Kurt loved to fly. Some Gargoyles preferred to stay just above tree level but Kurt, he loved soaring as high as he could then diving toward the ground until he was almost out of control. His parents hated when he did it so he waited until he was flying with Finn or with friends. His life, especially lately, was planned out to the second and flying was the only way to felt on control of something, even if it was small.
Kurt had never been on a date; Blaine would be his first and only boyfriend, then his husband. It wasn't an appealing idea. Some Gargoyles dreamed of the day they were allowed to meet the one their parents chose for them but his parents had to make his match out of a necessity for their clan. Their numbers had taken a hit due to a few younger Gargoyles from their clan either choosing to leave, or in one case being banished from the clan. That had been a hard time for them all, and the clan's first and only banishment. Santana Lopez had been found guilty of purposely injuring a fellow clan mate and her punishment, decided by Kurt's parents, was banishment. Kurt didn't know if she'd joined another clan or had become rogue but he didn't care to know. Santana had hurt Finn, Sam, and a young Gargoyle named Rory who'd taken to following them around with a bad case of hero worship, and Kurt wasn't forgiving her. Not that she was apologetic about what she'd done.
"Kurt, you ready to head back in yet?" Finn called from somewhere behind him. Kurt realized the sun would be up in just under an hour. He'd completely lost track of time while flying and that was dangerous.
"Yeah," Kurt replied. "I can see a lake down there. Let's stop and get something to drink before we head back."
"Sounds good," Sam agreed and led the way, landing softly on the grass beside the lake. Kurt landed next with Finn following a second later.
"Kurt?" Finn asked and Kurt realized he'd been staring at the lake, not moving and not answering his brother's calls. "What's wrong?"
Kurt shrugged. Something felt off but he couldn't place his finger on it. He'd been to the lake before and it was safe, it was within their clan border, but something was unfamiliar.
"Is there someone here?" he looked at Sam. Sam was one of the clan's best scouts and trackers and if anyone could tell if someone had been at the lake recently, it would be him.
"I'll look around," Sam quickly disappeared into the woods while Finn stepped closer to Kurt. Kurt let his younger brother think he was protecting him, but the truth was if there was any danger, Kurt was the older one and he'd protect Finn.
"Think we should leave?" Finn looked around but he couldn't see anything that would make Kurt nervous.
"Not yet," Kurt shook his head. He needed to know if Sam found anything or if his impending wedding was making him crazy.
Sam yelled for them and they took off running toward his voice. They found him kneeling over a pile of feathers but as they drew closer, they realized it was wings. Sam had found a male Gargoyle, unconscious and badly beaten. Kurt didn't recognize him from any of the nearby clans so either he'd travelled a long way or he was rogue, and rogues could be dangerous.
"Should we take him back with us?" Sam looked at the brothers for an answer. It would be Kurt's decision as the oldest and highest ranking Gargoyle in their midst.
"He's hurt," Finn pointed out. Kurt didn't have to ask to know what Finn's opinion would be. His brother would bring home a deadly lion if the thing was injured.
"Let's get him to Mom and Dad," Kurt cast a look at the brightening sky. "And let's do it quickly. The sun's coming up."