There was a stream of that musical language from outside the cabin, and then the crowd parted.

Elisa looked over her shoulder and spotted a pair of gargoyles, one male and one female, enter the doorway. Both were tall, muscular and as red as the rock formations outside during the daylight.

"What is the meaning of this?" The female snarled. "Is this how you Americans repay our hospitality?"

"Not normally," Elisa said between her gritted teeth. "But it's not every day that one of the clan's children is attacked by someone in their sleep."

The female eyed Liam. "The child appears to be uninjured."

"Not him," Elisa ground out.

"Me," Nayeli said, stepping out from behind her taller brother. "He hurt me."

"Hmmm," The female said, tapping her finger to her chin. "And how did he hurt you in such a brief time? Have you not only just awakened?"

"No," Nayeli said, lifting her chin. "I don't go into stone sleep as the others do."

The female hesitated, and the male stepped forward. "Do you have a name, young one?"

"My name is Nayeli Hope Maza, and I am from the Manhattan clan." Nayeli said proudly.

The man began struggling again, almost managing to unseat Elisa as the male reached down to almost casually grasp the man's wrists in a single hand.

Elisa hopped to her feet as the Australian male lifted the suspect.

At the sound of breaking glass, everyone froze and looked at the floor where a glass vial had shattered, the blood it had contained, though not much, began spreading into a puddle.

"So it is true," The female snarled, turning to confront the man. "What is the meaning of this, Auton?"

"Auton?" Elisa asked in shock, she walked around the now dangling man, twisting in the gargoyle's grasp, and looked in disbelief at the face of the doctor. "What the hell?"

He bared his teeth at her, all but spitting in rage. "I wasn't going to hurt her," he snarled. "I was just taking a little bit of blood."

"For what purpose?" The female gargoyle asked, her face blank.

"Do you know how much people would pay for a sample of that thing's blood?" he shouted, still kicking his legs in frustration. "Now that the gargoyles are out in the public's eyes, scientists are already putting a call out for information and samples from them. They're paying top dollar, too."

"So, for money," the female said sadly. "You would betray us, dishonor yourself and your people, for money?"

"To get out of here and stay out?" Auton asked angrily. "For that, I would do almost anything."

"You may get your wish," the female said sadly, shaking her head. "But that is not my decision alone." She turned and called instructions to a group of the humans at the door.

As the humans came forward, one strong man on each of the doctor's arms, they escorted their prisoner outside.

"What will happen?" Elisa asked, rubbing at the tired muscles in her arms.

"He will have to answer to his tribal elders," the female said. "They will decide his punishment. I would humbly apologize. You have been mistreated on our lands. What can we do to make it up to you."

Elisa shook her head, moving to inspect her daughter's arm. "You don't need to answer for another's greedy actions," Elisa said, gently rubbing her thumb over the rapidly bruising area. "But if you have a bandage I can put on this to keep the bruising down, that would help."

"Of course," the female said. "I am Talia, and I am the leader here. This is Koa, my second in command. He will escort you to the Clinic personally, and stay with you until the trial is completed and the decision made."

Elisa nodded. "Keep pressure on it, Nayeli," Elisa said softly to her daughter, then turned to her son. "Liam, are you alright?"

Liam nodded. "I think I got banged up a little. Man, Mom," he said shaking his head. "You always make that look so easy."

"Sorry to disillusion you, my son," Elisa said, trying to lighten the mood as they exited the cabin.

"Nah," Liam said with a grin. "That just means that you're just a little more badass in my eyes."

"Liam," Elisa groaned. "Language."

"Sorry," He said, rolling his eyes and making Nayeli laugh.