The fight with the Pack took most of the rest of the night. The clan was away for a long time. Sil soon got hungry again and went to Xanatos' office. He asked if he could have some more food.

"Sure." David said and led him to the kitchen. He got some lunch meat out of the fridge and poured it onto a plate. Then he gave it to the Skeksis.

Chamberlain gobbled that stuff down. "Hmmm, good stuff. What is it?"

"Chicken." David said. "Best in town."

"Can have more?"

"You still hungry after eating a pound of that?" the man asked.

"Yes!"

"Okay." Then he fed him some fish.

Chamberlain ate that up too. His appetite was growing.

"That's enough food, Lord Chamberlain."

"Still hungry. Skeksis hungry a lot. Need big meals." Sil explained.

"I'm sorry, but we need to save some of it for later." David stated. "That's enough and I mean it." He walked out of the kitchen.

Chamberlain sat there, feeling odd. He began to go looking for more food. He saw where Xanatos had gotten it out of. He opened the door and he felt instant cold. When he touched something, it was freezing! He dropped it.

Sure, the other foods had been cold, but he had never gotten it out of a cold compartment before. He shut the door. Maybe that was enough for now. He just wished Brooklyn would come back.

Soon, they all did come back just before sunrise. There was enough time to round up Chamberlain after being treated for some wounds.

Brooklyn had a cut on his right arm. It was bandaged. He found his friend in the TV room. "Chamberlain."

Chamberlain muted the TV and looked around and glared. He was upset that he had been left alone again without much explanation. Then he saw the white wrapping on Brooklyn's arm with red showing through.

"You wounded?" Sil asked.

"Yes. There was a big fight downtown with some enemies known as the Pack. They are very dangerous and formidable opponents for robot humans. The one called Hyena did this to me with her saw. Everyone else got a little injured too. And thank goodness it's so close to sunrise. It'll heal these wounds right up." Brooklyn explained.

Chamberlain got up to get a better view of the bandages. His friend's arm was bandaged from his hand to his elbow. Some blood shown through it, marking how big it had been. The TV was turned off as they went to join the others for the sunrise greeting.

When they got up there, indeed, Chamberlain saw that all the others had an injury as well. The wounds were all bandaged. This was the second injury that he had seen on Brooklyn.

The gargoyles were glad to turn to stone this time. Sil went to his new room to sleep the day away. He didn't think anything like that would ever happen, but he had yet to see this world outside the castle.

It was one thing for Chamberlain to go outside, or be banished from his home back on Thra, but here on Earth was very different. Brooklyn was trying to tell him that. His kind might be the more dominant race on Thra, but not here.

When the Skeksis awoke later in the afternoon, there was still some time to watch some TV before sunset.

It was another sunny day. Chamberlain was used to getting some Crystal energy in the mornings too. He hoped he could live without it. He had already found something thanks to Brooklyn to fill the boredom in the day for something to do.

As he was headed to the TV room, he was stopped by Xanatos. "Hello, Lord Chamberlain." he greeted.

"Hmmm, hi." SkekSil replied.

"I assume you are headed to the TV room?"

"Yes. Just till sun goes down."

"I see. But there is a favor I need to ask of you." David said.

"Hmm?" Chamberlain gave him a questioning look.

"Since you may be staying here, and you don't turn to stone like the gargoyles do, I have to request that as long as you stay, you should take a bath." David said.

"Hmm? Bath?"

"Haven't you ever had one?"

"Yes, been few days since had one cause of banishment in other world." Sil replied. "Skeksis like myself prefer being clean and decorative."

"Well, while staying here, we want you to be clean. We can help you take one if you need help." David said.

"No! No one in there with me! Just show Chamberlain how to do it, and I be fine doing it myself." Sil decreed.

"Of course. It might be a little different here than on your world." David stated.

Sil could agree. "But it close to sundown. Can wait till after friends wake up."

"Of course." David said. "I'm taking your word for it. We do want to be able to trust you, Lord Chamberlain."

"SkekSil is one of keeping word, Xan-?"

"Xanatos, but if David is easier, you can call me that." the man stated.

"Sure. Later." Sil declared.

He remembered where he was going this time and walked up to the tower and waited for sunset. It was a while, but soon, the gargoyles woke up.

Once they were awake and stretched, they all took their bandages off. Chamberlain looked at Brooklyn's arm and there wasn't even a scar! Only Hudson seemed to still be feeling the effects. There was still some dried blood on the bandages, but the stone sleep had taken care of all wounds on them.

As they were about to head off on patrol, Chamberlain pulled Brooklyn aside. "I need to talk."

"Okay, but Goliath is about to give off patrol orders." Brooklyn said.

"I need bath." Sil said.

The gargoyle's eyes lit up. "A bath? Why?"

"I not have bath for many days due to banishment. Need it. Like to be clean and all." Chamberlain declared.

"Well, do you need help? I can excuse myself from patrol if you need it." Brooklyn stated.

"As closest friend here, prefer if you come and help Chamberlain get bath." Sil replied.

"Alright. Just let me talk to Goliath first." Brooklyn said.

By the time he came back, the others were already gone. Hudson and Bronx were staying this time. Goliath was still there.

"Goliath," Brooklyn began. "Chamberlain needs me here tonight to help him with something."

"Very well, Brooklyn. I know you have to help take care of him to become one of us." Goliath said and he left the castle too.

"Thanks." Brooklyn declared. "Now, let's take care of this."

Brooklyn next led the Skeksis to a bathroom. There were no security cameras in the bathrooms. They could take their time.

First, Sil needed to get out of his robes. He could do it himself.

Brooklyn watched as his friend got undressed. Sure, he had seen his friend in smaller rags, but this he hadn't seen before!

SkekSil's upper body was extremely skinny, with the ribs showing immensely, almost like he was emaciated, but in his lower body, he was a little chubbier in the stomach area. He also had some real small breasts too. Probably part of his 'female' anatomy. Aside from his head that looked vulture-like, Chamberlain did look like a lizard overall.

Brooklyn tried to keep from staring. He turned on the water. He plugged up the tub so Chamberlain would be able to soak in it. The water would be warm. That was how Skeksis were used to getting themselves cleaned by soaking in a tub, though not one quite that high. Sil watched how he turned on the water.

Once it was ready, he poured some soap in, and it began to get all soapy. The water was still running. Brooklyn told his friend he could get into the water. "It's going to be warm, Chamberlain."

"Good. Prefer that way." Sil stated as he climbed in when he felt it was nice and warm. He sat down. His whole body got wet. His hair getting drenched too.

Brooklyn backed off to let his friend wash himself. He had given him a sponge to use to wipe all the dirt off. And A LOT of dirt came off of him.

Soon, it was over. Sil had enjoyed the bath. He got out of the tub and Brooklyn handed him a towel to dry off with.

Chamberlain felt refreshed after his bath, but it would take a while for his hair to dry.

"Chamberlain, maybe we could also wash your clothes too?" Brooklyn suggested.

Sil's head turned toward him. "Guess need washing. Not know when last washed, but now know what could wear while they being washed. I at least wear my gown out of here."

The weather was heating up. Then Brooklyn suggested, "If you want to, just wear the gown and some of the lightest of your robes. They could be washed in small batches, letting the heavier ones be washed first and put back in your room when they are clean. Then, your gown and other half of the robes can be cleaned too."

Chamberlain was starting to feel the heat. "Okay." he agreed.

Sil kept his gown on as he handed Brooklyn the heavier robes to be washed. Not that he did laundry himself, but he would have Owen see to it that they were washed and returned to Sil's room. At least Sil smelled clean.

Owen gladly took Sil's robes and would take them to the laundry to be cleaned. Then, that gown would need the same treatment.

Since Hudson was watching TV, Brooklyn and Chamberlain wanted something to do besides wander the hallways. They both were getting hungry, so they went to the kitchen to grab some food.

Sil watched as Brooklyn grabbed a good-sized chunk of meat, and some veggies from the freezer. The red gargoyle knew that his friend needed some veggie nutrition too. He had said he ate it too. He wasn't Broadway, but he had learned some cooking tips too.

Once the food was done cooking, they both had a good dinner. Sil wasn't used to eating cooked food but had eaten it before. While living here, most of his food would end up being cooked.

Once they were done eating, Brooklyn said, "Hey, I know you have only been here for a couple of days now, and to reward some of the progress you have made, how about we get out of here tomorrow night?"

Sil's eyes widened. "You mean leave?"

"For a little while, yes." Brooklyn replied. "I don't want to take you to anywhere that has a lot of humans. Central Park should be empty this time of night. That could be a good start."

"Getting out sound good to me." Sil agreed. "Bored here. But still worry about high level on, the takeoff part."

"I'll tell Goliath where we're going tomorrow night." Brooklyn said.

For the time being, the two friends went to the library. Brooklyn had an idea.

"Broadway, Angela and Goliath read a lot of books in here. I don't read too much in here but know how. I could teach you our writing style." Brooklyn advised.

"Be good to know if going to stay." Sil replied with a smile.

Even though SkekSil was a full-grown being, starting out with the English language writing meant starting out with some little kid kind of books to look at. Alex would be looking at them in the next few years as it was.

Sil wasn't one of the Skeksis that kept written records back home like SkekOk had, being in charge of the library scrolls and all, but he had made sure that Ok was keeping on task. He did know how to read Skeksis writing though. It was essential at times. Now, he was learning a new alphabet.

...

They studied until Sil's heavier robes were returned to his room and Owen found them in the library studying.

"Excuse me, Brooklyn and Lord Chamberlain." Owen said.

The two friends looked up. "Yes?" they said in unison.

"Lord Chamberlain, your robes are clean and back in your room. Do you need that gown washed too?" Owen asked.

Sil was a little hesitant to part with it, but Brooklyn said, "Yes, it needs it too. I'll get him back to his room and into the clean ones and this one can be washed too."

Owen nodded.

"We can study some more after this." Brooklyn stated. He put the book down they were looking at, then, he and Sil walked back to Sil's room to claim some of the other robes so the gown could be washed.

Owen waited outside while Sil slipped out of the dirty gown. He could wear the other robes without the gown too. Sil put on some of his lighter robes so he would be a bit cooler in the heat wave going on.

Brooklyn handed the gown out to Owen so he could go and wash it too. Then the two friends went back to the library to study some more.

Within two more hours, the rest of the clan came back. Angela found the two of them in the library as she was looking for them.

"We're back." she greeted them.

Brooklyn had heard her steps first. "Hi, Angela." he smiled.

Sil looked at the female. He wouldn't doubt that his friend wanted her for his mate. "What going on?" he asked.

"We're back and Broadway is in the kitchen, making our dinner. It'll be ready soon. What are you guys doing?" she asked.

"I'm just teaching Sil here about learning to read our writing." Brooklyn answered her.

Angela peeked over their shoulder. "I see with a child's book too."

"It has the best way of teaching someone our alphabet, learning it for the first time." Brooklyn said.

"I understand. I'm not criticizing you for it. Is this the first time you're learning to read, Lord Sil?" Angela asked.

"This writing, yes. Skeksis have different writing on Thra. Not like this writing." Sil explained.

"Maybe you could teach us yours too." she suggested.

"Hmmm, sound good idea." Sil hummed, thinking. "Soon, perhaps."

"We plan on going to the park tomorrow night." Brooklyn said.

"I'm sure that my father will say that's alright, but probably not until after patrol." Angela stated.

"I know patrol part of gargoyle's duties." Sil declared. He was starting to accept that his 'new clan' had their jobs. He just had to find out what his was going to be yet.

"Yeah, there will be times even I can't get out of it." Brooklyn said. "It's part of who we are, despite that in the city, there are plenty of humans that think we're public enemy number one."

The three of them helped Sil learn some more for a little while until some delicious aromas drifted from the kitchen area.

Sil caught a whiff. "Hmmm. Food smell good."

"Yeah, it does." Brooklyn agreed. "We might need to start heading that way now. It smells like it's almost ready."

The book was put down and they all left the library for dinner.

When they got to the kitchen, food was being put on the table. Everyone would be walking through the line tonight to get what they wanted. Other than Owen, kitchen staff had also brought forth the food to the table.

Owen said to Sil, "Your gown is washed and back in your room."

"Good. Get it soon." Sil replied.

Before going to get their food, Brooklyn walked up to Goliath. "Goliath, I have something to ask."

"Alright." the leader replied.

"Is it alright if Sil and I go to Central Park tomorrow night?" the red male asked.

"If it's alright with him, but not until after our patrol. I know he's your friend, Brooklyn, but you still have duties to this clan." Goliath declared.

"I know, and he understands that. I just wanted to let you know what our plans were. He wants to get out and see more of our world too, just as I saw some of his." Brooklyn explained.

"I understand. Just see to it that he stays out of trouble out there. He's a stranger here in our world." Goliath said.

"I know. Just as we were once. Of course, we still are, but have adapted to it the best we can." Brooklyn replied.

"Yes, we have. You have my permission to take him out tomorrow, Brooklyn. Just be careful." Goliath declared.

"Thank you." Brooklyn smiled. He turned back to his friend and went over to him. The line was beginning. "Good news, Sil. Goliath has agreed to let me take you on your first visit to the park tomorrow night."

"Sound good." Sil replied.

The two of them got in line with the others and they all had a great family dinner.