"We have been here a long time," Lyra said from the far end of the table.
"Do you know the legends of the Sirens?" Selah asked, her head tilted in curiosity.
"Oh, aye," Hudson said, stroking his beard in thought. "T'was said that they used their voices to lure sailors onto the rocks."
Sonata scoffed, earning her a look from Lyra and suddenly found the linen napkin on her lap fascinating.
"That was how it started," Lyra conceded, "And we used the sailor's superstitions against them."
Brooklyn frowned. "What do you mean, against them?"
Lyra waved her hand. "Sailors be superstitious. They hear singing, assume that it is a siren, then turn their ship the other way."
"Before there was the lighthouse here to light the way," Brio said, "We were here. We care for this little piece of Ireland, and watch out for those who be lost or heading for danger."
"We sing," Harmony said. "Even with such modern gadgets aboard the ships now, there are still those who try to get too close to the rocks."
"And those who live here," Shannon broke in, "know that when the gargoyles' voices are heard, that there may be someone in need of help. They don't necessarily know who is singing," Shannon shrugged, "or at least they didn't until recently, but everyone in Ardmore knows that the song only happens when there is a need."
"And how did you meet the clan?" Hudson asked the woman.
"Oh," she laughed. "My family, the O'Sheas, have known about them almost from the moment they began caring for the lighthouse. It was my great-great…" she trailed off thinking, "I'm not sure how many 'greats', honestly. I have a rather large and far flung family. At any rate, the story goes that the first O'Shea, a man named Daniel, who cared for the flame, found a gargoyle who had been injured during a storm. The gargoyle was named Lydian, and he and Danny formed a friendship. Later, when Danny grew too old and frail to climb the stairs and light the torch, his sons took over the care of the lighthouse. Generations later," Shannon placed a hand on her husband's arm, "O'Sheas are still here."
"I was not born an O'Shea," Flynn admitted. "My people are the Murphys, but my parents have four other boys to carry on the name and it was important to Shannon that she keep her name." Flynn shrugged. "Rather than the two of us carrying different names, I took hers so that an O'Shea would still be here."
"Although," Shannon said, a secretive smile on her face, "I had wondered if it was going to work, the night you first met the clan."
"Yes, well, uh…" Flynn flushed almost as red as his hair. "It was a bit of a surprise, that's all."
The table erupted in laughter.
"He almost flung himself off the cliff in shock," Shannon said, still laughing.
That only set off more laughter, this time Flynn joined in.
"I know that feeling," Matt said, leading the way into the small fenced area. "Sorry to interrupt, but we heard the voices."
"Come join us, lad," Hudson called out.
"Here," Brooklyn said, jumping to his feet. "You can have my seat."
Harmony blinked in surprise, then grinned.
Brooklyn… didn't know what to think about that.
Bronx came bounding into the yard, and was immediately set upon and given attention and praise.
"We had a companion like this, once," Piper said, sadness tinging his eyes. "He was old, and 'twas his time to go, but we miss him dearly."
Bronx stopped rolling on the ground, and rose to walk to Piper. He gave a soft whimper, then nuzzled the sad male's face.
"There is a clan in China," Hudson spoke to Lyra in a whisper. "They have taken on the responsibility to raise the gargoyle beasts. If you are in need of a few, you should reach out to them."
Lyra blinked at him in shock. "Thank you. We have long thought ourselves alone in the world, we never thought to see the beasts again."
Hudson nodded his understanding. "Bronx is a great comfort to me," Hudson said. "He stays with me most nights, protecting our home. If you would like, we could contact the Xanadu Clan in China for you."
"That would be greatly appreciated," Lyra said with a sad sigh. "The young ones from our last clutch, though there were only four eggs that season, were very attached to our female beast, Caprice. She has been missed."
Hudson nodded. He was lucky in that Bronx was so young yet. Hudson would have his companion beast for a time.
Then something she'd said hit him, and he looked around. "Only four eggs?"
Lyra nodded. "Melody, Harmony , Fife and Rhapsody are the youngest. You may have noticed," She said with a sad humor in her voice, "That there are not many males here, and the few that we have are mated. Four males," Lyra shrugged, "Four eggs."
Hudson gave a thoughtful hum. It was no wonder, then, that they had been greeted with such excitement. To know that you were not the last was one thing, but a possibility of mates in other clans and not having to watch your clan's numbers dwindle and die off? It was something he would have to think about. There were unattached males in other clans, he knew. Perhaps he could...
"You all have such interesting names," Garia said, breaking into the sadness that had descended over the group, and disrupting Hudson's line of thinking.
"As do you all," Harmony said, smiling. "Do your names have special meanings?"
"Well," Brooklyn said, rubbing a hand through his hair, "Goliath was given his name… a long time ago. Hudson was given his name by a friend of the clan, and the rest of us chose our names. They're the names of places around Manhattan."
"So you got to choose your names?" Melody asked.
"Yes," Brooklyn said. "Garia is from the Loch Ness clan in Scotland, and she was given her name."
Garia rolled her eyes. "We're all given names based on something about our personality or appearance. My name means 'short'. Not very original, but I guess it's better than my brother Cameron. His name means 'crooked nose', and he hates it." She laughed.
"We were all given names by the O'Shea family," Harmony said. "The first O'Shea began the tradition, and we've just kept it."
"They're all music related," Shannon laughed. "You haven't heard them sing yet, but when you do, you'll understand."
"Hold on," Flynn said, hurrying inside the house. A moment later, the strains of an old Irish tune began playing from inside. Flynn walked outside with a grin.
The Irish clan began laughing.
"We know a lot of more modern songs, thanks to the radio," Harper said. "But the older tunes are just as fine." He gave the female known as Calliope a wink and began singing a tune about a woman with a black velvet band.
Surprised, the visitors sat in awe, listening as one by one the clan took up the tune. Their voices blended seamlessly and rose on the gentle night breeze. As the tune ended, and another began, the clan began taking turns entertaining their family and guests while those who weren't singing ate.
With the exception of being outside, it was a scene from every Irish pub scene in the movies they'd ever seen.
Even Matt, who had been seated beside Shannon, was enjoying himself.
Finally, once the platters were empty, the drinks gone, Shannon clapped her hands. "Thank you all," she said with a smile. "I always enjoy nights like this, but I'm afraid that…"
Instantly, the singing and joking of the Irish clan stopped, and they all swarmed around the woman.
"Are you alright?"
"Is it time?"
"What can we do to help?"
The voices, all coming at once, their tones ones of concern, gave those visiting pause.
"Is everything alright?" Matt asked, turning with concern to the laughing woman.
"It's fine," Shannon said, her laughter rising above the voices. "They're just a little excited."
Flynn rose with a smile, and helped Shannon to her feet.
It was then that everyone saw the reason she hadn't risen to her feet.
Shannon was pregnant.
Very pregnant.
"When are you due?" Matt asked, trying to keep his voice even and not display his stereotypical male panic over being that near a pregnant woman.
She ran her hands over her extended belly. "Not for another week they say. Maybe two," she said. "I've heard first babies have a timeline all their own."
"But there are two babies," Lyra said, her calm unflappable in the face of the younger generation's excitement. "And that will make it doubly unpredictable."
"Twins," Brooklyn said with a smile. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Shannon said with a huff as she attempted to blow her bangs out of her face, since her hands were busy gripping her husband's arm. "Boys, and they're already rough housing with each other it seems."
"You must be tired," Garia said, rising from her seat and hopping to the ground. "You should go rest. We can entertain ourselves."
"I will," Shannon said with a tired sigh. "Not that I have much of a choice." This was said with a sidelong glance at Flynn.
"I'll make sure she rests," Flynn assured the clan, turning his wife back to the residential side of the lighthouse.
Once the humans had gone, the clan returned to the tables, and the true talks began.
Garia, the American gargoyles and Matt spoke to them openly about the great strides that had been taken in Manhattan. They were honest, letting them know both the good and the bad, and the Irish clan listened intently.
"I don't know if anything like your Task Force would work here," Rhapsody said, shyly. "'Tis a small village, not a big city to fight crime in."
"It doesn't have to be," Brooklyn insisted. "We're not thinking of everyone setting up task forces. The Council is more of a… a self governing body. We want to be able to watch out for everyone. Keep in contact so that no one feels alone again."
"Aye," Hudson said, rising to his feet with a groan. "'Tis a place to meet, listen and air concerns if there be some."
"To get advice," Garia added, "And a safe source of information."
Selah, the clan leader, nodded, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "But who would we send?" she mused. "And would they be expected to stay in America?"
"Most council members have returned to their clans," Brooklyn said.
"There are a few who have chosen to stay," Matt said. "The rest have set dates that they will return. Twice a year, unless there is an emergency."
Selah absorbed that information. "We will talk," she said. "How long are you planning to stay here in Ireland?"
"A few days," Hudson said. "But I'm afraid that is all we are able to spare."
Selah nodded again. "Very well," and looked around the table. "Sunrise draws near," she said, glancing at the lightening horizon. For now, let us return to our cavern to rest." She looked to Matt in concern. "Were you able to find acceptable quarters for yourself?"
It took Matt a moment, but then he nodded. "Yes. Our pilot has rented us a pair of rooms at a bed and breakfast in Ardmore."
"Ah, yes," she said now with a smile. "At the Gallagher Inn. They are a wonderful family, though the children may drive you to distraction. They are young and energetic, but they are good children nonetheless. The same family owns the local pub, and it is only a short walk from the inn. If you are hungry, that would be a good place for you to find sustenance."
"Thank you," Matt said, then attempted to hide a yawn behind his hand. "I'm afraid that after the travelling and all of this amazing food, the lack of sleep seems to have hit me. Have a good rest, yourselves, and I will see you all tomorrow."
"Good evening," the clan chorused as he turned to leave.
As the clan turned, Rhapsody grinned and began to sing. It was a fast paced, cheerful tune, and one that the rest of the clan picked up easily. In time with the tune, the clan paired off, gliding down until about midway down, they slowed.
Hidden in the deep crevices and shadows, there was a large opening, with just enough of a flat area outside for them to land two at a time and walk inside.
The foreign gargoyles took their cues from their hosts, mimicking their movements and joining them for the day's rest.
