A/N: Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy it. There's going to be action, adventure, intrigue, conspiracies, Illuminati, the Knight's Templar, romance, and much much more. There will likely be some controversial things later – but that's the nature of some of the aforementioned groups involved in this piece. If you have a moment I would really appreciate some feedback, any feedback.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gargoyles, this is just for fun.

Summary: In a precarious time for the Manhattan clan a group of four arrive to warn them of more impending danger. As the new clan unites with the familiar cast the more it becomes clear that the new friend's past shadows their lives and their future. Somehow the new clan's second in command and their devil's advocate knows Brooklyn and Lexington...maybe even more than the two know themselves. Their past stretches back hundreds of years and is twisted up in a turbulent series of conspiracies, dangers, intrigue, and deceit. When two, previously allied, secret societies have rising conflict and both clans of gargoyles are thrown in the middle a series of events are set into motion that none involved could have anticipated.

Broken Wings

Chapter 1

"This is positively ridiculous. We aren't welcomed guests, we're prisoners." Three sets of eyes turned to the speaker; each with their own concerns and meaning.

"Surely you aren't serious," a smile was masked in fear but faded quickly with the follow up, "…are you?" The questioning voice turned attention from the negative one to another. "Curran, he's not serious is he?"

"Yes, Kerry I think he is."

There was a momentary pause where glances were passed between the four individuals. A bright moon full moon was casting dim white light into the small square room from a single tiny window near the high raised ceiling. No other illumination accompanied the moon's dull light; however the muted brightness was common to the quartette and they had no need for anything more.

"Hush!" The final voice added to the conversation. Comprised of husky assertiveness and confidence she stepped into the central location of the group. She was poised and graceful however she was not like any creature common to humanity. Her skin was tinted ash gray with raven hair to match. Despite being more petite than any human man she had stood next to her expansive wings arched above their heads. She was not afraid to intimidate her foes or inflate her size by extending her wings to their maximum. She swung to face the male that had been addressed by question. "Curran, you've considered the possibilities…"

Leaving her statement hanging he responded by reluctantly moving next to her. He, like her, was not of human origins. His tail swished next to hers and they linked for a brief second affectionately. As he moved closer she stepped down and fell in next to him. She looked up to him, awaiting his direction. He nodded. "Yes Morrigan I have, each as unlikely and unpleasant as the next." He sucked in a heavy breath allowing his chest cavity to fill and expand his muscled chest. He was the largest of the foursome, but only standing as tall as many larger human males when he was at his full height. "We have been in the custody of our friends for several moons now. I grow weary of the travel as well. I understand our predicament as you do. We have been transferred and moved so many times I've forgotten where we've been and where we're going – as well as how to fly I think sometimes." He swooped around to the primary pessimist who initiated the platform Curran was addressing. "I'm prepared, if you are, to call it an end. We must move together, we're all we have left. I realize our lives are at risk but we can't continue to live in secret if it means to merely exist." He gestured to the room. "Like this. It is kind to have been protected however we have been 'caged' for so long that we are restless and are ready to resume our duty – we will protect wherever our friends have relocated us."

"This isn't the safest place for such a decision." A human moved into the room, making his presence noticed, and nodded in greeting. "Good evening my gargoyle friends. Your cause and arguments are valid and I'm sorry we couldn't offer you more comfortable confines but we're keeping your existence quiet and to do so it must be minimalist and without nightly flyings."

Curran took a step forward assuming his leadership role with Morrigan at his side. "We appreciate all that you've done, and we understand that you are but one channel in the grander scheme of things occurring. We thank you for taking us in at the request of your superiors, however we have been moving this way for weeks now. It's time for us to take control of our fate again."

The man shook his head. "No Curran, this city is not safe for you. You must understand you were meant to be moved on already to a man allied with us by means of the Illuminati, his name is David Xanatos. However, he has been in the news recently; understand that's nothing uncommon but the nature of his name in the public eye is due to something that directly relates to you. He is already housing a clan of gargoyles who are known by the people now. The people aren't accepting them and therefore you, and your clan, are not safe here. I'm sorry you've been stabilized here for an extended period of time, you were not meant to be here this long – you should have been moved again already. With the recent happenings it's not safe and Xanatos has expressed his apologies and concerns and asked that we bypass him in the process to save you the anticipated dilemma his gargoyle allies are already in. Arrangements are being made to get you out of the country again – perhaps rural Russia would be a secure location for you; the other option that has been discussed is northern Canada where nothing exists except the caribou. There's been talk of the Florida everglades too. You'll be safe there."

Curran allowed a moment of consideration and concern to envelop him. He did not respond, rather he paused. He felt motion behind him and he glanced over his shoulder where he saw the skeptical one among them, an aggressive and negative character called Doyle by name, stalk impatiently at his heels. He paced on all fours with his tail flicking like an annoyed cat on each turn. His face was sour, however that was nothing out of the ordinary – Doyle was a displeased creature by nature wearing a heavy lidded grimace most of the time. His fair skin hinted at green which mirrored his often sharp and sometimes nasty demeanor. He was sly and witty. A white tuft of hair hung from under his chin and a row of small spines starting at the crown of his bald head followed the middle of his back all the way to where his tail started. He was often frightful to most humans he had encountered for the sheer fact that he wore a disdainful expression even when he was in a jolly mood – as rare an occasion as that was. He envied Curran for the females reliance on his decision making, Doyle considered himself a superior mind as he thought of himself as a learned scholar as well as a versed warrior. Even though he considered himself more qualified for leadership he accepted Curran's choices and allowed him to act as such in a decision making capacity.

"We will accept that challenge head on." Curran finally said. "We wish to be released from your care. We will not consider you or anyone who has elected to help us responsible for our future."

"I can assure you, you're making a terrible decision. This city is not safe for your kind. The evil that you're running from will find you undoubtedly – if the citizens of New York don't find you first."

"We're not running!" Doyle snarled threateningly, moving in on the small man who backed down at the gargoyle's angry hiss. "We were never running. Is that clear?"

"Doyle." The other female, called Kerry, moved forward and gently pulled him back. She quickly intervened, knowing that if Curran or Morrigan had scolded him it would not be as delicate as if she were to step in. She was the smallest of the four, the top of her head only coming to Curran's chin – but, like Morrigan, she knew how to artificially inflate her size by extending her wings when she needed to intimidate others. Like the others she was a practiced fighter, wielding force for the greater purpose – protecting. She admired Doyle's no-nonsense attitude but couldn't live by his cruel honesty as a rule. She was often easily distracted, a dreamer. It took a good deal to get her attention and keep it. She was easily misguided particularly by those close to her, she was gentle and naïve; and as such she relied on the others for guidance. However, she had a special way of analyzing stranger's attitudes and demeanors allowing her to often recognize a liar, if she were paying close enough attention. Curran relied on her ability to do so but her inability to settle long enough to pay attention drove him mad. More often than not Kerry was picking the petals off a flower or dreaming rather than listening to her surroundings and the words of those around her which eliminated her focus all together. She had to be extremely attentive to detect a falsity or fact in other's movements or speech patterns so it often went forgotten that she could – as it was easier to forget that she could rather than get mad over it.

Doyle allowed Kerry to pull him back and seemed to calm at her touch. Both wrapped their wings around their shoulders and hooked them at the meeting of their clavicles – cape like.

"Please forgive Doyle's outburst." Curran growled pointedly at the disgruntled male gargoyle. "But you see what this captivity is doing to us. We must be released. We will accept the consequences of this decision…I will accept it."

"I can't keep you here against your will, and I wouldn't try. But I can't impress upon you enough the importance of my concerns."

"We understand your words and comprehend their meaning. Again we accept these actions as strictly our decision."

The man nodded. "So be it. However, let me notify my superiors and perhaps you can still utilize Xanatos's home as a roost if you wish."

"No." Curran said with some finality. "You have done enough as has everyone involved. We graciously accept your assistance as well as the others but must call an end to it as we have overused your generosity. We will make our own way from here."

"No really, it's my understanding that we still owe you a great deal."

"Nonsense. We are owed nothing, and nor have we ever been."

"I understand, but please let me help you find somewhere to roost; for your own safety as well as giving you a generalized location to protect."

"Thank you." Morrigan nodded and extended her taloned hand to the human before her. "We will accept your assistance in the matter, if you insist."

He grinned taking up her offered gesture. "I think I know just the place, I have a connection."

"You and everyone else involved in this." Doyle grumbled loudly enough for the occupants of the room to hear.

Deciding to ignore the disgruntled creature the man clapped Curran on the shoulder after releasing Morrigan's hand. "I'll see what I can do and get back to you right away."

"We will wait." Curran nodded. "Until you have an answer."

"Patron?" Kerry stepped forward as he turned to go. "You said there were 'other' gargoyles in the city, did I misunderstand or did you mean other gargoyles of our kind?"

"Yes, my dear Kerry, others of your kind." The old man nodded and with that he left.

Kerry immediately turned to Curran. Her face was lined with concern rather than the glee he expected. Rather than waiting for her to speak he went ahead and addressed what he assumed her response would be. "I heard him Kerry."

"Then why didn't you ask about it?" She questioned.

"I assumed we would make a decision about this new set of information together."

"Curran, they could be in grave danger…the others I mean. Surely we must seek out this Xanatos," the word was foreign on her lips as she tested the new name out, "and warn his allied gargoyles that Moreau might come for them."

"If Xanatos knows of us, in that he would keep us, wouldn't he have already warned them?" Doyle answered level-headedly. "They are not our concern."

Kerry shot him a confused and offended expression. "But they are. They are our brethren and we owe them that. We can not rely on someone else to have warned them. It is our duty to do so. Our patron made it clear that they are in the news and in danger because of that. That sort of public awareness could draw our enemies here under the pretense that we are them; and therefore put them in serious danger. Danger, mind you, that should be ours to shoulder."

"Their problem." Doyle shrugged noncommittally and turned from her just as casually.

Kerry, having none of that, darted in front of him again and puffing up her chest and batting her wings threateningly shouted. "What kind of protector are you if you won't see to your own kind?"

Curran hurriedly stepped in pushing the two apart. He had never seen Kerry so animated about any subject and was half surprised that she had even noticed that their human host had even mentioned it and more so that she was willing to cross Doyle concerning the matter. "I must agree with Kerry on this. It certainly is our place to make them aware of our enemies that could focus on them in mistake. Those who would threaten them are our enemies and others shouldn't have to suffer in our place. I will see to the host and find out where this Xanatos lives and discover a way to meet with him and his gargoyle allies."

"Whatever." Doyle grumbled. "Have it your way. Screw this – I'm out. Since this town will be our new home. I'll be back before dawn."

Curran moved but Morrigan caught his arm and pulled him back, allowing the malcontent gargoyle to walk straight out the door. After a few moments Morrigan whispered, "Let him go. All keeping him here is doing is making him more obstinate. He would have left either way, at least this way he goes without a fight from you and he'll come back with more ease."

"You're right." Curran cupped her face in his hands. "As you often are."

After a moment of affectionate glances passing between them they drew apart to find Kerry missing as well.

"I'm going for her." Curran hurried toward the door without a second thought.

Again Morrigan jerked him back by catching his wrist and giving his arm a good pull. "You worry too much my love. She needs as much space as Doyle."

"But she's too flighty and gullible. Doyle is hard and ambitious…to a fault – he's a survivor."

"And she's a warrior, she can handle her own even if she brings many of her problems upon herself. They're in no more danger than they'd be if you were at their side. Let them be. Besides, if all is right Kerry is likely in Doyle's shadow."

Brooklyn and Lexington were just soaring into the night from Castle Wyvern's battlements as the moon inched further into the sky. Mostly Brooklyn wanted to get away from Broadway and Angela wrapped up in each other and Lexington hoped to stop by Elisa's where she might have some new news on police gadgets he could toy with.

Life had been stale for both of them as they spent a good deal of time confined to the castle because of the Quarryman threat. Generally they could still come and go as they pleased but both were well aware of the possible danger hidden in every night shadow and all of the gargoyles took it very seriously.

They landed on a rooftop adjacent to Elisa's apartment building. They were careful and cautious. It was well known that Elisa was a gargoyle sympathizer and therefore she was often watched by the Quarrymen, in secret: Elisa knew this, the gargoyles knew this, but few others knew how dangerous the situation actually was.

"Brooklyn." Lexington reached out and tugged on the crimson gargoyle's wing as they perched precariously on the sill of a high rise. The second in command peeked down at the smaller gargoyle to find him pointing up into the sky. "Demona?"

Brooklyn's eyes turned northward to see the black silhouette of a female gargoyle on the velvety night sky back drop. He felt his blood pump hard in his veins and the hair on his neck stand on end. His eyes lit dangerously and he growled lowly, "Let's check it out."

"Wait!" Lexington grabbed his wrist as the gargoyle moved down. "Maybe it's a trap."

Another deep growl escaped Brooklyn's throat as the silhouette dove in a quick fashion toward them. She darted lower and closer to them in an awkward movement. Brooklyn couldn't see past the anger he was feeling as it consumed him, he would never overcome his hatred of Demona, but Lexington could clearly tell that the form was not Demona and that she was running from something by her hasty pathing.

She landed hard on the glass paneling of Elisa's apartment. Her pale skin was several shades lighter blue than Demona's despite her flushed cheeks. She was breathing hard and trying to catch her balance on the smooth surface. Her wings beat quickly to help keep her upright. She twisted her neck around several times looking in all directions. Finally she threw her head back and shouted. "If you want a fight then show yourself and FIGHT!"

"That's not Demona." Lexington pointed out as she was well within their view now, but it was obvious that Brooklyn had already made note of his error as his eyes were no longer glowing and a fearful expression was etched on his face.

"She's in trouble." No sooner had the words left Brooklyn's mouth and a weighted net came down over the gargoyle shattering Elisa's window and trapping her under it. "Come on, we have to help her." Brooklyn and Lexington took to the sky despite the numerous Quarrymen that were already visible in Elisa's apartment.