Gargoyles: Strange New World
Chapter 3
Author's Note: All characters are owned by Walt Disney and I in no way shape or form own, created or lay claim to these characters.
As Goliath felt the slept fade, his first sensation was dread. Time normally felt like it had no meaning in the stone sleep, yet he felt like the day would never end. As he roared into the night, shedding his stone skin from his body, he hear the others awaken as well.
"We must hurry back to the castle! Everyone, to me!" he cried as he immediately jumped off the cliff and tried to build up speed, wishing for the first time in his life that he could actually fly, not glide on wind currents.
"Please, let me not be too late…." he pleaded with the fates and he pushed himself as hard as he could…
It wasn't until about an hour and a half after sunrise until he saw the glow in the distance, his heart dropping as he got closer to his clan's ancestral home. The fires were still burning, making the whole castle look like it was a festive bonfire in a summer's night. However, he barely registered the devastation around him, going straight to the main tower, where he knew she would be, safe and sound.
As he reach her roost and landed, he barely acknowledged the piles of rocks scattered about, the honored elders who had earned these spots closest to the tower and ramparts, and his rookery brothers and sisters, who he left behind, who he knew would enjoy spending the day on these hallowed places.
However, his main focus was not on them, but the pile of rubble at his feet, rubble that once was his joy, pride, fierceness and love. He reached down, gathering those precious stones in his hands, the smaller fragments slipping through his talons.
"My… Angel of the Night…." he wept, before the rage started to build in his chest. With a mournful howl, he stretched his wings and arms towards the sky, bellowing out all the pain, anguish and rage that filled his soul.
The Mentor heard his successor's cries and felt his pain, he too had lost his mate to battle long ago. "Ach, but tis no battle that struck down the lass and the others, but a massacre." he thought, shaking his head. "They deserved so much more than this, a true warrior's death."
Seeing the rest of the clan starting the land, he knew that Goliath was not in a frame of mind to lead. Bellowing to the clan, he yelled "Get water from the wells and start trying to put out those fires! We must attempt to salvage what we can but we canne do that if the whole castle goes up in flames!" He saw them rush off, dividing among themselves to try and tackle the monumental task before them.
Kneeling down, he mourned the loss of the last of his rookery brothers and sisters. "We'll make them pay for this, I swear on my good eye!" he vowed. He then looked down at the human bodies below, seeing them from the ramparts at this height gave him an idea of what had happened during the battle. Catching a gust of hot air from the fires below, he glided down to the battlements, picking up a bow and examining it.
"The strings on these bows were weakened, there be treachery here…" he said aloud, as he heard wings rustle beside him. As he turned and saw the look on Goliath's face, he heard a scraping noise coming from the courtyard.
He then saw the door the rookery opening up, pushing the debris of the battle aside as the three young warriors and the guard dog that were banished to the rookery the previous night emerged, shocked at the sight before them, confusion and horror clear upon their faces.
Hoping against hope, both Goliath and the Mentor dropped down, with Goliath asking "Were there any others down in the Rookery?"
The silver-haired youth shook his head while his larger rookery brother replied, "None, only us."
As his hope was crushed, the Mentor then looked at Goliath said "All of the humans are gone, taken prisoner most likely."
Goliath then spoke, rage that normally he kept under control starting to boil up "Then we will find them."
At this point, the rest of the clan had succeeded in quenching the larger fires, so he gave the summoning roar, calling them to him. As they started to gather around him, he yelled out "The humans that we were charged with protecting have been captured. We will find them, we will rescue them," he bellowed, allowing the anger and rage strengthen his voice. "And we will have OUR REVENGE!"
As he yelled his proclamation, the rest of the clan added their roars of anguish and rage to his, letting the heavens know that this was going to be a bad night for the enemies of the clan….
Letting his temper cool but not extinguish, he started shouting orders.
"You ten," Pointing to a handful of warriors on his left, "continue the repairs to the castle. When we return, we will need protection at least for a few days."
Pointing to the right, he pointed out another ten. "You will go into the countryside and hunt for food. We will have a lot of mouths to feed when we return, and the provisions need to be ready for when we arrive."
Both groups acknowledged their orders, taking flight to begin their tasks. Goliath then turned the rest of the clan, "The rest of you, follow me and let us pursue these dogs and give them our justice!"
The silver haired young warrior, apprehension along with determination in his eyes, spoke up. "Goliath, may we join you? We need to redeem ourselves from last night." The other two warriors nodded, determined looks in their eyes as well. The guard dog also barked and growled, eager to avenge his lair.
Nodding, Goliath gestured them to follow. They stepped in line with the other warriors, ready to take flight. Looking behind him, he saw his closest rookery brother and his mate, grinning in anticipation for the battle.
"Now, take to the skies, and let us take our revenge!" Goliath bellowed, taking a running start and leaping off the castle wall, knowing that the accompanying howls, yells and cries behind him were ready to destroy those that wronged them.
Author's Note: Ok, sorry for the long update between Chapter 1 and 2. Be honest, pretty much life dragged me away from the story, along with kid, wife, video games, work and pretty much any other excuse I could think of. To make up for that, I already published Chapter 2 and this chapter tonight as well. Let me know what you think and I still got a few ideas for what's to come. If you think of an idea, I'll be open to it, though as my mother has told me several times "Listen to advice, but remember you don't always have to take it." Thanks for sticking around!