Across the sea, through the deep and mystical fog of Oberon, lies the land of Avalon. There is a castle perched on a cliff, overlooking the magical sea. In the light of the moon, one can see figures flying about the castle. A closer look will reveal that they are Gargoyles! The legendary warriors of old! There are two humans who inhabit this castle alongside the gargoyles, a Protector, and a Princess. These gargoyles have thrived here for years since Goliath came and destroyed the High Magus.
There is a solitary gargoyle walking about the hills of Avalon, just beyond the castle. His skin is blue, his hair, black, and his face, elf-like, and build, rather strong. He is remembering his painful past. The memory of losing his mate to that not-so-distant battle haunts him still.
"Michael!" an incoming gargoyle calls out to him.
"Gabriel," he replies as his green comrade lands next to him.
"What is it you find so fascinating about these moonlit hills?" Gabriel asks, joining Michael on his walk. "There is an air ball game going on back at the castle. We could use your keen eye."
"Ironically enough, brother, it is the solitude I prefer about these hills." Michael said honestly.
"You are still thinking of Mikala?" Gabriel asks.
Michael was silent, "Sometimes, but that isn't the only reason I walk these hills."
The two stop, and Gabriel puts his hand on Michael's shoulder, smiling,
"I see, my brother. Please, come join your brothers and sisters when you are ready."
"I will." Michael said as Gabriel launched himself off of the top of the hill.
The night comes to a close, the sun is readying himself to rise above the horizon, and rule the sky once more. Michael returns from his wanderings just in time. He lands atop his perch and kneels down to rest for the night. Gabriel is already on the neighboring perch, and gives Michael a nod. Michael notices him look at the empty perch next to him, and says,
"Still no sign of Angela?" Gabriel looked out at the sea, red with the rising sun.
"No, but she will return soon," he smiled, "I can feel it."
And with that the two's conversation would be saved until the following night. For now, the sun had broken above the horizon, and began his tour of the heavens.
The sun was to the west now, and almost below the horizon.
"The eggs will be waking up soon." the princess said, standing next to the Protector, between two perches.
"Yes, yes they will." he seemed preoccupied by something. He was staring out at the darkening water.
"What is it?" the princess asked. "What do you see?"
The Protector said nothing; he just stared out at the water.
"Come Princess, the gargoyles are waking up."
And indeed they were. Just as the two backed up, the mighty statues of gargoyles began to crack, fragments of stone being chipped off by some unseen force from within. Then, as if all at once, the statues burst and the life forms within roared and stretched their arms and wings. The two humans never tired of the spectacle of an awakening gargoyle.
There was a cry; a gargoyle on a higher perch noticed something. The clamor spread, and the word quickly reached Michael's ears that there was an approaching boat. Gabriel, upon hearing this, smiled and laughed triumphantly. He turned and flew down to the two humans. Michael looked further out to sea, arms crossed, wings folded over his shoulders, a puzzled look on his face. He tried to discern who was in the craft, when he saw the two humans leave the castle to greet the boat, and Gabriel soar down to the shore. There was a cry from the craft, and Michael immediately knew who it was. Gabriel answered, and landed on the sand as the boat neared the shore.
Michael could see two gargoyles, one massive, one much smaller, a human, and a gargoyle dog. He knew them to be Goliath and his clan, or, at least part of it. Angela jumped out of the boat, and ran through the small waves close to shore, Gabriel running out to meet her. They embraced, Gabriel picking her up and spinning her around. Michael knew just how much he had missed Angela, he and Gabriel were close rookery brothers. The Princess and the Protector greeted Goliath and his human friend, Elisa. He saw Bronx run over to greet Gabriel along with Angela.
The Princess led the group back to the castle, where it seemed the entire clan gathered around to greet Goliath and Angela. Michael glided down from his perch, and joined the throng as well. He greeted his rookery sister, and Goliath, and Elisa all in turn, showing his joy at their safe return. However, when he spoke to Elisa, she gave him an odd look. Michael just cast it out of his mind, he was sure she meant no ill.
There was to be a great feast that night, celebrating the group's return visit. A hunting party was sent out, a group stayed behind to prepare the hall, another group went to fetch the firewood, and another group began preparing the feast itself. Michael was one such Gargoyle out on the hunting party. He was the ideal hunter, tall and strong, and swift and accurate. It was not long before they returned to the castle with a rather large boar, and several quails and ducks. Within hours, the feast was ready, and the celebration began. The sprites of Avalon had taught a group of young gargoyles to play music, and the band began to play after a while. Angela, surprising Goliath and Elisa, stood up and began to sing. Apparently, she'd neglected to tell them of her singing prestige.
Goliath was stunned by his daughter's voice, Elisa as well. Her voice was so clear and pure and beautiful that it may as well have been all the beautiful fabrics of nature flowing from within her. After Angela's song ended, she sat down and giggled at her father's stunned look.
Elisa giggled alongside Angela, Goliath's stunned look was hilarious. She looked around the hall, and smiled to herself. Gargoyles certainly did know how to celebrate. The young people smiling, laughing, eating, and drinking; Elisa couldn't understand how anyone could treat them as different from humans. In her scanning the dining hall, Elisa's eyes fell on the young male she'd seen earlier. He had caught her off guard when he spoke; his voice was deep, reverent, and strangely familiar.
"Goliath," she said softly to the giant next to her. He looked down at her and she said, "that male over there," she pointed at the lean, blue gargoyle, "didn't he sound the least bit familiar?"
"I heard no resemblance to any human or gargoyle I've ever met." He shook his head, his brow furrowed.
"If my guess is any good," Elisa said half to herself, "I'd say that's another one of your children."
To this, Goliath shook his head, "That cannot be, Demona and I..."
"You only...once?" Elisa couldn't find the right word to use, and was hesitant should she cause him any pain.
"Yes." He answered somewhat relieved.
Elisa was still aware of the possibility of twins, but could go no further when the Princess stood up to make a speech.
"Goliath, Elisa, Angela, and Bronx", she smiled down at the gargoyle hound, "we, the defenders of Avalon, and your clansmen and women, welcome you all back to Avalon. We thank you for all the things you've done for us in the past, and pray that you will call Avalon your home." At this the young Gargoyles sent up a great cheer, and there was much clamor and chattering as the Princess took her seat once again aside the Protector.
Just before dawn, Elisa accompanied Goliath and the others up to the turrets and parapets of the castle where they would all roost for the night. Goliath hopped up onto a ledge, and crouched down, staring off into the pink horizon.
"Will you be here at sunset?" Goliath asked Elisa, looking down at her.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." She smiled up at him, and he turned back to face the rising sun, a smile on his lips. As the sun breached the horizon, Goliath and the surrounding gargoyles all began to turn to stone. Just beyond Goliath's stone form, Elisa caught a glimpse of the young gargoyle who was the focus of her thoughts for most of the night. She walked over to his stone form and studied his face. It was, undoubtedly, the face of Goliath, only thinner, more elfish. She looked at his wings and noticed the claws that resembled those atop Demona's wings.
"Elisa," she looked away from the gargoyle, and saw the Princess beckoning her, "come, I will show you to your quarters." Elisa obliged and followed her down the stone stairs. As they walked, she asked of the young male gargoyle.
"Is it possible that he is Angela's twin?"
"Not only is it possible, but it is so." The matronly woman smiled at her as they walked through the silent stone corridors of the castle.
"Each gargoyle egg bears the mark of its mother, the one who laid it, and I remember the markings on each and every one of the eggs we escaped with." The Princess became serious, "I felt as though, if I remembered the marks of their mothers, I could honor them in that small way."
Elisa was overjoyed at her discovery, but for the moment decided to console the Princess,
"You did them the greatest honor of all by bringing up these young gargoyles so well. You couldn't find a better raised group of humans anywhere on earth nowadays." She chuckled.
"Thank you," the Princess said smiling as she stopped them in front of a thick wooden door. She opened it up to reveal a large and well furnished room.
"Wow," Elisa said softly as she entered the room, "thank you so much, this is-"
The Princess stopped her by raising her hand, "It is nothing. Good night, or day, Elisa."
"Good day to you too," Elisa said smiling.
She drew the thick curtains over the open windows, and laid down, exhausted. Had it not been for their tiresome journey and the party following after, she would have been kept wide awake by the exciting news that Goliath did, in fact, have a son.