove to his gliding path to escort him the rest of the way, all smiles.

"You’ve missed much, Reneyl." Malvern, his brown-haired, blue-skinned brother said. "But I’m glad you’re back. It wasn’t the same without you."

"It never is." called a second voice as Ezah, another rookery brother, rose in the air to join them. "Welcome back!"

"Very glad to be back, my brothers. Very glad."

They circled briefly around the central plaza before descending into the growing crowd of the gargoyles of his mountain Canada clan. Many greeted Reneyl with hugs and a grasping of hands. And out of the crowd pushed his mate, Tali, wrapping her arms about him and not letting go. He held her just as hard. She did not notice one arm was filled with a large gray-cloth bundle.

There were several questions asked but when someone queried on whether he had caught the thief and brought back the Stone Gargoyle’s Egg, all silenced to hear the answer. Reneyl dropped his smile and pulled his mate aside to speak to everyone.

"The thief is dead but not by me. My journey is a long story to be told later. I … I did not find the Stone Gargoyle’s Egg."

Many eyes and smiles fell at this news. The Egg was very important. It was protected here. For every day that it was out among others, the shame and failure of the whole Clan grew. It was their responsibility, and he had failed them.

"But what is that you have there?" Bradier, leader of the Clan, pointed to his gray bundle.

"This?" He could not help but smile and looked to his mate as he removed the cloth to reveal the face of the surprisingly quiet hatchling, staring out at all the faces.

"How… Where did she come from?" his lime green skinned Tali asked in amazement.

"I found her alone, her clan dead, in Scotland. I could not leave her. I promise to tell the whole story later but right now I’d fall over from exhaustion before getting through the first year. And this little one needs some rest, too."

"Of course."

"We can wait, Reneyl."

"Go ahead to your den."

"We’ll grab you next night. Go rest."

The crowd departed. Tali remained, still holding on to him.

"I don’t want to go to our den just yet, my love." he said as they followed some of the crowd into the large mountain the Clan called home.

"Where then? You sound very tired. We aren’t going far."

He grinned. "No. I want to see the Rookery."

She smiled at his choice.

"I’ve missed so much, Tali." Regret shadowed his face, and a pain at having missed out on so many memories. "You don’t know how much I wanted to be here for the hatching."

"I know… Did you see her hatching?"

"No. She’s been with me only three months." They entered under the ornate archway and climbed up the quick way to the second level, then followed the well-worn rock hall to the large double-doors of the Clan Rookery.

"The hatching went well?"

"Yes. All fine and strong."

He pushed the right door open and entered, Tali right beside him.

The Rookery was well lit with candles and looked enormous in their glow. And all about were the hatchlings of the Clan, about twenty it looked like, all playing or sitting or climbing about. The five adults watching them looked to the doors to see who entered and waved a greeting. Several had a child in their laps.

Reneyl stared on at all the little gargoyles. The hatchling he held watched them, too. "When was the hatching?"

"Two years this October."

They walked closer to the edge of the little group.

"Can you pick her out?" Tali asked with a sparkling smile.

His own hatchling? Female? He smiled back at his love and scanned the flock of children. He could tell the parents of several right away, for they were variant combinations of the looks of his rookery sibling pairs. Others were new, completely different… There. The child playing with what had to be Malvern’s hatchling; Reneyl saw his own. She was a muddy green yellow color but her hair was his own, black as pitch. So were her wings. When she turned, he saw that she had his skull-curving horns, though much smaller.

"Yes." He stared at the little one, their child, still trying to fathom what he’d missed.

"Malaii." Tali smiled again, putting an arm around him.

"Malaii?" It was customary that, if you were to name a child, to do so from the combines of the parent’s ancestry or from the Clan’s vast mixed lineage. Reneyl was Greek and Spanish and Tali was Egyptian. The child’s name could have come from any in those cultures but she chose only his background. "It suits." he complimented, smiling with a contented sigh.

There were places to sit about. The two moved to one. Reneyl sighed again as he sat. He no longer had the urge to roam about. That had left him years ago. He’d gotten older, received a family. This was what he wanted now. Only this.

"Has she a name?" Tali asked about the strange child in his lap. She stared about at everything. Having caught sight of the shiny gold band on Tali’s head, the hatchling leaned toward her, reaching out to grab it. This caused both to smile as the child moved from Reneyl to her. Tali noticed then her black-tipped talons, claws, tail, horns, and wing claws. And the furry little tail tuft.

"I don’t know. I haven’t given her one."

"Such unusual coloration." She had never seen any other like it. "And her tail."

He smiled. "I know." She was very unique to this clan.

The hatchling stood in Tali’s lap and reached up to pull the band off. His love removed it and handed it to her.

"I have already adopted her into the clan. She will have a name but I want it to be in our way, one that reflects her clan and its heritage."

"But what do you know of them?"

"I know they may all be dead." This news was a shock to his mate. "And I am sure they put her alone to protect her from being killed with them. She was left with this." He pulled out the small pouch to show her.

She examined it closely, paused at the metal pin. "What is this creature?"

"I did find some gargoyles in Scotland and asked one the same question. It is a female griffin, which is a protector in human myth."

"What of that for her name; Griffin?"

"It is good, but it is of another clan, a human clan. She is more than a mythical human protector. She is a gargoyle."

One of the adults watching the hatchlings approached. It was Obess, their rookery sister, carrying a little version of her mate, Tarquin, in her arms.

"Welcome return, brother." she greeted, all happy smiles.

"Very welcome, Obess. And who is this young one?" he gestured to the little male in her arms.

"Quid, and quite a handful. But who is this? She’s not of our clan."

"Reneyl found her on his search, her clan destroyed. She is of this clan now." Tali answered.

Another of his rookery siblings approached, and another. Obess asked more questions, and so did they, but he stopped them all.

"Please. I’ve just returned. The whole story will be told next night. Sunset is in an hour’s time. I only want to sit here and rest and that’s all I’ll do right now. Please."

Reluctant but compliant, they left him alone.

"Forgive me, brother." Obess apologized before turning back to her watch of the children.

Reneyl sighed. "I know how much they want to hear of my journey.."

"They understand, my love. You’ve been away for nearly four years. You deserve at least a few hours rest."

Do I? he questioned, knowing his full failure.

Tali did not know his inner torture. She put an arm tight around him and lay her head on his shoulder. The hatchling held on to her with one hand; her eyes, though, were focused on the flock of children. His mate saw this and sat up again. She picked up the little gargoyle and walked into the group of children, setting the foundling among them and taking back her metal band.

The little dark green gargoyle watched her go back and sit with Reneyl, but her attention was quickly taken by an approaching hatchling. Reneyl smiled as the little male, a gray-blue child whom he could not tell the parents of, reached for his little foundling’s tail. But she was quick, unusually so for so young a thing, and flicked her tail close to her body. His objective thwarted, the gray-blue hatchling sat himself down right in front of her, eyeing her at a glance warily as he waited for another try at the tail. It wasn’t long however before a violet-skinned rookery sister padded over unbeknown and tackled him. His foundling was literally pushed into joining the tousle by a third hatchling eager to join the fun but from her gleeful squeals, she was enjoying it as much as they.

Yes. His days of seeking adventure were over. This is what he’d needed for a long time; what he’d been missing. The sun came up a little later, freezing them in stone amid the peace of his homecoming.

The Clan’s leader, Bradier, greeted him next night as soon as stone fell, it seemed. He was asked if now he would tell his tale. Reneyl nodded and followed him out to an already-forming crowd outside. Faced with the audience of the entire Clan, the black and white gargoyle retold his entire journey. Upon the many requests to see the new child, instead of crowding the Rookery, Tali went to bring the child out. The little one was met with much interest, especially by the elders of the Clan. They did leave her alone when she became upset with so much attention and Tali sat off to one side with the child.

A discussion went up on the matter of the Stone Egg. Others, elders and rookery siblings, saw this defeat as a failure, as did Reneyl. And so he was verbally recriminated. Also, there were those who saw another side to his failure. He should not be blamed for unexpected events and twists that had purposefully worked against them all. But they, and still others, stressed the point that the Stone Egg must be found and returned, or the pact between its creator and their Clan would be destroyed for all time. Reneyl had had his turn and was unable, so another must go to take up the search, starting at the beginning since Scotland was hereby banned because of the Hunter’s presence. Many volunteered, nearly all as it was supposed to be, but the younger generation was considered more. They were eager but disciplined and not directly responsible for the Clan children. Four of the younger generation were chosen and began preparations immediately to leave as soon as they could. Reneyl retreated to the side to be with Tali, his foundling, and his very much felt failure. She said nothing but pulled him closer. The hatchling moved from Tali to him to snuggle into his arms, tired.

Vanguard, an elder gargoyle with deep brown skin, approached them.

"Welcome back, Reneyl." he greeted. "It’s been several years."

The black and white gargoyle just nodded. He knew Vanguard was one who saw his return as a hard personal failure as well as bringing shame to the whole Clan.

But the older was wise enough to let Reneyl settle the matter within himself. He said nothing about it but was openly interested in the foundling. "Ah, may I have a look at her?"

"If she’s willing." He knew she was tired from the night’s attentions but she didn’t fuss when Vanguard bent down and took her small black-tipped hand, or as he examined the tuft of hair on her tail. Giving the child a smile and a grandfatherly pat on the head, the older gargoyle straightened up

"Charming little thing. Lucky for her you were there to save her; and lucky for us." He smiled bigger at that comment. "Has she a name?"

"No. Not yet. I wanted to find one that would honor her clan."

Vanguard nodded. "Good thinking. Any ideas?"
"I don’t know much about her clan, except that they protected a human castle under this sign." Reneyl brought out the pouch with pin.

"Eh? A Griffin? Didn’t know any clans still protected a castle."

"Neither did I. And now there are none."

Vanguard looked the little foundling over again, considering. "Hm… She doesn’t look like a Griffin but she’d be a symbolic Griffin to the humans she’d protect in her own clan, the protector of the castle, as on this badge." He indicated the pin.

"Yes. But I wonder if, when old enough to realize her name’s meaning, she would be angry or feel estranged that it is a creature of human myth and not very gargoyle-like. Do we know if this Griffin creature actually exists?"

Tali smiled at Reneyl. "My love, you worry too much."

"I am of ancient English ancestry, as you know." Vanguard began. "And I was told many good stories as a hatchling. Some were about Griffins. I think that, once, they were real creatures, but no more. And there were several types of Griffins, as I recall. Rock, Krss’is, King, Jade, Gyr… Jade’s were the most trustworthy, the stories go. Jade Griffins."

"Jade Griffin?" She looked again to her mate.

True, she was an almost jade color, her dark skin underlined with a lighter, brighter tint. And her clan had taken the role as protector; in essence, the human’s Griffin. And her clan, like the Griffin, was no more. He looked down at the little one, eyes closed as she lay against him. Jade Griffin, though a bit strange for a name, seemed to fit his little foundling. So be it.

Reneyl turned a smile to Tali, then Vanguard. "Jade Griffin she will be from now on."

"Grand choice, lad. Glad I could help in the naming. It’d take too long to tell all now but I’ll make sure it’s announced next night."

Too long? Reneyl looked up at the sky. Little tinges of light were beginning to peak the mountain dark night. Dawn so soon? Had his tale taken that long? He glanced at the cleared area where his audience, the whole clan, had stood to hear. They were gone, most already in their dens within the clan mountain. Vanguard was making his way there now, along with the few stragglers.

"Morning has snuck up on us." Tali said, rising and stretching.

"You know my thoughts, my love." He rose, child in arms, and they, too, made for the mountain.