Jade Griffin’s  Pain

by Jade Griffin

9-6-98 to ? ? ?

 

 

 

 

Fall, 1999

 

The Lady Epona entered as I was listening to a story being told by my 'cyberverse' rookery sister, Kyshandra. She paused to greet the Lady and ask about her health. I said my hello's, too, as the half-gargoyle/half-ki-lin eased her child-heavy body into a seat beside us, but my attention was on her middle. The Lady was probably very close.

Seeing the Lady with child always brings to mind one thing: I don't have a child. Nor do I have an egg soon to be a child. And this, of course, led to my wondering where my supposed mate was. A sigh escaped me. I didn't really mind his absence, because what he was doing was very important, but neither did I have anything to remember him by.

It wasn't his fault, I know. He was unavoidably away when the time came and... and so I haven't a little one.

My thoughts went in on myself as the others queried the Lady Epona on whether she wanted a boy or a girl and if she knew when the child would come. My thoughts went to my last journey with Ithyaka, in China, when we took the lone egg back to its clan.

I'd sewn a proper carrier for the egg, so I could wear it about my front for easy gliding. I did not realize 'til later the effect that had on me.

I have wanted a child for a long time, but with the egg against my body... and I could feel the child moving within sometimes!... I knew then how much I was missing. My longing intensified.

But... What kind of mother would I be? As an orphan who abandoned her adopted clan, would I be any good for a fatherless child? I sighed again, the 'what if's running forever in my head.

"What's wrong, Jade Griffin?" Kyshandra asked. Both she and the Lady could see my mood.

"..Nothing." I... I lied to them! I lied to my rookery sister and to the Lady Epona. If I couldn't tell the people here what was bugging me, I couldn't tell anyone. "..No. There is something..."

I told them all my thoughts.

"I didn't even know you had a mate." Kyshandra said, surprised.

I gave her an understanding smile. "I know."

            "I think you'd make a great mother." Gedoena bolstered. She, another close 'cyberverse' rookery sister, had come in during my confession.

"Perhaps you need to go talk to your Canada Mountain clan." the Lady suggested. She understood far more than I realized.

"I can't. I... I left them. I'm afraid I won't be accepted, or... of being forgotten. I've waited too long..."

Gedoena wrapped me in a hug as my tears fell like silent stars. My fears and hurts and longings were all too close to the surface this night. There had always been a piece of me longing to return to my adopted clan but my fear of being hated or, worse, forgotten, kept me well away. I knew that Reneyl and Tali had, with the rest of the clan pairs, a new egg in the Rookery. A new child-to-be. Where would I ever fit in with all that? I'd left my once-family. I knew inside that I could never go back to live with them. My aloneness was so very complete.

"Why haven't you told us before?" asked a troubled Kyshandra.

I shook my head. "I don't come here to plague you with problems I must work out myself, sister."

"But I am your rookery sister, even if it is only in this place. Why didn't you tell me?"

I paused, realizing that I had hurt another person who cared about me... I rose, told her, "I'm sorry," around an emotion-tightened throat, and once more left the ring of those who cared about me.

I saw from the corner of my eye that Kysh wasn't going to let me take my problems away. But Gedoena put a hand on her shoulder and sat her down to discuss something I couldn't hear.

Wiping tears from my face, I headed for the window.

"Jade Griffin?" It was the Lady.

I stopped but wouldn't turn around.

"Please come back and talk with us." She came around to face me, or was it to block my path? "You've carried this for a long time."

She took my hand and brought me back.

"I'm sorry," Kysh apologized as I returned to my seat. "I... I just got a little upset that you didn't tell anyone about this when it's been eating at you all this time."

Gedoena most likely felt the same but she didn't voice it.

"It isn't eating at me. It's just... always there. It's okay, really. I've had this for a long time. I know it's gonna take a while to solve. All of it."

"But, Jade Griffin, the only way to make amends is to go and talk with your clan." the Lady explained.

"She's right." Gedoena added. "It'll just keep at you until you go see them again. If you don't go, you'll never have any peace."

Kyshandra put in her own. "I know how bad blame can mess with your life. You used to blame them but now you blame yourself. That's part of what's kept you from going back all this time, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Yeah. I thought I recognized it, but I can't imagine how you lived with it for so long. It'd tear me apart!"

 I gave her a half-smile.

"You still miss them. I can see that." the Lady said. "Will you please see them? It hurts me to see you sad. It hurts all of us. We can't help with your mate but we've tried to convince you that this is the right thing to do."

"Do it for you and for your clan." Kysh added.

 

It was so hard for me to answer them. Fresh tears came. I knew it was right... but for ten years I'd lived with both blames, with the guilt. I'd lived without them for so long, alone with the pain I never looked at. Like some hidden wound... I was afraid to look at it, but then Kysh and Ged and the Lady brought it out to see. And now? I was still afraid but my friends supported me. I would not let them down like I had my clan. I would not.

"I'll... I'll go."

It was Kyshandra who hugged me then. "Good. I was hopin' I wouldn't hafta twist your arm." She smiled.

Malcom walked up from behind and put his arms around the Lady. "Sorry it took me so long. How do you feel?" He was forever protective of his Lady and knew as she did the risks of their child.

"I am fine. All is well, my love."

That answer given, Malcom looked over at us to say hello but could tell by our quiet manner that something was up. "What's wrong?"

The Lady smiled and hugged her mate. "My love, you know better than to try and discover a female's secrets."

"Girl talk, huh? Okay. But you three really look down."

"Malcom? Would you do something for me?" I asked. "I need someone to watch the cats again."

"Sure... Something is wrong. What is it?"

He was always too perceptive, and persistent.

Gedoena and Kyshandra looked at me. The Lady stared up into Malcom's face.

But instead of walking away or hedging or even lying... I decided that telling Malcom was another 'right thing to do'. "I've decided to go see my adopted clan who I haven't spoken to since I left ten years ago."

The human stared at me in surprise. I don't know whether it was the fact that I gave him a direct answer on a very personal subject or what I said that shocked him more.

"I'll need to leave tomorrow."

"Yeah... Sure... Do you need any transportation or, or anything?"

I shook my head. After hugs and good-byes to my friends, I made my exit out the window.

There wasn't much for me to take. Some food, and that was it. My eyes lingered on the two paintings I'd done of the Canada Mountain clan that were hanging up. How much had changed? How much gone from what I remembered? How-

"Jade Griffin?" was Malcom's call as he rounded into the main room, where I stood.

"Hi."

"Hi. Um... When do you think you'll be back?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry... I'll probably be able to call you before I start back, to let you know. The clan has some very helpful human contacts."

"Okay. You... are coming back, aren't you?" he asked, not certain.

But how was I to know? "That's my plan. You take good care of these gals for me."

"I will. Jade Griffin? The Lady's due in about two months, from what the doctor could estimate. Her mom's coming but she'd really like you to be there, too."

"I'll try my best." I gave him a parting hug. "Thanks, Malcom. Take care."

"You, too."

 

It took over a week and a half to get back to the lands I'd known as a pre-adult. My feelings were heavily mixed. It was familiar but not quite right. I didn't feel welcome.

It was unusual but I didn't run into anyone patrolling the air. I circled the mountain home of my childhood and descended unseen to the snow-covered ground. Wings caped, I looked out from the shadows to see who was in the snowy courtyard. Rosebird, Quid, White-beak, Liatris, Djimi,... And by the garden, Tali stood talking to Tall-flower.

This was it. I'd arrived... I stepped forward into the courtyard.

Rosebird, then Liatris and Quid, then White-beak, Djimi, and Tall-flower caught sight of me as I continued ahead. They were frozen in their surprise. I can’t say how hard it was to keep walking onward, my expression holding back all that turned inside me. When Tall-flower caught sight of me, Tali (back to me) then turned.

Her reaction was more than I dared hope.

Tali’s shock and amazement went secondary as she ran toward me, arms out, sweeping me up in a great hug as tears came easily for us both.

“Jade Griffin… Child, where have you been for so long?” she asked.

“I’m sorry.” was the only thing I could get out, holding onto her tightly. “I’m sorry. So sorry…”

White-beak and others came to embrace me in the shocked welcoming crowd.

“Where?? Where is she??”

I recognized the voice instantly. It was the voice that had always comforted me. It was the voice I’d always sought. If the crowd didn’t part, Reneyl made his own way and soon stood before me. But he did not take me in his arms as Tali had. Remembering well what I’d left him with, I understood his pause and wrapped him in a tight hug of my own. His response was immediate.

“I’m so sorry, Reneyl.” I said around my sobs. I’d hurt him so bad… But here he was now, holding me as tightly as if he’d never let me go. Not ever.

“It’s alright, Jade Griffin.” he said around his own tight throat, eyes wet with tears. “It’s alright.”

Malaii and Junan and my other rookery siblings were all closing in, hugging me or asking questions.

“Where’ve you been all this time?”

“Why didn’t you come back sooner?”

“Are you alone?”

“Why did you leave for so long?”

I guess I did have some explaining to do. Sniffing back tears, an arm about me from Tali and Reneyl, I turned to the crowd, the sea of familiar faces. “There’s… there’s a lot to tell.”

“Are you hungry?” Reneyl asked.

He always knew me too well. I had to laugh, then nodded. After eating one of the best meals I’d had in over ten years, I filled them in on the events of my life that they’d missed. I told them of Malcom, the Chocolate Man, Ithyaka, the ‘cyberverse’, and the Lady Epona. I told them all of it… except of my child side. I also took note of my audience, of the visible pairings of my rookery siblings, and was reminded once more of what I did not have.

“Would you like to see the eggs? Forty-one this clutch!” Malaii asked, her pride obvious as she smiled up at Junan.

I nodded, hiding my reluctance.

“You live alone in California?” Tali asked as we headed for the Rookery.

“Yes…”

“But you do have a mate. Surely you met someone in the ‘cyberverse’.” someone else said.

My eyes went groundward. “I did… but I never see  him. He has an important job to do.”

“I wouldn’t let my male go off as he pleases and leave me alone with an egg close to hatching.” Roselle, my rookery sister, said.

“…I don’t have an egg.” I replied. All were very surprised to hear this and could see my sorrow now. “He wasn’t with me when… when….”

The doors were pushed open and the sight of the many lavender, dark-speckled eggs inside nearly brought more tears. “….They’re beautiful…”

I couldn’t resist touching one but beneath the amazement of it all, an ache rose. I retreated back into the crowd and went into the hall out outside the Rookery. I don’t know how many realized my sudden hurt at seeing the eggs.

I felt someone’s arms around me and knew it was Reneyl.

“So much has happened to you, Jade Griffin. I’m glad you cam back… I wasn’t sure if you would return.”

“…I almost didn’t.” My answer saddened him so, I had to explain. “I always wanted to, Reneyl, but… I left the Clan.” Tears came again. “And I blamed you. I forgave you a long time ago for not telling me sooner of my original clan, but I couldn’t forgive myself for leaving.”

He gave me a smile and held me. “I understand, child. You don’t know how much this means to me. The last time I saw you hasn’t been easy to keep as a memory…”

What I’d done to this gargoyle I saw as ‘father’… How could I? How could I receive forgiveness from myself? “I’m so sorry, Reneyl.” I cried on his shoulder. “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean any of it. I didn’t know what I was saying. With having to fight the child side within me, I lashed out and… I…hurt…you.”

So much pain I carried from that night. The crying was a great release but none so great as just being held by Reneyl, hearing him tell me not to hurt anymore. All he ever wanted was to see me safe and happy, and knowing that it wasn’t really me talking that last night relieved a sadness of his own. There was nothing to forgive. I was back and all would be well.

No one bothered either of us that night. I don’t know when they left or how much time passed but we both felt it approaching. I could think of no better way to spend the day than in Reneyl’s arms. He obviously felt the same way.

 

Awakening to our mixed morning calls, I had to smile. It’d been a very long time, but it still felt like home.

“Jade Griffin? Do you still have the… child ability?” he asked me as we headed down to the kitchen.

I don’t know why he asked me this. “…Yes. My child side. It’s always with me, and sometimes it can hear me. I have to let it out every two weeks or so, or it’ll release itself.”

“Can it hear me?”

“I don’t think so.” It’s a good thing, too. That would no doubt thoroughly upset her child side. “She’s sort of asleep; until it’s close to letting her out. I have a few more days.”

After breakfast, I was asked any number of questions I can’t really recall. Mainly details of the ‘cyberverse’ and my friends. My rookery siblings spent much time talking about this and that and catching me up but I could already see who was paired with whom. But I shouldn’t have been surprised to find that, because my siblings and the rest of the Clan were not evenly distributed, two males were still bachelors. And I could see both had an interest in me.

Little Eagle, obviously Tall-flower’s child, was particularly interested.

“You don’t really have a mate?” he asked the second night after introducing himself. I hadn’t known him well as one of my rookery siblings, and when I left, he hadn’t had a name.

“We have not mated but he asked and I told him yes.”

“And you live by yourself?”

I nodded.

“You have no egg, your male is never around, and you live Clanless… You are amazing!”

He was seriously truly amazed. I found myself blushing and quickly ducked my head.

“And beautiful, Jade Griffin.” He lifted my chin to look into my eyes, then sighed. “You must really love him to remain so devoted.”

“No. I never got the chance, but I promised to give him a chance and I always keep my promises.”

“But how can you keep on, alone, not knowing when or if he’ll be back?”

“I don’t know… I just do.”

“Little Eagle! C’mon!” called one of our rookery brothers. He pointed upwards.

“Scouting duty.” Little Eagle explained in apology, rising from the bench where we sat. “I hope to talk again later.”

I stood as well. “Okay.”

I watched him go, his brother teasing him about something, before I went to the Rookery.

My better judgement said not to go there but beyond the longing I felt a strange comfort in this place as I sat on a far bench to watch the eggs. Some other gargoyles were here as well, smiling and talking quietly, touching or turning the eggs…

I could have been one of them, if I’d stayed, or come back sooner. I could have had an egg in here, a place in the clan, … a mate. Heck, it might even have been Little Eagle. I paused, despite myself, to consider him.

He was handsome, with his mother’s height, brow ridges, eyes, and wings, his father’s coloration. But there was more than that to a male. One could look gorgeous as anything and have a suck eggs personality. But Little Eagle wasn’t like that at all. He was friendly, even a little charming, and had an innocence about him that was rather unique.

I sighed. Being alone all the time was a situation I found myself in more and more. With Malcom always with his Lady, Ithyaka home, and the Chocolate Man away on a long business trip, it couldn’t be helped. Still, I was becoming very weary of waiting for ‘my male’, as Little Eagle put it. And the attentions of a male did have an affect on me. I smiled. It had been a while since someone showed that kind of interest in me. I liked it.

For no reason that I could define, my child side began to stir. I got up quickly and left the Rookery, attempting to blank my mind.

I was lucky. It’d just settled when Reneyl spotted me in the garden.

“May I ask something?” he queried on approaching me. “Your child side; will you release her here?”

His question was a surprise. But, “No.”

He nodded solemnly and looked all at once so dejected. “I understand.”

“Reneyl, it’s not because of you. She thinks differently than me, and doesn’t know a lot of what I know. She doesn’t know I’m here.” I was trying to explain about the child side and the circumstances around my decision to keep the clan away from it but he looked as if he still thought it was because of him.

“It isn’t because of you.” I emphasized.

“I… noticed you didn’t tell the Clan about it. Can I ask why, if it is with you so strongly?”

I took his hand and smiled. “You and Tali have always been the ones I trust most. I would let her out for you. But my child side is a very vulnerable and sensitive part of me, even though we are separate individuals, sort of. It takes me a while to trust anyone else with the knowledge of my greatest weakness. And… and I don’t want anyone to hurt her, in any way. It’s happened before, when she learned that she was a foundling and I left the Clan. I don’t want her to get hurt again.”

“Did you tell her?” His question was more relaxed. My explanation settled his mind.

“No. She just all of a sudden gained the knowledge. It happens like that sometimes, unless she learns something normally while she’s out.”

“And you said you can talk to her?” he asked, very interested to hear about this part of me, and probably relieved to hear that I still trusted him with most anything.

“Sometimes. It isn’t easy for her to listen to me….”

I trailed off, catching sight of Little Eagle approaching. Reneyl’s eyes followed mine.

“Uh… Am I interrupting?” the young male asked at our silent watch of him.

I looked to Reneyl. He smiled.

“No, Little Eagle.” Reneyl answered, then hugged me close. “Thank you.” I heard by my ear before he left.

“Hello.” the blue male greeted me with a smile.

“Hi.”

“…I was thinking of you in the air, and I realized I didn’t really know you, when we were younger I mean. I… I don’t even recall seeing you very often,”  This surprised him greatly. “But Chitric or Balon were always dragging me off…”

He was actually staring at me. I gave him a quirked smile, more than amused.

Little Eagle caught himself at it and looked away, slightly, to a convenient snow-covered rosebush. “I do remember well the night you left. All the older generation were real concerned, and then when Reneyl returned with the news that you might not come back… Those who knew you best couldn’t be cheered up for weeks. I remember that most of all. I saw Reneyl on a bench and attempted to juggle, to get him to laugh, but…”

I couldn’t help it. Tears started from my eyes once more at his reminder. “I hurt him so much….”

It was then that he realized what emotions and feelings ran with my return. “…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring it up… He has forgiven you, though?”

I nodded, wiping tears away. “I haven’t forgiven myself quite yet. I’ve had it all for ten years. It isn’t easy to get rid of in one night.”

“Again, you amaze me, Jade Griffin. You carry so much. But now you don’t have to. You’re back, and no one blames you for anything, as far as I’ve heard.”

I smiled up at him. “Thanks… Are you hungry? I haven’t cooked in a while but I think I can whip up something decent.”

He smiled greatly. “I’m ‘decent’ in a kitchen, as well.”

“Then maybe I’ll let you show your stuff.” I teased as we headed in the direction of the kitchen.

“I would be happy to.”

And he was as good as his word, managing some dish out of leftovers that rose my brow ridges. But, then again, food was always one of my weaknesses.

Sunrise caught us later on, talking at one of the benches surrounding the Clan’s mountain home.

Next night, he asked if I’d like to go to the Rookery again.

“I haven’t visited the eggs in a few nights. I try to see them at least once an evening.” he admitted.

This was another surprise. He saw it on my face and smiled sheepishly.

“Even though I don’t have an egg or a mate, it makes me feel like I’m more a part of the Clan when I’m on egg watch or when I just go see them.”

He, like myself, had the feeling of not completely belonging. I could see it in his face.

“I can tell you which egg belongs to which pair.” he offered, still awaiting an answer.

I did, and didn’t, want to go… “Alright.”

A smile lit his face and he offered his hand.

In the Rookery, with Little Eagle providing information on each egg’s parentage, I didn’t feel the empty longing like before. And because we each knew our rookery siblings, we discussed quietly our opinions on their paring, and a few little jokes passed for the most opposite of all – Roselle and Quid!

“But how can they possibly stand each other? They’re both so bossy!”

He grinned at my obvious statement. “They appear to be attracted to each other for that reason. Strange as it seems, first they were arguing and in the next moment…” He trailed off and shrugged.

We hushed as a pair walked passed, heading to a far egg.

“I always knew Balon and Aida would pair. We haven’t gotten to their egg yet but it is the most distinguished. I never tire of sorting out their patterns.”

If he was this devoted to eggs when none were his, how would he act when he does father one? I wondered, amused.

My amusement was short-lived. As if reacting to an offense, the child side pushed up, strong and swiftly. It must be the eggs drawing it out! I tried to hold it back but realized too late that it did no good.

“Jade Griffin? What’s wrong?” His eyes showed great concern.

My face always betrayed me when fighting my child side.

I started away, to the doors. “I-Havto… go.”

He followed after me, but I never made it. Nearly full awake, my child side pushed up with great force, breaking its way to the front of my mind, and thrusting me to the back where I could no longer control mind or body.

After the normal dim, purply glow as Jade Griffin’s body transformed to her child side, the newly-awakened other side looked about. A younger grown-up was staring at her in a weird way and…

“Jade Griffin??” Little Eagle had witnessed the whole thing. He took a cautious step toward her.

“Hello.” the child greeted him as if a stranger. “Who’re you?” There was something really strange about his place… She looked about again and saw that there were gargoyle eggs everywhere! Frowning, puzzled, the child side turned confused eyes up to an equally boggled Little Eagle. “Where am I?”

Other adult gargoyles came over, attracted by the confusion, but the puzzled child side ran smack into the paradox Jade Griffin had hoped to fully avoid. Some of the adults looked like… Like Aida, and Red, and Tai-il, and… and… No. But that’s who these grown-up gargoyles looked like. All of a sudden, the child side did not like this room. She backed away from the look-like-sibling strangers and turned for the doors. She glanced back as she pulled them open, to see if any followed, and nearly ran into two more.

The two young adults and one child side stared at each other for a shocked moment before the child bolted out. No! No matter how much they looked like Junan and Malaii, it wasn’t them. It wasn’t! Yes, it was. NO! Those gargoyles are grown-ups! They grew up. No. Yes. No! NO, no no! “I don’t believe ‘you’! It isn’t them!” the child cried, not yet noticing the crowd she’d drawn in her paused dash.

 

“Reneyl!”

The black and white gargoyle looked up quickly from the maps he was reviewing. Vanguard came running into the room.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jade Griffin. She’s become the child.”

The child… Reneyl rushed out of the room, Vanguard leading him out. Tali, Bradier, and Vanguard were the only other who knew of Jade Griffin’s child side. He’d told them after his lone return from Scotland with the Stone Gargoyle’s Egg. And when he reached the growing crowd, he was glad that it had been Vanguard and not Bradier who’d been first to see her. As Clan Leader, Bradier would have tried to solve this himself.

With the throng of puzzled and concerned on-lookers, Reneyl couldn’t see her but he could hear her wailing denials. She was terrified!

“Vanguard, get them to leave. All of them.” After receiving a complying nod, Reneyl plunged into the crowd, wading toward the child. She was huddled back against a wall, hands over eyes, her whole body trembling.

“You’re all gone! It isn’t them! They aren’t grown-up! No, no nonono!” the child was crying.

Reneyl, his heart aching at seeing his foundling in pain, touched her arm. The child Jade Griffin jumped at his touch, scooting farther away from him. “Go ‘way! Yer not here. ‘She’s lying! I don’t believe ‘you’!”

The black and white gargoyle turned to the thinning crowd. “Leave. Please. I can sort this out. Your presence only upsets her.” When all had gone, he kneeled down to the child.

“Jade Griffin? It’s Reneyl, child. I made them all go.”

At that familiar voice, she uncovered a tear-streaked face to see if it was true. They were gone… And it… It really was Reneyl! The child rushed into his arms.

“I … thought I’d never… see you again!” the child sobbed in his arms, holding on to him tightly. “’She’ said ‘she’ couldn’t come back and it hurts ‘her’ an’ … an’… ‘she’ left an’ I don’t understand, Reneyl!”

“It’s all right, child.” All he could do was hold her, but he knew that’s all she wanted.

“Am I really back home?” she asked, looking sadly into his eyes.

“You are at the Clan’s home, yes.”

“But… do I get to stay here?”

He was afraid she was going to ask. “… I don’t know. Jade Griffin is the only one who can answer.”

The child looked at him in a very confused way. “I’m Jade Griffin.”

Reneyl regarded the child a moment; blinked. “… Of course you are. But what is the name of the other gargoyle in here?” he asked cautiously, pointing to her head.

The child side continued to give him a very puzzled look. “’She’ doesn’t have a name. ‘She’s’ the ‘other one’.”

“I see.” How strange. Reneyl smiled to himself.

“I don’t wanna talk about ‘her’.” The child climbed into his lap and wrapped her arms around one of his. “Tell me… tell me about you finding me.”

The adult’s brow ridges rose in surprise. “You want to hear that story?”

“Yeah.” The child nodded against him, sniffing at her remnant tears.

“Alright,” It was a surprise. Jade Griffin; the original, adult one; had never asked to hear the tale. She’d never wanted to talk about it. But her child side wished to know… And he knew the adult side was listening. “Around the time when all the eggs in the Rookery were going to hatch, a human snuck into the Clan Grounds and stole something from us…”

The story was given in full detail and the child asked several questions, like who could kill a whole clan of gargoyles? And why? And how come she couldn’t remember any of it?

Reneyl remembered how this had plagued the teen Jade Griffin, as well. “That was a long time ago, even for you.”

“Where’s Tali? Where is everyone?”

Had the child forgotten already all of the Clan she’d seen? …Or had she put it aside as something that hadn’t really been there? “Tali’s inside. Would you like me to get her?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Alright. But stay right here.”

“Okay.”

He rose and left the child, glancing back before going within the Clan Mountain. So strange it was talking to Jade Griffin’s child side. And so very needed. It was as though his previous mistakes in judgement on behalf of Jade Griffin didn’t exist and no tension, no borders, had ever come between them.

The Clan had congregated in the Main Hall and all eyes went to him when he entered.

“Is she back to normal?” Little Eagle asked, stepping forward.

“No. I believe it takes the full night.”

“Why do we hafta stay in here?” Quid spoke up. He, along with others, weren’t too happy about being ushered in here.

“The child was upset because she, unlike Jade Griffin adult, knows you only as siblings her age. Jade Griffin tried to explain what the situation was but this only made her more confused and scared. Tali? She wants to see you.”

His mate came forward.

“Will we have to stay in here all night?” Bradier asked sourly.

Reneyl sighed. “No. We’ll be at the east end. If you are a rookery sibling, please, stay away for the night.

Leaving the crowd with Vanguard and Bradier to herd questions, Reneyl escorted Tali to the child.

“Remember,” he cautioned her. “She is just as she was before, only she knows she’s a foundling.”

She nodded. But even warned, Tali’s first view of Jade Griffin’s child side drawing in the snow with one talon brought instant tears. It had been a long time, and with a new child on the way, she couldn’t contain her reaction.

The child side spotted them and looked up. “Tali!” She ran for the lime green gargoyle, open armed. Tali greeted her the same, kneeling to catch the little one in a great hug.

“I haven’t seen you in a really long time.” the child mourned into the hug.

“I’ve missed you, too.” Tali smiled. This ability of Jade Griffin’s… It was a wonderful gift. As torn up inside as Reneyl over the bad matters concerning the dark green gargoyle she loved as much as any of the clan children, all she wanted was to hold the child, like she was now.

“Could I have something to eat?”

Tali smiled around her tears. “Of course you can.” She rose, taking the child by the hand and intending to go to the kitchen.

Reneyl stopped her. “I’ll go.” Then he smiled. “She probably has a lot to tell you.”

“I do!” the child started. “One time, I was in a city! I got lost and couldn’t find home or you or Reneyl or anybody and there were explosions in the sky an’ this funny little human found me and I don’t know how but he knew me…”

Reneyl was sorry he had to leave, wishing to hear the whole story. Explosions? Someone—a human—running into her child side? Now that he knew where his little foundling had chosen to live, he wished to visit California. He grabbed something quick but appealing and headed back.

The night did not last long enough for either of the three. They would not know it but Jade Griffin had needed this simple time with them as much as they. She didn’t think she’d regret her child side’s ‘untimely’ outburst too much this time…