Disclaimer; Gargoyles are the sole property of Walt Disney/Buena Vista.
Summary; Strange dreams are plaguing Goliath. The pack is bored and seeks excitement. This creates problems for the clan, but worse still something in Goliath is changing too.
Author's Notes; This story is another slight cross-over with Rurouni Kenshin.
New Awakenings, Part #1
Manhattan, 1999 AD
He was dreaming. He knew it, and yet at the same time, he knew he wasn't. This was a vision. He witnessed an event in his clan's history, one never experienced by his own eyes. There was a battle. Humans and gargoyles desperately fought against a monstrous evil which brought death and desolation upon Scotland. He saw an ancient, decrepit castle, the fortress, of a most terrible foe. In the blink of an eye, it crumbled. The land supporting it broke apart and one corner of it drifted away, cast off into the sea like a gigantic ship. Flames, smoke and dark mists swirled before his eyes, and a voice spoke.
"Beware him! The evil one comes!"
Goliath flinched at the voice. He knew it and yet he didn't know it.
A young, haggard looking man appeared before him, draped in black robes made of fire lizard skin. They danced around his slender body with maddening fury. He laughed maniacally and held before him a large ruby stone which had been cut into the shape of a heart. It was a lopsided shape, but there was no denying the phenomenal powers that blazed from its core.
"The power of the heart stone is mine!" the man cried.
Suddenly, the strange stone is sucked away. A beautiful case encrusted in gold and precious gems had opened behind the stranger, casting holy light upon him. A shadow held the case aloft and nothing the robed stranger could do saved him from being sucked inside. As the case closed, Goliath caught a glimpse of the shadow's identity and found him to be startlingly familiar; he was a gargoyle, and he knew him!
White light blinds him. When it faded Manhattan's skyline was left in ruin. Flames dyed the skies the color of blood. Not a living thing could be seen. Panic and rage crushed him. What was this madness? Where was his clan? Where were the people?
Another flash of light distorted the vision and a new figure appeared before him. He stumbled backwards, stunned out of his mind, for much to his amazement, the legendary Lady Dragon floated before him. Her eyes sparkled with earnest. Her fists were clenched in desperation, but her gentle face glowed with hope, faith and love. He couldn't help but feel that it was all directed at him.
"Goliath!" she called to him, opening her arms wide. "You must awaken him. Awaken our Guardian, Goliath."
The light that surrounded her intensified to unbelievable proportions until he actually felt pain course through his skin. The scenes of destruction and grief melted away, leaving only that blinding whiteness . . . and then silence and the gratifying darkness of an empty mind.
"Our future depends on you!"
Goliath's eyes snapped open. He burst awake from his stone skin, roaring in rage and desperation. He collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. Voices called out to him, but he barely registered them. A surge of power had pelted him with incredible force, and something told him it had come from within.
Finally registering his friends' presence, he looked up at them. Their faces danced before his eyes and it took several seconds for the world to lie still as it should. He shook his head and felt someone, was it Hudson? – reach out to steady him.
"Hey! Goliath, snap out of it! C'mon! You're scaring the kids!"
Goliath made an effort to stand, but wavered. Several more hands reached out to steady him immediately.
"Father, what's wrong?" Angela's voice was heavy with desperation. He could smell the tears that were waiting to fall. He tried to respond, but his voice wouldn't work.
"Stand back, lads! Give him room!"
Hudson's voice now. His old mentor knew what to do, as usual.
"Goliath-sama?" said a new voice, Katana, as she helped him to stand at last. He waved her off gratefully and put a hand to his brow.
Why the devil am I so disoriented!? He wondered bitterly, growing very agitated very quickly.
He shook his head.
"Goliath?" Brooklyn asked, calm as usual. "You alright?"
Goliath nodded at last. "I'm . . . I'm fine . . . now."
"Oh, father! What happened?" cried Angela as she suddenly held him very tightly.
"I – I don't know," he replied shakily. "I've never woken so disoriented before. That dream . . . so powerful . . . sapped my strength."
He felt, rather than saw, the others look at each other.
"That must've been some dream," Lexington noted shakily. "I've never heard you snarl like that before."
"And that weird light . . .!" Broadway added. "I thought it was lightning at first, but there are no clouds."
Goliath finally managed to look at his clan fully, but the world was still blurry and spinning dizzily. "What?" he said.
"I don't know, but it was weird," Broadway said with a slight shiver. "You sort of jumped out of your skin and then that light . . . It was weird."
Goliath shivered and turned his gaze away from them, suddenly very uncomfortable. Only now was his mind starting to clear properly, but the images of the dream still remained as vivid and sharp as they had when they first appeared. He couldn't help wondering what it might mean and if it was some sort of plea from beyond the grave.
"Awaken the Guardian, Goliath!"
Goliath's eyes snapped open.
"Goliath-sama," Sata forward and gently took his arm and lead him away. "Let us get you inside. You must rest."
Goliath nodded dumbly and allowed himself to be lead away.
Once they got to the library, he was seated in his favorite recliner and allowed to lean back and catch his breath. By now, his body was no longer shaking quite as badly, nor was he sweating – which seemed odd since gargoyles typically had no sweat glands. His breathing was deep and even, but his still ached and his skin tingled. It was the oddest sensation.
"Here father," said Angela's voice suddenly and he looked at her, thankful that his vision was clear again although the light in the library hurt his eyes. "Eat this. Maybe it will help."
Goliath glanced at the plate in her hands and noted the multiple pieces of toast with butter and honey. Immediately, his stomach began to rumble and he gratefully reached to eat. Interestingly enough, Broadway didn't even bother to make a grab for the food and share. His thoughts were so consumed with worry for Goliath that for once he thought of nothing else, but Goliath was quickly becoming uneasy sitting there in uncomfortable silence, eating the toast as every member of the clan kept their eyes on him.
Must they all stare at me so? he thought in irritation.
"Goliath, you feeling better?" Brooklyn asked as he placed a reassuring hand on his leader's strong shoulder.
Goliath nodded. "I will be fine," he muttered and swallowed down the last piece of toast. "Thank you, Angela. I think that helped."
"You're welcome, feather," Angela said as she took the plate and handed it to Broadway. "There's tea on the lamp table if you want it. It's an herbal blend. Sata told me once that it helps with dizziness."
"Thank you," he rumbled again, and massaged his head.
"What did you see in that dream?" Lexington asked, breaking the momentary silence that fell between them.
He thought a moment. "It was . . . strange. It was like a plea for help."
Angela blinked at him. "A plea?"
Goliath nodded. "Yes. I saw the past. Not our own. It was a time before us, before Clan Wyvern."
"Before the clan?" repeated Ariana.
"Yes," Goliath replied. "I witnessed the battle against the human sorcerer, Constantine, I saw the Heart Stone, his source of power, the Golden Case . . . and I saw Lady Dragon."
Brooklyn's eyes went wide. "The Lady Dragon?"
"Whoa!" gasped Lexington.
"She's, like, one of our first ancestors!" Broadway said in amazement. "One of them, at least."
"What did she say, lad?" Hudson asked.
Goliath hesitated a moment. "That I must awaken the Guardian, but I do not understand what she means."
Lexington and Graeme scratched their heads. "How would you do that?" Graeme wondered.
"And what is the 'Guardian', anyway?" Broadway asked.
Goliath suddenly found himself looking at Broadway in shock. Didn't the lad know? He knew the legends had been told more than once to each generation, and yet, Broadway seemed oblivious.
Goliath looked around at the others. Only Angela could really boast a right to obscurity in this. Raised on Avalon, she knew nothing of their clan's history. The others knew better. Brooklyn and his family appeared shocked, and yet oddly peaceable. Hudson was thoughtful and Lexington seemed doubtful. Bronx and Nudnik just blinked at him with concern, and Angela . . . well, the poor child just seemed lost.
Goliath sighed heavily. Heaven help me!
Destine Manor
Demona growled a sigh of excitement as she watched the stars from the skylight in her attic den. They seemed to move into a strange alignment and a message only she could understand was displayed before her. Candles were lit on every side of her as scrolls of ancient legends and prophecies littered the floor before her to add emphasis to the moment. A strange feeling prevailed in the attic as everything around her began to glow with an ethereal magic.
"At last, the time has come!" she hissed to herself and looked back down at the scrolls. "As for told, 'The One' has been chosen. Soon HE will be free again and the world will be rid of all humanity!!"
Eyes glowing a deep, blood red, Demona stared down at the scrolls. She'd finally come upon them after years of searching and they'd turned up in the most unlikely of places; the black market.
She'd found them after a luncheon where she had discussed business with the CEO of another company. They had been locked inside a decorative case on a display table at the side of the street. She'd recognized its significance immediately. It had been decorated with symbols and figures representing a time before her own where great battles were waged between humans and gargoyles. Believing it could help her she'd purchased it straight away and took it home.
Now, weeks later, she had come to a full understanding of the prophecies foretold on the scroll. She knew that it was nearly time to release an ancient power into the world, and she would be the one to release him. Doing so would win her his favor and he would spare her daughter's life, and maybe the rest of the gargoyle race, as well. Of course, a few choice individuals could be done away with. She had no qualms there, but the rest of the world would surely have to be destroyed.
Sighing, Demona scanned the scrolls, searching for a clue she knew was missing. It had been nagging at her, yet she could never discover what it was. There was always something missing. It was dangerous when something was missing in a prophecy. For her daughter's sake she had to be careful. She would not let her be killed!
Finally, Demona growled a sigh and gave up the search. Whatever oversight there was would just have to wait. Time was growing dangerously short and she had to be there to prevent anything from going wrong, especially when it came to Goliath. The scrolls had mentioned specifically that the 'Son of Odomus' could not be allowed to interfere. He would stop Constintien's return.
At first, she had thought nothing of the warnings when she had first read through them. She had known that she could defeat any fool that came against her. But then, she had turned the page. Her scream of fury and disbelief had circled the island for minutes. The picture on the second to the last page was all too familiar to her; it was Goliath. HE was the Son of ODomus.
"Nevertheless," she snarled to herself as she folded up a scroll and tucked it in her belt. "I must do what I must. The scrolls give the clue. I must find a way to beat Goliath to where HE remains, lest my goals be shattered! The Guardian has been gone for too long and has allowed the human race to persecute us long enough! It will be good for the last Guardian to die before his time is come!"
Demona hissed vengefully and placed a finger on the nearest scroll as she read through a passage. "'The descendant of the Great Lord shall set flesh against magic to unlock the Golden Chest that traps his majesty. In Wyvern lo, he will be free to crush the world of all who oppose him!'"
She grinned then frowned uncertainly. "But a bargain may stay his hand against my race," she muttered hopefully. "He will be indebted to me for my services and will not lift a hand against my daughter! Yes, yes that shall be the way of it. He will protect my daughter and show his mercy upon my race."
Sighing contentedly, she turned to look at the stars once more, never realizing just how twisted her life was about to become.
Castle Wyvern, the Eyrie Building
Goliath sighed and looked glumly around the library. He hadn't dared leave it even as the others had finally gone off to do their own things. Even then the concern they had for their leader had escalated.
Not even half an hour had passed since sunset when funny things started to happen. His irritation had nearly gotten the better of him when the clan refused to let the matter be and the next thing he knew, a vase on the table next to him exploded as if struck. Everyone had jumped, including himself, but after searching, no one could find the projectile that had broken the vase and spilled water and flowers all over the dark cherry furnishings.
After cleaning up the mess, the clan began dispersing. Angel stayed close to her father and kept giving him strange looks. As his irritation mounted, two shelves on a nearby bookshelf collapsed, spilling books onto the floor. The surprised convinced Graeme and Ariana that they were dealing with a vengeful spirit and started spouting off nonsense like, "Don't come any closer! We know Jason and Grant!", or "We'll call TAPS on you and get you evicted!"
Not one of the clan knew what or who they were talking about, but decided to use the moment to ease the tension in the air. They started joking about the two incidents and reminded each other that they were completely random. Yet they couldn't deny the strange energy that pulsated in the room and seemed strongest next to Goliath.
At Hudson's bidding, the clan finally left Goliath to his own thoughts. Angela was the last to leave. Not much was spoken but her quiet concern and promise to help had calmed his brimming temper.
It was safe to say that Elisa had been the most concerned. After talking to Lexington on the phone she had dropped by and anxiously sought him out in the library. He had been annoyed with her anxiety, true enough, but he had been touched by her devotion more than anything else. The odd sensation in the air had ebbed with the touch of her hand and they'd enjoyed several moments of silent companionship until she had left for work again.
Oh, my dear Elisa. How content I am in your presence. Your touch eases my mind. Unfortunately, I cannot decipher the reason for such a violent reaction to a dream. Was I really being called on for help?
Sighing, he thumbed through some old newspaper clippings and happened upon an article about an attempted robbery by members of the Quarrymen faction. He remembered the incident all too well. The red-haired swordsman had caused quite a stir. They'd only seen him on occasion since then and most of the time it was while he was running simple errands like grocery shopping, or getting gas for his new truck. Yet he always seemed aware of their presence. Several times over the past two years, Goliath had caught him staring at them without fear. Once, he had even smiled.
Two years . . . Two years since this madness had started. Has it been so long already? The museum has been doing well enough. There have been few attempted robberies since then. Still . . .
Goliath sighed and began pacing the library. He was grateful that his legs no longer shook quite so badly, but the fire in his skin lingered. There was a constant buzzing in his ear and his heart gave a little twitter every time one of the clan passed by, only they weren't passing by as he suddenly noted. They were in another wing of the castle entirely. Somehow, he realized, he was 'sensing' them, not 'seeing' them.
What is happening to me? The last time I had sensations like this . . . Brooklyn! His journey through the gate! Did the magic of the gate somehow awaken something inside of me? No, it couldn't be. It was so long ago, and I . . . I do not have magic!
Or . . . or do I?
Goliath rubbed his face with his hands as he walked in a circle, confused, frustrated and worried. He kept going back to the dream and the journal. He hadn't touched it in over two years except last night when he had dared himself to read it again as if it could answer some question he hadn't known he had. Maybe that was what had caused the dream? No, someone had sent him that dream.
Ridiculous! How could they, and why now of all times?
"Because the Quarrymen threat has passed and the Unseelie are defeated," said a feminine voice suddenly inside his head. "Experiences of the past lead to preparedness for the future."
Goliath whirled around and cast his eyes about the library, searching every shadow and scrutinizing every shape. The voice had been so near it felt as though someone had been standing right behind him, speaking.
He took a step back and forced himself to take deep, calming breaths. This was getting out of hand.
Just then, a strange sound filled the room. He looked towards a bookcase which rested against the far wall on the opposite side of the library. He had the strangest feeling something was there, beckoning him.
Stiffening with alertness, Goliath slowly stepped towards the bookcase as a strange howl sounded throughout the room. A muscle in his cheek twitched the closer he got. He listened and, oddly, 'sensed' for whatever lingered in that wall. He paused when a glow illuminated a seam around the bookcase. He saw a shadow move across the glow, pausing only a moment before completely disappearing. He took another step forward and stopped when he heard the rustling of loose bricks.
Growling, Goliath reached the bookcase and examined it. A shallow wind began to howl again. He felt its cool breath against his skin and shivered. He reached out and grasped the book case. He pulled back on it – and suddenly jumped away with a yelp of surprise when the wall and the bookcase both came crumbling down with a loud crash to reveal a secret room bathed in light.
Goliath snarled and covered his eyes until the blinding brightness had dimmed. A gentle hum filled the small room and something in the center caught his attention. It was a crumbling pedestal of stone and sitting atop it was a golden medallion. It was triangular in shape, almost like a shield and literally burned with power. It reminded him of the forever gone Phoenix Gate, but its interior was red and decorated with a dragon rather than a fiery bird.
Goliath gasped in shock as he beheld it. It gleamed with an ageless power that far outstretched that of the Phoenix Gate. It was also far older, and yet was not pitted and damaged – or even now destroyed – from constant use.
Slowly, almost reluctantly, Goliath stepped forward and plucked the medalion off of the pedestal and held it tightly in his hands, examining it. He recognized it somehow. He remembered it from long ago. Someone had carried it, used it, but the memory was clouded.
"Goliath!" Brooklyn shouted from behind him. "Are you all – um, right?"
Brooklyn and the others stopped and stared. Goliath turned to his clan as they rushed into the library. He stood in that empty little room, his earthy brown tunic and loincloth with dark leather pants, as well as the rest of him, surrounded in an ethereal glow.
"What happened in here, Goliath?" asked Lexington as he entered the hidden chamber. Graeme followed him wide eyed and grinning, but he said nothing.
"I don't remember this room," Broadway said.
"Nor do I," Goliath replied quietly as he continued to study the arm guard. "The wall collapsed and then . . . I found this."
He showed the object to his clan and they gaped in surprise.
"What is that, father?" Angela asked in confusion, curiously fingering the object. Hudson watched her, a strange look on his face.
Brooklyn stepped up to Goliath. "May I?" he asked and Goliath handed it to him, puzzled at the Time Dancer's strange grin as he knelt to show it to his children.
"Sugoi! That's really it!" gasped Ariana quietly. "The Seal of the Guardians."
"Shhh!!" hissed Graeme, although he too was gazing at it with a strong sense of adoration and excitement. Goliath and the others just shared a puzzled, if somewhat suspicious look.
"Maa, maa," chided Katana gently as she stepped forward and ushered her children aside while Brooklyn – rather carefully, as though it were some fragile piece of porcelain that would shatter at the slightest touch – handed the medallion back to Goliath. "Let's let them have their space, shall we?"
Graeme and Ariana nodded somewhat sheepishly and stepped back obediently.
"Well," sighed Brooklyn as he straightened and patted Goliath on the shoulder. "I guess we'd better tell Xanatos about the crumpled wall. He'd like to know about it I'm sure."
Goliath muttered something unintelligible and then stuck the medallion in the pouch he still carried at his side. "I will hang on to this," he announced, still a little moody, as he turned to leave the library. "Heaven knows it might provide a clue to all this madness."
"Yeah, sure," stumbled Broadway as he and Angela stepped aside to let him pass.
It was near dawn and never had it been a gloomier night.
Hudson sighed as he turned from the clock on the library wall and watched Owen investigate the collapsed wall. He seemed to know that there were paranormal forces at work. The pedestal seemed of particular interest to him. He seemed as determined as the rest of them to discover who had left the medallion, but Hudson knew. He knew a warrior who had used a medallion just like the one Goliath had found and it could transform into a magnificent shield.
He hadn't thought about that warrior, or even the medallion, for dozens of years, but now . . .
He left the library and headed towards the recreation room, his thoughts traveling back to a time when Goliath was still young, a time when sorcery was rampant and hell and death had visited the clan.
Flashback
Scotland, 971 AD -
The storm had hit suddenly, startling everyone and dampening their strength. Othello, Desdemon, Thersities and Asriel were down, imprisoned in enchanted mud which had risen around them like great waves and solidified into a substance harder than stone. Hudson struggled to stand a few feet away from them but he too was encased in a strange substance that twisted and creaked like rubber. It would not break no matter how pulled at it. Not even gargillian strength could snap this trap.
He stared ahead, eyes blazing with fear as a battle ensued, one that had begun months ago with appearance of a young dragon near Castle Wyvern. A witness and near victim to murder, he fled for his life after his mother died, slain by a devilish sorcerer and self-made dragon slayer. His mother's magic gone, he had no hope of finding the rest of his family or reaching the secret place so many dragons had fled too in recent years, and still he was hunted.
Desiring to protect their new friend and help him return home, the clan had selected a group of warriors to take the battle to their enemies, and so far they had encountered greater power and resistance than they could have ever dreamed. Not even the Archmage could have woven spells like these, one of which had ensnared their new friend, the Dragon whose name was Skye, in a mass of crystalline vines that sapped his strength with each passing moment. He'd been unwilling to let his friends face this new enemy alone, and now he was suffering for his nobility.
Yet, he was not the only one.
Goliath, the clan's Second in Command and the greatest warrior of the clan, now received the brunt of the sorcerer's fury. Strong and determined, he was willing to die before he let this enemy take his friend's life. A bolt of lightning struck the ground a foot in front of him with enough force to throw the young gargoyle backwards with a cry. The sorcerer, his name still unknown to them, laughed maniacally and ran forward while Skye and Hudson looked on helplessly.
Goliath staggered to his feet, his strength failing him at last. Taking advantage of his weakness, the sorcerer swung his staff with enough force to throw the young gargoyle into a petrified tree. He smacked his head hard enough to knock off a strange ornament he'd worn over his brow since birth and immediately golden light flared to life, blinding the sorcerer. He stumbled back, snarling furiously, but watched as Goliath slumped to the ground, a new mark visible in the center of his brow.
"WHAT?!"
The sorcerer's startled cry matched the bewilderment in their hearts. The mark was alarmingly familiar.
The storm grew quiet as the sorcerer flew to Goliath and hoisted him into the air by the hair on his head. The gargoyle had little strength left to resist and merely snarled in painful defiance. There was nothing worse for a gargoyle than knowing you had failed to protect those you loved. He endured the sorcerer's scrutiny with as much dignity as he possibly could, but found that the glare in those pale yellow eyes filled him with a terror he could not express.
Then, the sorcerer laughed. "I don't believe it!" he bellowed and slammed Goliath against the tree. "You've no idea of the trouble that I have gone too to find you, boy! All these years of hunting, all those long days of searching . . . finally they have come to fruit!"
"What are you talking about?" Goliath glowered.
"I'm talking about you," he purred. "Have I not already stated my intentions to restore power to my ancestor, the Dark Lord Constantine? The stones were necessary in seeking out the Son of Odomus, who is rumored to live. My ancestor believes he slew both sons by magic BEFORE they could be conceived, but LO! Here is one! And by revealing yourself so plainly before me, you have made my search that much simpler. Now instead of using the stones to seek you out, I will kill you myself and use the stones to give power to me and seek out the resting place of Constantine!"
"NO!" Skye cried, his voice mingling with Hudson's as both tried once more to free themselves and rescue their comrade.
They watched as the earth slithered up Goliath's body like some gigantic land-living eel and encased him in the same substance as his rookery kin. Goliath struggled in vein against it, watching in horror as the sorcerer's spear twisted into an insanely long spear aimed for his heart. The sorcerer let out a mad cry and drove the spear down . . . and was driven back by a large shield, one neither of them had seen before.
Three new roars drowned out the angry rumbling of thunder and Goliath, Hudson and Skye looked up in surprise as the Elder Wanderer and two others tackled the sorcerer.
"This ends now!" the Elder Wanderer snarled, taking the shield in his hand and willing it to take the shape of a great lance.
The sorcerer hissed. "You come too late! Vengeance is ours, Odomus Kin Slayer!"
They rushed at each other, their weapons clashing together, but the Elder Wanderer proved a far better warrior than the sorcerer. A graceful arc, swung from right to left, neatly sliced the spear and the sorcerer in two. A look of shock crossed the sorcerer's face and then he grinned wickedly.
"A life for a life, Odomus," he hissed and wiggled a finger before he exploded in a blast of light. A shock wave of energy blasted the clearing and then everyone was free.
Behind him, Goliath cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground, his strange stony prison shattering to pieces. The other two newcomers, the Lady Wanderer and the Elder Nassia, whirled around and screamed. The Elder Wanderer turned and saw too late what the sorcerer's trickery had done; a small piece of metal, chipped off from the sorcerer's staff, had embedded itself in Goliath's chest.
"GOLIATH!!"
The Elder Wanderer dropped his weapon to the ground. It changed from a lance, to a shield and then finally into the small medallion Hudson had often seen hanging at his waist. Everyone soon found themselves hovering around Goliath as he struggled to breath.
"Brother!" Skye cried, and stumbled over to the group. "Get away. Get away! Let me in!"
He had to nose his way through. Everyone was distraught. Even as Asriel and Thersities started to move, Goliath began to grow pale and still. Othello and Desdemona were already staggering over, shocked to learn their second was wounded.
"No!" Skye sighed and nuzzled his friend's cheek.
"Get him back to the castle!" Hudson snarled. "He needs a medic!"
"No time," Skye sobbed. "But, I can help."
A glow surrounded Skye as he lifted a particularly large scale and opened a section of his own chest cavity. It wasn't a deep wound, in fact it wasn't a wound at all. The scale he lifted rested over a small cavity which, when peeled away, revealed a tiny fleshy chamber right over his breast bone. Inside that chamber was a small, strange, pulsating bit of flesh much like a small heart. Without wincing in pain, Skye plucked a piece from it and rested it against Goliath's breast. He began to glow the same color as Skye and for several seconds his agonized fit grew worse until he relaxed and drew a deep breath. The glow faded and the wound was gone. No one but Hudson and the Elder Wanderers took notice on the mark that rested on Goliath's brow.
"You'll live now, and you'll never taste of death so long as that flesh is merged with your heart," Skye said and affectionately nuzzled Goliath's muddy, blood streaked face.
"Skye . . ." Goliath moaned. "The intent was to save you."
Skye shook his head, then sat down, dizzy from the movement. "Turns out I was not his ultimate goal, dear friend."
The Elder Wanderer placed a hand on Skye's large shoulder. "Lad, we owe ye a great debt."
Skye shook his head. "No more than I owe you."
The Elder sighed and stooped to lift Goliath into his arms. "Come. Let us return tae the castle."
Everyone complied. Before taking off, the Lady Wanderer replaced the ornament Golaith had worn for so long. Skye hobbled home slowly with Othello and Desdemona at his side, too weak to fly. Hudson lingered a moment, staring at the medallion which had saved them all from further disaster. He knew he'd never forget this night as he picked it up. There was something of importance in these events and he wouldn't rest until he understood them.
End flashback
Manhattan, 1999 AD -
Hudson woke with a start at the sound of Bronx's intent barking. He looked around and found himself in the clan's recreation room, lounging comfortably in his favorite recliner. He looked out the door to see Graeme and Ariana rush by with Nudnik hot on their heels. Bronx barked again from further up the hall and he listened as the twins and Nudnik bounded after him until the sound of their joy faded away.
He sighed and looked out the window near his chair. He hadn't intended to doze off, but the dream's lingering effects were stark and troubling. He knew signs of things to come when he saw them and this was one of those signs. Arianna had been right when she'd called that strange object the Seal of the Guardians. He just hadn't made that connection, at least not until now. It had never once dawned on him that the Elder Wanderer truly was Odomus, a descendant of Reul and an ancestor of the present Wyvern Clan.
Grumbling, he sat up and glared at the television. It had been turned off long ago, probably by one of the clan when they'd noticed in passing that he was asleep – again. It usually irritated him to no end, but tonight he was too distracted to care. It couldn't be a coincidence that the journal of Lady Dragon and the Seal of the Guardian appear within two years time and right under their noses. What was happening? Were there clues in these artifacts and also in his dream?
Shaking his head, he got up from the chair and left the room. He would talk to Goliath about his dream tomorrow. Maybe together they'd figure things out. Even so, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were all becoming a part of something very big.
To be continue . . .
