The tour didn't take long. Ardmore was small, especially for Brooklyn and Garia who had grown used to Manhattan's massive size.
Following the three females, the five of them came to a soft landing on the room of the Gallagher pub.
"It's Friday evening," Melody said, excitedly.
Brooklyn and Garia exchanged a look, confused.
"Friday evenings, they have live music here," Harmony hurried to explain. "We like to sit here on quiet nights and listen."
"You haven't spoken with the people here?" Brooklyn asked. "I mean… you're kinda 'out' now."
"We have met a few," Rhapsody said in her quiet voice. "They are not yet… comfortable," she nodded, believing that to be the best word choice. "They are not yet comfortable with us moving openly among them."
Brooklyn frowned. He had grown used to moving about openly in Manhattan now. Granted, it was mostly helping the police and moving about in the police station houses, but he couldn't imagine going back to living entirely in the shadows.
"It is alright," Melody said, sitting on the roof around what appeared to be a skylight. "Come," she motioned for Brooklyn to join her.
He knelt next to her, and she began pointing to people. "There are the Gallagher brothers, behind the bar. That's Patrick behind the bar, he's the middle son. Callum is the eldest, and he works in the kitchen most of the time, but comes out from time to time. Their sister, Saoirse, is the youngest. She tends bar, but mostly, she brings people their food." She pointed to an older man at the bar, "That's Rory. He's old, but still walks the village with his hound every night, visiting those who are ill or frail before settling is the same place at the bar with a pint. Oh," she exclaimed softly. "There's Shane. And Adaire is with him. They're going to be singing tonight, and they have beautiful voices. Listen."
Everyone fell silent, and even the activity in the bar seemed to freeze for a moment as the boy picked up a stringed instrument and began to play. The other boy picked up an odd flute and added the sound with the first instrument.
The tune was unfamiliar, but the words came through the roof vents clear enough that they were able to enjoy the show with the others.
Brooklyn looked at the females. "You know everyone?"
They shrugged, almost in unison. "It's a small village," Rhapsody said with a smile. "'Tis hard not to know them all by name."
"But you don't talk to them?" Brooklyn pushed.
The girls exchanged a nervous look.
"We did try," Harmony said.
"Right after the news story broke," Rhapsody said, picking at the hem of her dress.
"They don't hate us," Melody hurried to add. "They just don't seem to know what to make of us."
"Well, it seems that talkin' to you would be a good start," Garia huffed, irritated on their behalf.
"It's fine, really," Rhapsody said. "We just want to give them a little time, that's all."
"Alright," Brooklyn sighed. "But someday, I hope that you are all accepted."
"Thank you," Melody said.
"Maybe we could…" Harmony began, but her eyes squinted at something in the darkness then she gasped. "Something's wrong."
Brooklyn looked around them. "What?"
"The light," she hurried to her feet. "The light went out."
The females hurried to their feet and stared at the dark tower where the guiding light should have been.
"Uh, lasses?" Garia began, pointing out to the dancing lights of the partygoers on the water. "I think you may want to put your skills to work."
The females gasped.
"It's cloudy," Brooklyn pointed out. "Not even the moon to help them see."
"The others are in the cave," Melody said. "They may not know."
A song began playing in the pub below, and Rhapsody picked up the tune. The other two immediately joined in, their voices rising on the night wind as the five of them hurried from the rooftop.
As they rose into the sky, Brooklyn took a moment to look behind them. As he suspected, if the gargoyles could hear the music outside, the humans would be able to hear the gargoyles singing inside.
A crowd of humans poured from the pub, some making exclamations about the lighthouse not working. Already, a group of them were hurrying up the hill, probably to find out what had happened.
"Garia," Brooklyn called out. "You're good with tech and electronics. Go and see what happened."
Garia nodded, and without a word, she broke off from the group and hurried to the tower.
Brooklyn struggled to keep up with the females, realizing that their split wings were more adapted to helping keep them aloft while fighting the vicious updrafts caused by the cliffs.
"...I am coming home," the females were singing, landing on the jagged rocks off of the shoreline. "I can see your rolling fields of green and fences made of stone…"
The boat was large, Brooklyn realized, and not one that would normally be in a place like this. Tourist ship, he thought with a jolt. They don't know about the legends, the singing and what it means.
"...I am reaching out, won't you take my hand…" the girls sang loudly.
The boat was close enough that Brooklyn could see the fear on the face of the man trying to steer. Instead of turning from the voices, it almost seemed as if…
"He's not going to stop," Brooklyn shouted. "Melody," he shouted to the first female he saw, "Go to the caves and get help. Get everyone."
Then, with a running start, he launched himself into the wind and caught an updraft to raise him into the air. He dove then, gaining the speed necessary to make it to the decks.
There was a shout, and a few screams, as Brooklyn landed in a skidding stop, his talons digging grooves into the wood decking.
